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Dare I Change Broadband Provider?

I have been with Freedom2Surf for my broadband for several years now but I pay £19.56 per month. My landline is with BT.

BT have 'phoned me and, "as a long-standing, good customer" they've offered me a really good broadband deal for just over £12.00 per month and suggested that I get a MAC Code.

"No brainer" I hear you say! BUT........In November 2007 I was declared bankrupt. In May 2008 I was discharged and all my payments to the OR are up to date.

My fear is that I'll get a MAC Code and leave Freedom2Surf then BT will turn around and tell me that they won't accept me because they've carried out a credit check and discovered my bankruptcy. Then I'll be without broadband, which will be a disaster!

Any advice will be welcomed.
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Comments

  • mrJ_5
    mrJ_5 Posts: 1,064 Forumite
    get them to do a credit check first... you won't be without broadband if they don't accept your MAC, and to check just call F2S back and say you changed your mind....
  • If your a BT customer for line rental then they wont credit check you as you are already a customer.

  • I think you'll find that F2S will be quite happy to move you on to a lower cost package. I have been with them a number of years and there has never been any problem with changing the package.

    You can do this online or by phone.

    Online, log on to your Members Area from the F2S website, and look at the entry Your ADSL Details. There should be a 'regrade' option. My advice would be to select 'Lite', currently £13.70 per month.

    If you want to do it by phone, ring 0845 026 0238. I've always found them very pleasant and helpful on the phone, but bear in mind that these services can be outsourced to call centres on the other side of the world, or to call centres in the UK where the training is lacking. So your experience may differ!

    Feel free to post again if you need any more information.

  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I have been with Freedom2Surf for my broadband for several years now but I pay £19.56 per month. My landline is with BT.

    BT have 'phoned me and, "as a long-standing, good customer" they've offered me a really good broadband deal for just over £12.00 per month and suggested that I get a MAC Code.

    "No brainer" I hear you say! BUT........In November 2007 I was declared bankrupt. In May 2008 I was discharged and all my payments to the OR are up to date.

    My fear is that I'll get a MAC Code and leave Freedom2Surf then BT will turn around and tell me that they won't accept me because they've carried out a credit check and discovered my bankruptcy. Then I'll be without broadband, which will be a disaster!

    Any advice will be welcomed.

    I don't think BT will do that since you are an existing customer, if so they wouldn't have made you this offer unsolicited.
    Anyway, even if you got your MAC, if BT subsequently declined to migrate you then the MAC would simply lapse and you'd carry on with F2S. A MAC is simply an 'option to quit', if not used by your new ISP in 30 days then it expires and you continue with the old.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • BT_company_representative
    BT_company_representative Posts: 1,861 Organisation Representative
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi JulianCBrown, I have sent you a PM containing some information in relation to your enquiry.
    Official Company Representative
    I am the official company representative of BT. MSE has given permission for me to post in response to queries about the company, so that I can help solve issues. You can see my name on the companies with permission to post list. I am not allowed to tout for business at all. If you believe I am please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com This does NOT imply any form of approval of my company or its products by MSE"
  • Lplates wrote: »

    I think you'll find that F2S will be quite happy to move you on to a lower cost package. I have been with them a number of years and there has never been any problem with changing the package.

    You can do this online or by phone.

    Online, log on to your Members Area from the F2S website, and look at the entry Your ADSL Details. There should be a 'regrade' option. My advice would be to select 'Lite', currently £13.70 per month.

    If you want to do it by phone, ring 0845 026 0238. I've always found them very pleasant and helpful on the phone, but bear in mind that these services can be outsourced to call centres on the other side of the world, or to call centres in the UK where the training is lacking. So your experience may differ!

    Feel free to post again if you need any more information.


    If I change my package with F2S, will that lock me into another long contract with them?
  • I am with Tesco since March 2005 no problems except on the BT line twice in that time. Their charge is £17.58 a month and for what little I use It is expensive. I've a MAC code coming and at the age of 62 I am getting puzzled into what would be a reliable BB supplier and a good deal cheaper, as you have gathered not a computer buff either. That deal with BT man looked good. and have phoned them next thing its jumped to £26 a month oooohhh I've had my phone and line with BT for 17 years now.
  • If I change my package with F2S, will that lock me into another long contract with them?


    I asked F2S about that when I regraded to a lower-price package. They said not.

    But in any event, if you look at their website you will see that the minimum contract term for a new customer is only three months, so this should not be a major issue for you.

    For my own part, to be honest I would probably still have gone for the regrade even if a new minimum term was required. Firstly I was satisfied with my experience of F2S up to that time and secondly, I am served by a small rural telephone exchange where I judge it unlikely that any new supplier will appear offering a much better product at a much lower price.


  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Seaspray wrote: »
    I am with Tesco since March 2005 no problems except on the BT line twice in that time. Their charge is £17.58 a month and for what little I use It is expensive. I've a MAC code coming and at the age of 62 I am getting puzzled into what would be a reliable BB supplier and a good deal cheaper, as you have gathered not a computer buff either. That deal with BT man looked good. and have phoned them next thing its jumped to £26 a month oooohhh I've had my phone and line with BT for 17 years now.

    Tell us what exchange you are on and we can advise what the best LLU deals are, these will be the cheapest. Also what sort of broadband you need, e.g.unlimited? At present you are paying a lot for a basic service.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • macman wrote: »
    Tell us what exchange you are on and we can advise what the best LLU deals are, these will be the cheapest. Also what sort of broadband you need, e.g.unlimited? At present you are paying a lot for a basic service.

    I am on Hoo exchange (ME post codes) don't download a lot ( I believe) on Youtube sometimes no films or music downloads either. Just browse and look up information or on model forums chatting and ordering internet items from Play, Amazon, HMV. and groceries.

    Sorry for the delay in answering forgot to tick the box for replies.
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