Leaving BT for Plusnet

[Kenco71]

Hi Community, I'm thinking of leaving BT Fibre and moving to Plusnet, for me I don't need the extra support etc. and just need simple fast fibre.

When switching am I right in assuming that I need to tell BT I plan to leave or they will simply roll me into a 30 day rolling contract at a higher rate?

Should I instruct Plusnet to start the service the day my BT one ends or can they take it over in say the last week, thinking of avoiding being without internet for a while!

thanks

[Kimberlin]

When I switched to Plusnet, I literally did it the very next day I was on the 30 day rolling contract. Easiest way to do it, is via One Touch Switching online and then you don’t have to speak to either ISP. Mine was all done and dusted within 5 working days. You won’t lose your internet, you’ll just need to change over your router and it should work ok. Plusnet will literally send you their version of the famous SH2 router the very next day. I use my own router without problems.

Be aware, the moment you commence the switch, be prepared to be bombarded with calls from BT. I started my switch at 6am and by 9am, my mobile kept ringing. I had to block the number in the end.

If you don’t need a phone and you’re not bothered about it or you don’t need BT email, Plusnet are excellent.

[iniltous]

You don’t advise BT of anything , you leave that to Plusnet , they serve notice on your behalf, this has nothing to do with 30 day notice to quit ‘contracts’ , if you are outside any minimum term commitment then you pay upto your final day with BT at whatever the appropriate rate is , if you have any remaining minimum term commitment after the switch to Plusnet then you pay early termination charges for that …if you get a choice of dates with Plusnet , then the last day of your BT minimum term seems a logical date to request.

[Kenco71]

Thanks for that, I also have my own router so will just need to change the username and password for ISP authentication.

So I assume you get charged for another 30 days by BT? Is it possible to move while still on the BT contract, I'll happily lose a few days on that one and then have a smooth switch.

Just to complicate matters the current BT service is in my wife's name and I was going to put Plusnet in mine, could that complicate things?

[gg30340]

Keep in mind when you move your BTMail email accout if you have one, will be downgraded to a BTMail Basic account which can only be used on webmail and not with email apps or email clients unless you pay for a BTMail Premium account.

See link

https://www.bt.com/help/email/bt-email-products

[Kimberlin · Accepted solution]

@Kenco71  You won’t get charged a full 30 days if you’re already on the 30 day rolling contract, you’ll just be charged for the days up to the switch over. You might even get a small refund. The 30 day notice period oft talked about, doesn’t apply if you’re already out of the 24 month contract and you’re switching, they just let the switch go through. Your notice to switch is considered enough.

As for the issue of changing names, personally I’d switch to Plusnet continuing the use of your Wife’s name and then once complete, talk to Plusnet and see if they’ll change the account name over to yours. You can almost guarantee that if you don’t, it will end up a complicated mess.

[iniltous]

If you sign up in your name when the existing service in your Mrs , then it’s not a migration as such because switching is when  the account holder changes provider, so arguably you need to approach this as a home mover , in effect you moving into the address , if you simply use the OTS (One Touch Switching ) it may ( should ) fail the matching process when Plusnet submit your  name , the account at the address that BT have won’t match because its your name  Plusnet have submitted and not her name as the account holder at the address .
As stated , probably better if using OTS to keep her  as the account holder…or use the made up story ‘I’m moving in , she’s moving out’  type scenario, which strictly speaking isn’t a switch/migration