Cease placed on line

About to move phone and broadband to Sky, instead of waiting for a MAC Sky have placed a cease on my line.

My current broadband provider (Vivaciti) say Sky do this a lot and there will be a cease charge, I am not paying this if I am charged, surely Sky are supposed to wait for a MAc code before transferring the service.

Also if I understand it correctly because there is a cease in place I now can't get a Mac code?

Asked about this in the Sky online help forum 4 days ago and nothing from a Sky rep at all, can't even PM one as they have PMs disabled!

Edited by jeff1106uk (Sun 15-Jul-12 19:46:49)

Sky can't use MACs. They unbundle the whole service.

Even if you supply them a MAC, they won't (and can't) use it.

Matt

Ring them, or failing that write to them, as for the cease charge would you not of had to pay this anyway ?

Sky placed a cease on your line before they have control of it? Is that even possible?

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

Sky placed a cease on your line before they have control of it? Is that even possible?

I guess once the OP signs up for Sky's voice services - Sky will have organised Openreach transfer of voice services to their equipment - and THAT probably automatically causes a cease to be raised of any existing broadband service on the BT retail voice line.

Edited by jchamier (Sun 15-Jul-12 23:27:23)

Something sounds wrong then, because a migration isn't a cease, even when it's BT Wholesale to MPF, and so the Openreach cease charge shouldn't apply.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

Something sounds wrong then, because a migration isn't a cease, even when it's BT Wholesale to MPF, and so the Openreach cease charge shouldn't apply.

Migrating the voice line will cause a cease of the BTw broadband - that is correct. Now I would guess in many cases any cease charge is paid for by the new LLU ISP.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Migrating the voice line will cause a cease of the BTw broadband - that is correct. Now I would guess in many cases any cease charge is paid for by the new LLU ISP.

The cease charge is levied because an engineer has to unjumper broadband at the exchange when broadband is cancelled. In the case of a migration, the engineer is paid by the "gaining" ISP to move the line to the new kit (typically the ISP does not pass this on to the customer). So there is meant to be a charge for cease or migration, but not both.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Migrating the voice line will cause a cease of the BTw broadband - that is correct. Now I would guess in many cases any cease charge is paid for by the new LLU ISP.

The cease charge is levied because an engineer has to unjumper broadband at the exchange when broadband is cancelled. In the case of a migration, the engineer is paid by the "gaining" ISP to move the line to the new kit (typically the ISP does not pass this on to the customer). So there is meant to be a charge for cease or migration, but not both.

Makes sense. Two complete guesses then, it was raised as two jobs, rather than a migration. Or the losing ISP is trying to claw back some money.

When I switched they wouldn't send the router out until I had provided them with a MAC. One thing I did find out is that you have to phone in the MAC.

In the emails I received they said to enter it online but I couldn't find where to do it on the website. When I spoke to them the guy told me that they have had problems with the web entry system and that you need to phone it in.

I'm guessing that once you've placed your order they immediately start the switch from your existing provider i.e. ceasing the service but the process stalls if you haven't provided them with a MAC. But only a guess.

Sound like Sky's systems needed updating (and hopefully have by now). As Matt says, Sky physically take over the line when you take their broadband, and MACs are only applicable on BT Wholesale voice lines.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Makes sense. Two complete guesses then, it was raised as two jobs, rather than a migration. Or the losing ISP is trying to claw back some money.

Yeah, perhaps Vivaciti's systems raise a cease charge when an MPF migration is underway, even though Openreach doesn't ultimately bill them. A nice earner!

Cease Fee by Vivaciti in ISP Unhappiness Feb 12

This is not the first time an issue has been made about cease fees and Vivaciti. Whether or not and who should pay has to be talked about . However it was the subseqhent action by vivaciti that was concerning.
To be honest, i would request proof of Cease Line implementation from Vivaciti and pay bill.
Advise Sky that as they have forced payment by ceasing line, either they pay or you will request Ofcom judgement.

In reply to a post by flippery:

request Ofcom judgement.

Although Ofcom wouldn't get involved... It would be a ADR issue.

Matt