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Why is it so many of us stay with the same lousy broadband provider (no, we don’t need to name the one) when there are so many alternatives offering faster services at lower prices? Yes, it is because of the nightmare of switching over.

Well not anymore thanks to industry sleep dog Ofcom.

The standards body has once again built upon its reputation as a dawdling company which does eventually does make things better by finally finally finally implementing new rules to govern the way ISPs handle the process of switching suppliers.

Under the new regime, which came into force on Valentine’s Day, every broadband provider must utilise Migration Authorisation Codes (MACs) and provide them on request within five days. Providers can also no longer implement administrative charges for retrieving a MAC code or use financial disputes between the old and new suppliers as an excuse for delaying a switch. Furthermore, any ISP found to be in breach of these new conditions could face fines of up to 10 per cent of their turnover. Eat That!

Of course in some ways it is ironic that until now it is technology which has languished behind more traditional services when it comes to switching providers. After all, you don’t change gas or electricity provider and expect to be left cold or in the dark for seven days…

Now if only Ofcom can resolve roaming charges I may even promise to stop calling it names.

Link:
Ofcom

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