Victory in the Broadband switching battle

Having already switched my electricity supplier and mobile phone operator in recent months it was now time to turn my attention to my broadband supplier. This switch was to prove far more difficult and time consuming than the previous two.

Selecting a new provider was easy as O2 were offering me a years free broadband as one of their existing mobile customers. Their offer was perfect as it was four times faster than my current package with Pipex and most importantly for me had no download limits.

In theory switching should simply be a case of informing your current provider you want to leave and asking for a MAC key which you provide to your new supplier. However, Pipex simply ignored my first request, the second failed as they were updating their systems and the third attempt finally generated a MAC code some 3 weeks later.

Once I had the MAC code setting up my new account with O2 was easy and within days I was enjoying the benefits of free broadband at speeds of upto 8 Mbps.

Far less easy was ending the relationship with Pipex. They insisted that I should continue paying for another 30 days as that was their cancellation terms and started the cancellation clock from my 3rd attempt to cancel.

After many phone calls and unanswered emails they have finally agreed not to charge me for this cancellation period, which just goes to prove sometimes you have to be firm with these companies and stand your ground to avoid them taking advantage of you.

Switching broadband provider may have proved time consuming but over the next 12 months it will save me £140.64 so it was worth it in the end.