How to cancel broadband when the ISP is unresponsive?

I've been trying to cancel my broadband account with Fast 24, but they
aren't replying to emails or answering the phone, and I've been trying
for a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if they're still actually in
business?

If Fast 24 continue to fail to take any action, what steps can I take to
get my broadband connection away from them? As I'm moving to another
ISP, not terminating broadband altogether, I'd ideally get a MAC code
from them, but the last time I managed to get through to them, they said
they weren't giving them out.

-- Richard Kennaway

Richard Kennaway wrote:
> I've been trying to cancel my broadband account with Fast 24, but they
> aren't replying to emails or answering the phone, and I've been trying
> for a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if they're still actually in
> business?
>
> If Fast 24 continue to fail to take any action, what steps can I take to
> get my broadband connection away from them? As I'm moving to another
> ISP, not terminating broadband altogether, I'd ideally get a MAC code
> from them, but the last time I managed to get through to them, they said
> they weren't giving them out.

If you're paying by Direct Debit, you could try cancelling that. I've
used that trick to great effect when trying to catch a company's
attention !

"Richard Kennaway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1hean36.1xms59k9of75gN%(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've been trying to cancel my broadband account with Fast 24, but they
> aren't replying to emails or answering the phone, and I've been trying
> for a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if they're still actually in
> business?
>
> If Fast 24 continue to fail to take any action, what steps can I take to
> get my broadband connection away from them? As I'm moving to another
> ISP, not terminating broadband altogether, I'd ideally get a MAC code
> from them, but the last time I managed to get through to them, they said
> they weren't giving them out.


You could try contacting Ofcom http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/ .
--
Keith Willcocks
(If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living!)

On Mon, 24 Apr 2006, Richard Kennaway wrote:

> I've been trying to cancel my broadband account with Fast 24, but they
> aren't replying to emails or answering the phone, and I've been trying
> for a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if they're still actually in
> business?
>
> If Fast 24 continue to fail to take any action, what steps can I take to
> get my broadband connection away from them? As I'm moving to another
> ISP, not terminating broadband altogether, I'd ideally get a MAC code
> from them, but the last time I managed to get through to them, they said
> they weren't giving them out.

If they are refusing to provide a MAC there's not a whole lot you can do
about that.

If they wont place a cease order on your line you should maintain a record
of your communications with them requesting the cease and then cancel your
payment facility. Contact BT and make a change of account name on the BT
phone bill asking them to ensure that a cease is placed for ADSL on the
line.

The cease should take about a week to go through.

Then you should be able to place an order for service with another ISP
although you will have to wait until the line is completely clear.

Note that you need to carefully check your contract with your current ISP
to ensure you are safe in terminating in this manner. I suspect that their
failure to respond to communications will make it hard for them to seek
compensation from you for early termination if that's appropriate however
that is definitely not legal advise.

Jason
--
UKFSN.ORG Finance Free Software while you surf the 'net
http://www.ukfsn.org/ up to 8Mb ADSL Broadband from just £14.98
http://www.linuxadsl.co.uk/ ADSL Routers from just £21.98

try uk.legal.moderated newsgroup

"Mark Carver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>
> Richard Kennaway wrote:
>> I've been trying to cancel my broadband account with Fast 24, but they
>> aren't replying to emails or answering the phone, and I've been trying
>> for a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if they're still actually in
>> business?
>>
>> If Fast 24 continue to fail to take any action, what steps can I take to
>> get my broadband connection away from them? As I'm moving to another
>> ISP, not terminating broadband altogether, I'd ideally get a MAC code
>> from them, but the last time I managed to get through to them, they said
>> they weren't giving them out.
>
> If you're paying by Direct Debit, you could try cancelling that. I've
> used that trick to great effect when trying to catch a company's
> attention !


Doesn't work on Tiscali.

"Simon" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:444d29bf$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Mark Carver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>>
>> Richard Kennaway wrote:
>>> I've been trying to cancel my broadband account with Fast 24, but they
>>> aren't replying to emails or answering the phone, and I've been trying
>>> for a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if they're still actually in
>>> business?
>>>
>>> If Fast 24 continue to fail to take any action, what steps can I take to
>>> get my broadband connection away from them? As I'm moving to another
>>> ISP, not terminating broadband altogether, I'd ideally get a MAC code
>>> from them, but the last time I managed to get through to them, they said
>>> they weren't giving them out.
>>
>> If you're paying by Direct Debit, you could try cancelling that. I've
>> used that trick to great effect when trying to catch a company's
>> attention !
>
>
> Doesn't work on Tiscali.
I disagree. I find it provokes a letter setting up the DD again.

Jim A

On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:40:46 +0100, in uk.telecom.broadband , "Simon"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>"Mark Carver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed) roups.com...
>>
>> Richard Kennaway wrote:
>>>
>>> If Fast 24 continue to fail to take any action, what steps can I take to
>>> get my broadband connection away from them?
>>
>> If you're paying by Direct Debit, you could try cancelling that.
>
>Doesn't work on Tiscali.

Small claims court action for damages?
Mark McIntyre
--

Jason Clifford <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> If they are refusing to provide a MAC there's not a whole lot you can do
> about that.
>
> If they wont place a cease order on your line you should maintain a record
> of your communications with them requesting the cease and then cancel your
> payment facility.

It's paid by credit card, which means I can't just tell the credit card
company to stop paying, I have to first show them cause. I've sent Fast
24 a letter by recorded delivery requiring them to either provide a MAC
or cease my connection, and if still nothing happens I'll forward a copy
to the credit card company.

Hm, I see from the Royal Mail web site that they tried to deliver the
letter at Fast24's premises this morning, but there was no-one there.

Just tried the telephone again. An answer! Apparently Fast24 have
moved, although the old address is still on their web site. In case
anyone else needs this, Fast 24 are now at:

Fast 24 Ltd, Vision Park, Compass House, Chivers Way, Histon, Cambridge
CB4 9AD.

The person I spoke to said he would have a cease made on the line within
7 days and subscription payments stopped.

Crossed fingers...

-- Richard Kennaway