Some years ago we took out a contract with MEO to provide TV, Phone and Internet services. Over the years its cost has risen steadily and surely, now to some 50 euros per month. Is it really worth it? What value are we getting for our money?

100s of mainly and completely useless TV channels
Access to 100s of B-class has-been movies, pricey to watch, none worth seeing.
Internet ADSL
Telephone line with night-time free calls to PT national numbers [basically useless]

Is it time to dump them?

We only took up the cotnract in order to have internet. We have been very disappointed with the TV service. They are not catering for Expats really.

Anyone recommed a better replacement. Internet is what we really want.

We can receive the regular PT TV channels over-the-air. Do we need MEO at all?

How can we cancel the contract rapidly?

Did anyone else dump them?

Yes, you can get the standard PT channels via an aerial.

One solution for TV is to connect your laptop to your TV with a TV out cable, and use TunnelBear or a similar solution which will allow you to access BBC iPlayer, 4OD and their US equivalents.

I agree that MEO isn't great in terms of channel selection, at the same time though, I don't really see why they SHOULD be catering for expats, we are after all, a minority.

Yes, a minority, but one with loadsamoney more than regular PT citizens. Buyer/Customer is King etc.!

As a "king" I feel like moving my contract from an organization that doesn't seem to care or put any effort into serving its customers, expats or otherwise to one that does. i am fully aware that other countries in the EU provide their Expat populations with a far better deal: monetarially and content-wise.

The ONLY way any PT Company inc Meo will accept a Contract Cancellation is by sending a Registered Letter with all your details instructing them to cancel the Meo service.
When you send the letter pay a bit extra for a Received Reply ie, proof of receipt ,if you don't they will more than likely ignore your request & keep billing you.

The way this system works was learnt the hard way I can assure you

Thank you for that. But I need a good replacement very fast internet service, preferably PAYG.

PAYG broadband isn't a good option in PT, Scott Anthony has sorted us a great deal for unlimited broadband,(he comes onto this site occasionally) then sort yourself a decent provider for cardshare,( dozens of film, sport and general entertainment channels) cost about £130 pa from a reliable UK company, SKYPE unlimited Europe package or VOIPCHEAP for free landline calls if you top up £11-00 every quarter, PAYG mobile for any emergency calls.
K & V

Glad to hear I helped

Thank you for that. Alas we are not Algarve based.

Sorting ourselves "a decent provider" is literally the primary issue. I was wondering what the options were.

I have not heard of CardShare. What is it?

MEO requires we have a PT Telecom line [included in the package] for the ADSL internet connection.

Can we dump MEO and its PT Telecom line altogether, and find someone else? Who else? Or does PT Telecom effectively have the monopoly? Or do we have to retain the line to use other people's services?

Who else provides Internet Services in PT?

I use Vodafone PT, unlimited, I.N. + tfn fixed line. €20 a month. Speed OK.

I dumped PT/Sapo. Sent them repeated emails about termination.
Disregarded their crap about registered letters and notice.

regards

Is Vodafone providing you internet via the fixed line Telephone Service or only via a Mobile Internet USB device?

Fixed line taken over from PT.

Should have mentioned but when line was taken over all these PT computer generated cold calls at night stopped.

Also I have non-interrepted BB access unlike Sapo.

When Vf initially was handed the line PT/Sapo cut me off on a friday PM.
No connection until 48 hours on a working day.

Told Vf who said they expected it and gave me the loan of a dongle
to keep me going.

PT/Sapo, too much like BT. A near monopoly and too expensive.

Been with Vf + 2 years now without any problems.

Did VF require a home visit to do this?

Did Sapo/PT require a home visit to take anything away: handsets, etc.?

What's "non-interrupted BB access" ?

What's the Poprtuguese name of the VF package you are now using?

Just phone Vf and they will give u the answers

I think you will find your 50 euro note is worth no more than those poor Portuguese citizens 50€!

Please tell me you were at the wind up with all that King shoite?!

I don't know how many Expats there are in Portugal, or how many North Europeans own holiday homes or timeshares there, buit I do know that in many places like the Algarve or Silver Coast, if it were not for these "immigrants", many a township in PT would have slipped back into the Middle Ages.

Expats are heavily subsidising many town halls and services like PT Telecom because, unlike PT citizens, we are not necessarily there all the year round, not consuming, but still having to pay.

In the case of MEO, I am paying a hefty €50 per month for what is to me a very poor TV service: effectively 3 channels out of a 100 I can use: France 24, CNN and BBC Enterntainment. I have to pay extra for BBC News 24. All the rest of the channels are a waste of time and money: Brazilian soaps.

So, in a very real sense, my €50 is not worth as much to me as the Portuguese citizen's €50 is to them.

I know in other some other mediterranean countries, some have holiday contracts for telephone and the like. You pay a smaller fee for three months telephone usage, and TV and Internet are better and much cheaper. PT is in many ways quite expensive for many, many things: cars, petrol, motorway fees, household goods. Some of the prices for things in PT are quite out of proportion to the native average income.

It is little wonder that PT is having economic problems: more expats are now leaving than are coming, and there are maybe better, cheaper lands to go to. This "King" might eventually join them in this Exodus.