This topic

Broadband billing

Aurelius — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 12:49:32 GMT

Hello
I'lll be looking to renew my b/band contract at the end of the month. I live in a very rural location which was scheduled for FTTP by a company called Broadway who were awarded a Welsh government grant to enable rural fibre. Broadway completed a survey of the locality, had got as far as installing a cabinet in the nearest village to me (2.5 miles) before going into administration. Subsequently, Broadway were bought by Voneus who initially committed to completing the project but have since rolled back their decision, consequently no FTTP for me and not likely to be a for good while (if ever).
Which brings me to why most providers only provide full fibre packages to customers who do not have it. My own line varies between 1 - 5 mbps so I'm less than happy to pay the quoted 35 pounds a month to BT for such a woeful line. How can this be deemed fair to bill for a service that clearly isn't deliverable, I fail to see why I should be paying the same as someone with full fibre and 80mbps!
I called Plusnet yesterday as they offer a package at 26 pounds monthly for full fibre but after making an enquiry via the online chat service to enquire if they could offer a fibre to the cabinet package, they tested my line and advised they could only offer a full fibre package. Very very frustrating. It seems to me that if a customer's service is associated to a fibre enabled cabinet, as far as the provider is concerned, FTTP is available.
I dread contacting BT with this as previous experience has repeatedly proved to be chaos personified (It took them over 3 months to activate an existing landline to this property!)
Any suggestions to preserve my sanity would be welcomed.

Re: Broadband billing

imjolly — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 13:40:39 GMT

can you enter your phone number and then post results including the notes at the bottom. remember to delete number

use the camera icon to help posting

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Re: Broadband billing

iniltous — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:19:42 GMT

What’s actually your complaint ? , there are hundreds of Communication Providers , many of them offer services over Openreach network, if you don’t like the BT price , there are a huge number of alternatives on Openreach ….the fact that you could be on a BT 40Mb profile but only get 5Mb but you pay the same as another BT customer on a 40Mb profile that can get 40Mb , ( that’s physics, they have a shorter line length than you ) …you are connected to identical equipment, so why would the price be different ? ,but as stated don’t like BT price, use someone else, but FYI , no one prices on a speed you get basis , why on earth would a company do that ? , the laws of physics are not negotiable.

If an Alternative Network were given government funding to provide a ‘Superfast’ network but didn’t , and the company that obtained that failed company’s assets also haven’t provided a network, the fact is that it cannot be a commercially viable , otherwise public money shouldn’t be used , and as the state assistance wasn’t given to Openreach but someone else , and as BT only use Openreach, it’s not likely that BT will be in a post offer you anything better ( in the short to medium term )

It’s seems odd that you blame BT ( who don’t have a network ) and by association Openreach , who were not given the state assistance to upgrade your area , if the company given a subsidy can’t provide a network, why would a company without a subsidy, consider that area ? , perhaps whoever allocated the funding should have had better due diligence, surely your displeasure is misplaced

Re: Broadband billing

Aurelius — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:31:10 GMT

Hello
Unfortunately, screenshots taken from my phone are exceeding the 330k limit (just) and the website doesn't accept compressed files. Samsung phones can reduce file size by using HEIF mode but again, BT site does not accept that.

Re: Broadband billing

imjolly — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 16:27:36 GMT

The results would show what broadband is available to you and note help should there be problems. Difficult to help without information

Re: Broadband billing

Aurelius — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 17:04:02 GMT

Imjolly

Appreciate that, I may add the relevant data manually tomorrow.

Thank you for your helpful response

Re: Broadband billing

Aurelius — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 15:34:27 GMT

Telephone Number *********** on Exchange xxxxxxxxxxxx is served by Cabinet 5

Featured Products Downstream Line Rate(Mbps) Upstream Line Rate (Mbps) Downstream Range (Mbps) Availability Date FTTP Install ProcessWBC FTTP

Upto 1000

Upto 220

Available

KCI2 Assure

ADSL Products Downstream Line Rate (Mbps) Upstream Line Rate (Mbps) Downstream Range(Mbps) ADSL Availability Date Left in JumperWBC ADSL 2+WBC ADSL2+ Annex MADSL MaxWBC Fixed RateFixed Rate

Up to 4	--	2.5 to 6.5	Available	--
Up to 4	Up to 0.5	2.5 to 6.5	Available	--
Up to 4	--	3 to 5	Available	--
--	--	--	--	--
2	--	--	Available	--

SOADSL Products Downstream Line Rate (Mbps) Upstream Line Rate (Mbps) Downstream Range(Mbps) WBC SOADSL Availability Date Left in JumperWBC SOADSL 2+SOADSL MaxSOADSL Fixed Rate

Up to 4.0	--	2.5 to 6.5	Available	--
Up to 4.0	--	3.0 to 5.0	Available	--
--	--	--	Available	--

Observed Speeds ADSLMax Observed Downstream SpeedMax Observed Upstream SpeedObserved Date

6.53

0.45

2024-03-18

Other Offerings Availability DateVDSL MulticastADSL Multicast

Available

Premise Environment StatusBridge TapVRINTE FacePlateLast Test Date

15-02-2022

Exchange Product Restrictions StatusFTTP Priority ExchangeWLR WithdrawalSOADSL Restriction

Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential OH Feed potential Line of sight problems.

FTTP is available and a new ONT may be ordered.

The exchange is not in a current fibre priority programme

As a WLR withdrawal exchange, product restrictions apply

SOADSL is not restricted at the exchange

For all ADSL and WBC Fibre to the Cabinet (VDSL or G.fast) services, the stable line rate will be determined during the first 10 days of service usage.

For all SOADSL services,the stable line rate will be determined during the first 10 days of service usage.

Actual speeds experienced by end users and quoted by CPs will be lower due to a number of factors within and external to BT's network, Communication Providers' networks and within customer premises.

If you decide to place an order for a WBC fibre product, an appointment may be required for an engineer to visit the end user's premises to supply the service

In order to be eligible for handback, downstream speed should be less than Downstream Handback Threshold values.

ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL availability: If shown at FTTP or SOGEA premises,ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL are not available to order due to WLR Withdrawal stop sell rules. CPs should order FTTP or SOGEA. Copper products are only available by exception.

Thank you for your interest

Re: Broadband billing

licquorice — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 16:08:31 GMT

Why on earth do you want FTTC when FTTP is available to you at exactly the same price.

Not entirely sure what you are complaining about.

Re: Broadband billing

Aurelius — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 20:07:58 GMT

I thought I'd outlined my circumstances but evidently not clearly enough. Whilst FTTP may be a billable option, it's not physically available. The fibre stops at the cab and Openreach have no current plans to provide FTTP in my locality despite them having claimed the UKGV (government voucher) for my address. This in turn prevented the provider Broadway from claiming it. Others in the area faced the same situation so perhaps that is a contributory factor to Broadways finances running into problems. I would have thought if Openreach claimed the voucher but failed to invest it accordingly, they should be liable to return the funds to the government but that's not something I have any knowledge on.

I accept a degraded line quality happily as a tradeoff for living in the sticks, what I'm not so happy about is having to pay the full rate for it. If being connected to "the same exchange equipment " is supposed to bring some modicum of comfort, frankly it doesn't cut it.

I have no expectation for a supplier to provide metered billing but I see no reason why in 2024 a broadband line achieving an average of sub 5 Meg cannot be offered a reduced tariff accordingly. Even if it was £5 a month discount. Seems a reasonable request to me.

Re: Broadband billing

licquorice — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 21:05:08 GMT

I've no idea why you think FTTP isn't available to you, the results of the checker that you have posted clearly show that it is.

The cabinet has absolutely nothing to do with it, FTTP doesn't come from a cabinet .

Re: Broadband billing

Aurelius — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 22:10:54 GMT

I thinks it's best if we end this thread. I was only seeking advice as to whether there is a way I can reduce my bill given the performance of the line. My initial comment clearly stated FTTP is unavailable despite what BT systems state . I'm retired from BT after 25 years service, I am quite familiar with the network. It seems my village and the 2 neighbouring ones have scores of outlying residents mistakenly thinking FTTP is unavailable and needlessly resorted to using Starlink and that 2 third party providers were intending to upgrade a network that Openreach had already done?

Any system is only as good as the data entered into it. I have had BT call centres assure me FTTP is available to me, only to call me back 2 weeks later to apologise and confirm it is not.

I'll give BT sales a call and see what they offer to retain my custom.

Thanks and regards

Re: Broadband billing

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 06:45:36 GMT

There is a line in the details that @Aurelius posted earlier that says "Single Dwelling Unit Residential OH Feed potential Line of sight problems."

Could this be what is causing the conflict between what Openreach and BT seem to be saying?

To me, it just suggests that there might be a tree(s) between the existing pole and @Aurelius 's house. Does your existing drop wire go through a tree?

Re: Broadband billing

iniltous — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:44:00 GMT

That survey network note (SNN) indicates is at the time of survey ( the survey before the PON was built ) that in regard to that particular SDU ( single dwelling unit ) , the serving pole doesn’t have a direct unobstructed path to the property for a dropwire to be erected , and mitigation will be necessary, that’s why it’s a 2 stage installation, so the mitigation can be put in place before the contractual date ….its both an instruction for Openreach Service Delivery , that it’s not a straightforward installation, and as far as the ISP is concerned, that a longer than normal lead time is necessary , ( longer than a single stage installation ) it’s not in itself a reason not to offer service, if that were the case , that address simply wouldn’t show FTTP as available , even if other nearby addresses can order service.