www.iva.co.uk

Hi there,

I have had a lot of problems with my isp talktalk. I was looking to switch providers and 02 seem to be the most reliable. I called them up and set up my phone and broadband with them and was welcomed. They told me i needed a MAC code from talktalk to switch over. I called talktalk and they told me i didn't need one. So i called 02 back to inform them of this and the guy told me that was ok. But he mentioned that they had done a credit check and my application had been referred. Does this mean they will now refuse my custom?.

From the little I know you would need a Migration Authorisation Code (MAC) but things may have changed since I last took my business from Virgin to Sky.

Not sure if they will refuse you, did they say they'd contact you?

Hi Lesley,

Yeah he said they would contact me in the next few days. I guess I'll just have to wait and hope they accept me. I didn't think household bills were an issue. I've got a mobile phone contract that I had before my IVA started. And the existing house phone and broadband are in my name and are taken by direct debit.

Hopefully will be good news x

To dont have a MAC code if you have cable - its only if you have broaband through a "copper telephone wire"

ah there you go, we don't have cable in this area which is why I'd have needed one I guess x

When I swapped over from BT to Sky I did get a MAC code but was told by Sky that they didn't need it and the changeover was fine.

We're not cable either.

Just to update you guys. 02 conducted a credit check and i failed. My custom was refused. Nevermind, i will have to stick with talktalk who are rubbish. Thanks for your replies.

I thought you might as I know others on here have tried before.

Have you thought about going back to BT or trying Sky?

Well basically i looked into the worse providers and Talktalk were top, with BT Second, followed by Sky and then Virgin!!...02 Came top for customer satisfaction and reliability. Talk talk continually tell me that i can get 10mb through my phone line. Its ok for a few weeks after i complain, It goes up to a steady 6.5mb, Then it goes back to about 1-2mb everytime. Then i complain again and its ok for a few weeks. A vicious circle that has continued for a few years!!. Very annoying!!.

Sky are pretty good and when we had a problem with our internet connection it was sorted out straight away - I'd definitely recommend them.

Regarding the internet speed, don't forget it has a lot to do with the phone lines rather than the companies themselves. It depends on the age and quality of the phone line, the quality of the connections in your home and the distance from the switch. Fibre optic cables (Virgin / BT) are the only way to guarantee super fast broadband.

I rate Sky very highly. Not fussed on BT but they have to be better than talk talk.

thomowolf - We just moved back to BT - after a stint with Virgin Broadband(they haven changed much from NTL - both Cr*P)the times previously where there has been an issue with BT - it have been resolved quickly.

Talk Talk - have bad reputation with recent fines for bad /poor customer dispute resolutions

If you can get O2 (location wise )you can probably get Be Broadband. They were bought by O2 , same network etc but different company still.

They also accepted me when i was in an IVA, very good service too. I'd def recommend them.

From their webpage it seems you'd be okay for broadband but they would do a credit check for a landline until you had been a broadband customer for 6 months. You could alwyas cancel broadband with Talk Talk , move to Be then after 6 months swap the landline too.

Here's a link https://help.bethere.co.uk/help/joining/sign_up

Ginger, good to hear nothing's changed since I worked for cable! I was with Telewest (who became Virgin Media along with NTL) and I'd rather go without TV than have cable!