Moving from Virgin to Plusnet

[#1]

I'm currently with Virgin Media on their M350 cable broadband.

I have cancelled it and signed up with PlusNet for the FFTP 900mb service.

Hopefully PlusNet will be installed a couple of days before the Virgin cable is disconnected; however during the PlusNet sign up process I noticed that PlusNet seem to want me to do something related to the Virgin cable service? I don't understand what or why, as presumably a completely new connection will be made for the Plusnet service and my Virgin cable will just stop working?

Am I being stupid?  

[#2]

@stewartd 

We can't help if you don't tell us what PN are asking you to do.

Brian

[#3]

I am reading this and you appear to have already given notice to Virgin Media  to cancel the M350 service.

Also placed a separate new internet order with Plusnet for 900Mbps FTTP.

How could Plusnet become aware of the Virgin Media service unless you informed them ?

What are we missing.

[#4]

Well, this is just the issue that's puzzling me!

WHY do Plusnet need to know that I'm leaving Virgin? 

Right now I don't have an FFTP connection, or an ONT, just a Virgin cable connecting to their router - seems to me both could run independently of each other, not that I'm planning to do that!

Or am I missing something? 

[#5]

They're asking me to tell them I'm leaving Virgin, but why? Please see my reply below

[#6 · Accepted solution]

It is probably a belt and braces action to ensure that (given they are separate networks) you do not accidently through in-action end up with two services, which indeed could run independently of each other.  For users having a high dependency on access to the internet (WFH), this might be a very wise strategy for resilience - not just two connections, but connections from different suppliers over two entirely different infrastructures.  Short of Paddy putting a JCB through the local shared duct, there ought to be a high level of resilience.

Where a change of ISPs is on the same network, the switching process is fairly clean - new service starts, old service ceases.  Where they are on different networks, the existing service can be left active ... then folks complain that the transfer to Plusnet did not terminate the old service.

Your base assumptions are quite correct, the Plusnet provision will be over NTOR fibre and ONT network, nothing to do with the VM infrastructure.

[#7]

"They're asking me to tell them I'm leaving Virgin, but why?"

I suspect they have a system that uses the "One Touch Switching Process" and the gaining provider (on whatever physical infrastructure) tells the existing provider the cease has happened and to stop service.

You didn't need to tell Virgin Media to cease, the process would have done this.

I appreciate there are merits in an overlap but for 99% of people the "One Touch" system is appropriate. 

[#8]

Thanks Townman - this is what I thought/hoped - during the sign up process I didn't indicate that I was 'switching' from Virgin to Plusnet because I wanted my Virgin service to remain active until the date they had informed me they would be disconnecting it - this would give me a couple of days service just in case the Plusnet installation was delayed or there was some problem with it.

Actually 'belt and braces' on my part!

So in answer to my original question, I don't have to do anything, just let Plusnet install and Virgin disconnect, independently of each other, even though that may be on different days?  

[#9]

Thanks Mark - I didn't use the 'one touch switching process' because I wanted my Virgin service to remain active until the date they have already told me they will be disconnecting it, which is a couple of days after Plusnet are doing their installation.

The reason for this two or three days of double service is just in case Plusnet are delayed or there is some problem, and then I will still have internet from Virgin during that period. 

[#10]

With one touch switch the cease of the old service should be predicated on the new service being activated.  There is sanity in your approach - it leaves you in total control of your own destiny, though you might have a period where you are paying for two services.  Many (most?) people would whinge about that.

[#11]

Well, I've already paid my final bill to Virgin up to disconnection, and Plusnet are supposed to be installing the FFTP 2 days before that - so I can live with paying twice for 2 days! Thanks for your help!