Monday, April 13, 2009

Ten Tips On Switching Broadband

You wouldnt think twice about shopping around for the best value gas and electricity, so why pay over the odds for putrajaya kuala lumpur broadband? The Office of National Statistics estimates that more than 13 million people in the UK comcast speed test access to the internet at home, 5 star hotels malaysia 73 per cent of those choosing broadband.

Whether youve had poor service, an unreliable connection or are just tired of paying too much for from malaysia ISP, switching broadband provider can save you money and get you a better service. Simply follow our 10 tips to get the most out of your broadband.

1. Ask for a better deal

It may seem obvious, but simply asking your current provider for a better deal could be the answer. As the market continues to become more competitive, companies have to work harder to keep their customers.

The average 1Mb connection cost 50 in 2003; by the end of 2005 it was only 16. tm net 1515 if youve had your contract for some time, chances are that you could get the same thing for a lot less just by asking for it. You never know, so try your luck and ask for the latest deal.

2. Your rights

Check: Is your supplier signed up to the Migration Code of Practice? This voluntary agreement between providers works to fairly facilitate the migration?of customers from one supplier to another. Your current provider will issue you with a Migration Authorisation Code (MAC), which you then pass on to your new provider, allowing them to set up your service without a break in your connection.

Your new provider must also be signed up for the MAC code to work. The code is not applicable to services delivered by cable, such as ntl or Telewest. See Ofcoms website for more information on the Migration Code.

If your provider isnt signed up to the Migration Code you will have to cancel your current contract before you can set up a new one. This means that you will have a break in your service and will either have to go without, or return to dial-up until broadband has been reinstalled in your home.

Check: Are you free of your contract obligations? If you have signed a contract you have to see it out or incur a cancellation fee, even if your current provider is signed up to the Migration Code of Practice. If youre unsure of your contractual duties, contact us and we will check for you (note that this is not legal advice).

Check: Read the details of your warranty ?has your supplier made a service agreement they may have breached? If so, you might be able to terminate your contract with them on these grounds, but make sure you read the small print.

3. Keep a log

If youve been having trouble with your broadband connection, make sure that you keep a record each time you experience a problem. Take a screen grab of your error message, or keep a detailed written log.

Keep a diary of calls made to customer services; who you spoke to and how long you had to wait. Calls to premium or 0870 numbers can be expensive ?for example, 10 calls for 10 minutes at 15p per minute is 15. Call costs to customer service centres can range from free, up to 1 a minute, so check first and keep your phone bills as a record of the total call charges.

This information may be crucial evidence if you want to cancel when you still within your minimum contract period.

4. Otelo and Ofcom

If you are having service problems and want to switch provider but are having trouble doing so, you can write an open letter to Otelo, the office of the telecommunications ombudsman. 33 per cent of ISP providers are members of the body, which was set up to investigate complaints made by telecommunications customers. While the service is free for members of the public, it will actually cost your supplier money to be investigated, so you will be taken more seriously if Otelo get involved.

If your supplier isnt a member of Otelo, you can still write to Ofcom, the independent regulator for the UK, for help.

Its always a good idea to send a copy to the head of customer services at your supplier.

5. Keep the pressure on

Being on broadband internet radio for long periods of time and then getting nowhere can be disheartening, but dont give up. Ring regularly, stay cool and dont be abusive.

Make sure that you are well organised and have your facts to hand ?you could also offer to post factual evidence of your problems.

For 12.75 a quarter, you can get easily accessible, reliable legal advice from the Which? Legal Service, so you can make sure you know your rights before relaying them clearly to your service provider.

6. Make yourself heard

If none of this works get in touch with the papers. But make sure you have your facts straight before you get the media involved.

7. Complications

The type of broadband you currently have could limit your choices. If you are currently with ntl, Telewest or Kingston, then you have a cable connection and will need a mobile or landline if you want to switch to 3G or ADSL MAX.

If you want to do an kuala lumpur asia to LLU swap you will find that there is no migration procedure in place and that, having invested heavily in LLU technology, your supplier will try to hold on to you.

8. When is free really free?

Before you switch, make sure you have checked out any hidden costs in your chosen package. If you are considering a cheap or free?broadband deal, take into account the quality of service you will be getting. Your new contract might also have a download limit which could mean that you to end up paying more than your monthly rate for big downloads.

9. Think about service

There is more to broadband than a cheap monthly charge. Consider the opening hours and costs of the call centre on our calculator.

For example, Talk Talk have recently come clean about over-stretching their customer service operation, so make sure you do your research and read customer reviews before committing to a contract.

For advice on choosing a cheap broadband package, read our comprehensive guide on http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk.. Click here for further a full length version of the switch broadband article.

AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 13 - Teenager Rory McIlroy ended his US Masters debut in dynamic style by posting six birdies in 10 holes for a closing two-under 70 yesterday.

"It was a lovely way to end the week," the 19-year-old told reporters after finishing on two-under 286 at Augusta National. "Six-under for the last 10 holes was pretty nice.

"Overall I haven't played as well as I would have wanted but it is a pretty kuala lumpur langkawi finish. It has been a great week."

McIlroy, who won the Dubai Desert Classic in February and has surged to 17th in the world rankings, got caught up in the final-round excitement despite being well adrift of the leaders.