Cheapest Broadband+Home Phone Package in Cork

AwaitYourReply

Hi all,

My mother is an old age pensioner who lives in the suburbs just outside Cork City. She signed up to Smart Telecom for Home Phone+Broadband a few years ago and Smart Telecom was later taken over by Digiweb. When the government removed the Free Telephone Allowance as part of cuts announced in Budget 2014, Digiweb introduced a unique benefit whereby; all those who had previously qualified for the Free Telephone Allowance would receive a discount of €9.50 Per Month X 12 Months each year which amounted to a total saving of €114.00 per year to OAP customers who stayed with Digiweb.

Recently, we were informed by letter that Digiweb intends on terminating the LLU Broadband in our area in Cork so; customers have been told that lines will need to be Upgraded to a newer technology. When I subsequently spoke to Digiweb on the phone and asked some probing question on how it would effect my mother's existing package bundle, I discovered almost by accident that the Upgrade would also result in the ending of the Digiweb Telephone Allowance (DTA) scheme put in place for OAP customers but this was never referenced anywhere in their correspondence.

My mother is quite satisfied with her existing LLU Broadband + Home Landline Phone package but if we wish to retain similar package, Digiweb now intends to charge significantly more even AFTER a goodwill gesture/promo discounts are applied. She was paying close to €300.00 per year but this will increase to almost €450.00 per year after they have applied various discounts for 1st year on new package. The cost difference is an additional +€150.00 for an elderly pensioner who has not sought faster fibre broadband as she is quite happy with the existing service and benefits.

Anyone know if any of the other providers in Cork City area intend to retain/offer a much cheaper Broadband+Landline Home Phone package if Digiweb is determined to proceed in this way.

My mother currently gets following in existing package:
"DTA Home Broadband w Talk Off Peak ST"
LLU Broadband Internet (light use)
Landline Telephone Line Rental included
All Calls to Ireland+UK Landlines during Off-Peak (Evenings & Weekends)
Package should cost €35.09 approx. but due to Digiweb DTA discount the price is adjusted downwards for an OAP customer to €25.00 approx per month if paid by Direct Debit.

I have not heard if government plans to restore the Free Telephone Allowance for old age pensioners as part of Budget 2018. I gather Digiweb will remove the DTA allowance for OAP customers in all areas of the country where they provide an existing service as soon as the LLU Broadband is terminated and upgraded Broadband is installed.

There now appears to be a noticeable gap in the market for such clients in Cork and perhaps elsewhere in Ireland whereby; OAPs who are already used to receiving the Telephone Allowance discount from Digiweb are not just going to be hit with the removal of this valuable benefit but also facing more expensive options as Broadband/Home Phone infrastructure is being upgraded.

Anyone have suggestions for an OAP looking to keep costs down as low as possible whilst trying to retain similar package to present. With planned increases already signalled in respect of electricity & home heating & petrol/diesel coming down the tracks over the coming weeks/months, I am concerned by all these increases and now the additional +€150.00 for Broadband+Landline Phone.

Thats me

Since Digiweb telling about "upgrade" to newer technology - this is likely about upgrade to fibre.
If they can resell eir's fibre in that area then other resellers (eir, vodafone, sky, magnet) are likely can too.

Cheapest option what i found to the time (i'm on the same boat) is Sky offering similar package for 30 euro/month for 12 months. After 12 months term ends it will be 55 or 45 euro/month depending on the package, but she can switch to another provider whichever will be cheapest to the time. To my taste Sky has terrible customer support, but for old age pensioner's needs this should not be very significant.

AwaitYourReply

Thats me wrote: »

Since Digiweb telling about "upgrade" to newer technology - this is likely about upgrade to fibre.
If they can resell eir's fibre in that area then other resellers (eir, vodafone, sky, magnet) are likely can too.

Cheapest option what i found to the time (i'm on the same boat) is Sky offering similar package for 30 euro/month for 12 months. After 12 months term ends it will be 55 or 45 euro/month depending on the package, but she can switch to another provider whichever will be cheapest to the time. To my taste Sky has terrible customer support, but for old age pensioner's needs this should not be very significant.

Digiweb would appear to be anxious to terminate existing customers who are still receiving their LLU Broadband service and it seems this is also a very convenient way of getting those existing customers who are pensioners off the Digiweb Telephone Allowance (DTA) as the upgrade to fibre broadband plans are effectively new 12 month agreements which will NOT involve the DTA monthly discount benefit put in place for pensioners into the future.

At the moment, "Sky Fibre Unlimited & Talk Freetime" package bundle seems to be a more competitive provider having checked price comparison sites such as Bonkers.ie and Switcher.ie - It's worth some consideration for the initial 12 Months minimum contract period but then one would then need to drop Sky as a provider again given that the price increases significantly after the initial 12 months period has passed.

Thanks for your input and advice on same.

Slippin Jimmy

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Digiweb would appear to be anxious to terminate existing customers who are still receiving their LLU Broadband service and it seems this is also a very convenient way of getting those existing customers who are pensioners off the Digiweb Telephone Allowance (DTA) as the upgrade to fibre broadband plans are effectively new 12 month agreements which will NOT involve the DTA monthly discount benefit put in place for pensioners into the future.

At the moment, "Sky Fibre Unlimited & Talk Freetime" package bundle seems to be a more competitive provider having checked price comparison sites such as Bonkers.ie and Switcher.ie - It's worth some consideration for the initial 12 Months minimum contract period but then one would then need to drop Sky as a provider again given that the price increases significantly after the initial 12 months period has passed.

Thanks for your input and advice on same.

Just keep in mind that Skys customer support is brutal when it comes to phone and broadband issues. You are made jump through so many hoops before they will fix it.

jelly&icecream

I just got a similar call from Digiweb (also a old smart telecom customer). I don't get the OAP discount was was getting a pretty good deal (29.95/month for broadband). This is in Dublin. I had to laugh at the pseudo-techy reasoning they gave about LLU and poor performance.

They're clearly trying to jack up the prices for those of us who are on good deals. I'll probably switch out of principle.

AwaitYourReply

jelly&icecream wrote: »

I just got a similar call from Digiweb (also a old smart telecom customer). I don't get the OAP discount was was getting a pretty good deal (29.95/month for broadband). This is in Dublin. I had to laugh at the pseudo-techy reasoning they gave about LLU and poor performance.

They're clearly trying to jack up the prices for those of us who are on good deals. I'll probably switch out of principle.

One gets the distinct impression that Digiweb is now taking advantage of pensioners, who would tend to be a more vulnerable cohort of their existing customer base. The result of all this is also coming at a time when the PSO Levy increases, Electricity tariffs also set to increase not to mention rises in Home Heating fuel and so on. Let's remember that it was Digiweb that took the high moral ground when as a company it introduced this important lifeline for OAP customers following the government axing of the Free Telephone Allowance as part of Budget 2014 cutbacks. The whole reason customers like my mother remained with Digiweb was due to the fact that it offered a satisfactory service at a very affordable price - that is, before we discovered that their Upgrade broadband programme will result in a significant hike in charges for existing old age pensioners.

Below is a sample of articles published in October 2013 when Digiweb first introduced the Telephone Allowance for old age pensioners.

https://switcher.ie/blog/broadband-tv-home-phone/digiweb-helps-pensioners-overcome-telephone-allowance-cut-in-budget-2014/

http://www.pressreader.com/ireland/the-argus/20131023/281599533237572

I've yet to read anything official in the media in relation to Digiweb's intention to withdraw this benefit but it was indicated to me in private correspondence that the Digiweb Telephone Allowance (DTA) scheme would end once the LLU Broadband is terminated in our local area. Following several attempts to convey the negative impact, Digiweb did not seem to understand that their offer of a goodwill gesture/discounts was completely ineffective if it was going to mean that an existing OAP customer already paying in the region of €300.00 Per Year would now need to pay €450.00 instead even if they are not requesting an upgrade to their broadband/home phone package. An extra + €150.00 is a lot of money to anyone on low/fixed incomes such as a pensioner.

Digiweb is at risk of losing all the goodwill they had established since 2014 by the whole way this new policy is being implemented as it unwelcome. Digiweb as a company, also needs to better empower it's Customer Care team when it comes to offering adequate & meaningful resolutions that are more likely to find favour with dissatisfied customers. Offering a series of discounts/incentives/goodwill gesture that still results in the said customer paying a significant increase in something like an Upgrade that they have not even requested is just not a good way to proceed if Digiweb hopes to retain their existing customers.

inel

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

At the moment, "Sky Fibre Unlimited & Talk Freetime" package bundle seems to be a more competitive provider having checked price comparison sites such as Bonkers.ie and Switcher.ie - It's worth some consideration for the initial 12 Months minimum contract period but then one would then need to drop Sky as a provider again given that the price increases significantly after the initial 12 months period has passed.

Also got this letter about upgrading to 'newer' technology. No mention about price increase but they are asking to contact them.

Can I ask if you managed to get a better deal from sky at the moment? (such as, covering the 50 euro upfront cost for new customers for example)

AwaitYourReply

inel wrote: »

Also got this letter about upgrading to 'newer' technology. No mention about price increase but they are asking to contact them.

Can I ask if you managed to get a better deal from sky at the moment? (such as, covering the 50 euro upfront cost for new customers for example)

I had some back+forth communication with a Sky Ireland Representative who outlined some information on the "Sky Fibre Unlimited & Talk Freetime" package that is already advertised via price comparison sites such as: Switcher.ie and Bonkers.ie etc; Unfortunately the package does not cover the ability of having UK calls included so; the Sky Ireland Rep also mentioned the "Sky Talk Anytime" product which comes at an additional cost per month.

I understand that the Sky Ireland Reps. are not permitted to negotiate deals with customers as all this is handled directly through the Sky Sales Dept. If you make contact with a Sky Ireland Rep via Boards.ie, I'm sure that they can arrange for a customer to be contacted back by a Sky Sales Agent working in the Sales Dept. during normal business hours.

As I've not had direct communications with a "Sky Sales Agent" to date, I'm not sure how much scope they actually have at their discretion to secure a deal from a "NEW" Customer looking for attractive packages at lowest possible prices over a 12 month period. Like you said, you can have additional costs such as Set-Up Fees at 50.00EUR and if you want the ability to call UK Landlines it seems you would incur yet another additional cost of 7.50EUR per month and when you calculate the extra costs it soon starts to look a lot more expensive that the initial promotion advertised. The devil is in the detail and it all depends on your requirements.

For example:
If a customer is considering a switch from another provider such as an Old Age Pensioner who may be accustomed to receiving other valuable benefits like a Free Telephone Allowance, a calls bundle that provided Free Calls to both Ireland+UK Landlines during Off-Peak then this package is going to cost you a lot more unless Sky is willing to be flexible if they are anxious to sign up New Customers for 12 month contracts.

Sky Fibre Unlimited & Talk Freetime promotional package:
30.00EUR X 12 Months = 360.00EUR

Additional Costs:
50.00EUR Set-Up Fee
7.50EUR X 12 Months = 90.00EUR (Sky Talk Anytime) add-on charge if you need Calls to UK landlines to be covered.

Grand Total Cost for Year One:
500.00EUR

N.B.
30.00EUR Per Month Charge increases to 55.00EUR X 12 Months = 660.00EUR in Year Two which will result in a major increase in package price from 13th month onwards. If you need the UK calls included (Sky Talk Anytime add-on) you are talking 750.00EUR which is a huge cost.

Slippin Jimmy

They can only offer what is available on their website. There's no special deals that they can do on phone and broadband.

AwaitYourReply

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

They can only offer what is available on their website. There's no special deals that they can do on phone and broadband.

You would be quite surprised what a Sales Dept. in a company can do in the services industry especially; if they really need to hit certain targets in order to secure "New Business". I would be surprised if Sales agents had absolutely zero latitude or discretion but if that is your personal experience with Sky then that's fair enough. Unfortunately, many companies can often take their existing customer base for granted which is not wise as unhappy customers will switch once they are out of contract.

Thats me

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Grand Total Cost for Year One:
500.00EUR

N.B.
30.00EUR Per Month Charge increases to 55.00EUR X 12 Months = 660.00EUR in Year Two which will result in a major increase in package price from 13th month onwards. If you need the UK calls included (Sky Talk Anytime add-on) you are talking 750.00EUR which is a huge cost.

BTW, how much all of this would cost her if she would prefer to stay with digiweb?

inel

I would also expect that there is always some space for negotiation when contacting the Sales Dept., it is a common practice even on a per customer basis, but especially this occurs when companies want to prevent you from switching to another provider.

Unfortunately, there is a very poor offering of affordable broadband+phone packages through the fixed network currently in the Irish market, if any at all. Why someone should be obliged to pay crazy prices for connectivity/speeds that doesn't ever need? There are no options really available.

The only package that I can find at the 30euro price level, similar to the one that Smart Telecom/Digiweb used to offer (24Mbps down/ 1Mbps up), is the one from Magnet (1rst year cost 354.99 euro). But again it is only Broadband and doesn't even offer a basic telephone service.

AwaitYourReply

As my mother is an old age pensioner (OAP) and has been an existing customer in receipt of the Digiweb Telephone Allowance (DTA), the best deal they were prepared to offer her after goodwill gesture & promo discounts are all included means the Total Cost at End of Year One = 449.40EUR with no other upfront costs and they will not tie her into a 12 month contract if she proceeds. This price quote reflects a goodwill gesture that would be awarded to my mother over a phased period of 6 months if she later decides to upgrade with Digiweb so; I would imagine that the same package would cost more for other customers especially those who are not already in receipt of the DTA allowance with Digiweb.

Like I said, the price difference between LLU Broadband + Home Phone package has meant her costs increase from a figure in the region of 300.00EUR to almost 450.00EUR which is an increase of +150.00EUR over a 12 month period. The upgrade package is best described as fibre broadband lite & off peak calls. There is no indication of what costs would apply if she continued with this plan after an initial 12 month period.

In the meantime, we will continue with the existing LLU Broadband & Home Phone from Digiweb while that particular service is still in operation as the service has been satisfactory and great value mainly due to the DTA 9.50EUR Off Discount per month X 12 months given to old age pensioners from January 2014 to date. Unfortunately, the existing LLU Broadband+Phone service will eventually cease once the local exchange is closed down in the coming months and the DTA discount for pensioners will not continue following upgrade to newer technology which is a pity for all those OAPs like my mother.

AwaitYourReply

inel wrote: »

I would also expect that there is always some space for negotiation when contacting the Sales Dept., it is a common practice even on a per customer basis, but especially this occurs when companies want to prevent you from switching to another provider.

Unfortunately, there is a very poor offering of affordable broadband+phone packages through the fixed network currently in the Irish market, if any at all. Why someone should be obliged to pay crazy prices for connectivity/speeds that doesn't ever need? There are no options really available.

The only package that I can find at the 30euro price level, similar to the one that Smart Telecom/Digiweb used to offer (24Mbps down/ 1Mbps up), is the one from Magnet (1rst year cost 354.99 euro). But again it is only Broadband and doesn't even offer a basic telephone service.

I think I came across this myself as I also took a glance at Magnet's website in recent days.

To be honest, I'm not against improvements in broadband connectivity speeds as advancements in technology should also mean that older legacy infrastructure such as LLU broadband that is due for replacement should result in better cost efficiency for both providers and consumers alike. With this should come more competitive price points across the board once the new technology such as fibre becomes the norm rather than a luxury product.

Unfortunately, the Irish market would now appear to be pushing price points to a much higher level with the introduction of this newer technology which is of huge concern as the cost of living seems to be increasing at an alarming rate despite incomes levels and inflation remaining almost static for nearly 10 years in Ireland and further afield.

A new series of the RTÉ TV programme "Rip-Off Republic" should be commissioned once again to highlight this worrying trend of goods/services imposing price increases across a whole variety of everyday essential services. We have the PSO Levy increasing, Electricity tariffs rising, Home Heating fuel is expected to rise, Broadband/Landline connectivity increasing with closure of LLU and so on etc;

Thats me

Since digiweb's offer is "off peak calls" i'd think it would be more correct to compare Sky's offer with no "talk unlimited" 500 - 90 = 410 EUR.
Or Digiweb with "talk unlimited" would add 7 EUR according to their web-site, so price will be 449.40 + 84 = 533.4 EUR.

So even with their good will gestures, Digiweb appears to be less affordable option.

Also, you could check her usage for some the last period - is "talk unlimited" option really needed? If she calling over off-peak periods or may be some people are reachable by means of Skype/Viber/Whatsapp then she probably would not need unlimited calls at all. There are also VoIP services offering calls to UK landlines as cheap as 1.5 cent/min (first what i found in Google, there can be better options).

Thats me

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

With this should come more competitive price points

More competitive prices can come with competition only.

AwaitYourReply

Thats me wrote: »

Since digiweb's offer is "off peak calls" i'd think it would be more correct to compare Sky's offer with no "talk unlimited" 500 - 90 = 410 EUR.
Or Digiweb with "talk unlimited" would add 7 EUR according to their web-site, so price will be 449.40 + 84 = 533.4 EUR.

So even with their good will gestures, Digiweb appears to be less affordable option.

Also, you could check her usage for some the last period - is "talk unlimited" option really needed? If she calling over off-peak periods or may be some people are reachable by means of Skype/Viber/Whatsapp then she probably would not need unlimited calls at all. There are also VoIP services offering calls to UK landlines as cheap as 1.5 cent/min (first what i found in Google, there can be better options).

All of the current promotions advertised by the various providers in respect of Broadband & Home Phone bundles are less affordable options as the LLU Broadband disappears altogether.

Of course I could move away from the Home Phone Landline altogether and use VoIP but it would not be fair on my mother as it would take away her independence as she would struggle with technology and apps etc; My mother can barely answer the landline nowadays and I'm also very conscious of her contacts in Ireland+UK who like to ring her and who may not be tech savvy themselves either on their side.

Always a tricky one but thanks for sharing your input all the same.

Perhaps, bundle prices for fibre lite + home phone will begin to fall in due course if a price war breaks out amongst the various providers before Christmas? We live in hope!

AwaitYourReply

Thats me wrote: »

More competitive prices can come with competition only.

This is so true!
We need several new firms to launch in the Irish market.
I wonder if the below announcement can result in new promotional deals that are cheaper than Sky Ireland's current offerings?

"BT Ireland secure Sky Ireland broadband deal" article
as published in Cork City's Evening Echo online edition dated: 03/10/2017

http://www.eveningecho.ie/businessnews/BT-Ireland-secure-Sky-Ireland-broadband-deal-06ecaecd-de65-4a4e-82e2-076caf45afb2-ds