No mac code.. no Isp in sight :(

dukkha · Aug 20, 2010, 11:32:07

I had broadband with O2 and it was disconnected for excessive download, without any warning, and now I can't get a mac code.

Does any know an ISP that can give me broadband without a mac code and also without a long contract?
Another problem is most of them only offer capped services and the ones with high download allowance cost a lot of money.

Any advice is very welcome as I'm, at the moment, using a o2 dongle that's quite moody for my taste and of course no possibility of downloading

Thank you.

Glenn · Aug 20, 2010, 11:38:08

Dukkha

IDNet offer a 30 day contract, with a usage allowance dependent on package, if you exceed that, then they charge £1/Gb. I think whatever ISP you choose, they will have to get BT to remove the tag on your line to gain contol of it.

How much bandwidth have you been using to be disconnected from O2?

Rik · Aug 20, 2010, 11:39:11

Any ISP can give you broadband, but unless you have a MAC then you'd be charged the activation fee. I don't see why O2 can't give you one, but check the terms of their small print.

IDNet's contract is 1 month, even if you pay annually (which makes it cheaper). There's no download cap, but you pay £1/GB once you go over your allowance - you'll be warned if this is going to happen.

Welcome to the forum.

Ray · Aug 20, 2010, 11:39:45

Simon · Aug 20, 2010, 12:12:21

Rik · Aug 20, 2010, 12:34:37

Dukkha, you van check whether you can get a MAC by going to http://www.idnet.net/solutions/home/adslselector.jsp and entering your phone number. If there's a tag on your line, you'll be told you need a MAC to move. I think, though, that O2 have probably ceased the service so you will have no tag.

dukkha · Aug 20, 2010, 12:52:37

O2 says once the service has been disconnected they can't generate a mac code any more. I phoned BT and they say it's for O2 to deal with the problem.

Can I go to Ofcom to try to get a mac from O2 or is just more waste of time & energy?

Anyway, without a mac code how much would I need to pay for activation fee?

If nothing else works I may need to consider virgin media as no mac needed there. I used to have virgin broadband in the past and it was great in the beginning until it became almost impossible to bear the sluggish service. I'm dreading having to go back to it with a year contract!
Thanks!

Rik · Aug 20, 2010, 13:00:57

Quote from: dukkha on Aug 20, 2010, 12:52:37
O2 says once the service has been disconnected they can't generate a mac code any more. I phoned BT and they say it's for O2 to deal with the problem.

They are correct.

QuoteCan I go to Ofcom to try to get a mac from O2 or is just more waste of time & energy?

Not if you've been disconnected. Try the checker I gave you.

QuoteAnyway, without a mac code how much would I need to pay for activation fee?

£47.

QuoteIf nothing else works I may need to consider virgin media as no mac needed there. I used to have virgin broadband in the past and it was great in the beginning until it became almost impossible to bear the sluggish service. I'm dreading having to go back to it with a year contract!

Fibre or ADSL? You'd need a MAC for the latter, or pay any charges VM raise.

pctech · Aug 20, 2010, 16:01:53

O2 are an LLU provider so if they have unhooked you from their equipment you will need to pay an activation fee.

Rik · Aug 20, 2010, 16:03:03

Good point, Mitch.

Glenn · Aug 20, 2010, 16:06:43

May have been on Access though.

pctech · Aug 20, 2010, 16:07:41

As has been mentioned the broadband checker should be able to idenifiy whether the line is tagged.

Technical Ben · Aug 20, 2010, 21:40:04

You will pay a new setup fee or it will be included in your contract. This is because O2 have disconnected your line.
Probably best to check if the allowance with IDNet is sufficient for you. Else it could end up more expensive. Go with a truly unlimited provider if you need over the 30gb peak usage (or the excessive hundreds of GBs).
If you can curb your usage, IDNet is great. They give daily rss and web updates on what you have used.

[Edit]
Hope you don't mind me linking your original post do you?
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/02-mac-code-nightmare-43952.aspx?Source=GOO-004AEF25

Might help with the details.

pctech · Aug 20, 2010, 22:44:28

Bear in mind Virgin traffic manage and will throttle you if you exceeed their fair usage (could be why you experienced slow speeds but I'm no fan of Virgin anyway)

Personally I use Zen Internet and pay 24.99 for 50 GB a month, when you hit that the only place you can go is there customer portal to purchase more bandwidth in 1 GB blocks about 1.50 per GB but that would prevent you running up a potentially large bandwidth bill which is possible with IDNet and you can also get a 100GB package at £34.99.

Support is also excellent and on a par with IDNet.

Simon · Aug 20, 2010, 23:43:55

IDNet do send a warning when you are approaching your limit, though, based on current usage projections.

Gary · Aug 21, 2010, 08:14:43

Quote from: pctech on Aug 20, 2010, 22:44:28
Bear in mind Virgin traffic manage and will throttle you if you exceeed their fair usage (could be why you experienced slow speeds but I'm no fan of Virgin anyway)

Personally I use Zen Internet and pay 24.99 for 50 GB a month, when you hit that the only place you can go is there customer portal to purchase more bandwidth in 1 GB blocks about 1.50 per GB but that would prevent you running up a potentially large bandwidth bill which is possible with IDNet and you can also get a 100GB package at £34.99.

Support is also excellent and on a par with IDNet.

I dont understand this large bill business, you get a warning, you have a usage meter. That's like saying I only drink in bars where the barman takes my glass away when I can't control my drinking, IDNet give you the tools, self restraint is up to you.

Steve · Aug 21, 2010, 09:21:17

I think I would be more fed up of having to feed the meter so to speak. I have the Usage RSS feed on the bookmarks bar I don't see the issue.

DorsetBoy · Aug 21, 2010, 09:28:36

Quote from: Gary on Aug 21, 2010, 08:14:43
I dont understand this large bill business, you get a warning, you have a usage meter. That's like saying I only drink in bars where the barman takes my glass away when I can't control my drinking, IDNet give you the tools, self restraint is up to you.

You miss one vital point Gary ............. the OP was an 02 customer and they do not provide an inteface like IDNet.

Steve · Aug 21, 2010, 09:33:16

O2 is unlimited , so if you incur the wrath of the fair usage policy , your still warned.

Gary · Aug 21, 2010, 09:36:23

Quote from: DorsetBoy on Aug 21, 2010, 09:28:36
You miss one vital point Gary ............. the OP was an 02 customer and they do not provide an inteface like IDNet.

I used to be a O2 customer, and they like anyone else have T&C's which changed recently I know, also if you get booted for downloading you are way over what is acceptable generally, O2 were very easy going with their download rates till it was wildly abused by some, part O2's fault of course for all you can eat packages, but still you have to be using a hell of a lot I would imagine to get kicked out, Dorset. Also they let you know, you do get warning shots to tell you to stop.

DorsetBoy · Aug 21, 2010, 09:38:59

Quote from: Steve on Aug 21, 2010, 09:33:16
O2 is unlimited , so if you incur the wrath of the fair usage policy , your still warned.

That is the problem Steve......... O2 say they are unlimited but they are not. They have been turfing people off and throttling accounts, there are 100's if not 1000's of angry users screaming on the forums.

The exodus to other ISP's is huge.

DorsetBoy · Aug 21, 2010, 09:41:58

Quote from: Gary on Aug 21, 2010, 09:36:23
I used to be a O2 customer, and they like anyone else have T&C's which changed recently I know, also if you get booted for downloading you are way over what is acceptable generally, O2 were very easy going with their download rates till it was wildly abused by some, part O2's fault of course for all you can eat packages, but still you have to be using a hell of a lot I would imagine to get kicked out, Dorset. Also they let you know, you do get warning shots to tell you to stop.

From the dozens of posts I have read elsewhere this week they are not warning people, they all say the same thing , there were problems with dire speeds which caused masses of complaints, next thing connections are just cut off.

Gary · Aug 21, 2010, 09:42:23

Quote from: DorsetBoy on Aug 21, 2010, 09:38:59
That is the problem Steve......... O2 say they are unlimited but they are not. They have been turfing people off and throttling accounts, there are 100's if not 1000's of angry users screaming on the forums.

The exodus to other ISP's is huge.

That's because in the beginning it was virtually unlimited and it was massively abused Dorset, give people enough rope and they will hang themselves comes to mind. They customers may well complain but the consumers are to blame here for downloading hundreds of GB's of data, O2 didn't force them to do that.

Gary · Aug 21, 2010, 09:43:37

Quote from: DorsetBoy on Aug 21, 2010, 09:41:58
From the dozens of posts I have read elsewhere this week they are not warning people, they all say the same thing , there were problems with dire speeds which caused masses of complaints, next thing connections are just cut off.

Maybe O2 got sick and tired of it being abused, read the T&C's then you will know your fair usage policy I guess, its not rocket science.

DorsetBoy · Aug 21, 2010, 09:47:30

Quote from: Gary on Aug 21, 2010, 09:42:23
That's because in the beginning it was virtually unlimited and it was massively abused Dorset, give people enough rope and they will hang themselves comes to mind. They customers may well complain but the consumers are to blame here for downloading hundreds of GB's of data, O2 didn't force them to do that.

If you sign a contract that says "Unlimited" that is what it means and it cannot be abused .......... O2 and others should not have made false claims about their service, it would be like IDNet shutting you down for using your allowance to the full each month.