Quickest way to switch both broadband and landline to a less than 12 month contract

inretro

Our current broadband and landline (with BT) expires in a couple of days and we're trying to find the quickest way to get something else up and running asap, but we need a 3 month contract for both.

We're half way through a 6 month contract for our flat; up to now the previous tenant had not disconnected her BT landline+broadband connection and we were paying her. Now she's terminated the contract for the end of this week, but our chosen provider (O2) is looking at 2 weeks for landline+broadband unless we have a mac code.

BT says we can't have a mac, as we're finishing the landline contract - is this correct?

Can anyone thing of any other ways we could get a service in less than 2 weeks time? Maybe a different provider that can do both quicker? or has anyone persuaded BT into a less than 12 month contract for the landline only (so we could get a mac by keeping the line)?

We're happy to pay more than the going rate if we can actually get a service sooner.

Any suggestions for a monthly rolling contract landline provider? I've used madasafish before without problems, but they're also looking at a 2 week switchover

Thanks,

Richard

macman

A MAC is for transferring a broadband service on the same number-not applicable if the existing line is being disconnected..
All line rental contracts are 12m minimum, expect the Post Office.
Regardless of provider, all lines are installed by BT Openreach, and 3 weeks is the typical lead time-there's no way of jumping the queue.

Sooler

Use mobile broadband dongles

hareng

Cant help with monthly contract for phone line but there are many good ISP's who offer this on ADSL broadband connections.
Off the top of my head https://www.adsl24.co.uk do it on certain services.

Do you have a MAC?

cajef

hareng wrote: »

Do you have a MAC?

Erm, maybe it would help if you read their post.

inretro wrote: »

BT says we can't have a mac, as we're finishing the landline contract - is this correct?

Gordon_Hose

If you're cancelling the phone line you won't need a MAC as that is for transferring.

No contract broadband suppliers here: http://www.chooseisp.co.uk/compare/broadband/no-contract.asp

However, I suspect most would require you to have a BT phone line. And they might expect you to sign up to a new 12 months contract. If the ISP does supply a home phone service also, you may have to sign up for 12 months on that as well.

useless_git_requires_wife

Post Office home phoneline is 30 days contract.

Mark_In_Hampshire

Cable often has shorter lead times for installation. Since cable doesn't use the BT socket anyway that is no barrier.

Failing that, your quickest option is probably to call your intended provider now and order landline + broadband as a simultaneous provide.

That will result in a new socket being fitted with a new line and a new service. The old one can be left to die. No need to wait for that to cease and be marked as such.

This may or may not cost you more than utlising the existing line depending on who you went with anyway - some providers charge for a "new line" even if the socket exists already anyway and even if it only got ceased the day before.

To possibly make it quicker - you might be able to get an expedited installation of both services if you pick a supplier offering it, but again that will cost more (believe I saw a figure of £100 for that once, on top of e.g. £85 to connect the line, £50 to connect the ADSL and so on)

These sorts of options tend to be from the better ISPs, and those are likely to be the ones you'd be looking at anyway for rolling monthly contracts (rather than 12, 18, 24 months) - you could check out all these scenarios with IDNET and Zen Internet, two well rated month to month ISPs who can do both line + ADSL.