I'm currently using BT as my ISP but thier threating to cut us off for using the net for more than 12 hours per day... im on a dial up (WinXP SP1 took 2 days to get). The point is I need to change ISPs quick as they will cut us off from the 28th this month...

However my dad is willing to put up with BTs threating and appaulling service because he doesn't want to change his e-mail address... GOD!

So is there any way once we've signed up with another ISP to access the old BT e-mail servers (I still have all the server and account details to hand). Plus is it standard practice for an ISP to delete e-mail accounts once a user has been cut off / discontinued thier contract? (if so Im really buggered)

Perhaps another <sarc> happy BT customer </sarc> could help me out here cus frankly I've had all the S*** I can take from them, and I know I'm not the only one out there! ;( ;( ;(

In the short term, all that usually happens is the password is changed. But what you should probably do is just pay for a minimal account through BT, one that just allows you to have the email address. Then get a new ISP account and never dial the BT one again. Then, as you go, try to convince your dad to start using the new email, and eventually you'll be able to get rid of the old one.

First. Set up your Outlook to check both e-mail servers. Most of the e-mail servers that I have been with will allow you to check e-mail from anywhere. You just have to set up both servers in your outlook as seperate accounts and it chould check it for you.



Are you an a agreement for unlimited access? If you are it is illegal for them to do that. AOL had a issue with that along with dropoffs and users that could not even get on and the people filed a class action lawsuit against them. AOL fought it and lost. Judgement was that if a person signed up for unlimited useage and did not get it the ISP was in violation of the contract terms. Because of this judgement AOL had to give users their money back or free hours in return.

When we signed up it was £9.99 per month (including VAT) for unlimited use during off-peak hours (6pm - 8am weekdays, all day at weekends).

However a few months back they changed the deal to limit the maximum access time to 12 hours in any 24hr period. PLUS we are now paying £15.99 per month for less time and NO extra benifits... in fact the service is awful and you get disconnected once every 2 hours (as stated in the small print, but in reality it's usually more) and tech support / complaints have been made deliberatly hard (nigh impossible) to get.

However all of this is legal because the small print states that BT hold the rights to change the terms and conditions of access as and when they plz. ;(

Try explaining to your computer illterate dad why SP or game patches are needed and thats whats taking all the hours up... XP SP1 134Mb.... HL 1.1.1.0 100Mb plus..

I've had the same email account for the past three years but changed isp several times. When I set up the email accounts in outlook or outlook express I keep the same pop address such as pop3.oldemail.com but change the smtp to the new account such as smtp.newemail.com. This lets me still collect mail from my old account and also send mail through it. I have used this configuration with several isp's and haven't had any problems.

It may be worth contacting BT to find out what will happen to your email account if you cancel their service.

Actually I have just checked their site and they have a no frills pay as you go service with no monthly charges other than phone bill costs. If you change to this service they should keep your email account open. That way you can dial in with a new isp and collect your mail. Providing you don't ever use a BT dialler BT won't be able to charge you. All that will be down to what ever arrangements you have with your new isp.

Hope that is of some use,
Blue