Plusnet Broadband Review
Plusnet offers reliable broadband, cheaper fibre plans and award-winning customer service, making it one of our top picks for value for money and affordable prices from the UK’s leading broadband providers.
Pros
- Plusnet fibre broadband deals are reliable and more affordable than similar deals offered by BT and Sky.
- Plusnet also offers ultrafast (145Mbps – 500Mbps) plans at competitive prices.
- Flexible 12 month & 18 month contracts
Cons
- You can’t get TV bundles from Plusnet.
Is Plusnet broadband any good?
Plusnet offers affordable broadband and phone plans with reliable customer support, and Plusnet fibre broadband plans are very cheap compared to Virgin Media, BT and Sky and can save you a lot of money.
What does Plusnet offer?
There are three widely available Plusnet broadband plans – Unlimited (10Mbps), Unlimited Fibre (35Mbps) and Unlimited Fibre Extra (66Mbps).
- Plusnet Unlimited is an ADSL plan with an average download speed of 10Mbps and an average upload speed of 1Mbps. While slower than fibre plans, Plusnet Unlimited is great for browsing and YouTube streaming on a single device.
- Plusnet Unlimited Fibre has an average download speed of 36 Mbit/s and an average upload speed of 9 Mbit/s. Significantly faster than standard broadband, helping you stream HD video and connect multiple devices.
- Plusnet Unlimited Fibre Extra has an average download speed of 66 Mbit/s and an average upload speed of 18 Mbit/s. Fibre Extra is perfect for busy households with multiple devices. You get enough speed to download large files faster and stream HD and 4K videos without buffering.
Plusnet WiFi Routers
Plusnet offers the Basic Hub Zero Router (Plusnet 2704n) to Unlimited plan customers (ADSL). It’s perfect for ADSL speeds and has 4 ethernet connections, WPS settings and a WiFi button.
Plusnet Fibre customers receive the Hub One router, a dual-band AC wireless router with 4 gigabit connections.
Plusnet Hub One features USB connectivity and Smart Scan for faster fibre speeds for all connected devices.
Plusnet Call Plans
All Plusnet broadband and phone packages include a landline option and pay-as-you-go calls. In addition to PAYG calls, Plusnet offers free calls to Plusnet support and other Plusnet landline numbers, but customers can upgrade to the following calling plans if needed:
- Evening, weekend, UK and mobile calls
- Unlimited UK and mobile calls
- Anytime International 300 – Includes 300 anytime minutes + 25% discount on calls to 35 international destinations.
Plusnet Mobile
Plusnet is owned by BT, allowing it to offer mobile services over EE’s network, which is also owned by BT. Plusnet Mobile offers SIM-only mobile plans with extra data for its broadband customers.
No lengthy, but 30-day contracts apply. When your plan runs out of data, you can simply purchase bolt-ons for extra use, whether it’s internet access, calls, or texting.
- All mobile plans come with a 30 day contract
- Plusnet provides mobile services over EE’s 4G network, which has 95% coverage in the UK.
- No additional charges for tethering
- Plusnet Mobile plans offer discounts and data boost to Plusnet broadband customers.
- UK based customer service is available 365 days a year.
Customer Service
According to Ofcom’s 2022 Customer Satisfaction Report, Plusnet performed averagely, with 79% of customers satisfied with its service.
Plusnet customers are generally satisfied with the service they receive, the number of complaints appears to have decreased and complaint handling has improved markedly.
The same report revealed that Plusnet was the best landline provider with the most satisfied customers (83%).
However, reviews on Trustpilot aren’t all that positive, it only gets a 2.1 out of 5. Many users have complained about customer service and the recent price hike.
Plusnet or TalkTalk?
Many people prefer TalkTalk and Plusnet because of their lower prices and good value for money. Both TalkTalk and Plusnet are budget providers that offer free installation and lots of free stuff like vouchers and reward cards. So which one is better for you?
One of the main advantages of Talktalk broadband is that it offers an extensive range of fibre broadband plans and TV packages, compared to Plusnet.
TalkTalk Full Fibre Broadband is faster than Plusnet Full Fibre and offers asymmetric upload speeds in CityFibre areas, while Plusnet offers slower upload speeds on the Openreach network.
Also, TalkTalk offers better deals than Plusnet when it comes to ultra-fast plans.
However, TalkTalk was often included in Ofcom’s customer satisfaction surveys for the wrong reasons due to poor customer service. In comparison, Plusnet is more reliable and offers better customer service than TalkTalk.
According to Ofcom’s 2022 report, Plusnet scored higher overall compared to TalkTalk. TalkTalk was beaten by Plusnet in satisfaction with complaint handling and speed of service. TalkTalk also generated far more complaints than Plusnet (75 vs. 56 per 100,000 customers).
Ultimately, TalkTalk is as good a broadband service provider as Plusnet because it offers better value for money, but it offers below-average customer service compared to Plusnet.
How to switch to Plusnet?
- After choosing the Plusnet package that suits you best, complete the signup process online. You will be informed of the activation date.
- If you are switching from BT, TalkTalk or Sky or ADSL or fibre provider, Plusnet usually takes 10 business days to complete the switch.
- If you are leaving Virgin Media, you will need to contact your cable broadband provider and cancel your existing service, which will run until the end of the cancellation period (up to 1 month).
- When you switch from Virgin Media, Plusnet engineers install a new phone line at your location and activate broadband service.
Cancelling Plusnet Broadband and Exit Fees
If you’re a Plusnet broadband customer looking to cancel your service, there are several factors to consider before making a decision. Whether you want to switch providers, move home, or simply don’t need broadband anymore, this guide will help you navigate the cancellation process and understand exit fees, ensuring a smooth transition.
Know Your Contract Status
Before cancelling, find out if you are still within your contract period. If you’re unsure, contact Plusnet to find out if you need to pay an early cancellation fee. These fees can be costly, so it’s essential to know your contract status beforehand.
Calculate Exit Fees
When you are still within your contract period, early termination fees will apply. Plusnet calculates these fees based on your monthly charge (including discounts), VAT, wholesale costs, and remaining months in your contract. Contact Plusnet (0800 432 0200) for a personalized quote. Check out this page Plusnet early cancellation charges guide for more information.
Avoiding Exit Fees
To avoid paying exit fees, you can either wait until your contract ends or find a new provider that offers cancellation credits (e.g., EE). Additionally, if you’re not receiving the minimum guaranteed speed, you may be eligible to cancel without paying an exit fee.
Find a New Provider and Package
Before canceling, compare new providers and find a suitable package that meets your needs. Ensure a seamless switch by signing up with your new provider before canceling your current service.
Cancellation Notice and Keeping Your Phone Number
You can cancel your Plusnet broadband service with 14 days’ notice. When switching providers, you can often keep your existing telephone number. Make sure to discuss this with your new provider.
Switching Providers
When switching to Openreach-based providers, you don’t need to contact Plusnet. Simply sign up with the new provider, and they’ll handle the migration. However, when switching to Virgin Media or alternative providers like Community Fibre or Hyperoptic, you’ll need to cancel your Plusnet service yourself.
Fixing Issues Instead of Cancelling
Before cancelling, consider resolving any problems you might have with Plusnet, such as slow speeds or high costs. Contact their customer support for assistance, and they may offer solutions that could make staying with Plusnet a more attractive option.
Plusnet TV
Please note that Plusnet no longer provides TV service to its broadband customers.
Plusnet used to offer a basic TV service including Freeview and entertainment channels available on the YouView+ set-top box.
The main highlight is that Plusnet TV includes BT Sport 1 channel.
You can add more channels and HD channels by subscribing to the add-ons. You can also get all BT Sport channels through add-ons.
However, Plusnet TV was not be the best choice for TV lovers accustomed to watching premium channels from Sky, BT and Virgin Media.
Comments
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Can`t even fix a fault with their own equipment.
i have had to take many days off work, and still the fault with their equpment is not fixed. they continue to take money for a service they are not providing, and as i have lost so much money sitting at home waiting for an engineer to visit if they actually turn up, they claim they have a photograph of my front door to prove they visited, this is contrary to 6 hrs of cctv footage. i may be forced to take them to court, as apparently a payment for a service that they can`t provide is non refundable.
After the 3rd and final BT visit my connection speed is less than when i started to complain about it dropping out. and plusnet`s response is its fixed. i think not.
Now they are blaming my cctv, they made my internet worse. and now blaming unrelated equipment. i have filed a case with the county court.
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The broadband speeds are decent but I have WiFi router issues and my sync speeds never go above 48Mbps but overall the internet connection is reliable. Three months ago, I upgraded from Fibre unlimited to Fibre Extra. My download speed is just 12Mbps up.
But on the other hand Plusnet customer service is horrible. When you contact the customer support, you have to wait minimum 10 mins to get the answer. Nothing will happen, you have to call and call again.
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