Tiscali going down.. HELP....

jhp

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/telecoms/article5874543.ece

Jemma-T

Someone will buy them. Some will need to buy them because Tiscali have a lot of important business contracts with all sorts of organisations.

Never liked their offerings for home use and they always seemed a bit backward when I contacted them to sort out relatives' problems.

billsavings

"If a UK broadband provider went into administration, its customers would most likely be sold at a discounted price to another provider.
But regulatory sources said an interrupted service would not be guaranteed. In the case of no buyer, customers would be provided with a code for switching to another supplier and left to reclaim any subscription money from the administrator."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/4963923/Tiscalis-1.7m-customers-in-limbo-as-bank-talks-begin.html

1carminestocky

billsavings wrote: »

If a UK broadband provider went into administration, its customers would most likely be sold at a discounted price to another provider.
But regulatory sources said an interrupted service would not be guaranteed. In the case of no buyer, customers would be provided with a code for switching to another supplier and left to reclaim any subscription money from the administrator.

Isn't the main problem here that the punter in such a scenario would firstly need to go back to a BT line at a poetntial cost of £100+? Plus, of course, they would be way down the 'reclaim from administator' pecking order, I suspect?

billsavings

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/4963923/Tiscalis-1.7m-customers-in-limbo-as-bank-talks-begin.html

bobbyforeman

Tiscali is my ISP and I have just read on the BBC News website that Tiscali shares have dropped 40% and trading has been suspended which is somewhat concerning. They apparently have 500m Euros of outstanding debt and have asked for the 11m Euro interest payments due this week to be suspended.

If Tiscali folds before users obtain their MAC codes, how would they go about getting an alternative ISP? If the ADSL connection is already assigned to Tiscali, unless you have a MAC code or the connection is cancelled, you cannot get another ISP. If an ISP collapses, does the ADSL automatically get handed back to BT? I can see a situation where users have no internet connection until lawyers jump through all the hoops. I'm just glad that I didn't transfer my phone as well.

Sinbad

I'd be interested in any responses too. I've been with Tiscali for years (for both broadband and calls but not not line rental) and have been happy with them. So happy that I moved my line rental to them two months back!
I guess I need to check but does anyone have an opinion as to whether I am subject to a minimum term contract with them? Obviously thinking it may be useful to switch to someone who is not likely to go down the pan.....

macman

Until such time as they cease trading and fail to offer you a service, at which point they have voided their own contract, you remain in contract with them. They won't let you go unless you buy out the remaining contract.

joho

bobbyforeman wrote: »

If Tiscali folds before users obtain their MAC codes, how would they go about getting an alternative ISP? If the ADSL connection is already assigned to Tiscali, unless you have a MAC code or the connection is cancelled, you cannot get another ISP. If an ISP collapses, does the ADSL automatically get handed back to BT? I can see a situation where users have no internet connection until lawyers jump through all the hoops. I'm just glad that I didn't transfer my phone as well.

I'm also with Tiscali for internet and would be interested in any replies to this. Can I request a MAC code in anticipation of them disappearing, or does a MAC code have to be used pretty much immediately?

Think I would get severe withdrawal symptoms if I didn't have the internet for any longer than an hour!

Sinbad wrote: »

Obviously thinking it may be useful to switch to someone who is not likely to go down the pan.....

How can you tell who is going down the pan or not? Who would have thought Tiscali would? Third largest ISP in the UK?

macman

But are you already out of contract? MAC is valid for 30 days and then it expires. But make sure you request your MAC only and do not cancel your contract.