If you are planning on switching to a new broadband
provider but don't know how, you've came to the right
place. We will guide you through the steps in order, and
once you've finished you'll be surprised how easy it is to
do.
This guide is only
relevant if you currently get your broadband through your
telephone line (also known as ADSL) and are wanting to
change to an other telephone line based broadband
provider. If you currently have Cable or Mobile broadband,
or are planning on moving from ADSL to either cable or
mobile broadband it's simply a case of canceling your old deal and taking
out a new deal.
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Why would anyone want to switch their broadband provider?
Often there are two main reasons why someone may want to switch their
broadband providers;
One: Nowadays it is very
easy to get a better deal by switching to a different broadband
supplier. Often suppliers will bring out a great cheap product which is
much better value than what you already have, who wouldn't be looking
around?
Two: It is common with
some providers that customers are not happy with the level of service
being provided, be this because of a technical problem, billing errors, or rude
staff.
We would advise looking for a new
package every 12 months or when your minimum term has expired, this way
you should not have to pay any contract cancellation fees. Below you
will find our 4 step guide to making the transition as seamless as
possible.
An unreliable
internet connection is the biggest reason for people
to switch ISP's.
The second biggest reason for people
to switch, is poor customer services.
Step 1 - Speak
to your current provider
First thing's first, you need to speak with your current
provider to establish if your minimum term has expired,
there is a list of contact numbers at the bottom of this
page. If
for example you have taken out a 12 month contract and you
are in month 9, your ISP may charge a cancellation fee
which will generally be the the line rental charge up to the
point that the minimum term ends. So if you have a 12
month contract, and are 9 months through and pay
£20/month, your buy out charge should be no more than
£60, see your ISP's terms and conditions or call them for
more info.
If you decide to switch you will need to obtain your MAC from your ISP. MAC stands for 'Migration Authorization Code', which is basically a
number that you must get from your current supplier before you can move.
This can be done by ringing them and asking for it. Rules
state that this should happen quickly and it will be free to obtain this
number, generally it should take around 1 working day to obtain. The
code is only valid for around 30 days (ask your current supplier if they
don't offer this information), you must find a new supplier and give
this code to them within this timeframe.
Try to be firm when you
call, if you have made the decision to move to a new
provider, don't let the sales person convince you to stay.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT cancel your
current broadband service, just ask for your MAC.
Step 2 - Find a new broadband
supplier and package.
Find yourself a new service provider and package. One of the best
ways of doing this is through package comparison sites such as
ourselves, and speak to your friends and family to find
out what sort of experience they have had with their
Internet Service Providers.
Step 3 - Sign up to your new supplier and give them your
MAC.
Once you have received your MAC you can then sign up to your new
provider. Part of the sign up process will require you to enter the MAC,
it is important that you give them the correct number to avoid
potentially painful
and lengthy problems.
If you have used our
comparison pages to find yourself a new deal, simply click
through to the broadband providers website. Once there
follow the self explanatory step by step instructions. If
you haven't used our comparison tool to find the best
deal, then you should have done. Compare
the best broadband deals by clicking here now.
Step 4 - Relax and
your new supplier will do the rest.
Sit back and relax, everything else should be taken care of by your
new ISP. You may experience a short period of 'downtime', roughly about
20 minutes whilst your service is changed to your new supplier, and your
done! If you have any problems and your internet connection does not
come back on, please contact your new broadband supplier.
Please Note
This whole process is supposed to be painless, however sometimes a
problem can occur. One thing I would like to point out to you is that
you cannot receive two broadband services on your line at once, either
one provider is giving you a service, or the other one is, never both.
The reason I make this point is in relation to my own experience of
switching providers. Do not allow your old provider to charge you beyond
the date of the switchover. If they do charge you, make sure you get
this money back.
