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Great all round service from BT and Sky

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I would like to put a twist on my gripe... Actually it isn't really a gripe at all.  Maybe my gripe is more that so much negativity around.  I would like to take some of your time to demonstrate that there is good in the world and I recognise and appreciate said good when it occurs.

Let's start with the all-favourite subject of broadband.  My mother, 58 years old living by herself, and not the most computer literate person in the world, has Talk Talk broadband, on an unbundled exchange.

The service was activated the day is was meant to.  The speed was a little low, so a 10 min phone call tweaking the SNR and she had the expected speed (2.5MB, as she is very far from exchange). Connection is stable (stays up for 28-30 days at a time) and speeds are spot on.  So that is fine. A year on and no problems developed with the service.  I have Sky HD.  Again, service was installed right on time and has never caused a problem except for a firmware update solving a small problem which caused the box to spontaneously reboot once a week.  Fixed by support chaps promptly and cheerfully.

Browsing the Internet I have a BT phone line and UK Online Premier broadband.  Again, installed on time (actually three days early).  Speeds are better than expected (6M down 1M up), connection is stable and speeds are what one expects, better than the availability checker reported, with no fair usage policy, download limits or bandwidth managment.  The BT phone line has never developed any problems, 12 months and counting.

Hutchinson 3G UK - been with them for three years and have just renewed my contract for another 18 months.  Prices are still beating the competition hands down and the new handset every year or year and a half is nice.  Customer services are improving all the way.  They are offshore, but knowledgeable and prompt to answer.

Exeter city council - I couldn't afford my council tax one month, they didn't mind, just paid a little extra for the next few months, all squared away.  No threatening letters, no long time on hold, just one simple phone call and they let me off the month.

I could go on. But I would like to thank all the people that I pay my hard earned cash to for providing me with an on or above par service every time around.  And thank you for reading, I think it's nice to see a positive amongst so many negatives.

By: Nick Derczynski


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Mee :D

Mee :D

Hey,

Reading this really made my day. Just good to see someone writing about a good service they've had. When in training for my job it was apparent that people only complained about things, never advise how good it is.

It's just really made my day to see someone write about how happy they are.

I think this one review is gonna balance out all the crap reviews I'm abot to read.

Being an engineer and a call centre worker, it was nice to know that both sides of the job don't go un-noticed. Have a good 'en mate.

Matt.
11/10/10 Mee :D
6
Thriftstreet

Thriftstreet

Are You in the Sky Publicity Department???? Or the non existant customer services fiasco.
05/07/10 Thriftstreet
-24
Bifta

Bifta

Sky HD.
You'r joking it costs you £678 per year to watch it.

Get the shut get the rid
03/04/09 Bifta
-8
Northern Lad

Northern Lad

Nick, this really made me laugh but I can't figure out how it got published because it certainly isn't a griipe. It's almost an anti-gripe if there is such a thing. Well lucky you is all that I can say because I haven't had good all round service from BT and Sky. Adequate at best as far as BT is concerned and I've had a few problems with Sky.
09/10/08 Northern Lad
-2
aer

aer

Nick Derczynski,

This is certainly not a gripe and thus is inappropriate for this forum. You are fortunate in your experience of monster companies like BT and TalkTalk with their foreign awful call centres. I have experience also with both, and they proved to be absolutely awful - they demonstrated a level of 'stupidity' that was almost surreal.
16/02/08 aer
-22
Matt C

Matt C

Nick Derczynski,

Your gripe is obviously NOT a gripe, as such. It hardly seems appropriate for this forum. We know that sometimes these companies can get it right, but this hardly excuses the number of errors that they make, and the very poor service suffered by a significant number of people. Still, I suppose your posting does give the rest of us some hope that, occasionally, our hard-earned cash actually buys a reliable level of service. If we didn't have the hope, then we may as well just pack it all in.

I just hope that you are not 'smug'.
13/01/08 Matt C
0
Mrs. A.

Mrs. A.

My Sky service has been excellent so far and I have not encountered any problems. And with my BT, when I did have a problem, it was sorted (albeit over a few months) and my account was credited with more than I expected. I suppose its a good omen things might be getting better after all. Thanks, Nick, for agreeing.
11/01/08 Mrs. A.
0
Wilberforce

Wilberforce

Yeah I have tiscali, it works ok and we have the phone with them too and (so far) we haven't had any problems with it. The touble is I have paid for "up to 8mb" and the BRITISH SALES call centre said my line could support up to 5mb (fair enough).

I have had this for a few months now and have never been able to get over 2mb! Now I only had dial up before so to me it's faster and reliable but it's just that I want what I pay for!

Also the phone is only availible on the up to 8mb service so I'm sort of trapped (my parents were paying £50+ per month for BT line rental before!!!)

The FOREIGN TECH call centre are no help at all, and when you try to e-mail them they just ask you to call them.

I will look at other suppliers when my contract runs out, as we are thinking of moving within the next couple of years so we will have the hassle of changing the broadband address etc.

It's still cheaper than BT though at £25 per month rather than BTs £50+
09/01/08 Wilberforce
-3
Jed

Jed

If only TISCALI could get it right.

The number of complaints about their broadband speed is not for the faint hearted. You take a BIG risk joining TISCALI.

I WAS a satisfied customer for years, but then it started, speeds slowing down from a decent 6.5Mb+, to 4Mb or slower. Put the usual request for assistance, if after a few days you got a response, they BLAMED the fault on YOUR equipment, and asked for SPEED tests. Your already asking for assistance about SLOW speeds.

Anyway, to cut a VERY long woeful story short, even after 3 months of telephone calls, reporting to ISPA, Ofcom, they STILL can't get it sorted. Reason, they STILL blame MY line can't support higher speeds of more than 4Mb, even AFTER showing 2 months of speeds in excess of 6.5Mb.

I have since applied for a new ISP, who TREAT their customers with RESPECT, Oh yes, they say my line can support speeds upto 20Mb.
09/01/08 Jed
0

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