Problem there and this may well apply to me as I hope to be moving soon, is that I have two choices when I move (I've pretty much ruled out moving with PN!).

1) Move out and cancel ISP service - pretty much no hassle to me. Buyer moves in and probably can't get BB service as Tiscali haven't removed the marker. Cue weeks of rigmarole getting it sorted (OK if the buyer gets pee'd off, it doesn't really affect me, but I'm not the sort to leave them with a problem unwarned).

2) Cancel line etc. on move out. Again no hassle to me (hopefully), but buyer is faced with getting line re-activated/installed, and probably paying for such. Not to mention likely delays.

Why should anyone be inconvenienced when they cancel/move a service? When I moved from Powergen back to British Gas, there wasn't a problem. When I moved from BT to Onetel there wasn't a problem. This isn't a particular PN issue, this is an industry issue and if the industry wants to grow they need to address it and pretty fast. Their customers are getting more educated every day and sooner or later will stop taking 2nd rate service and living with it.

If the smaller ISP's are worried about customer retention, I'd say this is one of the things they need to sort this fast. I daresy the likes of Talk Talk, Sky, Orange etc. don't care enough to do anything.

The only way this will ever be solved is when you buy your internet connection direct from the supplier and just pay the ISP's for their services much like you do now with your phone connection. Never could understand how an ISP can take control of a line you are paying the rental on.