Great Hunt: What stops you switching broadband?

jaylyn123

I've been with TalkTalk for years and it is the hassle and the problems of losing email addresses, or thinking I might at some point in the future, that stop me changing. There just seems to be more pleasant things to do with one's time and I'm basically cautious!

Magdalene888

I knew that I would be looking to move and so have been waiting until my house sale goes through to switch as I don't want to switch and then have to move with the company and have the hassle twice and potentially incur charges for moving (when money is already tight).
But also there is a cost associated with switching which puts me off - and having to organize and coordinate everything.

ask66

Apologies if anyone has already suggested this (I haven't had time to read every post) but I would strongly recommend that people switch their email address to a provider that is independent of their ISP. That way, you don't lose your email address if you switch ISP. I switched to gmail around ten years ago and have been very happy with it. It is a bit of a hassle to do it, and it helps if you're organised, but hopefully you will only need to do it once and then you are FREE!

Kite2010

The worry that the old ISP might still decide you are a customer and continue charging even when you have left...

allfrey

The low prices are one off offers, so only good for one year. You also have to switch phone and line rental.

Currently I have reasonably cheap line rental from the Post Office (which lets me use 18185 for calls which many providers do not); broadband from Plusnet which has resonable service (under an old cheaper contract which I could not switch back to if I left).

I would risk paying a lot more in a couple of years time, once I was no longer a "new customer".

I would like a more reliable broadband (my connection often packs up in peak school holiday times), but do not think changing provider would help me, as I can not get cable and do not want to pay for FTTC: current speeds are adaequate for my needs. I'll hang onto what I've got. In a few years time 5G might be an option.

G6JPG

Mountain_Man wrote: »

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If we can transfer phone companies and keep the same number, why doesn't this work for email addresses?

A 'phone number is just a number; most email addresses (of the sort you get with a broadband [or even dialup!] contract, anyway) include the name of the provider; in effect, it's like you having a mailing address "care of" some hotel: xxx@talktalk.net, @plus.net, and so on.

If you moved to another provider, then in order to keep your address, your emails would keep coming to your old provider, and they'd have to forward them to your new one; many providers will do this, but not for free.

The solution is to set up your own domain - they're cheap enough now - and arrange someone to handle email to it for you, and forward any such to whatever email you have with whatever provider you're with; some hassle, but you only have to tell everyone your new email once. (You then only have to tell your email handler a new forwarding email if you change provider, not everybody.)

Or of course you can take out a gmail or similar address; you don't have to change those if you change provider. (Though some people are less trusting - especially if you're using it for a business - of gmail and similar addresses than "proper" ones.)

oldagetraveller

"What stops you switching broadband?"
At the moment it's my Plusnet Line Rental Saver which expires at the end of December. It's not cost effective to switch with that still current. I would have changed because of their selective price hikes if it hadn't been for that. They have to somehow fund new customer deals to the detriment of existing "loyal" customers.
I will be finding a different provider, as a new customer, in the new year. PN's customer service is now absolutely dire due to their lack of personnel unable to keep up with the rise in customer numbers and their lack of knowledge.