Want to change broadband providers? No problem

Broadband customers are getting improved treatment should they decide to change providers.

PlusNet has announced it's offering a money-back guarantee for switchers. The UK ISP will pay customers who sign up for its broadband service, but after 45 days are unsatisfied, any migration fees the new ISP might charge.

In addition, 16 leading broadband providers have agreed to a 'code of practice' that, in conjunction with BT Wholesale's new migration process, makes it less painful for customers to migrate from one provider to another than it is today. At the moment, customers often experience a lengthy disruption in service when switching.

The improvements apply only to customers switching from DSL to another DSL service, not from DSL to a cable modem service.

The 16 providers that have already signed up, including AOL, BT, Bulldog, Thus, Virgin.net and Wanadoo UK, comprise about 70 per cent of the ADSL market.

To ease the transition, customers wishing to change providers must provide an 'authority code' to their new ISP, which they receive from the ISP that they're leaving. This allows the new ISP to work with BT Wholesale to make the change as seamless as possible for the user.

Richard Sweet, head of regulation and interconnect at Thus and chair of the group, said in a statement that the move "demonstrates that broadband service providers can regulate themselves, without the need for Ofcom intervention".