How long for a MAC?

[skeggysteve]

I'm wanting to move ISP, as the one I'm with is unable to provide me with the service they advertised and I signed up for.

So on the 9th Jan I emailed and asked for a MAC.

I have emailed several times since and still have not got a MAC.

Today I looked at the ofcom site and all I can find is this page which says:

"your existing service provider will provide the MAC to you within five working days."

Note the "will"

But I can't find if there is a legal/regulatory requirement for ISPs to provide a MAC in a certain time scale.

Anyone got any ideas?

Like any normal petrolhead person I don't want to be without Pistonheads the internet so cancelling/not paying isn't a viable option.

[Scraggles]

try the old fashioned phone call and then leave a torrent on 24/7

usually 5 working days, if no joy cancel the DD

[Globulator]

Ofcom, like any responsible regulator, has ensured that you have no say, and no control over your MAC - yes, the one that you pay for and is provided by the telephone company, who has no control over it either.

When E7even went down some people were stranded for MONTHS, Ofcom would not lift a finger, BT could not, and E7 didn't care. They actually had to go bankrupt until Ofcom could initiate a 14 day delay prior to MAC tag freeing.

This is why Ofcom is actually a bunch of spineless tossers who would be the first up against the wall come the revolution.
Note: A certain satisfaction is to be gained by continually phoning Ofcom and giving them a piece of your mind. Again and again. It certainly made me feel a lot better.

In the meantime, you need to harass (and I mean harass) the supplier who will not release your mac code. Also contact your line provider (probably BT) and have a go at them too.

UK Broadband MAC allocation, Yet Another Reason the UK gets laughed at by foreigners.

[Ordinary Bloke]

Do you want fries with that???

PS: About 3 minutes.

[skeggysteve]

Scraggles - I have phoned them a few times - just end get the run around.
Torrents are a waste of time at 512k
Canceling the DD is a last option - but I don't want to be without internet access.

Globulator - I was hoping that Ofcom did have some power over this but as you say they just another waste of our money.
I will harass the ISP, good idea

Ordinary Bloke - but it take me a while to work it out


I think I'll email everyday and write to the top man. Due to the no name rule I won't say who the ISP are but the boss has a beard

Am I wrong in thinking that 512k on a up to 8meg service is not really on?
BTW for the first few weeks I did have 4/5meg and for the previous 3 years had a rock solid 2meg service with a different ISP.

Thanks for all the replies!