Here for max exposure but please feel free to move after seven days.

Our current broadband ISP is Orange. A few years ago, my parents got some handsets with cashback from the local shop. Part of this was free BB with Orange (we were already with them at the time). This is now coming to an end soon as the parents have not bothered to renew their contracts.

We're also looking to move house but not sure when (basically when I have enough of a deposit or I may move out alone). I was thinking of a monthly broadband with no fixed contract. Given I don't know which area I'd/we'd move to, I don't want to tie in with anyone just yet.

Has anyone had experience of this?
Any recommendations?

It may just be down to my travelling nature within the last 6 years. But unless I was sure I would stay in the same place for at least a year, I would go down the mobile BB route.

There are considerations of course; setup fees, coverage, minimum contract, speed, allowance etc.

Depending on usage, handiness etc, tethering in the meantime?

Mobile BB signal can be poor and won't help with online gaming on PS3!

Zen seem to do a monthly thing where there's no fixed contract. Will need to speak to them.

I use idnet. Free migration, excellent customer services, no throttling and one month contracts.

I think Plusnet do that. As it's monthly you don't get a free router, but I'm guessing you already have one. They're good IMO.

Zen do a "normal" BB (not fibre) with a 1 month contract.

Plusnet are a fair bit cheaper - £11pcm cf. £19 from Zen. I could also add £5pcm for prioritisation service. Do any ISPs do this? Does it work?

They all do it, and yes it works. However, it's only important if you are in a contended area where speeds slow down at peak times.

In the old days they would sell 20:1 or 50:1 contention, but this is now a redundant way of thinking because of traffic shaping. Prioritisation is often referred to as "business" rather than "home".

Looking at customer reviews on I think it was trusted reviews last night. Plusnet seemed to have a lower rating than Sen but both have seem to have gone downhill in the past 1-2 yrs.

Plusnet seem to have been taken over by BT too which has implications.

You'd think, but I've not seen any drop in service since BT took over.

Did you check out O2? If you can give them any sort of O2 number they're dirt cheap, so worth comparing...

I'm with Zen and would highly recommend them, especially if you find yourself having to deal with customer service (it's in Rochdale and actually seems to know what it's doing rather than just reading from a script). Helped me nail a line fault that was due to the less than 1 year old master socket having partially failed (probably due to a lightning strike).

The don't do traffic shaping or have a fair use policy either.

If you're feeling more technically minded then Andrews & Arnold (aaisp) might be worth a look as they also do 1 month contracts but seem to be more geared towards those of a technical bent.

Right. It's coming up to time to jump ship.

If I ring Orange, do I ask to terminate the broadband contract (free for whilst I had mobile phone) or wait for it to run out? I know I need a MAC code. Anything else? Don't want to be hit by cancellation charges or any other nonsense.

I would first find out who offers the best deal for your area and needs. You might find a deal somewhere. Then look at cash back deals. These can make it even cheaper. Then once you have a probable deal go and haggle with your existing ISP and see what they can offer. They might come down. If not just ask for the mac code and move to the ISP of your choice.