How do I switch?

Not if you use uSwitch.com. We’re here to help you manage your switch from phone provider to another with the minimum fuss and minimum downtime.

Before you begin you need to determine whether or not you can switch or migrate to another provider. Some providers will charge you a cancellation fee if you break your contract, others will make you pay the remainder of your contract out, so always check with your current provider. It doesn’t mean that you cannot switch, it just means that you won’t be able to do it right away, unless you’re willing to pay a cancellation fee.

So you’ve looked at your contract and you can switch, what you now need is a MAC (Migration Access Code) code. To get this you need to contact your current provider and ask for a MAC code.

It is important that you know the following:

• your current provider must provide you with a MAC code either via email or over the phone within five working days
• your current provider can only withhold your MAC code for two reasons
  • if you have already cancelled your broadband connection
  • if the account holder is deceased
• your current supplier cannot withhold your MAC code if you owe them money. They must still give you your MAC code, but they can still do whatever they need to do to get back any money that you already owe them

When you ring up your current provider they may try and retain you. However be warned, the provider has never offered to cut the cost of your connection until you decided to leave, so why should you stay with them? Also the retention subscriptions that they have are short term offers, the new provider you want to switch to is offering you a better deal from the start, why should you pay less for three months initially and then pay the same amount of charges again?

Plus the retention packages may not offer you the same service or features as the package you want to switch to, so why stay? Make the switch!

When you’ve found the right package for you with our broadband calculator you will be redirected to your new provider’s site and there you will be asked for your MAC code. Your new provider will then sign you up to your new account and arrange for your broadband connection to be transferred. You will get a transfer date (similar to a go live date) and this will normally be within 10 working days of your new account sign up. On the transfer date you will probably experience around 20 to 30 minutes of downtime. Once the transfer has occurred you can then use your new username and password and you’ll be up and running.

This very much depends on the provider. Some keep your email account open for around three months and then shut it down. This will give you enough time to transfer your contacts, newsletters and subscriptions to your new email address. You should also sign up to a free email account with a company such as gmail, hotmail, or Yahoo and that way it won’t matter who provides your internet as you will always be able to retrieve your emails without worrying about your address. The good news is that very few providers shut down your email accounts straight away, so you will have a chance to let everyone know that you have transferred.