As of today, Migration Authorisation Codes, or MAC codes as they are commonly known will now have to be issued by ISPs to customers who which to move to another provider.
MAC codes were introduced by Ofcom and BTas an industry standard code of practice between Internet Service Providers, to ensure that customers who wanted to ’switch’ from one provider to another could do so with ease, and not be bound into a contract against their wishes.
However, ISPs were not obligated to provide their customers with MAC codes on demand, and were unpopular with many companies who refused to adopt the practice of issuing the codes. This left many people frustrated, unable to leave a contract prematurely without being heavily fined.
There have been plenty of horror stories when customers have been lumbered with slow connections and download limits and have effectively been unable to shop around for a better deal because their provider is withholding their code.
Now wholesale providers will be required to issue consumers and small businesses (of 10 employees or less) with MAC codes within five days, regardless of any amounts that may be owed or any contractual obligations the end user may be under. Users are now able to vote with their feet if they deem the service they have received from a provider to be unsatisfactory.
This is great news for broadband customers, as it allows for greater freedom, and will hopefully force underperforming providers to improve their services and not rely on lengthy contracts to bind customers to their wallets.
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Jamie said on 14 Feb 2007 at 8:57 pm #
Looking forward to it being made simpler.
Andy said on 12 Jul 2007 at 7:13 pm #
i find it realy FUNNY when people say that changing ISP’s is made easy when the NEW ISP has LIED with there Discription of service.
Most heavy useage provider will say UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS, This is UNTRUE as you have to apply to there Fair Useage policy, Normaly from 40Gig (BT) to 60 Gig (AOL) i havent found one ISP that hasnt got a cap on downloads when they clearly ADVERTISE UNLINITED DOWNLOADS.
So when changing your ISP, make sure you also look at there fair useages policy or ask about it and make them tell you the truth.
Some companies like BT give you 40 gig DOWNLOAD & UPLOAD all in one 40 gig cap. so look around for a better deal that has a better deal that you really want, Cheap may not be a good deal.
Makeing it easy to move from one provider to another may be good, but the providers may not be giving the services you want.
Also if you are a heavy user you may find the ISP just want to get rid of you and onto another isp just because you went over there FUP by 1 gig because they ownly allow 20 gig max..
Byer beware
James said on 16 Aug 2007 at 4:09 pm #
I can understand your frustration, ISP’s should not be able to claim an unlimited service if they have any sort of download limit in their Fair Usage Policy.
I also understand though why the fair usage policy is in place for many of todays broadband providers. As prices fall (even on the more expensive packages) a few customers will be constantly downloading and uploading on their broadband connections all day long, this in turn has either two effects:
1) Prices rise for all customers to cover the costs of the bandwidth of a few with speed issues being more frequent.
2) The broadband company attempts to put off this type of customer by implementing a Fair Usage Policy.
Now up to 40GB per month will be more than enough bandwidth for your average Internet user and I think the companies with Fair Usage Policies have made this decision for the benefit of many and not for a few.
That being said they still shouldn’t be able to advertise a Unlimited connection when it is not unlimited!