HomeChoice is a lousy choice (homechoice.co.uk/revolution/rev_home.html)

Member Name: txsux

Product:	homechoice.co.uk/revolution/rev_home.html
Date:	01/07/06 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly, but clueless, customer service

Disadvantages: bad service, engineer no shows, dodgy contract

What to expect from HomeChoice:

1. Ordered HomeChoice and made an appointment for the installation, in two weeks time.

2. Shortly before the appointment I received an email telling me there was a "cabling problem" and that HomeChoice couldn't provide me any service.

3. Tried to get connect with another provider but couldn't because of an "incompatible service" (HomeChoice of course) connected to my BT line.

4. Spent two weeks trying to HomeChoice to disconnect their service from my line so I could use another provider.

5. I was eventually told that the "cabling problem" was a mistake and they could provide me service after all.

6. After more than a month of hassle and just wanting internet at home, I took the path of least resistance and let HomeChoice install the service.

7. After waiting two more weeks for the engineer I was finally connected.

8. The internet connection was OK, but seemed slow at times.

9. The system often needed to be rebooted before working.

10. TV was TV, but changing channels was agonizing slow, and often involved clicking through several screens of "up-grade your service NOW" ads from HomeChoice.

11. After a couple of months I was unexpectedly forced to move (landlord wanted to move back into the flat). HomeChoice said they could provide service at the new number and address.

12. Waited two weeks for the engineer to install the service at the new address.

13. He didn't show.

14. Rescheduled the installation and waited two more weeks.

15. Engineer finally shows. He dawdles around for an hour before finally concluding that the signal isn't strong enough and says he won't install the service.

16. Two weeks later I receive a £150 bill for an “early cancellation fee”.

17. Called their “customer care team” and was referred to a sleazy little provision in the contract that says if you move and HomeChoice cannot, FOR WHATEVER REASON, connect the service then you will be assessed an early cancellation fee equal to subscription for the remainder of the fixed term.

18. I’ve now paid HomeChoice more than £200 for only 2 1/2 months of actual service.

19. Bottom line: if you want to pay high end prices for low end service, and don’t mind sending you money to a company that seems to be more interested in making profits from grift than by providing customer with a quality product, then HomeChoice is the ISP for you.

Summary: There are far better service providers out there.