The ISP formerly known as Lixxus - what's going on?

epxtech

Hi there,

We also deal with Tiscali Wholesale to provide ADSL and have recently been asked to get some expedited lines in for an ex-lixxus customer.

There were two lines to go in for different people - one reported that it had no current ADSL service whatsoever, and the other reported that it had already had another ADSL service live....

Both orders went through correctly and are being made live in the next day or so - with no MAC code required.

Effectively, the lines are clear and ready to have new services put on them - and if they're not, then make the order anyway!

Dan

JJAM

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

I've just had a very helpful conversation with a lady at a third party comms company who I was referred to by Tiscali (this being the label on my ADSL tag, apparently) and as a result, may have had a bit of a breakthrough. This company seems to have been stuck in the middle of this debacle for no apparent reason, and are now being flooded with calls from Lixxus customers. When I was put in touch with them by Tiscali, an internal email had just gone round telling them what advice they needed to give to Lixxus customers - and that advice was to call CFL Data (though on a different number, 0845 186 0000, which is answered by a voicemail service).

I explained the issue with CFL Data being uncontactable - which, until that point, they hadn't been aware of - and she has promised to attempt to hunt down a valid and manned contact number for somebody with the authority to issue Lixxus MAC codes by the end of the day (she wouldn't let me give out her details to others). I have also emailed her a link to this thread.

I don't know how successful this lead will be, but watch this space, and if I hear anything further in this regard I will post it here.

Do let me know if you get hold of such a number. I have spent 2 hours on the phone to various people/companies who have not provided a solution. Fed up, to say the least.

RP1957

I have tried for two days solid to find someone who can provide an answer.
I have spoken to OFCOM who stated that the you do not need a MAC code. Yet no ISP will move forward without one. I eventually managed to get a message into BT wholesale which has not been replied to. I have tried my local citizens advice team - they dont know where to start. I have made so many phone calls and spoken to so many people who simply cannot or do not know how to help.

Keep at it guys, maybe someone will have success!

Lostandfound_3

Just seen a news post about this on ispreview

ispreview.co.uk/story/2010/07/09/uk-business-broadband-isp-lixxus-goes-bankrupt-causing-customer-chaos.html

DVardysShadow

Lostandfound wrote: »

Just seen a news post about this on ispreview

Clickable link toispreview.co.uk/story/2010/07/09/uk-business-broadband-isp-lixxus-goes-bankrupt-causing-customer-chaos.html

Bargain_Rzl

I've finally heard back from the lady I spoke to last week, with the following message:

"Customers are being advised to call us on 0800 840 6787, and we are able to offer alternative services or send Mac requests off."

Be aware that this is a third party comms company called Opal and are likely to try and sell you their own services. However, I so far appear to have obtained a valid MAC - fingers crossed! - without buying anything direct from them.

OpalTelecom

[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lixxus Limited went into administration on 25 May 2010. The administrator sold the assets of Lixxus to CFL Live Data Limited on 2 June 2010, including the customer contracts. Therefore, CFL Live Data is now the service provider to those customers.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Opal is one of the underlying providers to CFL Live Data of a proportion of those broadband services. We have become aware that some of those customers are currently without a working connection. We have carried out checks and can confirm that there are no service issues with the part of the service provided by Opal.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]As CFL Live Data is the service provider to those customers, only CFL Live Data is entitled to provide those customers with a MAC. As far as we are aware, they are in a position to do so. Affected customers should contact CFL Live Data to obtain a MAC if they wish to. Opal is not entitled to release MACs directly to customers at this stage.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]OFCOM is fully aware of the issues CFL customers are facing in terms of retrieving their MACs and we are keeping OFCOM updated on this issue. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide as much assistance to end users as we are able. We will provide a further update within the next 24 hours.[/FONT]

OpalTelecom

[FONT=&quot]Opal has still not received notification regarding the current trading status of CFL Live Data Limited and is taking all possible steps to deal with this situation. Therefore at this time, customers of CFL Live Data should contract CFL in the first instance to retrieve their MACs. We are keeping OFCOM updated on this issue and will continue to monitor the situation to provide as much assistance to end users as we can.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Opal will provide any further updates as soon as it is able.[/FONT]

OpalTelecom

Opal is one of the underlying service providers of customers of CFL Live Data Limited, which purchased the customer base of Lixxus Limited. Opal has been unable to contact CFL and will, therefore, shortly cease providing the underlying service to CFL. Any customer of CFL, for which Opal provides the underlying service and which has been unable to contact CFL, may contact Opal on 0800 954 5706 and Opal will provide assistance where it is able.

RP1957

Well done OPAL. Your systems work.
I have my MAC codes and and can now move forward.
Everyone tried to help following the collapse of Lixxus, but unfortunately the system cant cope with such events.

The worst problem for me was the total lack of information available.
Ofcom should have a page on their web site that helps people.

It also makes you wonder what the responisbilty of the company administrator is.