Trying to switch away from Sky Broadband...problems...

E-Lou1976

...are these normal problems or are they just trying to make it hard for me to leave??

I've never switched internet provider before, we've always used Sky on their free packace. In December they upped our package to unlimited broadband and started to charge us for it but ever since the service has been really slow and we are constantly losing connectivity.

I have decided to look at alternative providers and have been told by Sky that they can't issue a MAC code as we have phone line rental with them. I was then told I had to deal with my new provider. I have since rung my new provider and they can't do anything because my line is with Sky. I have to transfer my line rental back to BT or the Post Office (my previous line rental provider) before they can start work on switching over the internet... Is this normal practice or are they just trying to make it awkward so that I won't be bothered to change?

Any advice gratefully appreciated!!

Em

E-Lou1976

Surely if I have to switch my phone line back, I'm going to be tied into another 12 month contract before I can change to my new provider's broadband/phone package? I thought switching was supposed to be easy!! :mad:

AdamBrunt

It is normally.

The problem in your case is that you pay Sky for the line rental - which means you have to be reconnected to BT before you you can swith to another ISP.

macman

You need to go back to BT on a free 'return to donor' (12m line rental contract). Once back on BT, apply to the ISP of your choice for broadband provision. Since BT's line rental includes a minimum call package, you'll have to use that for the first 12m, then you can switch to a bundle if you wish.
Direct LLU to LLU transfers are rarely possible.
Switching is easy, but not if you have allowed your line to be LLU'd. as this means you will have some downtime, unlike a MAC migration.

E-Lou1976

What a pain! If only I'd known about this before...I would never have locked in with Sky... Thanks for your replies guys, very helpful

HappyMJ

Are there no shorter than 12 month deals with BT? What is the cancellation charge on BT's Standard Weekend plan. As it's free and doesn't include any extra's such as friends and family which would normally cost then I would assume there isn't any discount to repay. What do tenants who only have a 6 month tenancy do?

I'm trying to decipher the T's and C's... Is there only no minimum term if you switch calls back to BT but you have line rental with somone else then a 12 month minimum applies?

Unlimited Weekend Plan

Unlimited Weekend Plan – standard plan

The Unlimited Weekend Plan is available to eligible residential customers, with no minimum term. Exclusions and conditions apply. Please note, a minimum term of 12 months applies to line rental for new customers, existing customers taking additional lines, home movers and those switching their phone line from another provider, signing up to this calling plan. Exclusions and conditions apply.
Line rental of £13.60 per month applies if you pay by Direct Debit or monthly payment plan. Otherwise,add £1.80 per month for payment processing fee levied by BT Payment Services Limited, a BT Group company. Customers benefiting from the previous paper-free billing discount will continue to receive a discount of £1.25 a month on their line rental charge.
Discount is via bill credit, which will be applied to your next or subsequent bill.

Just looking at the Post Office site and it says no minimum tie in so can't you just switch back to them?

E-Lou1976

Thanks HappyMJ, I've just been looking at the Post Office...I think that's the way to go then at least I can be flexible and get a new ISP. What a hassle... And I wonder why I hadn't done this before...taken me hours, and I'm still no nearer changing!! Had a lot of trouble with BT in the past so I'm reluctant to go back to them unless I really have to...

Gordon_Hose

There's only a handful of providers that have their own home phone packages as well as Broadband. All you need to do is find one and move your phone line and broadband to them, provided you're out of contract with Sky. Sky can't withhold a MAC code to move your services to another provider.

You can't have another broadband package from another ISP on a Sky line, only Sky Broadband.

If you want to move to an ISP that doesn't provide a home phone package then you'll need to move your phone line back to BT and apply the ISP of your choice.

O2 provide a pretty decent home phone and broadband package provided they are an LLU operator at your local exchange.

penrhyn

Hi OP, sorry to hear you have problems with your broadband connection.
If the problem is at your end swapping ISPs won't fix it.
Have you done any fault finding to determine why you have your current problems?
For example you mention disconnections, are these whilst using wireless, a wired, ethernet connection, or both?
Could you post your router stats.

http://192.168.0.1/sky_router_status.html

username admin, password sky.

Scroll down and click on show statistics.