UTV Connect residential customer base acquired by Vodafone Ireland

Sully

Dear Customer,

I am writing to advise you that following a strategic review of our business earlier this year, it was decided that the UTV Group would focus on broadcasting and exit from non-core activities including UTV Connect.

As a result of this decision we have signed an agreement with Vodafone Ireland to acquire our residential customer base in the Republic of Ireland which will ensure you continue to receive a high quality service from a well respected telecoms provider.

In the next few days Vodafone Ireland will be writing to you directly to outline how the switchover of your current service will take place.

In the meantime you don’t need to do anything, just keep enjoying your service with UTV Connect.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your custom and support.

If you have any queries please call us on 1890 926 000 or email us at admin@utvconnect.com



Yours sincerely,

So there we have it. It's a long goodbye. UTV have departed the broadband market and are handing it over to Vodafone. Wonder how much of a customer base UTV actually had? Must be the reason why they pulled out selling fibre and haven't been responding to my complaint with Comreg for poor BB speeds. At least with the switch over, I can get fibre.

Just got my letter this morning from Vodafone, nothing at all from UTV.

Think I may need to find a new Broadband provider, Vodafone customer service sucks.

This is the first time ive heard anything about it.

Not sure if the transfer has gone through yet, but my Broadband speeds have dropped already!

Squiggle

Just opened the Vodafone letter too. Appalling that I have had no contact from UTV and I've been with them for 10 years :mad:. Only know one other person with Vodafone broadband near me and they think it's shíte. 30 days to sort something out !

ITBhoy

Yip, got the email from UTV this am , I hope the honour the off peak calls to the UK !

ITBhoy

ITBhoy wrote: »

Yip, got the email from UTV this am , I hope the honour the off peak calls to the UK !

I have anytime calls to the UK, in their letter they say they will be giving me this.

In fairness to Vodafone everything they mention looks to be exactly the same terms as I had with UTV. They even say I will be getting a new Modem.

But Im appalled that UTV didn't even have the decency to mention this to their customers, like above I have been with them for years and still haven't been contacted about the change. Vodafone my only contact so far!

I used to be with Vodafone for mobile Broadband and found their service appalling, as for cancellation they denied they ever received cancellation letters from me despite them begin recorded!

Edit:

As I type the UTV email has come through! lol

irishgeo

this explains them pulling the email server as well.

Sully

Got the letter in today's post. Am I the only one who thought it was poor of them not to send out the email a few days before Vodafone got in touch?

AlanS181824

Another case of BT Ireland it seems.

ITBhoy

Deleted User wrote: »

I have anytime calls to the UK, in their letter they say they will be giving me this.

In fairness to Vodafone everything they mention looks to be exactly the same terms as I had with UTV. They even say I will be getting a new Modem.

But Im appalled that UTV didn't even have the decency to mention this to their customers, like above I have been with them for years and still haven't been contacted about the change. Vodafone my only contact so far!

I used to be with Vodafone for mobile Broadband and found their service appalling, as for cancellation they denied they ever received cancellation letters from me despite them begin recorded!

Edit:

As I type the UTV email has come through! lol

Thanks for the heads up on the Vodafone letter , glad we will still be getting free calls to the UK , the jury is out though on VFs customer service !

deaglan169

ill probably stick with them although will do some looking aorund around tonight at other service providers, what modem does vodafone supply does anyone know?, id rather just enter my new username and password onto exsiting hub

INFODAD

Got my letter this morning and have to say I was fuming. Not so much as a peep out of utv. I rang first thing and got a well prepared statement from customer service they said that I should have gotten an email a bloody email it's now 1802 and still no email just goes to show they don't give a ****e about their customer base and to think I was with them for 10+ years. Also have been having problems (for the first time I must say) in the last 3-4 weeks with my speed what a coincidence. The package they are offering is also not the same all my unlimited landline calls to ireland and the uk are now off peak calls. Once again the irish consumer is being screwed over. I wonder is the €40 going to be for a limited time only and just when you think it's all good they will up it a screw us over again good old ireland hey ya got to love this country.

AlanS181824

deaglan169 wrote: »

ill probably stick with them although will do some looking aorund around tonight at other service providers, what modem does vodafone supply does anyone know?, id rather just enter my new username and password onto exsiting hub

They provide the Huawei HG558c, I think that's the model anyway.

It looks like this.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6oknqbjr680owgg/IMG_20140603_181240.jpg

Sully

INFODAD wrote: »

Got my letter this morning and have to say I was fuming. Not so much as a peep out of utv. I rang first thing and got a well prepared statement from customer service they said that I should have gotten an email a bloody email it's now 1802 and still no email just goes to show they don't give a ****e about their customer base and to think I was with them for 10+ years. Also have been having problems (for the first time I must say) in the last 3-4 weeks with my speed what a coincidence. The package they are offering is also not the same all my unlimited landline calls to ireland and the uk are now off peak calls. Once again the irish consumer is being screwed over. I wonder is the €40 going to be for a limited time only and just when you think it's all good they will up it a screw us over again good old ireland hey ya got to love this country.

I'm in the same boat, but I got my email this morning and the letter this afternoon from Voda.

The closest package is €47.50 with Vodafone. The only difference was that it didn't give UK Mobile calls. But I still get unlimited local national and UK calls day or night, 100mins to Irish Mobiles & UK Landlines. Fibre BB too.

I was in the boat where my speeds were shocking and I made a complaint, for the second time, to Comreg. This time, UTV didn't bother engaging with my complaint and ignored my email to them.

INFODAD

AlanS181824 wrote: »

They provide the Huawei HG558c, I think that's the model anyway.

Heard this Huawei modem is a piece of crap anyone got experience of it?

INFODAD

Well utv are ditching the broadband in ireland and in the near future offering TV packages. I am one ex customer that was with them for 10+ years that will not be getting their TV service after this.

AlanS181824

INFODAD wrote: »

Heard this Huawei modem is a piece of crap anyone got experience of it?

I have it and I think it's good.

Considering it was free it's grand, has good range.

If you're really bothered you could get an 802.11ac router and use the Huawei one as a bridge.

Sully

INFODAD wrote: »

Well utv are ditching the broadband in ireland and in the near future offering TV packages. I am one ex customer that was with them for 10+ years that will not be getting their TV service after this.

I assumed they meant offering a TV Channel, not a TV Service like Sky.

INFODAD

Well utv are ditching the broadband in ireland and in the near future offering TV packages. I am one ex customer that was with them for 10+ years that will not be getting their TV service after this.

INFODAD

Sully wrote: »

I assumed they meant offering a TV Channel, not a TV Service like Sky.

My bad I was led to believe it was a TV service. Sorry for getting that one wrong I'm just very angry to be to find out what is happening from vodaphone and not UTV I guess I'm worried that vodaphone are going to be less than satisfactory to deal with and my service will suffer as a result. The TV or sky could could go in my house and no one would bat an eyelid but if the broadband starts acting up or goes there will be an uprising in the house (kids and all )

Sully

INFODAD wrote: »

My bad I was led to believe it was a TV service. Sorry for getting that one wrong I'm just very angry to be to find out what is happening from vodaphone and not UTV I guess I'm worried that vodaphone are going to be less than satisfactory to deal with and my service will suffer as a result. The TV or sky could could go in my house and no one would bat an eyelid but if the broadband starts acting up or goes there will be an uprising in the house (kids and all )

Their email says;

... it was decided that the UTV Group would focus on broadcasting and exit from non-core activities including UTV Connect.

UTV are in the process of setting up their new TV Channel in Ireland. It's highly unlikely they would enter the TV race without having broadband as an option tbh. UTV do not offer fibre, Vodafone do. So that's a help.

INFODAD

Sully wrote: »

Their email says;



UTV are in the process of setting up their new TV Channel in Ireland. It's highly unlikely they would enter the TV race without having broadband as an option tbh. UTV do not offer fibre, Vodafone do. So that's a help.

Unfortunately I live in the countryside I get a great service from utv better in fact than my Inlaws that live in Greystones much faster in fact. As for fibre I think where I live I won't see it coming to my area any time soon.

Murtx

Hi,

Just got the Vodafone letter today. I had unlimited calls to UK and Ireland and unlimited data allowance for about €41 pm. Vodafone are delighted to offer me a 40GB allowance and off-peak calls to Ireland and 200 off-peak minutes to Vodafone mobiles (which is pretty useless to me) and this for €40 pm. For me this is not a "seamless switchover" but rather a seamless reduction in service.

I don't know if I'm being entered into a new contract with Vodafone and I can't understand how no action on my part is deemed to make these changes "deemed accepted". Have UTV sold all of my data and bank details to Vodafone?

Right now, I can get Broadband/phone from 2 providers at €30 pm for 6 months and then €40 or €45. The €40 has free calls anytime in Ireland, the other free off-peak, both are unlimited data. Seems a no-brainer to switch now. eFibre is shown as available in my area, however the test says not available yet. (I currently get about 7Mbs)

I'm interested to hear what others have to say.
Murt

Sully

Murtx wrote: »

Hi,

Just got the Vodafone letter today. I had unlimited calls to UK and Ireland and unlimited data allowance for about €41 pm. Vodafone are delighted to offer me a 40GB allowance and off-peak calls to Ireland and 200 off-peak minutes to Vodafone mobiles (which is pretty useless to me) and this for €40 pm. For me this is not a "seamless switchover" but rather a seamless reduction in service.

I don't know if I'm being entered into a new contract with Vodafone and I can't understand how no action on my part is deemed to make these changes "deemed accepted". Have UTV sold all of my data and bank details to Vodafone?

Right now, I can get Broadband/phone from 2 providers at €30 pm for 6 months and then €40 or €45. The €40 has free calls anytime in Ireland, the other free off-peak, both are unlimited data. Seems a no-brainer to switch now. eFibre is shown as available in my area, however the test says not available yet. (I currently get about 7Mbs)

I'm interested to hear what others have to say.
Murt

Vodafone & Sky, to the best of my knowledge, are the only two companies offering international calls. Eircom used to offer UK calls for an extra 7.50 but it was minutes based and was scrapped in fibre areas IIRC.

You're not in a contract until 30 days from receipt of the letter.

deaglan169

digiweb are offering to me as i cant get fibre 24mb broadband, 350gb download allowence
Free WiFi Router
Free VoIP service
Free local & national calls evenings & weekends
Free UK Landline calls evenings & weekends
Free 30 minutes Irish & UK mobile calls evenings & weekends

all this for €39.95 but a €49 once off setup fee which is a bit steep

Sully

deaglan169 wrote: »

digiweb are offering to me as i cant get fibre 24mb broadband, 350gb download allowence
Free WiFi Router
Free VoIP service
Free local & national calls evenings & weekends
Free UK Landline calls evenings & weekends
Free 30 minutes Irish & UK mobile calls evenings & weekends

all this for €39.95 but a €49 once off setup fee which is a bit steep

Careful with the VoIP service. Sometimes the call quality isn't great, and your phone needs to be connected to the modem (in some cases).

Lissavane

Murtx wrote: »

Hi,

Just got the Vodafone letter today. I had unlimited calls to UK and Ireland and unlimited data allowance for about €41 pm. Vodafone are delighted to offer me a 40GB allowance and off-peak calls to Ireland and 200 off-peak minutes to Vodafone mobiles (which is pretty useless to me) and this for €40 pm. For me this is not a "seamless switchover" but rather a seamless reduction in service.

I don't know if I'm being entered into a new contract with Vodafone and I can't understand how no action on my part is deemed to make these changes "deemed accepted". Have UTV sold all of my data and bank details to Vodafone?

Right now, I can get Broadband/phone from 2 providers at €30 pm for 6 months and then €40 or €45. The €40 has free calls anytime in Ireland, the other free off-peak, both are unlimited data. Seems a no-brainer to switch now. eFibre is shown as available in my area, however the test says not available yet. (I currently get about 7Mbs)

I'm interested to hear what others have to say.
Murt

I'm in a similar situation, slightly different plan but more than adequate for my needs.

I have no use for free calls to vodafone mobiles from my landline.

Inclusive off-peak calls to Britain were important to me. The only options available in my area seem to be Vodafone or Eircom. Either of these will probably cost me E10 per month more than UTV for my usage pattern.

I've heard mainly negative reports about Vodafone customer support. Looks like I'll have no option but to return to Eircom having been with UTV Internet since it was established. We've been treated very shodilly.

deaglan169

Sully wrote: »

Careful with the VoIP service. Sometimes the call quality isn't great, and your phone needs to be connected to the modem (in some cases).

ahh so its not a traditional phone line as such calls routed over broadband

Comhrá

Got my Vodafone letter this morning. I have a new On Networks router http://www.on-networks.com/products/routers/n300.aspx which I like and I'm wondering if I can continue to use this router instead the Huawei HG558c when Vodafone comes on stream?

Also, not being too tech savvy, have I to do any configuring online with settings for the new account or does it happen automatically? I want to avoid an outage during changeover if possible.

Any advice appreciated.

Whopper75

tippman1 wrote: »

Got my Vodafone letter this morning. I have a new On Networks router which I like and I'm wondering if I can continue to use this router instead the Huawei HG558c when Vodafone comes on stream?

Also, not being too tech savvy, have I to do any configuring online with settings for the new account or does it happen automatically? I want to avoid an outage during changeover if possible.

Any advice appreciated.

I was just looking into the same thing myself. Basically the Huawei seems to be supplied free and will come in the post but there's nothing (yet) to suggest you MUST use it - as in if the Vodaphone service specifically requires it.

I found a help article on Vodaphone's Support site which answers the question: How do I configure my existing modem for Vodafone settings? As a long-time-lurker-first-time-poster I can't send a link but if you go to vodaphone.ie/help > Home Phone and Broadband > Set-up & installation guides - and it's the first thing on the page after [along with some other questions that people will no doubt be asking over the next month I reckon].

I don't see why setting up our own routers instead wouldn't work as instructions are given by Vodaphone to do so but I'll admit I've no experience with proprietary modems having been with UTV for over 10 years.

ED E

You'll be able to use your own gear. You need to set it to open a PPPoE connection with:
vodafone@vodafone.ie
broadband

If your router is just a router you'll need to bridge a DSL modem, if its a gateway with both then you'll need to set the adsl settings too:
LLC Snap encoding
Vpi 8
Vci 35
If applicable set auto between adsl and asld2+

I suspect vodafone may well.keep the utv pppoe details alive for a good while to save hassle.

Murtx

Hi tippman1,

(seems I can't quote you in the normal way because I'm a newbie round here!)

I can't see any reason why you can't use your current router with the Vodafone modem/router. I guess you will have to input some settings to the Vodafone modem when it arrives but that should be straightforward. (I'm assuming your N300 is just a router and it is currently connected to a broadband modem?)

I'm currently using a Netgear N600 router with a TPLink Modem/Router connected to UTV Internet. I'm more than a little rusty on Networking, but I think it's unlikely that you'll have to change router settings.

For the other comments on my post above, ta to all.

Regards,
Murt

bluemachaveli

Murtx wrote: »

Hi,

Just got the Vodafone letter today. I had unlimited calls to UK and Ireland and unlimited data allowance for about €41 pm. Vodafone are delighted to offer me a 40GB allowance and off-peak calls to Ireland and 200 off-peak minutes to Vodafone mobiles (which is pretty useless to me) and this for €40 pm. For me this is not a "seamless switchover" but rather a seamless reduction in service.

I don't know if I'm being entered into a new contract with Vodafone and I can't understand how no action on my part is deemed to make these changes "deemed accepted". Have UTV sold all of my data and bank details to Vodafone?

Right now, I can get Broadband/phone from 2 providers at €30 pm for 6 months and then €40 or €45. The €40 has free calls anytime in Ireland, the other free off-peak, both are unlimited data. Seems a no-brainer to switch now. eFibre is shown as available in my area, however the test says not available yet. (I currently get about 7Mbs)

I'm interested to hear what others have to say.
Murt

You have the option to opt out and move to a different provider within 30 days. Just contact UTV support. If you don't move you will be entered into a new contract.

cdebru

I just got the same letter from Vodafone, but I haven't been a UTV connect customer for about 8 or 9 years, why do UTV still have my information on file ? And why are they sharing it with Vodafone when I haven't been a customer for so long ? Why are Vodafone giving me 30 days to contact them or else they will automatically sign me up for a service ? I don't even have a phone line.

Cabaal

bluemachaveli wrote: »

You have the option to opt out and move to a different provider within 30 days. Just contact UTV support. If you don't move you will be entered into a new contract.

Thats not entirely accurate,
They can't just put you into a new contract, they can however force you to complete your existing contract (if you're in one) after the 30 days pass.

Beano

cdebru wrote: »

I just got the same letter from Vodafone, but I haven't been a UTV connect customer for about 8 or 9 years, why do UTV still have my information on file ? And why are they sharing it with Vodafone when I haven't been a customer for so long ? Why are Vodafone giving me 30 days to contact them or else they will automatically sign me up for a service ? I don't even have a phone line.

Unless you have only switched to Utv less than 12 months ago i cannot see how the switch to vodafone will affect your ability to switch providers. They may "sign you up for a service" but i cannot see how they stop you from switching providers at any time, irrespective of the 30 days. There was certainly no mention in the Vodafone letter of a minimum commitment after the switchover.

Duzzie

Cabaal wrote: »

Thats not entirely accurate,
They can't just put you into a new contract, they can however force you to complete your existing contract (if you're in one) after the 30 days pass.

I have been on to them and asked them whether if I opt for a different package to the one suggested, would I be tied to a new contract (been with utv for 10 odd years). They could not tell me. The telephone number on the Vodafone letter is a utv number and they cannot make any changes, just pass on info to Vodafone. Was told that a Vodafone rep would contact me "at some point before the change over". The person I spoke to seemed unsure about what was happening. The whole changeover appears to have been poorly planned, I hope it is not an indication of the sort of service from Vodafone.

eagle eye

I got the letter today. I only joined UTV connect a couple of months ago. I've had no problems with them at all and the speeds have been pretty decent. Just done a test now and it seems a little lower than normal and I've got fibre.

I don't know anything about Vodafone, I do remember a few years back when you couldn't use SKYPE on their broadband, is this still the case?

From my reading of it the new contract comes into affect on the 1st July unless your contact them before then.

I really don't know what to do myself. I won't go with eircom but what other options are there for fibre broadband? I know SKY don't do fibre.

Sully

eircom are over priced. Vodafone are cheaper and offer more. Sky would be worth a punt but there not doing fibre and only just about to start doing new line installs.

ofcork

Vodafone have some good offers def cheaper than eircom,I have anytime landline call ire and uk,100 mins to mobiles,unlimited fibre bb getting 47meg always for 44.50 pm,so worth checking out.

Azhrei

Interesting that people have been getting emails from UTV and letters from Vodafone when we haven't gotten anything from either of them yet.

AmberSolace

Very annoying; and out of the blue too and with UTV since 2004, never had any bother. Not in the mood to suffer Vodafone am going over to Horizon essential bundle from UPC ...

galtee boy

AlanS181824 wrote: »

I have it and I think it's good.

Considering it was free it's grand, has good range.

If you're really bothered you could get an 802.11ac router and use the Huawei one as a bridge.

Do we not need the Vodafone modem to switch over to fibre broadband ? I too have been an UTV Connect customer for years, but my area was just enabled for fibre a few weeks ago, do I not need to change my existing modem to avail of the new fibre broadband when I move to Vodafone on July 1st ?

INFODAD

galtee boy wrote: »

Do we not need the Vodafone modem to switch over to fibre broadband ? I too have been an UTV Connect customer for years, but my area was just enabled for fibre a few weeks ago, do I not need to change my existing modem to avail of the new fibre broadband when I move to Vodafone on July 1st ?

I asked could I use my existing modem which is a net gear and was told no that a new modem would be provided because of compatability? I don't have a fibre line

galtee boy

INFODAD wrote: »

I asked could I use my existing modem which is a net gear and was told no that a new modem would be provided because of compatability? I don't have a fibre line

They may be future proofing, for when you do get fibre ?

galtee boy

Also, it seems you will get a €3 a month discount from Vodafone on top of whatever package they offer you, if you are a Vodafone bill pay mobile customer.

chasm

galtee boy wrote: »

Also, it seems you will get a €3 a month discount from Vodafone on top of whatever package they offer you, if you are a Vodafone bill pay mobile customer.

I'm not a VF bill pay customer but they offered a 3 euro discount on top of my package - still dearer than what UTV was though

galtee boy

chasm wrote: »

I'm not a VF bill pay customer but they offered a 3 euro discount on top of my package - still dearer than what UTV was though

I know it might be still dearer, but that €3 discount is supposed to be for bill pay mobile customers only, so hang on to it.

guil

galtee boy wrote: »

I know it might be still dearer, but that €3 discount is supposed to be for bill pay mobile customers only, so hang on to it.

Vodafone offer a €10 discount on phone and broadband for customers on red mobile plans.

crawler

galtee boy wrote: »

They may be future proofing, for when you do get fibre ?

The modem VF will send is the HG658c which supports both standard broadband and Fibre broadband (i.e. it supports ADSL & VDSL)

ITBhoy

I call the UK a lot so thinking of switching over to UPC , €37 ,which is the same offer VF made me , main difference is that UPC give you 400 mins to international destinations , VF only 100 mins

crawler

ITBhoy wrote: »

I call the UK a lot so thinking of switching over to UPC , €37 ,which is the same offer VF made me , main difference is that UPC give you 400 mins to international destinations , VF only 100 mins

Or look at this if you call the UK a lot - unlimited minutes.

Just a thought

http://www.vodafone.ie/home-phone-broadband/home-extra/