BT Wholesale cuts off Prodigy Internet

MAC

Can some please explain MAC to this yank. In America when you want to change DSL providers , you cancel, then simply call up another provider . NoMAC needed

Re: MAC

The MAC lets you migrate straight from one provider to another without having to cancel, wait for the provider's tag to be removed from the line, then when it's clear sign up with a new provider and wait for that to be processed. You get the MAC, give that to the new provider and it all just happens, normally minimal downtime on the day that the changeover happens, and often no new connection fee.

As I understand it anyway...

Steve.

@kain preacher - explain?

BT

@ kain preacher

Yeah, and you'll likely be several days without service in the process (having experienced the US system) unless you can get the two service providers to cooperate and coordinate their dates.

A MAC is an authorisation code to transfer service from one ISP to another. Normally, it's seemless, happening in the middle of the night with only the slightest interruption. It's pretty much the same concept as the authorisation codes used to migrate cellphone numbers between different providers.

Normally customers never have to deal with their own MAC codes, the ISPs do it between themselves but if one of the ISPs involved is against the wall and won't answer the phones, obviously they'll have to do it themselves.

@ kain preacher

Theoretically the MAC means that you don't need to be without DSL service for days waiting for things like the original service to disappear from the line, or for the new service provider to gear up to offering you the service once your old provider has been removed. It also means the new provider knows that you're not tied into a minimum term contract which would stop you from being able to move service provider.

In theory on the day of switchover using a MAC, you will only be without service provision for a couple of hours or so.

Re: MAC

A MAC is a Migration Authorisation Code, it allows you to migrate from one ISP to another with almost zero downtime. If you simply cancel and go elsewhere it could be up to 28 days until you're connected again. More info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_Authorisation_Code

@MAC

It's a pain in the arse. You have to obtain a MAC for changing any kind of telecom provider. I believe it was originally conceived to stop fraudulent trading activities and fly-by-night businesses. In reality, when you ask for a MAC, you get hassled by the "Retention Department" (actually a local office and not one in India) who will try and convince you to stay with grovelling shovelled in spades, to which you tell them in no uncertain terms that if they treated their customers better, you wouldn't be having this conversation with them.

Overloaded MAC

There are 26^3 = 17576 TLAs. So why did they have to go and pick one that already has a perfectly good meaning the the same domain? "What is your MAC?" "It's 00:1b:27:3a:21:01". "Sorry sir, that is not a valid MAC". "WFT? I just read it off the sticker!" "Ah no, that's the other-sort-of-MAC".

In fact there's yet another meaning: "What is your MAC?" "No, I'm a PC".

Argh.

MAC process

Hi,

I recently moved from Demon to Pipex Business (I got a little to hacked off with Demon's fair usage policy). Demon were very quick at giving me the MAC code (not sure why - but I think they may have been glad to see the back of me - heavy downloader with 3 other users at peak times).

The thing that got me was that Pipex works out cheaper and I get no fair usage policy - I even got a refund from Demon for the service I didn't use :P

Mike

@ Steve Foster

Surely this is Prodigy's actions not BT's, I'm hguessing if they ain't answering the phones, then they definately aren't paying the DSL wholesale bill. No Pay, No Play.

@Mike Gravgaard

I'm another ex-Demon user: around 10 years with them (from the KA9Q days on dial-up on the "tenner a month" plan, all the way to Business Broadband), but I eventually left them because of the Fair Usage Policy kicking in continually. I now pay Enta.net (available through many resellers such as ukfsn.org ) for a "known bandwidth" allowance of 90Gb per month (Demon wouldn't even offer me anything like that - even though I was willing to pay double what I was paying! -, but like you, they handed over the MAC code as soon as I asked). I

@AC

Prodigy didn't kick their customers off the internet. BT did. Prodigy were simply retailing BT Wholesale ADSL product. BT are therefore in a position of power over many ISPs because they can simply redirect all the ISPs ADSL customers to their [BTs] own walled garden, as happened with Prodigy.

Now whether it's Prodigy's fault for actually not paying their bills, or a dispute between Prodigy and BT of some sort, or a cockup by BT ("you haven't paid us", "oh yes we have" "we can't trace it", etc), we don't know.

Regardless of the reason, BTs actions have ensured that Prodigy is no longer a viable company.

Re: Hi-Velocity

Had the same problem with Hi-Velocity.

My Mum was with them but wanted to switch to Be. Emailed for MAC three times, no reply. Checked Ofcom website, put in a complaint to Hi-Velocity (as instructed by Ofcom), no reply. Phoned Ofcom, who contacted Hi-Velocity. STILL no MAC code.

Eventually after about two months of Ofcom hassling them a MAC code was issued.

They still kept sending me bills for another two months though, even going so far as to tell me one month they had accidentally sent me the wrong bill!