ScreamingNet (UK only)

[DavidX]

As far as I know, ScreamingNet is the first totally free ISP in the UK. Unlike services like Freeserve, not only is the ISP itself free but so are the telephone calls. That's something that many Americans are lucky enough to take for granted but for the UK, it's revolutionary!

Unfortunately, there is a downside.
a) You have to switch from BT to Localtel. But since even their standard phone rates are cheaper than BT anyway, that's no big deal.
b) Phone calls to ScreamingNet are only free in the evening on weekdays and free all weekend from Friday to Monday. Still not bad!
c) It can take as many as a dozen attempts before you can finally log on to ScreamingNet. Extremely frustrating at times but, hey, it is free and it's not too slow once you're on!

I just wanted to get some feedback and comments from any SysOpt regulars or visitors who have used this service. I'm new to ScreamingNet and maybe there's another downside that I've missed?

www.localtel.co.uk (http://www.localtel.co.uk)


[This message has been edited by DavidX (edited 07-04-99).]

[steves]

Checked them out a while ago - I'm sure there was a cost hitch somewhere in the small print. I'll check again and post back.

[Mosschop]

I have to say that point c) would totally dissuade me from using them - I've also heard a lot of people say that they get booted off at very regular intervals, again something which I'm not prepared to put up with.

One other thing to look out for - do Localtel operate BT's friends and family / premier service discounts. If they don't, you could find that using them actually works out more expensive than staying with BT and using some other free service provider.

[This message has been edited by Mosschop (edited 07-06-99).]

[DavidX]

steves
Thanks for posting. Look forward to hearing further from you.

Mosschop
Yes, point c) is definitely becoming a real bummer! Easy to connect during the daytime but when it's free (evenings or weekends) it's nigh on impossible sometimes. I haven't been booted off yet and I was on it for about six hours last night, so that aspect hasn't been bad (maybe I've just been lucky), but the trouble getting connected in the first place is a total pain.

Localtel do operate exactly the same "Friends & Family" discount scheme as BT.

I'd hate to leave ScreamingNet (it's the phone bills, not the ISP fees that clobber me with ordinary ISPs) but if it continues to be so difficult to connect, I'll have to reconsider. Hate the thought of going back to those phone bills though http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif