Can I keep my old freeserve email address if I switch from Orange to O2

Ammie

I'm thinking of making the move to the O2 Premium 20MB deal as I'm currently paying just over £18 a month to Orange for a 8MB broadband package they no longer offer new customers. I've put off switching because it's going to be a huge headache notifying businesses I use but obviously I'd be a fool if I remained on the package I have.

I could upgrade to the Orange 20MB deal but I loath to sign up with another 18 month contract with them because even though the broadband service I get is acceptable their customer service is appalling. I've read great reviews about O2 and could effectively get 1 year free broadband if I went through Quidco.

If anyone can let me know if there's a grace period where my freeserve email would be still active until I could transfer my contacts to my new O2 address I'd appreciate it.

LeeSouthEast

If you keep paying freeserve, yes. Most providers don't give any sort of grace period these days.

CrabPaste

Yes. Your broadband account will revert to a PAYG dial up account. You'll need to dial up at least once every 219 days or reactivate the account when it suspends.

robt_2

Is it really worth the hassle of keeping old accounts active over setting up a new email address which is not tied to your ISP and notifying people of it?

Im_just_careful

My Freeserve e-mail address is still going strong more than 5 years after I got broadband from someone else.

I dial up once every couple of months for a minute or two to keep it active.

macman

Set up a Gmail account now and then you can use that to migrate your contacts over before you switch ISP's.
People who won't change ISP's because of wanting to keep an email address are locking themselves to that ISP for life...would you refuse ever to move house because it involves informing people of a change of street address?