Two ISP at the same time?

Quasar

Today a colleague of mine and were comparing notes, so to speak, about our ISP. We are both with Wanadoo/Orange.

She wants to switch to another ISP but apparently Orange will not do a transfer (not sure exactly how it's called and she can't remember), which means she'll have to terminate with Orange and the start with a new ISP, which may mean a few days without broadband. So she wants to try and get a new ISP while still with Orange.

I'm not sure it's possible. She says it must be, but does not want to ask her prospective new ISP becaause they may say it's not by way of company policy.

It sounds all rather pointless to me, but basically now I'm very curious, so: is it possible to be with two ISPs at the same time and just dial one or the other at will?

I must say that I myself am thinking of dumping Orange...

brummybloke

you can be with several isp on dial up as it just contacts a different phone line once dialed.

broadband you can still have as many as you want.

however for this you would need to pay for each seperate bt/bulldog/ntl/telewest/anyotherisp line.

you would end up with loads of modems and boxes and it would cost a fortune as you would have to pay to have each 'box' installed and then pay the monthly subscription for each one.

Rex_Mundi

brummybloke wrote:

broadband you can still have as many as you want.

You cannot have more than one broadband supplier on the same phone line. The line at the moment will have Oranges tag on it. No other broadband supplier can supply broadband on that line until Orange is cleared.

You would normally be able to migrate to another product. Because Orange say you can't, they must have you connected to their own LLU equipment. There is the start of services to be able to migrate from LLU, but this isn't widespread at the moment. You will have to cancel, then reconnect to another ISP.

Quasar

I did tell her that it would be best for her to just finish with Orange and then start afresh, as it seemed to be the least hassle anyway...

Thanks peeps :beer:

Rex_Mundi

To cancel, and sign up for a new broadband supplier could mean having no broadband for a couple of weeks (if everything goes OK).

In this time, your friend would have to use dialup to get on the net.

brummybloke

Rex_Mundi wrote:

You cannot have more than one broadband supplier on the same phone line. The line at the moment will have Oranges tag on it. No other broadband supplier can supply broadband on that line until Orange is cleared.

You would normally be able to migrate to another product. Because Orange say you can't, they must have you connected to their own LLU equipment. There is the start of services to be able to migrate from LLU, but this isn't widespread at the moment. You will have to cancel, then reconnect to another ISP.

please actualy read what i typed.
you CAN have as many as you want, i NEVER said all on the ONE line.

ConsumerWarrior

I originally had Freeserve way back when it started, that later became Wanadoo then it became Orange, I stayed with them all the way.

I was paying £17.99 per month for upto 8MB (best was only 3MB anyway).

In Febuary 2008 I decided to change to O2 broadband at £12.99 per month and contacted Orange by phone for a MAC code. Several weeks later and not recieving the code I filled in a form on the ISPA website to complain.
Mid March I had a call from Orange with a MAC code!
30th April 08 and my O2 BB was active and my Orange BB unavailable.
Orange continued to take £17.99 direct debit, on 9th June they took the last payment then automatically refunded it on the same day because my account was already closed.

Since then I have been very happy with my O2 broadband service.

Orange have now sent me a threatening letter just dated August 2008 telling me that they have closed my account due to non-payment and will take legal action if I dont submit a cheque for £17.99 by 22/08/2008.

Im steaming about this, I only just read that Orange is loosing broadband customers rapidy, they certainly wont attract anyone back with threats like the one they sent me.

I wrote to Olaf Swantee, their CEO by email about this matter [EMAIL="Olaf.Swantee@orange.co.uk"](Olaf.Swantee@orange.co.uk[/EMAIL]) but they have not even had the courtesy to acknowledge the mail.

What do you think I should do? I dont want to chase them about it, its not me thats in the wrong but how can I safeguard my credit reference when they are taking bullish action like this?

Inactive

Rex_Mundi wrote: »

To cancel, and sign up for a new broadband supplier could mean having no broadband for a couple of weeks (if everything goes OK).

In this time, your friend would have to use dialup to get on the net.

Not true, mine was off for no longer than one minute, as long as both are similar type BB ie; ADSL to ADSL.

ConsumerWarrior

ConsumerWarrior wrote: »

I wrote to Olaf Swantee, their CEO by email about this matter [EMAIL="Olaf.Swantee@orange.co.uk"](Olaf.Swantee@orange.co.uk[/EMAIL]) but they have not even had the courtesy to acknowledge the mail.

Surprise!

After emailing Mr Swantee and informing him that I would be posting the details of their incorrect and downright rude demand on the Moneysavingexpert forum, I today had a phone call from Mr Swantee's executive office, they have looked into my account and see that I was in credit after all. They accept that the demand letter was sent in error but could not explain how it was generated.

Im pleased that Martin Lewis's superb web site carries so much muscle.

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

Inactive wrote: »

Not true, mine was off for no longer than one minute, as long as both are similar type BB ie; ADSL to ADSL.

True, when you're just migrating to another ISP.

As Orange don't do migrations, the only solution (as mentioned above) is to cancel and then sign up with a new ISP, which will take time.

espresso

Phantom_Flan_Flinger wrote: »

As Orange don't do migrations, the only solution (as mentioned above) is to cancel and then sign up with a new ISP, which will take time.

Really! see here