Question - Do I need a Mac Code to change to Virgin broadband??

[forgottenone]

Right, I need like hell to get away from my current broaband provider due to their incompetence dealing with my account and the small fact I am now considering - I'm being serious here, not just saying it - not wanting to be around anymore because of the worry of debts, ill health and now my broadband provider from hell acting up! What can I say? Huge phone bills, very nasty call centre staff who you wouldn't trust to change a light bulb, pitbull like conversations with any of the UK based staff. Essentially, I have been pushed to some very serious limitations with it all. Want to get the hell away from them ASAP! Don't want to go on, would take me pages to explain what the problem is. Suffice to say it's messed me up pretty badly with worry on top of ill health. Dealing with other debt problems at the same time and whether I will have anywhere to live if things get seriously worse than they are already.

So, I just want to get the hell away soon as, really! Just read on here in another related thread that's its possible to go to Virgin Media - yes, I know, but it's the only one I could find accepts or seemingly accepts new customers without a MAC code; devil and deep blue sea, lesser of the 2 evils, stay with my current provider ... and my health will considerably worsen with the crap I've so far put up with AND damn well paying for the privilige with hours of phone calls, lied and misled by call centre staff ... if it weren't so serious it would be funny(!).

So, IS it possible to sign up to Virgin Media without a MAC code? Don't want any fancy whistles and bells here just a working broadband service. Like I said things have got suddenly very serious with this now. Really can't put up with dealing with my current supplier anymore, cos get sod all nowhere with them. So, yes it's drastic but so is the way the whole thing has made me feel right now. No one at my supplier cares one bit. Won't sort it out. Don't want to go to OFCOM, or down that route. It's affected me very seriously with the strain on me right now. And it would make things worse my having to wait longer, drag it out, explain it again to any of the regulatory bodies. I just went to get away from them, I'll deal with any fall out later as a result.

So, can anyone help on this? The company I am having these difficulties is a very well known one on this score. And I can't do it anymore. It's my health, well being or escaping from them. Or, to put it more succinctly, my sanity dealing with them. Can't anymore.

[MrShed]

If you are talking about Virgin Media broadband via CABLE, yes it is absolutely possible. HOWEVER, it will result only in you having two broadband contracts(possibly) at the same time, as they are different methods of delivery. If you are wanting to "swap" ISPs by getting the new one to automatically remove the old one from the line(I think reading between the lines this may be what you mean), no it is not possible to do this.

[forgottenone]

Took the plunge. Phoned VM earlier ... least it was a freephone number ... rather than my present premium rate number with my current supplier ... paying for the privilige of non customer service ... as usual.

Can't have VM in my area ... so answers that at least. Apparently, if I had been able to ... I wouldn't need a MAC code ... so escape seemed tantalisingly to hand for a while ... but for ADSL I would. Oh, well back to the drawing board trying to sort out my current supplier's mess. TBH, much rather walk across glass than cope even think about trying to.

[Conniff]

You can't have it in your area because it is not cabled up. Shame, that is the best bb method.
However, Virgin does ADSL as well so you can transfer to that. You do not need a mac code, it will just take longer to get you online that's all.

[jokerdisco]

Hi,

Who is your current provider?

[MrShed]

Judging by another post by the OP elsewhere, I'm going to hazard a guess at Orange Broadband....only guessing tho

[forgottenone]

Oh, yes - them! Threatened me with bailiffs earlier on the phone. Not nice. Particularly when it's a problem not of my own doing. Keep saying they will phone back ... Indian call centres has now become a swear word ... sort things out. Escalated things. Made me extremely ill in the process. Already ill, but just made things worse.

Hence my desperation ...

Tried Ofcom ... needn't have bothered phoning them as they were useless.
Then wondered afterwards what use they were eg a regulatory body. Mmm. Got advised to visit or contact my local CAB ... well, okay, who will likely tell me to contact OFCOM again. Brilliant.

But the fruit sounding provider ... I know I am not alone ... after reading the horrifying tales online lately.

[eylau]

some provides dont' have mac code

[locutus]

Can I ask why getting a MAC code is a problem? I'm sure I read somewhere that if you have a dispute they have to give you a MAC code. (I'm not 100% clued up on this, Buzby would be the best person to answer this I think)

[MrShed]

They dont have to provide a MAC code if you are in arrears I believe, and I suspect(reading between the lines) that that may be part of the issue here.

[locutus]

Taken from http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/cond.../statement.pdf

3. The only reasons why a LSP may refuse to issue a MAC are that:
a) The customer has failed standard checks to validate that he is the account holder
b) The broadband service contract has been terminated
c) The LSP has already submitted a cease request to BTW for the broadband service
d) The account holder is deceased
4. For avoidance of doubt, the LSP may not refuse to issue a MAC if:
a) The account holder has not paid any charges due before the migration date (whether
service charges, disconnection charges, charges for remaining minimum term
contract period or any migration charge); such charges should be included in a final
broadband service bill, which will be settled according to the terms of the contract.
b) The account holder is in bad debt but is still receiving the broadband service at the
time the request is received.
c) The account holder is within a minimum term contract on the broadband service that
is needed to recover a subsidy on the broadband service equipment or setup costs;
d) The broadband service that is to be migrated has already been suspended for

reasons of bad debt at the time the request is received.


LSP = Losing Service Provider
BTW = British Telecom Wholesale

[MrShed]

I stand corrected