Digital switch-over questions

[#1]

I currently have both broadband and landline.  I have a few questions re: the digital switch-over.

1. Is there a deadline for making a choice whether to stay with Plusnet (broadband only) or change to EE (with digital home phone service)?

2. The migration of my Plusnet email and email domain migrated to Greenby ok some time ago and I can access that via webmail on the greenby.com web site.  Will that set-up continue whichever route I choose to go down? 

This is important to me because of the way my Plusnet email links in with my other email account. (Wherever possible, I try to work on the principle: if it's not broken don't fix it!  Pity this does not apply to the losing of traditional landlines.)

3. Just to be clear - if I choose to switch to EE (in order to have the digital home phone) will I still be able to keep the Plusnet email or will I be forced to change to an EE type email - something like [email protected] ?

4. I think I will be on FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) for some time still (slightly rural area). Will I need a new router?

5. Will there be a need for any new cabling?

6. Will an engineer be required to do any installation?

7. Just for information, for the EE digital home phone, I found the list of call charge options in the middle of a document - relevant page attached here.  So that obviously increases the cost of the EE package.

Thank you to anyone who can help with my queries.

Anne

[#2]

1. Yes, PlusNet will give you a warning and then, approximately 14 days after that you will receive the 30 days notice that they are about to force the change on to you. Others have suggested that they received this 30 days notice more than 70+ days ago, so make of that what you will, but you should get at least 44 days notice that I'm aware of. You can then, say on day 29 (of the 30 day warning), make a choice to either allow that forced migration to EE, or kick the can a little bit further down the road and order broadband from elsewhere but set the order date for up to 90 days or so after that, depending on the provider. The absolute cut off date is still 31 January 2027, but even the wording around that softened somewhat last week in an interview with an Openreach senior executive.
2. Yes, but if you use Outlook / Thunderbird / etc. there might be a tweak required to your outgoing server settings.
3. You can keep the .plus.com as it's now with Greenby. Remember you will need to pay after the initial 2 years free.
4. Yes.
5. Not unless you're in a stop-sell area for FTTP. It sounds like no, you'll just swap the router over and connect phone (or sync digital voice phone) to new router.
6. It doesn't sound like it from what you've said about location.
7. EE have an unlimited call package.

It's worth noting to retain your PlusNet contract end date and pricing, you must let PlusNet initiate the transfer. If you do it yourself, via the PlusNet website although it all looks the same, you would then be in a new EE 24 month contract - which then may increase your costs.

[#3]

@HMD68  There's a Plusnet page with details about the transfer that may be of help...

Move to EE

It refers to the letter you get from Plusnet. I got a letter after receiving the email with the 30 day notice. That email was on 2nd April, but I still haven't heard anything yet. You obviously haven't had that email yet. I've attached a copy of the email I received.

[#4]

Hi Mike600

Thank you for your detailed reply - that's very helpful.

[#5]

Hi Radiofox,

Thanks for your reply, EE information and for the copy of the email you received. You are correct - I have not received that email yet, just the earlier one advising me to 'get my broadband ready for the digital switchover' (received on 17 June this year).

[#6]

@HMD68  The email you received is probably the same one I received exactly 2 weeks before receiving the email I attached. So you may get yours in a week or so.

[#7]

@RadioFox Yes, you are correct as I have copies of emails from someone who went through the process.

Like you, they received the "get your broadband ready for the digital switchover" one on the 5th May and then it was 14 days later on the 19th May they received "we are moving your services" (the 30 days notice).

So, @HMD68, you should receive your 30 days notice on or around the 1st July and you cannot now stop the clock on this.  

As you're only options are FTTC, the actual transfer will only take about a week once the order goes through.  So, this will all be done and dusted I suspect by early-mid August.

[#8]

Thanks Mike600

So, you say that I cannot stop the clock on this.  Is there no way I can slow this down?  I had assumed it wouldn't take place until the end of 2026.

If I rang Plusnet and said I need more time to consider the options, could I slow it down?

Thanks

Anne

[#9]

@HMD68 

While PSTN may not be broken it's getting close to it. The equipment is old with spares very hard to come by. I hate to think of the cost of replacing the equipment as opposed to the savings to be made. For example, over a period of a couple of decades the number of Exchanges will drop from over 5,000 to around a 1,000.

There is a push on to get people moved off PSTN before the main deadline of 31st Jan 2027. Part of this is the wholesale cost to ISP's of a line is rasing by 100% over 3 price hikes - April, July and Oct so it's costing PN money to keep your account running.

You speak of an email domain - is this a PN domain or one hosted by PN. As far as I'm aware no domains have been migrated yet.

You can check on OR to see what they are saying about Full Fibre - www.openreach.co.uk

You do not have to leave PN to keep a phone service. Any service will be VOIP so you could stay with PN for internet and move to a VOIP provider for phones. Note you CANNOT move the phone until after PN change your broadband provision. This involves a bit more work than simply changing ISP.

Brian

[#10]

@HMD68 No, you will only have until around July 30th to make a decision one way or the other.

As you're in a FTTC area, whichever way you decide, it will then only take a week or so to happen after that.  Unless, Plusnet take their time - as there were some reports of that, but at most it won't be very long for the reasons Brian has mentioned.

If you did have the option of FTTP (?), that would have allowed you a few more weeks in an Openreach queue, but the time to make your decision is over the next 35-40 days, maximum.  You cannot slow it down, other than waiting until day 29 rather than calling on day 1 or 2, for example.

Others have asked for more time and been told in no uncertain terms that either you stick with Plusnet and lose the phone or they will move you to EE.

[#11]

Many thanks to Brian and Mike600 for your replies.

As I'm in the process of getting a new mobile phone at present, I will delay saying to Plusnet what I want to do until I've got that up and running properly.

From what you say, I assume that when I do tell Plusnet my decision, they will activate the option a.s.a.p., i.e., not wait for the full number of days allowed - so I will time it appropriately!

I won't have the option of FTTP because I have checked and found that there are no plans for installing FTTP in our area at present.

Re: the query about a domain.  I may not be using the correct terminology, I just mean't that on the Greenby web site, under the Email menu option it lists one mailbox and one email domain. Perhaps this is all the same thing.  I don't have anything listed under the Domains menu option - just the message that domain management is not available yet.

Thank you very much for your help.

[#12]

@HMD68 

I would move as soon as you're ready.

As regards Domains it's not something I know about. Perhaps@MisterW  could give some answers.

Brian

[#13]

I believe domain in this case is referring to the <accountname>.plus.com subdomain and not a hosted domain e.g my domain.co.uk

[#14]

@MisterW 

Thanks for replying.

If I understand things correctly Domains have not yet been migrated and as such @HMD68 will lose it if they leave PN.

Brian

[#15]

@bmc No, ICBW but I don't think @HMD68 has a hosted domain, its just the normal plus.com mail.