During August 2007 i was considering changing my internet package and managed to get the deal down to £15.49 per month and that was including the £10.50 line rental from BT. The full details of that entry can be read here Its Good to Talk

I was recently thinking again, this being 7 months from last talking to Orange about my internet package, how long i had left on my current contract as there seemed to be some decent deals floating around. I rang and ploitely asked if they could tell me how long was left and was promptly asked " whatever for ? are you thinking of leaving us ? " i told the assistant that although i have never had any reason to leave as i had always had a fantastic service, i was now considering doing so but before i went any further i wanted to know what lengths Orange would go to in order to keep a " loyal " customer of near 4 years.

For those of you who didn't read the blog link to the earlier article i am currently paying £15.49 per month which includes £10.50 payable to British Telecom for the line rental. Also included in this is the full, although sometimes i don't feel like i am receiving it, 8 meg downoad speed, along with free calls through the modem. Whats more the first 6 months were FREE.

I must admit i was gobsmacked when she said if i were to be regraded that day she could offer me a fresh 12 month contract on the same package, but this time she would again offer me the first 6 months FREE as well as reducing the monthly rate to £5.00 there after. So my total internet costs for the year would be 12 months x £9.95 payable to the Post Office ( changed from BT )= £119.40 + £5.00 X 6 months Orange = £149.40

If you do change over to the Post Office remember to do it through the Quidco cashback site and you will earn £9.25 for switching to their Homephone service, quick note as well, if you do sign up through Quidco then please clear your cookies so the tracking system at Quidco can verify the visit to your account.

Divide this cost by 12 months again and you have £12.45 this isn't £11.80 i hear you say !!!! and you're right, the £11.61 comes from the following,

A. 6 months x £10.50 = £63.00 ( this is the last 6 months line rental under BT from last years contract and 6 months of those were FREE broadband )

B. £149.40 from the mew contract figures above.

A. + B. Divide by 18 months ( next 12 plus last 6 ) = £11.80 per month or 39 pence per day over 18 months.

So it really is Good to Talk.

As ever, this post will be added to the MoneySavingExtreme website forum for open discussion.