it all depends if your current phone line is with BT or a BT wholesale provider as to whether or not you need a MAC code for SKY LLU SVBN
I moved from o2 too and also had to enter a mac like the OP and other o2 migrations to SVBN ive seen on their forum, aswell as other ISPs, those that werent ASKED for the mac code where people who had a Telecoms provider thats not BTw
the only time it seems a MAC is not
requested by SKY is if your coming from a full MPF LLU provider with phone such as Talk Talk ...or Virgin Cable or Primus Telecom CPS (phone) as these phone lines (over which the broadband is provisioned) that are void from the MAC system as they are not controlled by BTw - however, if you are with BT or a BTw telecoms provider and have broadband ISP over it and you dont get the MAC code before signing up to sky, then you run the risk of not being able to get it at all as by the next day (after your sky order) the line change request has gone through to BTw and your ISP can not generate a MAC code - in this situation (on SVBN) SKY still take the line but your broadband order may have a delay on it because its done later from the phone line order - this is on SVBN only, if your going onto EasyNet (which MUST have a MAC to switch the broadband between ISPs on BTw) then your ISP can generate a MAC code
after your phone line has switched to SKY (seen it happen) because on easynet its a BTw phone line and still bound into the MAC system and once switch has taken place it is back on the system and its then possible for the ISP to generate the MAC, then you can the provide the MAC to SKY and switch the broadband 5-7 days later
so bottom line is - with SVBN you dont
need the MAC code too switch, but most of the time SKY request it and
not providing it when requested can cause delays with your broadband provision and thus possible down-time of internet between the ISPs, 2 weeks is not unheard of too - and ALWAYS get a MAC code before signing up, especially if your phone line is BT or BTw or you end up in the situation I mention above, unable to get one and in a bit of a tickle...however if your coming from Talk Talk, Virgin Cable or have phone with Primus Telecom CPS (regardless of ISP) you will not be asked to enter a MAC code and most times broadband and phone go live same day.
Ofcom are currently devising a MAC procedure for switching between providers that currently dont require one in an attempt to prevent ISP SLAMMING
(ISPs duping users into signing up to what they think is phone only..such as talk talk (or sky), then realising after the switch they have lost their current Broadband ISP for talk talk (or sky) as they have provisioned both as they can only provide their own broadband over their own lines)
Edited by paulb100 (Tue 20-Mar-12 00:24:22)