Switching ISP : CPW/AOL to O2 : Advice for a smooth transition?

[Draeger]

I've had enough of CPW.

Finally decided to jump ship to O2.

I'm not in any contract ( I'm on what was the old "Platinum" package ) so I can leg it as and when I please.

Decided to go with O2. They reckon they can provide me on this line with @19Mb for £20 per month.

Anyway, couple of questions to those who have switched ISP's recently and also one question in particular to those who were on AOL/CPW but have moved in the past few months.

I've never switched ISP before, any advice for a smooth transition?.

As far as I can tell, I ring up and ask for ( or in CPW' case demand ) my MAC.

Then I contact O2, give them my MAC and bank details for direct debit. They send out whatever router is included and give me a "switchover" date, is that right?.

So up until this date, I should in theory - still have net access through CPW until they finish up and O2 take over, give or take a few minutes or probably more realistically - hours?.

Then I phone up CPW again and cancel my service with them ( this is the bit I'm not sure about. When exactly do I actually cancel and should I contact my bank to put a stop/cancel the CPW direct debit so they can't fleece me of any cash they are not entitled to ? ).

Have I got the general idea or am I way off the mark with the above?.

Secondly, to those who have moved from AOL/CPW recently, can you keep your old email addresses after you leave and login via AOL.co.uk's website?. When/Who do I ask about keeping the old email addresses or is it done automatically?.

I've looked online for an answer to this and it's a bit unclear with some folk saying :-

"Oh yeah, you have to tell them you want to keep the email addresses"

Other folk say :-

"Nope, what happens is the first time after you cancel that you login to AOL webmail via the aol.co.uk website, it just asks you to set up a new password and security question and away you go - no need to ask for it to be kept".

So whats the score there then?.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[tolien]

You shouldn't have to phone AOL once you're migrated. They'll know (because BT Wholesale will till them) that you're gone.

The only time you might have a problem is if they've grabbed your voice service. Otherwise, get MAC from losing ISP, give MAC to winning ISP, wait till connection stops working then connect BeBox (or better still, configure your choice of decent hardware to work on Be).

 

[Draeger]

Thanks, tolien.

So all I need to contact CPW for is the MAC and thats it?. CPW don't provide any voice service, no. That has always been with BT.

What about direct debits etc?. I've heard tales of folk getting the following month after moving ISP's, a direct debit taken by old ISP?.

So the BeBox is what O2 send out then?. Not any good?. Whats better, any recommendations?. Got a DG834G here, better than the BeBox or worse? ( I'm guessing worse as the 834 is probably pretty old hat by now ).

 

[Wicksta]

Draeger if you send an email to my address (the one in my trust) I can get you the same 20mbps package for £7.50 a month on my staff friends and family tariffs.

 

[tolien]

So all I need to contact CPW for is the MAC and thats it?

What about direct debits etc?. I've heard tales of folk getting the following month after moving ISP's, a direct debit taken by old ISP?

That's it. Direct Debits should be automagically cancelled, but there's no harm in you doing it once you've moved.

So the BeBox is what O2 send out then?

They call it the O2Box, but it's the same thing.

Not any good?

No, it's garbage.

Whats better

Stabbing yourself in the eye.
The DG834GT's popular and apparently works well, the DG834G might work too. It's going to be better than the O2Box anyway.

 

[Berserker]

So all I need to contact CPW for is the MAC and thats it?. CPW don't provide any voice service, no. That has always been with BT.

CPW own TalkTalk, so they do have their own voice service, but if you get a BT phone bill then you're good.

What about direct debits etc?. I've heard tales of folk getting the following month after moving ISP's, a direct debit taken by old ISP?.

Read your existing T&C and check for a notice period. You may well be able to jump ship but you'll probably pay 30 days' notice.

So the BeBox is what O2 send out then?. Not any good?. Whats better, any recommendations?. Got a DG834G here, better than the BeBox or worse? ( I'm guessing worse as the 834 is probably pretty old hat by now ).

O2 send out an O2 Wireless Box. It's the same hardware as the BeBox (given that O2 own Be, and used at least some of Be's infrastructure, that isn't surprising). In both cases the hardware is pretty basic, and utter **** if you want to do anything beyond the basics (avoid at all costs if you want to use wi-fi).

I'd recommend trying the DG834G first. If it works, leave the O2 hardware in its box. You will however need it if you have problems on the line as it's the only supported modem/router.

 

[Draeger]

Cheers guys, appreciate the info.

Draeger if you send an email to my address (the one in my trust) I can get you the same 20mbps package for £7.50 a month on my staff friends and family tariffs.

Very generous of you m8!! I'll drop you an email.

I'll need to check my T&C, didn't think about the possibility of a 30 day notice period. Can cope with that though.