Zen Internet
We are (OK, I am) quick to rant about companies when their service lets us down, but I think it’s also important to be just as quick to praise them when they get things right. When we moved, I had to decide which company to use for broadband provision. In our old house, we had Telewest for phone and broadband (only because our landlord already had it set up and it was too much hassle to change), but I didn’t really want to continue with them. I knew that the new house had a BT phone line, and that the nearest exchange was ADSL-enabled, so that left a pretty large choice of ADSL providers.
I did quite a bit of research, and also used the invaluable ADSLGuide to get the inside information from users about speed, reliability and customer service. That knocked out quite a few companies to start with. I was tempted for a while to go with TalkTalk, but their waiting times for connection are pretty horrendous, and for an internet junkie like me, being without broadband at home for a month or more would be like asking me to do without oxygen.
So after a lot of thought, I decided to go with Zen Internet. They aren’t the cheapest provider around, but they have good 8Mb plans, dedicated Mac support and rolling one-month contracts, so that you’re never stuck in a contract you want to get out of. I called them about a week before we moved house, and was amazed when I plugged my router in on the day we moved in and found that we were connected. I didn’t actually get enough time to do anything with the connection for several days, but I was really impressed by that. So if you’re thinking about getting a new broadband provider, I can heartily recommend them. My brother is also with Zen, and he has been very happy with them too. Needless to say, I’ve got no connection with the company, other than being a contented customer.
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I second that. I used Zen a few years back when I was living in Scotland, and I was very, very happy with them.
by Martin @ 11/08/2006 6:09 pm • Permalink •
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RIghto. Need a new provider when I move next month. Pipex (who I'm currently with) have the best.advert.ever. (I'm the KING OF THE INTERNET) but it may be time to shop around. Thanks for the tip
Good name too, I never thought about matching personal philosophies with broadband Internet, but now I think on it, I like the notion.
by hobbes @ 11/08/2006 7:08 pm • Permalink •
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I'm with Nildram (aka pipex) and put the company with Zen. Neither are the cheapest, but both have been excellent.
Rob...
by Rob... @ 11/08/2006 8:08 pm • Permalink •
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well bsag I'm pleased you have temporarily alighted and hope you make the most of this most wonderful combination of domestic bliss and techno-nirvana. We live in wonderful times despite all our problems.
i was dithering between zen and demon and eventually went for the latter although i prefer the idea of the former of course
by pete @ 12/08/2006 12:09 pm • Permalink •
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Definitely recommend Zen too - I've been with them for over two years now, not one problem, and that included moving house for which they were extremely helpful and precise.
Yes, they are pricey - but you get what you pay for.
by Skytower @ 13/08/2006 10:09 pm • Permalink •
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Zen did well in Which. Trust me don't go anywhere near talktalk. Customer service is appalling! They cut you off (looks like they are doing their job and keeps their statas up!) that is when you can get through! One friend was kept on hold for 45 minutes to be told that they could not help her! They also cut you off/restrict usage if there are bill problems and then take forever to reconnect you. In my case I asked to be reconnected having been cut off while away and got a "sorry you are leaving us letter"! Typical I am afaraid as they often get it wrong. If you complain by email they will almost NEVER get back to you and compalining to the Chairman's office is a waste of time. Their gfavourite excuse is that they are too successful and therefore overburdened. I've heard that excuse for years!! Stay away.
by Graham @ 25/08/2006 5:09 am • Permalink •
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My company was with Zen for 6 years and they were very good. Now I'm with Be Unlimited at home and although there were some teething issues at the start, they've settled down and I'm certainly not complaining about the ~18mbs speed I'm getting.
My colleague has his home account with Demon and whilst the product is OK, the customer service is shockingly useless. We have been waiting for 2 months to get copies of previous invoices and are now on our 5th phone call to their CS department. We'll be moving to another provider in the next couple of months.
by Martin @ 27/08/2006 7:08 am • Permalink •
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A hard working, energetic, dedicated and enthusiastic Bachelorâs Degree holder in Computer Science with two-year exposure in Hardware & Networking. Looking forward for a challenging opportunity into a career oriented organization. Being an enthusiastic individual, utilize my all skills and abilities for my profession and furnishes me to face the rigors of this competitive world in the field of IT. I would like to serve my profession with best of my skills and abilities.
by Rana Salman @ 08/10/2006 11:10 am • Permalink •
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On your advice (and a bit of research on my part) I'm planning to sign up with Zen when we move house next month. We're in almost exactly the same position, having cable internet from NTL. However, they're saying it will be 5-6 days before we get a connection - is that what they told you? My wife needs the connection by the end of the month for work, so the pressure will be on...
by Michael @ 31/10/2006 3:10 pm • Permalink •
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Michael: Yes, I think it would have been about 5-6 days. We ordered it before we moved house, so we were connected the day we moved in. That's actually very quick for a connection: most broadband companies can take 10 days or more to get things going. I think you'll be very happy with Zen.
by bsag @ 01/11/2006 10:11 am • Permalink •
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so does zen do voip aswell?
by martin @ 06/06/2007 11:44 am • Permalink •
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martin: I don't know, but if it doesn't mention it on their site, it might be worth dropping them an email to ask.
by bsag @ 06/06/2007 7:20 pm • Permalink •
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Zen has always focused on the UK business market although it does have a large consumer broadband customer base.
by cheap voip services @ 21/02/2008 8:05 am • Permalink •
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Good, quick customer service will win every time.
by Celebrity Foods @ 26/02/2008 11:57 pm • Permalink •
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