Forum Discussion

MrHalfAsleep's avatar
MrHalfAsleep
Community elder
2 years ago

Got doorstepped...

by a rival ISP earlier today; they had sent a letter saying that they were putting a pole up in the street for faster broadband.  Turns out that this wasn't quite the case and they're renting (or have bought) the telegraph pole over the road.  Anyway, earlier this afternoon, I was doorstepped by a manager called Anthony.

I don't particularly like this approach of doing business as I like to know what I'm saying yes to.  The conversation was fairly cordial and I mentioned that I was out of contract with VM and paying £71 PM for a landline/140Mbit.  The offer is for 4 days only; the blurbs state 1Gbit for less than £1 a day.  This is rather tempting.  I enquired about a landline (we're old fashioned and they still work) and was quoted £3 per month rising to £12 pm to use it properly (incoming/outgoing calls to all numbers including mobiles).  There is also an installation fee of £150, but I would get the first 3 months free*.

Should I sign up? I could be their only customer as there's lots of trees here!

*I know I've already paid (lol).

  • A good test is to call their customer service (not sales) number at peak time and see what happens. 

  • Roger_Gooner's avatar
    Roger_Gooner
    Alessandro Volta

    Which ISP is this? It looks as if they're using Openreach's pole for their fibre.

    • MrHalfAsleep's avatar
      MrHalfAsleep
      Community elder

      There's been a bit of activity with the telegraph pole recently; there are now a number (3) of (un)branded boxes attached to it. 

  • I don't see them lasting long TBH.  VM's infrastructure may be cobbled together, but it is much better than just a telegraph pole that gets hit by cars regularly (it blocks a car park).  I also live on a U shaped street, so most houses can't be connected unless the pole is extended 4 or 5 times its height ( thus avoiding the trees) to get a line of sight.  Don't see that happening.  My reply to @Cardiffman282 on this thread https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Community-Natter/5324-month-bill/m-p/5341006#M71210 apply here.  The reasons stated there are why I wasn't entertaining it.  Thanks for everyone's input.

    I also have a bit of a follow up on the Rolls Royce power stations mentioned in the linked thread.  A look on their website states that they are looking for investors to do the power stations, so they're not even a thing either.

    • MrHalfAsleep's avatar
      MrHalfAsleep
      Community elder

      There's been a bit more work going on recently.  OR have been round several times this month to attach 2  cables to another telegraph pole.  It's taken most of March for them to do this.  Not sure what this achieves, but it's taken considerable effort and a lot of faffing about (4 or 5 vans).   There are now at least 25 lines on the pole.

      Conversely, VM were round the other day, leaving about 30 minutes later...😐

    • Tudor's avatar
      Tudor
      Very Insightful Person

      "Why would line of sight be needed when running cable from a pole?" The OP said there are trees in the way and they are certainly a no no for overhead services.

  • Roger_Gooner's avatar
    Roger_Gooner
    Alessandro Volta

    If trees are in the way then the ISP calls Openreach to sort it out. This is nothing new.

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    Depends whose trees they are and if they are protected.   

    OR don't have carte blanche to hack through any trees they want. 

    • MrHalfAsleep's avatar
      MrHalfAsleep
      Community elder

      The trees are on private land, in an officially designated conservation area.  One tree in particular is really annoying and some cables have been between it's branches for several years.  It's also rotten and is infested with leaf mites, which makes autumn come 3 months earlier for this particular tree; (the others are elsewhere and are unaffected).  Numerous complaints about it over the years have achieved nothing.