Webuser Forums: changing ISP

No. You don't sound stupid. Some people think I know a lot about computers, mainly because I've posted so many messages, but there's a lot I don't know. We all know about things we've had dealings with, and that's how this site works. Even "Putasolutions" can't know it all, so there could be occasions when even he thinks he sounds ignorant, as we all are about problems we haven't yet solved.

Sorry. I know that's pretty close to blasphemy, suggesting that perhaps the master doesn't know everything, but I think he'd agree with me. If you have to beat me up though, at least do it gently.

I had trouble with Freeserve a couple of years ago. Like you, I made the mistake of signing up to BT's "together" deal as well as Freeserve's "Home Time", which meant paying double.

I haven't been able to find out for sure, but I believe this is a rip-off that people with credit cards are able to avoid by going straight to Freeserve and only paying the Freeserve charge.

I had a few additional problems, with Freeserve taking the money for another 3 months and then cutting me off, but I understand they've made a few improvements since then, so perhaps this doesn't happen any more. It took months to sort out though, and in the end I had to involve BT's chairman.

I'd say ditch your "together" deal. I've got the one for calls, but the internet part does seem to be a complete rip-off. You can pay an ISP direct and only pay the ISP's charge, or you can pay BT's "together" charge as well as paying the ISP.

Apologies to BT if I've got that wrong, but you should make things easier to understand.

If you've got a credit card and are able to be at home during the day (probably not), I can recommend Tiscali's "Daytime" service. Unmetered access from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday for only £4.99 a month and nothing extra to BT.

http://www.tiscali.co.uk

As for "change of address" cards, why not just e-mail everybody? Create a standard e-mail, enable "BCC" in Outlook Express (Open a new message, go to View, All Headers) and put all the addresses in the BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) field. That way they won't get a list of everybody the mail was sent to, as they would if you put them in the CC (Carbon Copy) field.

Back on this site, you'll probably have to register a different user name to go with your new e-mail address, but perhaps a nice smile to the right member of staff could result in your old (existing) account being cancelled so you can continue with your present user name. They can do it, so perhaps they will if you ask them nicely.

Almost forgot. You don't need to tell Micro$oft about the new e-mail address. The update site will still work. I think it's the Windows "key" that identifies you as a paid up user.

There is intelligent life on Earth, but I'm only visiting.