ozleicester Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 Hi folks, I seem to remember old topics regarding the best phone deals etc, but hope you would help me with some "current" suggestions. We are moving to England in July, will need Sim card, mobile broadband, electricity, a car... and pretty much everything else. I think a few of the fine folk here are involved in the industry so hopefully you can give me a few tips? Also... we will be living somewhere in the midlands.. hehe not quite sure where yet. Are there any suburbs/locations we should definitly avoid? see you at the game ....
Bugg Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 Avoid TalkTalk at all costs, they are absolutely hopeless.
James. Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 Avoid TalkTalk at all costs, they are absolutely hopeless. Just in case you didn't quite get that the first time - avoid TalkTalk at all costs, they are absolutely hopeless. After moving house I spent 5 months trying to get them to cut off my old line. After 5 months of repeatedly telling them they were still trying to charge me for my old account they went and cut off my new one by accident. I now have no phone or internet and they told me it would take 3 weeks to get me reconnected. So I cancelled my contract with them and I now spend my time spreading the word about how embarrasingly useless they are. Avoid.
Dr The Singh Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 Just in case you didn't quite get that the first time - avoid TalkTalk at all costs, they are absolutely hopeless. After moving house I spent 5 months trying to get them to cut off my old line. After 5 months of repeatedly telling them they were still trying to charge me for my old account they went and cut off my new one by accident. I now have no phone or internet and they told me it would take 3 weeks to get me reconnected. So I cancelled my contract with them and I now spend my time spreading the word about how embarrasingly useless they are. Avoid. And if you didn't get it the second time avoid TalkTalk at any cost!!!
AoWW Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 I've always been impressed with Sky Broadband (I know others have had less than satisfactory experiences though) and if you have Sky TV (and home phone) through them as well they offer some cracking deals. Mobile networks - all as hopeless as each other really. Generally I'd suggest to avoid 3 and Orange as their coverage is generally patchier. If possible, wait to decide which network to go with until you've decided where you're gonna be living - then you can ask around neighbours, etc, and see who they're with. Nothing worse than ending up tied into a contract with the one provider where you can't get a reception inside your own house. At mine, for example, I can only get a reception indoors with Vodafone - so I'm kinda stuck with them. Perhaps buy a cheap Pay as you Go (from any supermarket etc) to get you going initially before committing to a contract? Some of the providers offer very good SIM only deals, if you've already got a decent phone and don't want to upgrade it too frequently. Cheap furniture - check out IKEA... oh, hang on, blokes seem to be inherently allergic to the place - probably better to get your wife to check out Ikea. Tis well worth trying to get stuff on eBay too, when you're first kitting somewhere out. Cars - everyone has an 'expert' opinion and you'll always find someone who'll tell you that whatever you're thinking of buying is the worst possible purchase ever / you'll live to regret it, etc, etc. If you're looking for something secondhand, I'd suggest the autotrader website as you can search by numerous options and look for cars local to where you're based. Personally I'd avoid buying from a private seller as if you buy through a dealer you can usually get at least 3 months warranty. Yes, you can be sure something will go wrong the day after your warranty expires but at least you'll have had some reassurance if you happen to buy a complete lemon. Car insurance - get on the phone and shop around. Massively ridiculous differences in quotes from different companies for no apparent reason. Where to avoid.... hmm, how long have you got.....?! Very much depends on whether you want a city or rural location. There are lovely areas of the midlands - and those living in the area will be far better placed to make suggestions than me. Personally, off the top of my head, I'd avoid: Birmingham (unless you're in a really swanky area); Nottingham, Kettering/Corby, Coalville, Coventry, Daventry, etc. Problem you'll find is areas can change very dramatically - even in more rural areas. Corby is a dump, for example (apologies anyone from Corby!) whereas Market Harborough (which is only about 6 miles away) is lovely. The Rutland area (Uppingham, Oakham) is lovely if you want rural - but relatively expensive. Once you narrow your search area down a bit I'm sure folks on here will be able to tell you more. Do you have school-age children? If so, consider the local schools carefully too - and don't just assume that because you move into 'village x' they'll be guaranteed a place in the local school... more and more good schools are becoming over-subscribed so you can't always get your children in your first choice school. The Ofsted website is worth a look too - they carry out inspections of schools and rank them from schools in 'special measures' at the lower end of the scale (school has some major issues,,, tread carefully and ask on here, some schools in special measures are fine - they've had a kick up the arse and are now getting it together) - through 'satisfactory' (hmm, ok - school has some issues) - to 'good' (generally a very good standard of education) - to 'outstanding' (as it says, really, but can often be quite 'driven' and a little pretentious). (All those in education - don't shoot me - just my opinion, feel free to disagree!!!) Anything else - feel free to ask.
Alexikokopops Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 Both Sky and Virgin offer good deals for TV/Phone/Broadband, plus Virgin do Mobile Broadband and Mobiles as well. Virgin and Sky have announced a deal today as well that Virgin are getting Sky Sports and Movie HD channels plus the red button functionality on Sky Sports, so there's not too much difference between them TV wise. Virgin have the better broadband, but you have to be in a cable area, which is only about 55% of the country to get all these things. Ultimately it comes down to price really.
Narborough_fox Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 O2 isn't to bad either I personally get brilliant reception almost anywhere on my moblie, just out of interest are you moving to Leicester?
Alexikokopops Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 O2 isn't to bad either I personally get brilliant reception almost anywhere on my moblie, just out of interest are you moving to Leicester? I know a lot of people who have had problems because they haven't upgraded their network to keep up with the number of iPhone users they've got using a lot of data etc and as a result it can be really slow. You couldn't do anything on an O2 phone during Notting Hill carnival last year for example. Vodafone (just an example) on the other hand did a lot of work upgrading their network in anticipation of the Blackberry Storm (gash phone) taking off, which has served them well for getting the iPhone). This might just be a more London based thing, with the sheer concentration of people, I'm not sure what it's like elsewhere.
ozleicester Posted 4 June 2010 Author Posted 4 June 2010 Many thanks folks.. so.. ill go for talk talk for the phone and move into Corby . No, seriously thanks for the feedback. I havent settled on where to move to, .. depends a little on jobs etc, which i am well aware are in short supply, but what the hell sometimes youve got to just jump in and hope you can swim . Im figuring somewhere kind of inbetween Leicester, derby, birmingham, nottingham etc which will givehe chance to commute to any of them (or is that a little too far to commute?) Also somehwere close to shops etc would be handy.. as for Ikea.. oh god.. the horror... i already know that i will be forced to endure the swedish evils No school age kids she has grown up and is staying in OZ just the better half and myself.
AoWW Posted 4 June 2010 Posted 4 June 2010 I've never had any problems with Talktalk. You're next on their list.
ozleicester Posted 5 June 2010 Author Posted 5 June 2010 Thanks Again folks... as mentioned im looking at a few areas that are central, if anyone has time a little feedback on the following areas would be much appreciated. lets say on a scale of 1 to (gazelle) 5 1 being....... " id love to live there" ... to 5 being............ "youll be mugged shot raped or killed before you step out the door" Swadlincote Hinckley Burton on trent Asby de la zouch Coalville Atherstone thanks
Webbo Posted 5 June 2010 Posted 5 June 2010 Unless you're planning to marry your sister/mum/daughter I'd avoid Coalville.
ozleicester Posted 5 June 2010 Author Posted 5 June 2010 Unless you're planning to marry your sister/mum/daughter I'd avoid Coalville.
EmLeee Posted 7 June 2010 Posted 7 June 2010 My family pretty much all live in Ashby - lovely area and if you don't want to be in the town itself there's some nice villages around it too. Also - I've had no problems with TalkTalk either (Although this is my second attempt. First attempt the internet connection was terrible - went with them again because they're cheap and it's for our uni house)
ozleicester Posted 7 June 2010 Author Posted 7 June 2010 thanks Em, Ashby is looking like the spot at the moment
davieG Posted 7 June 2010 Posted 7 June 2010 Thanks Again folks... as mentioned im looking at a few areas that are central, if anyone has time a little feedback on the following areas would be much appreciated. lets say on a scale of 1 to (gazelle) 5 1 being....... " id love to live there" ... to 5 being............ "youll be mugged shot raped or killed before you step out the door" Swadlincote Hinckley Burton on trent Asby de la zouch Coalville Atherstone thanks I'd say Ashby's the best out of that lot, still got it's 'villagey' feel but plenty of facilities. Decent access to the M1/M6 and L / D / N.
ozleicester Posted 7 June 2010 Author Posted 7 June 2010 I'd say Ashby's the best out of that lot, still got it's 'villagey' feel but plenty of facilities. Decent access to the M1/M6 and L / D / N. Cheers Davie. edit. hmm thinking about that comment..."best of THAT lot" makes me wonder???
davieG Posted 7 June 2010 Posted 7 June 2010 Cheers Davie. edit. hmm thinking about that comment..."best of THAT lot" makes me wonder??? Wasn't intended like that.
Matty_89 Posted 7 June 2010 Posted 7 June 2010 Avoid Corby. --- Again, sky and virgin offer good packages for phone/broadband/tv. Talktalk is a no go, I'm with o2 for mobile and don't have any particular complaints with service or price.
ozleicester Posted 19 June 2010 Author Posted 19 June 2010 soo... looks like it will be 3 mobile for phone and broadband and living in swadlincote.. or burton on trent... any thoughts on anything else??
danny. Posted 19 June 2010 Posted 19 June 2010 I'd avoid 3, customer service horrendous for me, my parter and a couple of other people I know. Vodafone's customer service I have found to be great. I hear very good things about Anstey, don't live there myself tho..
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