Changing phone/broadband provider when in an IVA

[oscarsmum1]

Morning all...cant sleep due to a very busy mind!! Still waiting for my draft proposal and getting very twitchy now and sleepless nights are a regular occurrence!! Hopefully my IVA will be accepted but can can anyone tell me if it is possible to change phone/broadband providers whilst on an IVA or do they refuse, I am currently with Sky and whilst they happily let me change the direct debit from my ex partners bank to mine they will not change the account name nor cancel the packages which I dont want and cant afford, I just want phone and broadband, the 12 month contract is not up until Oct and thought when the contract is up I could just cancel the whole thing and look for a cheaper tariff if it was easy to get accepted or am I stuck paying £46.00 a month for ever?!

[Shining]

Hi oscarsmum, I have the can't sleep syndrome too!

I'm with Sky and came to them mid way through an IVA, how other providers work I'm not sure? Other posters may have switched. Could you not reduce the package with Sky if you're happy with their broadband/telephone service? x

[andrea1968]

You can reduce your package now-just tell them you cant afford to pay for everything you have and will be going to another provider at the end of your current contract as its too expensive to keep it all.
I told them I had had to stop work(true) and was going for an iva and the creditors wouldnt allow us more than the basic package.
They let us get rid of sky hd-we only had it 4 months(with a free box thrown in),and the movie channers,which we had for 6 months.
They do want to keep your business after all,and are quite flexible at letting you out of parts of your contract.
If you do eventually want to leave them,I cant see their being a problem going to another company,it is a very competitive market out there after all.

[TheMatrix]

I know virgin media do a credit check when you change services with them as an existing customer.

However, it did not cause any problems which surprised me somewhat. I don't know about brand new customers only though, it may just be I have a perfect payment record with them that helped.

[kallis3]

I was with BT but changed to Sky for phone and broadband last August with no problems, however I was a Sky TV customer I assume that helped.

Once your contract is up then you can cancel whatever you want with them, you might find that you're stuck at the moment though.

[littlefi]

gosh it never even occurred to me that this might be a problem so thanks for the heads up. I have a basic sky package that i'm happy with so as of yet don't want to change.

Thanks for bring this issue to the fore, so much I haven't thought about entering in to this.

I'm like you I'm at the sleepless night stage, my creditors meeting is a week on monday so I'm a little ahead of you, but it's a stressful time isn't it?

[running_woodchucks]

HI,

I recently changed my landline and internet provider from Orange to BT without any issues and I am in an IVA.

[MrsKnight]

I was with BT and switched to talktalk with no problems, I would of liked to switch to sky, but their free broadband was not in our area at the time.
I also became a sky customer whilst in our IVA & had no problems.
The allowance was in our proposal I&E so I thought might as well, not going to be doing much for 5 years!

[TheMatrix]

Also if you have a mobile phone contract, you're going to be stuck with them for 6 years whilst in a iva / credit affected. You'll be ok to do upgrades with existing provider though.

So pre-iva would be the best time to switch, as switching during the iva will be extremly difficult.

[oscarsmum1]

Thanks for all your replies, I will ask sky again about reducing the package but they dio refuse to speak to me as the account is in ex partners name (but happy to take my bank details for direct debit!) If not will have to sit it out until Oct, frustrating though as the extra £20 I would save every month would come in handy right now, ahhh well ...! Thanks again all [:D]

[Shining]

Would he agree to talk to them for you? You shouldn't have to struggle on with something you don't want. x

[kallis3]

I tried to change to 3 for a mobile phone but failed the credit check. Daughter did it for me though and I've changed the bank account details since then so it comes out of our account and not hers.

I think you will have to wait until October oscarsmum - not that long now though.

[back on track]

Thanks for all your replies, I will ask sky again about reducing the package but they dio refuse to speak to me as the account is in ex partners name (but happy to take my bank details for direct debit!) If not will have to sit it out until Oct, frustrating though as the extra £20 I would save every month would come in handy right now, ahhh well ...! Thanks again all [:D]

try telling them you will cancel the direct debit then and let the account fail but you are willing to continue if they do as you asked them.
they will then be chasing him but you may get them to do as you wish
worth a threat[8D]

[Foggy]

When speaking to the Sky customer services they will stick to the letter of the contrat -- however if you get through to the cancellations department they can offer the earth to retain your custom!

Ask ex- partner to speak to them, after all, if you do stop the DD from your account it is him they will chase for the money -- not you!

[kallis3]

There is that! Try setting up the broadband and phone in your name. if that is accepted then you can happily cancel the DD for the other account and your ex will be liable for it, not you.