Switching broadband provider

[dinker]

I moved from Zen to ADSL24. The Zen website just had a button labelled request MAC, when I clicked it the MAC turned up in my mailbox within seconds. I then gave this to ADSL24. You`ll notice the changeover as the LED on your router will turn red and you`ll have to enter new ADSL logon details.

[Clippy]

I seem to recall an hour or two of downtime. I was impressed as to how smoothly the whole thing worked.

Update: This all went swimmingly for me too.

Had a couple of questions for O2 technical support who were able to help straight away.

So far, so good.

[Platypus]

So, final question: Is changing provider with a MAC code really that seamless or should I expect a loss of service.

I seem to recall an hour or two of downtime. I was impressed as to how smoothly the whole thing worked.

[Clippy]

Finally got round to cancelling my BT broadband.

However, when I asked for a MAC code was advised that they are only given to other ISP's if you are switching provider.

If you are cancelling directly then they are not given to you.

As I have yet to confirm who I am going to go with instead decided to cancel there and then. I also have to give 30 days noticce which should be sufficient time to go with someone else.

However, I wanted to check if this sounds right - I thougt MAC codes were issued if you were transferring provider regardless of whether it is you or the new provider requesting it.

I suspect it is BT bs but not too sure.

Thanks all.

I clearly asked the BT toerag from the outset for a MAC code and he came up with that bullsh!t so I went ahead and cancelled the service as I thought the gap between ceasation of BT and going live with my new provider would, at worst, only be a few days.

Will give BT a call in the morning with the aim of getting a MAC code - as long as it isn't too late.

Grrr.

So, spoke to BT again to get a MAC code only to be told that the toerag I had spoken to at the weekend hadn't processed my termination request. There was a record of me calling and speaking to him though!

Anyway, his incompetence potentially worked in my favour as if he had processed my cancellation request and my service had actually been scheduled for cancellation (or somesuch) it would have been too late to obtain a MAC code.

So, got my code and can now jump ship ASAP.

So, final question: Is changing provider with a MAC code really that seamless or should I expect a loss of service.

Looking quite likely that I will sign up with O2 now.

[kookachoo]

Were you 'in contract' with BT? I got them because O2 hadn't unbundled my exchange when I moved house in January. Now O2 have, and my BT service is shocking... getting charged for data where they say I'm going over 10GB... (not that they provide any online account management statistics to check this).. O2 and my previous used to, and I never went over 7GB a month.

So yes, if you were in contract, how did you get rid?

[Ardesco]

ROFL I used to think BT was bad, so I tried cable.....

Never again, made BT customer service look astounding!!! Mysuggestion is go Nildram.

[pmeswani]

Thanks all.

I clearly asked the BT toerag from the outset for a MAC code and he came up with that bullsh!t so I went ahead and cancelled the service as I thought the gap between ceasation of BT and going live with my new provider would, at worst, only be a few days.

Will give BT a call in the morning with the aim of getting a MAC code - as long as it isn't too late.

Grrr.

If you have the option, go Cable.

[Clippy]

Thanks all.

I clearly asked the BT toerag from the outset for a MAC code and he came up with that bullsh!t so I went ahead and cancelled the service as I thought the gap between ceasation of BT and going live with my new provider would, at worst, only be a few days.

Will give BT a call in the morning with the aim of getting a MAC code - as long as it isn't too late.

Grrr.

[VectraMan]

The MAC code is to enable near-seamless transfer to another ISP, so if you're just cancelling there's no point. But assuming you are going to another ISP, then you don't want to do this this way as you'll be waiting for ISP1 to say the line is disconnected before anyone will allow you to initiate the process of connecting to ISP2. In other words, you could be out of action for days, if not a couple of weeks.

[pmeswani]

Finally got round to cancelling my BT broadband.

However, when I asked for a MAC code was advised that they are only given to other ISP's if you are switching provider.

If you are cancelling directly then they are not given to you.

As I have yet to confirm who I am going to go with instead decided to cancel there and then. I also have to give 30 days noticce which should be sufficient time to go with someone else.

However, I wanted to check if this sounds right - I thougt MAC codes were issued if you were transferring provider regardless of whether it is you or the new provider requesting it.

I suspect it is BT bs but not too sure.

If you specifically call up to cancel the service, then there is no need to provide a MAC code, as the service ceases to exist at the end of the notice period. If you advised your old ISP that you are migrating to another ISP (the wording is very specific here), then they are obliged to give you a MAC. However, if someone can point me in the general direction that states that an ISP provides a MAC when cancelling the service, then I'll accept it gracefully.

[Fred Bloggs]

Wot Cojak sez.

[cojak]

I thought the same as you clippy - the 'new' ISP will ask you for the MAC code. I've never heard/read them offering to go to the old provider for you.

Sounds like BT bulltulipe to me...

PS - I've actually done this and that's exactly what happened - I got the MAC code and gave it to the new provider

[Clippy]

Finally got round to cancelling my BT broadband.

However, when I asked for a MAC code was advised that they are only given to other ISP's if you are switching provider.

If you are cancelling directly then they are not given to you.

As I have yet to confirm who I am going to go with instead decided to cancel there and then. I also have to give 30 days noticce which should be sufficient time to go with someone else.

However, I wanted to check if this sounds right - I thougt MAC codes were issued if you were transferring provider regardless of whether it is you or the new provider requesting it.

I suspect it is BT bs but not too sure.