Going from Pipex to Sky: How?

nero120 · 26 Oct 2008 at 21:44

Hey guys, my girlfriend has been with Pipex (formally Bulldog) for phone and bb for years and now wants to switch to sky (tv, phone and bb). The trouble is, she is a bit confused as to the best (quickest and cheapest) way to achieve this switch. Has anyone done this before and could you give any advice?

I've heard horror stories about having to switch back to BT before you can order sky, and that can cost £125 reconnection charge? If anyone can shine a light on this situation for me that would be awesome!

Nanobot · 26 Oct 2008 at 22:03

Not sure about the BT/Sky switch, but just wanted to say - keep an eye on your direct debits when you leave. When I left, everytime I kept cancelling the DD, they kept recreating them and the bank said they couldnt stop them because of the old DD form they had. Might have been an isolated case but it wasnt a good experience.

tolien · 26 Oct 2008 at 22:17

If she's on Bulldog LLU and that includes the voice service, then it's right that you'll first have to get the line back to BT before you think about the ADSL.

You shouldn't have to pay the £125, but not paying it probably guarantees an 18 month contract term (for the voice service only).

nero120 · 26 Oct 2008 at 22:25

tolien said:
If she's on Bulldog LLU and that includes the voice service, then it's right that you'll first have to get the line back to BT before you think about the ADSL.

You shouldn't have to pay the £125, but not paying it probably guarantees an 18 month contract term (for the voice service only).

Does that mean no phone service from sky? She'll have to pay the £10.50 odd monthly line rental from BT for the contractual period?

What's the best way to go back to BT then? Will she have to get a MAC code from Pipex to give to BT? Also, will she have to wait before she's back on BT before ordering sky?

Sorry for the barage of questions!

AtaRo · 26 Oct 2008 at 22:28

Try to ask here Bulldog Hell some ex bulldog staff is still in the site

tolien · 26 Oct 2008 at 22:37

nero120 said:
Does that mean no phone service from sky? She'll have to pay the £10.50 odd monthly line rental from BT for the contractual period?

Sky don't do full LLU, so she'd probably be ok going with Sky for line rental - they should be able to handle ordering the BT line anyroad.

Will she have to get a MAC code from Pipex to give to BT?

If she's on Bulldog full LLU, nope. Just cancel.
If it's ADSL via BT Wholesale, or SMPF with some kind of voice service via BT, then a MAC key would be the better option.

Also, will she have to wait before she's back on BT before ordering sky?

Yup.

nero120 · 26 Oct 2008 at 22:46

tolien said:
Sky don't do full LLU, so she'd probably be ok going with Sky for line rental - they should be able to handle ordering the BT line anyroad.

So if she's orders sky and tells them she's on bulldog phone + bb, they will sort it all out?

If she's on Bulldog full LLU, nope. Just cancel.
If it's ADSL via BT Wholesale, or SMPF with some kind of voice service via BT, then a MAC key would be the better option.

How can she tell if she's on full LLU?

Yup.

So, what's the order she should do this in:

a.) Phone sky + let them handle everything

or

b.) Phone pipex, cancel, then phone BT and order a line, then when it is active order sky

or

c.) Phone BT let them handle activating the line and cancelling pipex, then order sky

Whaddaya think fellas?

tolien · 26 Oct 2008 at 23:00

nero120 said:
So if she's orders sky and tells them she's on bulldog phone + bb, they will sort it all out?

No, she still has to cancel the Bulldog service.

How can she tell if she's on full LLU?

Pass. The key difference is Bulldog will provide the voice service themselves, rather than any jiggerypokery involving BT.

So, what's the order she should do this in:

a.) Phone sky + let them handle everything

or

b.) Phone pipex, cancel, then phone BT and order a line, then when it is active order sky

Either b or Phone Pipex, cancel, then phone Sky and see if they'll handle ordering a voice service (I suspect they won't, but if you have to pay the activation fee they'll cover you).

no one else will handle cancelling Bulldog, that much is for sure.

nero120 · 26 Oct 2008 at 23:05

Cool thanks for all your help tolein. I'll phone Sky tomorrow and see if they'll sort out the BT line and get the gf to ring Pipex and cancel.

Something tells me we're in for a world of pain!!

booyaka · 28 Oct 2008 at 16:09

nero120 said:
Cool thanks for all your help tolein. I'll phone Sky tomorrow and see if they'll sort out the BT line and get the gf to ring Pipex and cancel.

Something tells me we're in for a world of pain!!

i've just moved to Sky and it was a painless and very pleasant experience.

Get a MAC code from your existing provider, input on the sky website (assuming you already have sky tv) and away you go.

Smooth change over - no down time and all updated and email when it happened. Excellent work.

If you do it all via the website, the phone line will automatically be transfered and you don't need to speak to your existing provider. Very simple and straightforward.

No cost or charge for the broadband connection or the phone connection.

tolien · 28 Oct 2008 at 19:07

If you didn't move from Bulldog or someone else who does full LLU, you did something completely different.

nero120 · 29 Oct 2008 at 00:10

Yeah sounds like he had a very different setup!