@btinternet. Lost Access

pheonixmich

Several weeks ago BT stopped access to my @bt.internet email account.

Tens of hours over 3 weeks and it transpired that my email is residential and my landline is business.

They have given me access but it could be temporary, I am in process of changing to @me.com but now worried about the long term security and storage space of this email.

The 2 options they have given me:
1. Transfer my landline from business to residential and pay up to double the monthly price
2. change to somewhere else and pay them £7.50pcm for the pleasure!
3. Change my email address - this fills me with horror, Im horrified at the time and energy involved.

I made a formal complaint and await to find out result. In the meantime I’ve started to move contacts over to @me.com but now wondering if this is wise.

Questions
- What’s the best new email address provider to go with?
- how do I move several thousand stored emails to safety? 

JJ_Egan

Are you in fact a business ??

pheonixmich

Hi JJ
thank you for your question
the supply is to my home. I had a business at a previous address many years ago and bought the line with me.
the business does not exist and didn’t prior to me moving in.
ive tried to get it transferred to residential for years but to no avail.

JJ_Egan

(1. Transfer my landline from business to residential and pay up to double the monthly price)

Are you on a special landline deal ?? BT residential  line rental is around £20 pm .

Many use  Gmail as a free provider .

pheonixmich

I currently pay £20.40pcm for the business line which is great (although the last bill is £56 for some reason -I wish I knew what was going on). Ideally I could do with a keeping my address. 

They’ve quoted me, as their best price, almost double. Sounds like I should query this more. 

Maybe if they’re going to continue to be so unfair, I’m best cutting my losses, leave BT and get a new email address? 😡

the work involved is giving me stomach stress already 😢

do you think there is any other way? 

Neil_Jones

Business costs are usually ex-VAT.  Check your bill carefully.

No email provider is permanent, its not the same principle as a physical address.  The physical address will take a lot of abuse but will remain until a bulldozer comes along, but email can vanish with the click of a button.

You can set up your own email server with a domain (so you could have fred@myfunkydomainwithmyownserver for example), though this may be overkill for most people.  Still if you're interested: https://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/how-to-set-up-your-own-email-server/

pheonixmich

Thank you Neil that’s a very good point.  Suppose I’ve always found it easier to stick with one supplier. 

If I decide to change email address I’ll definitely look into making my own. Maybe not as long as your example 😂

although this is a complete pain in the proverbial, I’m learning some very interesting information.

thank you again 🙏

Mickey666

pheonixmich said:

3. Change my email address - this fills me with horror, Im horrified at the time and energy involved.

I've tended to change my email address every 10 years or so.  Not particularly difficult and quite refreshing to make a 'new' start by leaving old, outdated and no longer needed contacts behind.

pheonixmich

Yes I can see the benefit of moving, must get rid of a lot of spam. I’m thinking this is the way to go, and be done with BT 

Which providers have you found the best? 

JGB1955

We've been with BT (in some form or another) for 43 years but, now my husband doesn't depend on a BT email for his self-employed business, have  migrated to g.mail addresses.  It's taken a couple of years but all I now get from BT email is spam.....  or people I don't want to communicate with anyway!  Our phone line is disconnected, so we just pay the annual rental charge and £11.34 for our wi-fi.  Quite happy with that.  We'll take the leap when something better comes along.....

pheonixmich

Hi JGB
That’s interesting, I always thought that WiFi/broadband etc had to have a connected landline? I maybe confused, but do you mind telling who you that arrangement is with?