Broadband switching without notification / knowledge / consent

[WSH]

Oh, it will have occurred to them but why let common-sense get in the way of something that looks so efficient, cool and trendy.  After all, we have to think about our bonuses.

[chrisjp]

"I agree though, I guess it would be entirely possible someone could initiate a switch through their own complete incompetence by inputting an incorrect address for example."

That is exactly the problem but it could easily be obviated by Ofcom requiring just one extra step in the process: the customer of the service provider which is being cancelled must be informed of this and invited to agree or disagree with it. Without an actual response from this apparently cancelling customer, the cancellation can't go ahead.
This is such an obvious safeguarding step that it is extraordinary that Ofcom didn't include it when it introduced one touch switching.

[Jellicle]

I completely agree. Given that it's possible for even the most competent and alert people to make mistakes, especially for example with a drop down list of addresses, the step you describe does offer this protection.

[licquorice]

@chrisjp 

Ofcom have deliberately removed that step in order to speed up the process.

Ofcom are totally obsessed with getting folks to switch!!

[chrisjp]

I agree that Ofcom are obsessed with speeding up the switching process.
But if the request to switch is genuine, then the request for the switch will be checked with the right person and the switch will be as quick as that person wants it to be - by replying in the affirmative quickly. If this is done via email it need only add a day at most to the switch process.
If the switch request is in error, it won't matter if it's delayed because it shouldn't go ahead anyway.
Or is this logic beyond the understanding of Ofcom?

[Jellicle]

Ofcom seems to have removed one step too many.

I may write to my MP. As a carer for a registered-blind parent, and someone who keeps an eye on a 93 year old neighbour, I can see that this sort of problem could cause huge difficulties for people who depend on a reliable landline. There would be no point in my mum having a mobile phone because she simply could not see to use it. Our neighbour hasn't got a mobile because she is too tired out to try and learn something else. Whatever some smug people say on social media, there are plenty of people who are alert, skilled and capable for whom a mobile is not the answer to their communications. A landline is. Suddenly losing it would be devastating for them.

[Kimberlin]

I do actually fully sympathise with your situation and point of view. Sadly, for those that are finding it difficult to contemplate, the landline is falling out of favour with a large majority of households.

To put things in perspective, a ten year old today probably has no idea what a landline is because their 30 year old parents most likely don’t have one in the home. That ten year old probably has a smartphone themselves. Like High Street banks, lack of landline use will probably in a few years time, lead to its demise.

Im not far off 60 and I don’t have landline and I won’t get one again. I think only 48 percent of homes now actually have a landline? with only 18 percent of homes that actually use it regularly.

It doesn’t really help folks such as yourself in a situation whereby you rely on the landline.

[gg30340]

@Kimberlin 

As has been pointed out, OTS had nothing to do with making your switch easy. It would have been exactly the same before OTS because you moved within the same network ie Openreach's and previously all you would need to have done was contact the new ISP in your case Plusnet and it would all have been done without you doing anything else.

OTS stopped the safe guards to those switching on the same network or any other network because Ofcom did away with them.

[WSH]

@Kimberlin   I think your arguement's a little flawed there, mate.  I'm only ten years older than you but when I was a 10 year old most working class people didn't have a phone in the house.  They used the call box at the end of the street.  My parents only got one when I went off to university at the age of 18.

[Kimberlin]

@WSH With respect, we're not actually talking about your experience of 1968 (or thereabouts). By 1978, things had undoubtedly changed from a home landline perspective. I came from a 'working class' background and my parents had a landline as did all of my Aunt/Uncles. Admittedly, some were on party lines etc. One of my schoolfriends, their parents even had a coin slot telephone box (minus the kiosk!) in their front room.

I get it, no one wants to particularly hear it, but the landline is slowly going down the road of disappearing. I accept, there will always be a need for it in some instances, but it's in decline.