In these times of a plethora of options for broadband, phone and TV packages it is almost impossible to provide any definitive “what’s best” answer. The answer will always depend ion individual circumstances and usage. Some may simply require a broadband connection for minimal surfing and email. Others may wish for a large inclusive download provision for music downloads. Others yet again may require a large inclusive overseas telephone allowance on top of either of the above. And it could be of course that some may actually prefer to keep the sreas all desperate giving themselves the flexibility of finding the best specific packages for the constituent parts.
One thing remains constant in whatever broadband package a customer chooses to move to from an existing one. The process of making it happen, and the considerations that need to be made.
Moving Broadband Supplier
This process is pretty much straight forward. At least in theory! Having identified a new broadband supplier (or I.S.P.) the first thing to do is contact your existing I.S.P. and request a MAC (Migration Authorisation Code). By law your supplier cannot refuse you this MAC, and must supply it within 5 days, free of charge. However, there are plenty of alleged examples where this does not happen smoothly or at all, and OFCOM is the place to take your grievances should this occur. You should not cancel your connection at this stage. A supplied MAC is only valid for thirty days; after that period a new MAC will need to be requested.
Once the MAC is received, contact your preferred new supplier. During their sign up procedure the MAC will be requested and required. The new supplier will identify and inform of the new connection, switch over date, and they should drive the change process of cancelling your old arrangements and enabling the new. This process should be seamless.
The above describes the process for switching between I.S.P.s using “phone line” connections. Moves from phone line to cable, or vice-versa are simpler in many ways. This requires merely a cancellation of the existing method and organising the new connection, but the consumer will need to time the two themselves if continuous service is required.
That’s the easy part! There are however a myriad of other areas that may need consideration that are often the hidden “gotchas” that make such a process less than easy, or prove frustrating. In upcoming blogs, the P.C. Doctor outlines some of these, what to expect, and possible solutions.
