On 08.10.08 we signed up with Talk Talk for their Talk Plus Plan.  Super deal, line rental, "free" any time UK calls, broadband and certain "free" overseas calls fo £22.99 / month.  About a week later they were provided with a MAC number.

With 14.10.08 letter, Charles Dunstone tells us ". . From 22 October 2008 we'll be responsible for your line rental, as well as your calls . . .".  That letter was received here on 21.10.08.  As the letter makes no mention of the broadband, Talk Talk were called.

"Oh, our broadband is not yet available in your area, Sir, the cost of your package willl be £35.99 (?) per month . . .".   >:(
"No it won't, you can consider the arrangement null and void . . . .".  

Please beware of this trick to "push" punters to a more costly tarrif.

This is because they can only offer the "free" broadband on their local loop unbundled (LLU) network. It is very strange that they didn't contact you straight away to tell you it wasn't available in your area. How did you sign up?

This website allows you to search for your local exchange and find out which LLU services are available:
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/

Yes, jrawle, it is strange, particularly as they very quickly asked for the post code and telephhone number here.  Signed up over the 'phone.

I would expect them to check your details straight away, find you weren't on LLU and quote the correct price there and then. It's best to take this of an indication of the level of customer service you could expect, and do what you have done: taken your business elsewhere!

jrawle wrote on Oct 24^th, 2008 at 11:11am:

I would expect them to check your details straight away, find you weren't on LLU and quote the correct price there and then.

You might expect this jrawle but you forget that we are talking about the Carphone Warehouse Group here and their unspeakable selling methods.

I received a cold call from TalkTalk about a year ago trying to flog me exactly the above deal mentioned in the first post although at a cheaper price than than and I played along just to see where the call would go.  They assured me I would get the LLU deal at the LLU price and when I then challenged them that there was no LLU on my line they said they were about to install my exchange and it would be in place by the time I transferred over.

A complete lie.  My exchange still has no LLU operators or any prospect of getting them a year later.

TalkTalk are total shysters and their broadband is rubbish and if you want to do anything like download tv programs it is a nightmare if you get a technical problem of any kind.

To the OP make sure you cancel and keep well away from these shysters.

I have been with talk talk for over two years now. I have saved a lot. Your complains are valid up to a point, but where did you move to to get free broadband. BT broadband for a tenner is not so bad. The call charge package is very good 70 min a call during the day plus 70 min calls to thirty odd countries free for £22. Now I only tend to use the phone and broadband during the day so the service is very good. At peak times it can be very slow
or they suggest your connection is faulty. Hopefully they will expand the band width as more and more sensible people sign up. So avoid peak periods
this applies to any popular service. You have to pay mega bucks to get mega service.