Switching provider?

Mcmurphy1975

Hello,

People probably ask this all the time but what is the procedure when switching broadband provider. I'm currently with BT Broadband Option 2 with phone line and when I agreed to the contract it was 2 years but I am 18 months into the contract and I want to terminate it as my latest bill came to £43 this month and think this is a rip off as I barely use my phone and don't ring premium numbers and my internet usage is 10 gb per month or less.

I've read the contracts and early termination policy for BT and believe that I will get charged a cancellation fee but only a percentage , so this should not be that much.

The question I need to ask you guys would be what would be the best course of action in changing provider?

many thanks

grumbler

Mcmurphy1975 wrote: »

People probably ask this all the time but what is the procedure when switching broadband provider. I'm currently with BT Broadband Option 2 with phone line and when I agreed to the contract it was 2 years but I am 18 months into the contract and I want to terminate it as my latest bill came to £43 this month and think this is a rip off as I barely use my phone and don't ring premium numbers and my internet usage is 10 gb per month or less.

What does the bill say then?
Does it really make sense to pay for early cancellation?

I've read the contracts and early termination policy for BT and believe that I will get charged a cancellation fee but only a percentage , so this should not be that much.

The question I need to ask you guys would be what would be the best course of action in changing provider?

>> Cancelling something
>> How do I request a MAC code?

You need the MAC code to switch you internet to another provider. See their website how to join and switch.

Mcmurphy1975

The bill says £15.45 Line Rental - Broadband and Calls £18.00 and calls I made over Christmas period came to £9.46 ( which I was charged some of that on New Years day which I thought would of been free) .

I've just looked at the cancellation fee for my package type ( Broadband Option 2 and Unlimited Evening and Weekend Plan ) and it's £11.25.

Sky are offering (Sky Broadband Unlimited) at £10 pm with 6 months free and Sky Talk Weekends & Line Rental for £14.50 pm.

This Seems a good deal and worth cancelling my contract with BT ( even though I have only 6 months contract left ) but there must be a catch and not that easy to move over or is it?

Gordon_Hose

Surely they'll charge you £11.25 plus your remaining 6 monthly payments?

macman

Yes it's per month, and I don't think you've included the line rental in that calculation? You pay an ETC on each component of the tariff.
You are currently on an unsuitable tariff for your needs-why pick broadband Option 2 if you only use 10GB per month? And if you are spending over a fiver a month on exclusive calls to landlines, then you should be on an Anytime tariff.
Do the maths and work out if the ETC outweighs the 1st year saving by moving to Sky. if not, move now, it's perfectly straightforward.
PS: I don't think calls have ever been free on New Years Day! Before privatisation, BT offered free or discounted calls on Christmas Day. That went decades ago.

Mcmurphy1975

Thanks for getting back to me guys , just had a email back from BT and they say my contract ends on 7th feb , so ive been looking at the best deals for myself and found plusnet was at £16.98 pm plus they wanted a one off charge of £5.99 for the p&p of the router.

I spoke to one person on samknows (recommended by MSE ) and was told I don't need to change router as plusnet is a part of BT and would be compatible , but was told different by plusnet?

Also plusnet wanted a payment over the phone straight away of £22.97 but my BT payment is due to come out on 23rd jan. Would it be best to wait till 7th feb when the contract ends to pay this?

macman

You have to give BT 14 days notice anyway, so get your MAC and leave after 7/2.
Plusnet are simply taking the first month in advance, as is normal, plus any other start up charges.
AFAIK, your HomeHub is locked to BT and can't be used for Plusnet. Plusnet is owned by BT Group, but still run entirely separately. You can use any ADSL moder/router on Plusnet, But if theirs is free and you don't have one, then £6 for delivery is perfectly reasonable.