MAC Codes - when do they expire?

[RobMc]

Hi,

Firstly this isn't me wanting to leave IDNet  I'm trying to find out exactly when a MAC code expires and I can't find the information I need anywhere.

I know the MAC code expires after 30 days if it's not used, what I don't know is what is meant by used.

If I use it within say 20 days by handing it to a new ISP, can I then have a migration date outside the original 30 days? or does the migration need to be fully completed within the 30 day period?

Thanks
Rob.

[Simon]

From what I managed to drag out of Pipex, the date of issue of the MAC is the start date of the 30 day cancellation notice period, so I can invoke it at any time during that 30 days, after which it 'expires', and you have to request a new one.  I'm not sure what actually happens to your connection at the point of expiry, if you haven't used the MAC, whether it carries on, or is terminated anyway. 

Anyway, so basically, as I understand it, although someone will correct me if I'm wrong, if you have a MAC on Day 1, use it on Day 20, and your migration date isn't until, say Day 35, you will have 5 days with no broadband connection, as your old ISP will have cancelled on Day 30, and the new one hasn't started yet.   The best thing to do is use the MAC, say, on Day 15, then you should be fairly certain to have migrated by Day 30.

[RobMc]

Thanks for that.

I left Pipex for Idnet in march 2006 and that's what they told me. I've been reading other isps and most of those say if you don't use the mac code then things just carry on as they were (ie. you continue to be connected with that isp as though you had never requested the mac code). The "from" isp in question is tiscali (spit) so anything could happen and the "destination" isp is sky broadband. Yes I know, it's for my parents (retired for quite a while) and they have decided to go from paying £15/month to tiscali for 1Mb broadband (should be 2Mb but that's another rant) to paying Sky £17/month for 2Mb broadband and Sky TV (2mix). Can't blame them, it's really a no-brainer for them, my dad likes to surf the net and they both miss having cable tv after their house move (cable is a mere 10 metres from their door but they can't get connected, another rant). So with those two isps it could well stretch the 30 days of the mac code!

Rob.

[Simon]

Well, you should be glad you escaped Pipex when you did, as they are just in the process of selling out to Tiscali, which is why I'm leaving.  That said, the only good thing about them was / is the reliability of the connection, which I hope will be the same with IDNet, when I migrate on 20th Sept.  What I did was, when I eventually got the MAC from Poopex (after five days and two phone calls), I gave it straight to IDNet, and requested that the migration date wasn't until 20th Sept, so as not to be paying twice for the best part of a month.  Hopefully things should all work out OK. 

[RobMc]

yup, it was a good time to leave. I just wanted pipex to upgrade me from 1Mb to 2Mb which was the same price and they said ok, but you'll be starting a new 12 month contract. Strange as I hadn't had a 12 month contract with pipex in the first place. Ho hum. So I said no and asked for my mac code. I told them why and that I was going to an ISP that offered 2Mb with a one month contact and they told me that there was no such isp. I laughed and said "ok so you say, I'll have my mac code anyway". To be fair they sent it via email the very same day. I think things rapidly went down hill with pipex from then with all the pushing of the inclusive phone contract and then the customer service problems they seemed to start with and finally all the billing problems they seem to have had. I was happy to be out of it all.

I've been very happy with IDNet since then.

Rob.

[Simon]

I haven't had any of the billing problems that others have suffered, but as you say, customer service sucks, and they have no respect or loyalty towards existing customers.  I nearly left them twice before, once when I moved house, and they insisted on instigating a new 12 month contract, even though I had already been with them for 3 years, and then a year later, when I was going to leave, because of the moving house thing, but they managed to persuade me to stay by offering a free upgrade to Max.  At the time, it seemed to be easier to stay than to go, so I took the easy option, but, of course, with yet another 12 month ball and chain.  I have never received the promised speeds on Max, so hopefully moving to IDNet will improve this, and I was determined not to get tangled up with Tiscali, find myself suddenly LLU'ed, and not be able to escape for another year!

I am hoping to be very happy with IDNet.