Refuse to release MAC Codes?

Hi

Can an ISP refuse to give out MAC Codes? I was discussing this with a
colleague the other day and he said that his ISP wouldn't 'release' the MAC
code and if he wanted to change to another ADSL provider it would take up
to 3-4 weeks to change over as the ADSL connection would have to be removed
and then reconnected by his new provider.

Seems a bit naughty to me.

--
Regards
Barry

BJH wrote:
> Hi
>
> Can an ISP refuse to give out MAC Codes? I was discussing this with a
> colleague the other day and he said that his ISP wouldn't 'release' the MAC
> code and if he wanted to change to another ADSL provider it would take up
> to 3-4 weeks to change over as the ADSL connection would have to be removed
> and then reconnected by his new provider.
>
> Seems a bit naughty to me.
>

As I understand it there is a voluntary code of practice, so I am not sure
how it could be enforced, especially to those that haven't signed up to it.
But read here.....


http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/telec...m_cop/?a=87101


The existing service provider cannot withhold an authorisation code to
enforce debt collection or contractual rights. However, customers are not
freed from contractual obligations they have entered in to with their
existing service provider - i.e.: they will have to honour the remaining
term of an existing contract or pay early cancellation fees, if applicable.
An existing service provider will still be able to take reasonable action
to enforce their contractual rights even after a customer has migrated to a
new service provider.

--
Regards


Morgan


Hard Drive Noise....

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/morgan.tate/

On 4 May 2005 11:25, BJH <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> he said that his ISP wouldn't 'release' the MAC and if he wanted to
> change to another ADSL provider it would take up to 3-4 weeks to

Which ISP is it (so others are aware before they consider signing up ?

Do they have some 'pay a fee when you leave' policy (eg V.21)

Has he been in any dispute over payments (they might withhold the MAC
to make it more awkward, and anyway, *they* have to request the cease
of ADSL service, he cannot do it himself... When I cancelled with my
old ISP (Freeserve) they didn't cancel ADSL service and as a result I
could neither get a new ISP's service (line had ADSL) nor use it (the
login details would not work as FS had cancelled the account). Peter.

--
Plus.Net <http://tinyurl.com/5jpa4>
I recommend them and save some cash.

With a guarantee allowing new users to migrate if they're unhappy!

"BJH" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1hnbq2cxj33y1$.(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi
>
> Can an ISP refuse to give out MAC Codes? I was discussing this with a
> colleague the other day and he said that his ISP wouldn't 'release' the
MAC
> code and if he wanted to change to another ADSL provider it would take up
> to 3-4 weeks to change over as the ADSL connection would have to be
removed
> and then reconnected by his new provider.
>
> Seems a bit naughty to me.

Smells like Tiscali all over. They're so shite that they want to make
leaving them as difficult as possible.

Anyone who signs up with that bunch of t**sers deserves all they get
IMHO....

Simon

On Wed, 04 May 2005 11:45:56 +0100, Peter M wrote:

> Which ISP is it (so others are aware before they consider signing up ?

> Has he been in any dispute over payments (they might withhold the MAC
> to make it more awkward, and anyway, *they* have to request the cease
> of ADSL service, he cannot do it himself... When I cancelled with my
> old ISP (Freeserve) they didn't cancel ADSL service and as a result I
> could neither get a new ISP's service (line had ADSL) nor use it (the
> login details would not work as FS had cancelled the account). Peter.

I don't want to say who it is because I only got the info secondhand and
can't speak for its absolute accuracy, but AFAIK there has never been any
disputes and all invoices have been paid on time, so I look on it that they
are just being difficult.

I just wondered whether it could be effectively challenged.

--
Regards
Barry

Simon Ough <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

: Smells like Tiscali all over. They're so shite that they want to make
: leaving them as difficult as possible.

Without maligning them further surely Tiscali use DATASTREAM? There is no
migration from DataStream to IPStream (so a MAC code would be meaningless!)

Brian McIlwrath wrote:
> Simon Ough <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> : Smells like Tiscali all over. They're so shite that they want to make
> : leaving them as difficult as possible.
>
> Without maligning them further surely Tiscali use DATASTREAM? There is no
> migration from DataStream to IPStream (so a MAC code would be meaningless!)

Not sure

When I enquired with UK Online about migrating from Pipex (BT IPStream)
to them (LLU) I was told I still need to obtain a MAC code from the former.

--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply

On 4 May 2005 12:28 UTC, Brian McIlwrath wrote:

>There is no migration from DataStream to IPStream

See <http://www.metronet.co.uk/regrade-trial.shtml>


--
Plus.Net <http://tinyurl.com/5jpa4>
I recommend them and save some cash.

With a guarantee allowing new users to migrate if they're unhappy!

Morgan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>As I understand it there is a voluntary code of practice, so I am not sure
>how it could be enforced, especially to those that haven't signed up to it.
>But read here.....
>
>
>http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/telec...m_cop/?a=87101
>
>
>The existing service provider cannot withhold an authorisation code to
>enforce debt collection or contractual rights. However, customers are not
>freed from contractual obligations they have entered in to with their
>existing service provider - i.e.: they will have to honour the remaining
>term of an existing contract or pay early cancellation fees, if applicable.
>An existing service provider will still be able to take reasonable action
>to enforce their contractual rights even after a customer has migrated to a
>new service provider.

I had this with Clara; had signed a 12 month contract (stupidly). They
terminated the account without any communication whatsoever, alleging
P2P abuse from a party whose details they wouldn't disclose due to the
data protection act

I couldn't go to another ISP because Clara wouldn't release the BT
line. They said they were entitled to just hold onto it and prevent
another ISP providing a service on it, until I paid a lump sum for the
entire remaining contract. However, their Accounts never got back to
me regarding this, despite many phone calls and emails.

I suggested to the old ISP that anybody could have sent them such a
(faked) complaint, and by doing so I could clobber any of their
numerous business accounts. The man agreed.....

BT wouldn't co-operate either, saying they are not allowed to get an
ISP off their line unless the ISP has gone into liquidation.

The solution was to get BT to change the phone number. It was instant
and the cost was minimal and I was able to get a new ISP onto the new
number OK. There was still a residual problem because the old ISP was
holding some part of the connection further back but BT were able to
clear that up without a further query because it was a different phone
number they were working on then.

The daft thing was that I *did* offer the old ISP to pay the remaining
contractual period, but they were not interested in communicating
about it. When I phoned them (many times) they just waffled on, saying
things like they are entitled to hold the line as long as they like,
etc. Months later, it appears resolved but it's a bit moot as I have
another service anyway. To this day I don't know whether they were
simply extremely disorganised or were delaying deliberately.

This made me realise that anyone who is relying on their internet
connection for a serious or business purpose is a fool to have just
one analog phone line. If you have two analog phone lines, and lose
your ADSL connection due to something like the above (which could be
one employee running Kazaa or whatever), or due to an ISP cockup, you
can get another ISP's ADSL service on the other line, very quickly.
OK, one can get BT to install a 2nd analog line but this could take
more than a week in some locations. Given that most businesses have
gone entirely over to ISDN, one has to pay a price for this
"insurance".