UKONLINE closing down!

Jane_Doe_2

Homepage: 'UK Online is closing January 14th 2011

In 2005, UK Online became part of Sky and since then Sky has operated two broadband services − UK Online and Sky Broadband. To better serve customers now and into the future, Sky has decided to close the UK Online service on January 14th 2011. [Sky link deleted] As a loyal UK Online customer we would like to give you a special introductory offer to Sky Broadband. '

Wonderful - I now have to enter the minefield of finding a new ISP and possibly change phone package etc., so don't want to change suppliers and notify everyone of a new email twice. I also work from home (wireless) over a VPN but am at heart a closet Luddite.

Please can someone direct me to where to get guidance in words of one syllable on my future options ?

kwikbreaks

I would have thought the answer was obvious....

If you are on UKO then Sky LLU must be available to you. You also can't have objections to enriching Murdoch and you no longer need to be a Sky subscriber to take their broadband.

S0litaire

First thing is check out
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

See what LLU's available in your exchange then go from there!

I'm also with UKOnline and I'll be getting my MAC code in the morning, I'll be moving over to "Xilo" it's the best in my area...

Also check out this site:
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/

penrhyn

If you do nothing you'll get 6 months free Sky broadband (apparently).
Good time to sort out your email though as the UKonline server will be shutting down.

: the email server will be shutting down on the same day January 14th, and all stored emails deleted. Therefore if you are a UK Online customer you need to ensure that all your regular contacts know of your new email address by this date. For many people this may prove an appropriate time to set-up an email address that is independent of your broadband provider, by using one of the many domain email providers.

spike7451

UKOnline's technical support is in the same building in Belfast as Sky's Teir 1 & Teir 2 tech support.I started working for Sky there in 2006 & it was said since then that eventually,UKOnline would eventually re-brand to Sky.

JJ_Egan

Normally when this happens the owner of your old ISP either says as from xx date the service is rebranded under our name or gives you the choice of joining their service .

If you do not want to keep changing email address with supplier you need a seperate email account .
It used to be a couple of hundred ISPs in the UK and the shrinkage will go on until only a few left .

jje

jackjones86

Broadband, coke and toilet paper are the 3 things I'm not prepared to cut costs on. Know people on Virgin/Sky/BT etc. - always dropping out. UKOnline are worth their weight in gold. Losing a FIFA match 'cos you drop.... or getting accused of pulling the cable. Not happening.

Phoned them up to get my MAC to switch to O2. The UKOnline staff seem to have disappeared cos the people I spoke to were acting like they were using the systems for the first time. Didn't have a clue what they were doing and they couldn't pull up my account from my tel no. Appreciate my surname is a bit common but come on. Need to find my account number

S0litaire

What number did you call??
The number they gave out on the UKOnline website was for SKY Broadband Customer service, they can't give you a MAC code, think it was a way to funnel people into SKY's service.

You should call UKOnlines own customer support on 08000 532 222

bobsmum

On Friday morning I tried the UKO customer support 0800 number for my MAC but they just referred me back to the Sky number given - the cynic in me also thinks this is just so Sky can try and talk you into a package. Frankly 6 months "free" Sky broadband is not tempting to me, even if I wasn't a business customer with a business phone line.

The Sky helpline number given on the UKO website was surprisingly quite helpful - once I explained that I was a UKO business customer, my MAC was forthcoming immediately without further ado!

As someone who has been with UKOnline for years (8+), I put up with "enriching Murdoch" after the Sky takeover in 2005 because of the great service and superb Belfast call centre (although I only had to speak to them about 3 times in all the years).

My tip - get your MAC asap and move now before the rush of folk leaving it till Xmas/New Year. Off to continue research into good business ISPs...

bobsmum

UPDATE: Further to my post directly above, thought it was too good to be true! MAC given to me has some missing characters so is useless!!
Will try again and repost my progress for anyone else is same situation!

bobsmum

Second update:

Phoned UKOnline Customer Services on 0800 053 2222 - recorded message now mentions they are closing and does say ring the Sky number for MACs. I decided to stick with UKO this time so just selected Option 1 for their Support Team. Chap there explained he couldn't do the MAC but told me to redial same number and choose Option 3.

Redialled but it only has Options 1 (Support) and 2 (Billing). Tried Billing this time, explained need for MAC, apparently they are getting a fair few calls about this. Helpful guy's system crashed while he was attempting to get the MAC for me. Promised to email it to me ASAP - email with MAC received within 10 minutes, with the correct sequence of letters & numbers. Result!

Hope this helps.