If your sick of your current ISP then what's the best solution to moving to a new one?
One major complaint by many high usage subscribers is their Internet service experiencing lag spikes, or reduced upload and download rates.
Firstly canceling your contract or stopping a direct debit or credit card payment is a bad idea. It is important ti keep your current account active.
The reason is that the simplest way to move ISP is by asking for a MAC code. . The majority of ISPs support MAC codes. The term 'MAC' is short for 'Migration Authorisation Code'. Once you have this code, then your new ISP can seamlessly transfer your account with a minimum of lost connection time.
The process,
1. Ring the customer services
of your current ISP. You will probably be asked to give a reason for your leaving.
But courteously ask for a MAC code. Or migration code.
2. Find a new ISP, once
your happy find the registration page and select the option to enter your MAC
code. If your using the telephone then they will ask you for the code.
3. Once
you have entered the MAC code you can complete the registration process.
4.
You should then receive an email or telephone explaining how long the migration
process will take.
5. If you changed your mind and wish to stay with your current
ISP then you need do nothing. Your MAC code will expire after a set time period
and you will stay with your current ISP.
Once the above process is started
it's not possible to delay the date of migration or pick a date of your choosing.
Your only solution in delaying the migration is to cancel the process altogether.
Then you will need to initiate the migration again at a time of your choosing
If
your connection is provided by cable companies such as NTL or Telewest then the
above process will not work. The MAC codes are an authorisation process created
by BT for BT phone lines. With cable you will have to telephone and notify them
you wish to cancel your account.
What about if you can't get a MAC code?
There are quite a few reasons for this. The most common is moving into a new home. If the previous owner had broadband then how to go about finding a MAC code?
Firstly use an ADSL line test to determine which ISP your broadband subscription is with,
http://www.adslchecker.bt.com/pls/adsl/adslchecker.welcome
http://www.areyouuptospeed.com/
If this still wont show your current ISP then it's time to phone BT wholesale, they do not however have the ability to remove a live service marker from your line. If the marker is not live they may beable to cancel the marker, but this process can take a few weeks, but it will work. The usual process is to ask BT wholesale who your current broadband provider is, then phone the provider and explains your predicament and hope they see sense and provide a MAC code.
Why don't all ISPs support MAC codes?
Quite simply to make it difficult to leave, they hope you will stay rather than being two or three weeks without an Internet connection. Some ISPs like Tiscali are very cheeky. They say they support migration codes, this is true, but they only allow migrations in and not out. Sadly MACs are a voluntary service, providers are not required to use them. Therefore when picking a new provider it's a good idea to make sure they support migrations in and out of their service.