Been off line (well on a free dial up) since April. Couldn't jump ship sooner as my wife is a student and needed the internet at home until her exams were over.
We now have a month or so when we can live with no internet, so can anyone answer the following questions for me:
1) If I transfer to a new ISP using a MAC code, is it possible that the fault will transfer too? (assuming the fault is with LLU, not my own line in the house).
2) If I cancel the contract and take up a new one without using a MAC code will this cause more problems?
3) I have read on the web (can't remember where) that without a MAC code, I will not be able to register with a new ISP unless I get a new BT line (ie a new telephone number). Is this correct?
Looking forward to the day when I can leave Orange.
PS - When I do, I will post back here about time taken and how I did it. Seems like too few people give feedback once they've gone.
Last edited by AlienP on Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:21 pm; edited 1 time in total
Don't quote me on this! there are other more knowledgeable postee's who will, I hope, advise if I'm wrong.
I believe that as long as you are out of your contract, and you can spare time without broadband Internet access, the least messy way, not involving MAC codes which can cause problems especially if your exchange has been LLU'd, and your new provider say uses BT Max, is for a " cease and re-provide supply"
I believe this entails your present service provider taking their ' broadband marker ' off your 'phone line, you then revert back to a normal 'phone line , with your original number, you then approach your chosen provider to set you up. A bit like starting from scratch, as if you had never had broadband.
I think you can still use a 'dial up connection' during this time, your 'phone line is not disconnected.
It appears that the turnaround for this process averages 10 days.
Check the ASDL site for info.
Sorry for not being more positive, I have read of quite a few who have done it this way but can't remember where
By the way the consensus of opinion is TO MAKE SURE YOU CANCELL YOUR DIRECT DEBIT AS SOON AS YOU HAVE CONFIRMATION OF YOUR SERVICE CEASING, Orange have a nasty habit of forgetting to cancel at their end, keep taking your money, charging you to keep 'phoning them to get your money back, then sitting on their hands for a few months.
Take care and be aware
" 1) If I transfer to a new ISP using a MAC code, is it possible that the fault will transfer too? (assuming the fault is with LLU, not my own line in the house). "
If the fault is with the line then it should not have taken 3 months to resolve! Guess it's down to Orange blaming BT again.
With a cease and provide at least your prospective supplier will be able, and should, test your line to confirm that it can supply the service / package / speed you require.
I almost fell off my chair when the Orange broadband connection worked this evening (2.5Meg)! First time in 2 months. I actually put it down to me posting here.
Only lasted a couple of hours though. Back on the dial up now. The buggers were just taunting me.
Got through to a UK tech rep yesterday. They are going to test the line. Woopee!!
Next phone call: MAC code please.
Them: Can't you owe us £17.99
Me: No, you owe me £17.99 - no service for 2 months, I paid fisrt month but not second.
Them: OK. Will email MAC code to you in 48 hours and will put a cheque in the post.
Me: Yeah yeah.
Watch this space.
PS. another funny tale: The tech rep said "Ooh I know what you're going through. Erm, well actually I don't I haven't got a computer so I don't get these sort of problems". Give me strength
" 1) If I transfer to a new ISP using a MAC code, is it possible that the fault will transfer too? (assuming the fault is with LLU, not my own line in the house). "
I believe that as long as you are out of your contract, and you can spare time without broadband Internet access, the least messy way, not involving MAC codes which can cause problems especially if your exchange has been LLU'd, and your new provider say uses BT Max, is for a " cease and re-provide supply"
I believe this entails your present service provider taking their ' broadband marker ' off your 'phone line, you then revert back to a normal 'phone line , with your original number, you then approach your chosen provider to set you up.
I think you can still use a 'dial up connection' during this time, your 'phone line is not disconnected.
1Step
It seems that my line is at fault. But I can make phone calls and use dial-up....I have just asked for my MAC code but am in such a hurry to get off Orange (I am losing money in the business I run from home and so am now thinking I should call back and ask for this "cease and re-provide supply" option. Does anyone know if this takes effect at once? I need some connection and so am scared that they will cut off my dial-up...I cannot risk being offline totally for even one day...Should I get dial up with someone else before I take this " cease and re-provide supply" leap.
When I did the cease and re-supply (which is actually still going on...) i still had a dial up account (one of those pay as you go ones) with Orange which was not cancelled. So I've been able to use that.
Be prepared however, it seems that cease-and re-provide takes up to 15 days... it took Orange 5 days to clear my line, during which time all I could do was keep trying to place an order through BT... Once it had cleared, i could then place the order, but thats taking 10 days to complete (apparently standard for BT)... I should be back up and running (finally) some time tomorrow... 2 months after I started having trouble with Orange
Thanks Paul. It does help to know the warts and all of it.
I think I will go for it.
As a safety net, a friend of mine has just told me about a site called www.uku.co.uk that is 1p a minute and no tie-ins or contracts etc, and so I am going to have a look at that and see if it can 'bridge' me....
Thank God I found this site! Cheers.
The day they told me that my MAC code hadn't been sent because the account was closed... you guessed it... a MAC code arrived.
Sent this off to ZeN with credit card details and 9 days later my internet connection went from Orange no connection to ZeN 6.8Mb connection.
Funny how all those problems with my / BT equipment sorted themselves out the same day ZeN took over.
Very happy bunny.
Just need to wrap up the arguments with Orange now about whether I owe them money (they must be havin a larf) or they owe me money. Too happy now though to care less about it and will probably put it all down to life's rich tapestry.
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there are other more knowledgeable postee's who will, I hope, advise if I'm wrong.
The buggers were just taunting me.
