How do I switch broadband supplier?

Switching or migrating from one broadband supplier to another is straightforward. You can arrange it quickly and easily through firsthelpline.com.

You should first check your existing broadband contract to see whether you will incur a penalty fee by leaving your current supplier, especially if you are still within the contract period. It can be beneficial in the long run to pay a fee to get onto a cheaper and better deal.

Once you’ve chosen a new provider, you should tell your current supplier you want to cancel and ask for a Migration Authorisation Code (MAC). This code helps your new supplier take on your service, and will look something like this:

ABCD12345678/AB12C

At the time of switching your service should only be down for about 20 minutes. During this time, your phone shouldn’t be affected, and you won’t need to change your telephone number.

If you don’t provide your new supplier with a MAC, you will need to completely cancel the broadband service with your current provider before signing up with a new one, which may mean you don’t have broadband for up to a month.

Below are the telephone numbers for a number of suppliers that you should call to get your MAC:

Provider	Telephone Number
AAISP	01344 400 999
Abel Internet	0871 717 8252
ADSL	0870 421 5308
Advance Internet	020 8961 7000
Albion	020 7550 7550
Allcomm	0845 850 6106
altohiway	01635 573 350
Andrews & Arnold	01344 400 999
AOL	0870 320 2020
Atlas Internet	0870 094 9660
Be	0808 234 8566
BISCit	0871 473 0000
Blueyonder	0845 142 0000
Boltblue Broadband	0871 711 1000
Brightview Internet Services Ltd	0207 665 3000
BT Broadband	0800 085 6161
BTA Limited	020 8871 4240
Bulldog	0800 056 6745
Business Serve	0871 425 1111
Bytel	02890 456 111
C2 Internet	0845 658 0040
Cairn Systems	0845 129 8771
Care4free	0870 160 9901
Clara.net	0845 355 2000
Colt Telecomms	0800 358 9945
Community Internet	01865 856 170
Custom Access	0870 011 9910
Dark Marketing Ltd	0870 742 4455
DataComms Europe	020 7101 0223
Datanet	0845 130 6010
Demon	0800 027 0582
Dial Start	0870 160 1385
E7broadband.com	0870 224 5126
Easynet	0800 053 4343
Eclipse	0845 1224 111
EFHBroadband.com	0870 141 7038
EliteUKServe	0870 741 5898
Entanet	0871 433 3682
Fast.co.uk	0870 881 3278
Freedom2Surf	0870 242 3758
freenetname	0870 909 0586
Freeserve	0870 010 2462
Fusion Media Networks	0870 770 9101
Get Online Broadband	0870 240 7571
Global Internet	0870 909 8100
Goodwin	01782 667 766
Griffin Internet	0870 804 0804
HomeChoice	0800 072 4454
Hotchilli Internet	0870 255 5666
Houxou.com	0870 742 5398
ic24	0870 160 1381
ICM NetServ Solutions	0800 027 7872
IDnet	0800 026 7237
Interdart Ltd	01442 876 692
Internal Systems	0870 444 8494
Internet Central	01782 66 77 66
Internet for Business	0800 027 0110
InterViVo Networks Ltd	0845 345 9234
IntoNet	0845 111 0023
Inweb Networks	0870 432 2222
izR Solutions Ltd	0870 745 1515
karoo.co.uk	01482 602 300
KeConnect Internet	01482 602 555
Kingston Communications	01482 602 555
LCC Communications Ltd	0870 242 7443
Legend	0845 111 0009
London Web	020 8349 4500
Lumison	0845 119 9900
Madasafish	0844 395 0830
Mailbox Internet	0845 120 4010
Merula	0845 330 0666
Metronet	0870 284 0284
Mistral Internet	0870 751 6300
Moving-Edge.net	0845 345 5763
Namesco	0845 363 3630
NDO	0845 363 3630
Netplan Internet Solutions	0870 751 8345
Netscalibur UK	0845 245 0380
Netservices	0870 753 0900
NewNet	01329 226 722
Nildram	0800 197 1474
Nitrex	0845 053 1560
ntl Freedom	0800 052 2000
O2	0870 586 0860
One.Tel	0800 957 0199
Onyx Internet	0845 771 5715
Orange Wanadoo	0870 010 2462
Pipemedia Online	0871 425 0007
Pipex	0845 077 2537
PlusNet	0845 140 0200
Powernet	01908 605 188
Prodigy Networks	0870 467 1000
RealEmail	0870 175 0950
Redten	0844 482 0000
RM Internet for Learning	0870 908 6464
SAQ.co.uk	0870 737 7707
Scotland Online	0845 273 3327
Scotnet	0845 270 0010
Selcom Broadband	01904 788 181
Sky	0870 240 4040
Skymarket	0870 474 8888
Spitfire	020 7501 3030
Star	0800 138 4443
supanet	0800 915 8186
Talk-101	0870 754 1010
Talk Talk	0800 049 0049
Telecomplete	0845 456 1116
Telefonica UK	0870 753 0900
Telewest	0845 840 7777
Tesco	0845 650 8000
Timewarp	0870 757 1155
Tiscali	0800 107 9000
topletter	0870 235 1271
Total Web Solutions	0870 787 9888
Totalise	0870 160 9905
Toucan	0800 061 3615
Twang.net	01635 239 000
UK Online	0845 333 4600
UKFast.net	0845 458 3535
Uniworld	0845 458 4510
UTV Internet	0845 247 0000
V21	0871 424 5521
Virgin Media	0845 840 7777
Virgin.net	0845 045 1303
VISPA	0870 162 4888
Vodafone	0870 074 6464
Waitrose	0800 980 0018
Wanadoo UK plc	0870 0102 462
Your Communications	0800 195 3734
Zen Internet	0845 058 9000
Zetnet Services Ltd	0870 743 0585
Zoo Internet	020 8961 7000

Making an application to switch supplier can be done online and in minutes. When prompted, enter your MAC and some personal details to set up a billing account. Your new supplier will contact your old provider to arrange the transfer of your service, and send you a welcome pack containing a setup CD and instructions, plus a new modem if required.

If you have any problems setting up your service, the welcome pack should also have a technical support number for you to call.