I've been "Broadbanded" for nearly 6 months now, and I avoided BT all together (apart from the exchange and the engineer to install it all of course). I got connected when the option of self install wasn't there, and I had a very good and very prompt BT engineer come to my house and fit all the gubbins needed. I then installed my ADSL Modem, and hey presto, first time on and off like a whippet. I used a smaller ISP where I've been waiting, on average (for the very few times, 2 in total, that iIve had problems) 5 mimutes to get through the the technical support people. I avoided the biggies on purpose (Freeserve and BT) cos I've always struggled to get through to their help lines when I was on a 56k Modem, so avoided them like the plague. As I said, there has been not a single problem with my ISP or my connection in 6 months. Never not been able to connect, and very very rarely get booted. My advice? Move to a smaller ISP cos they have time for you and also want to help you. I.e. they don't have cattle market type call centers!! And who is this ISP I hear you cry? Why Timewarp of course.
www.timewarp.co.uk .