Did I imagine this?

[Mike McMillan]

I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

[Kosmo]

Post by Mike McMillan
I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted. A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Kosmo

Post by Mike McMillan
I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted. A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least
thereafter).

(One I'd like to see is the treating of gambling ad.s the same as
tobacco ones, but society has changed and no party has even mentioned
them - for some years.)

[Mike McMillan]

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Kosmo

Post by Mike McMillan
I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted. A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least
thereafter).
(One I'd like to see is the treating of gambling ad.s the same as
tobacco ones, but society has changed and no party has even mentioned
them - for some years.)

Well, I present constrict err…. contract, runs for a few more months yet so
I lives in hopes (forlorn ones no doubt. I wonder what
Virginontheridiculous would say if I end the contract one day and apply for
a new (much cheaper) contract the next day?

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Mike McMillan

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Kosmo

Post by Mike McMillan
I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted. A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least
thereafter).
(One I'd like to see is the treating of gambling ad.s the same as
tobacco ones, but society has changed and no party has even mentioned
them - for some years.)

Well, I present constrict err…. contract, runs for a few more months yet so
I lives in hopes (forlorn ones no doubt. I wonder what
Virginontheridiculous would say if I end the contract one day and apply for
a new (much cheaper) contract the next day?

Ah, that's different. The (proposed?) change was that there should be no
deals for new customers that were not available to existing ones; that
was to stop the practice that started in I think motor insurance, of
offering ridiculously low deals for new customers in the hope that
lethargy at renewal time would ... (but it's spread to all sort of
business now). There's also legislation - I think actually in place -
that they have to remind you, with the renewal quote, what you paid last
year - though I suspect that's _only_ motor insurance.

Reason I say what you suggest is different is minimum-term contracts; if
you try to get out of one of those, you can end up liable for an early
termination charge, which is almost what was left on the contract anyway
(I think it's only about 7% less for PlusNet).

If you're already "out of contract" that won't apply (but you're
probably paying about twice what you were a month until you sign up for
a new fixed term one).

You _can_ get out of a fixed-term one (note: IANAL!) _if_ the service
provided materially deteriorates. I'm anticipating lots of arbitration
when the POTS is turned off under this one, and probably a decision from
OfCom that's NOT in our (the customers') favour )-:.

[Mike McMillan]

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Mike McMillan

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Kosmo

Post by Mike McMillan
I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted. A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least
thereafter).
(One I'd like to see is the treating of gambling ad.s the same as
tobacco ones, but society has changed and no party has even mentioned
them - for some years.)

Well, I present constrict err…. contract, runs for a few more months yet so
I lives in hopes (forlorn ones no doubt. I wonder what
Virginontheridiculous would say if I end the contract one day and apply for
a new (much cheaper) contract the next day?

Ah, that's different. The (proposed?) change was that there should be no
deals for new customers that were not available to existing ones; that
was to stop the practice that started in I think motor insurance, of
offering ridiculously low deals for new customers in the hope that
lethargy at renewal time would ... (but it's spread to all sort of
business now). There's also legislation - I think actually in place -
that they have to remind you, with the renewal quote, what you paid last
year - though I suspect that's _only_ motor insurance.
Reason I say what you suggest is different is minimum-term contracts; if
you try to get out of one of those, you can end up liable for an early
termination charge, which is almost what was left on the contract anyway
(I think it's only about 7% less for PlusNet).
If you're already "out of contract" that won't apply (but you're
probably paying about twice what you were a month until you sign up for
a new fixed term one).
You _can_ get out of a fixed-term one (note: IANAL!) _if_ the service
provided materially deteriorates. I'm anticipating lots of arbitration
when the POTS is turned off under this one, and probably a decision from
OfCom that's NOT in our (the customers') favour )-:.

What I have in mind is not renewing the contract when it comes up for
renewal (in October I think it is).

[Joe Kerr]

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Mike McMillan

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Mike McMillan
I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted.  A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least
thereafter).
(One I'd like to see is the treating of gambling ad.s the same as
tobacco ones, but society has changed and no party has even mentioned
them - for some years.)

Well, I present constrict err…. contract, runs for a few more months yet so
I lives in hopes (forlorn ones no doubt. I wonder what
Virginontheridiculous would say if I end the contract one day and apply for
a new (much cheaper) contract the next day?

Ah, that's different. The (proposed?) change was that there should be no
deals for new customers that were not available to existing ones; that
was to stop the practice that started in I think motor insurance, of
offering ridiculously low deals for new customers in the hope that
lethargy at renewal time would ... (but it's spread to all sort of
business now). There's also legislation - I think actually in place -
that they have to remind you, with the renewal quote, what you paid last
year - though I suspect that's _only_ motor insurance.

One thing I liked about American car insurance was that I got a
breakdown of the premium into - I forget - accident, theft, third party,
medical assistance, mumble mumble? It was interesting to see where the
money was going.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Joe Kerr

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Mike McMillan

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Mike McMillan
I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted.  A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least
thereafter).
(One I'd like to see is the treating of gambling ad.s the same as
tobacco ones, but society has changed and no party has even mentioned
them - for some years.)

Well, I present constrict err…. contract, runs for a few more months yet so
I lives in hopes (forlorn ones no doubt. I wonder what
Virginontheridiculous would say if I end the contract one day and apply for
a new (much cheaper) contract the next day?

Ah, that's different. The (proposed?) change was that there should be
no deals for new customers that were not available to existing ones;
that was to stop the practice that started in I think motor insurance,
of offering ridiculously low deals for new customers in the hope that
lethargy at renewal time would ... (but it's spread to all sort of
business now). There's also legislation - I think actually in place -
that they have to remind you, with the renewal quote, what you paid
last year - though I suspect that's _only_ motor insurance.

One thing I liked about American car insurance was that I got a
breakdown of the premium into - I forget - accident, theft, third party,
medical assistance, mumble mumble? It was interesting to see where the
money was going.

Swerving onto American car insurance for a moment.
Fiction suggests to me that Americans will casually allow random people
to drive their car.

In the UK (AIUI), having anyone other than a named driver behind the
wheel reduces coverage to Third Party Fire & Theft.

Not so in the US?

[Joe Kerr]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Joe Kerr
One thing I liked about American car insurance was that I got a
breakdown of the premium into - I forget - accident, theft, third
party, medical assistance, mumble mumble? It was interesting to see
where the money was going.

Swerving onto American car insurance for a moment.
Fiction suggests to me that Americans will casually allow random people
to drive their car.
In the UK (AIUI), having anyone other than a named driver behind the
wheel reduces coverage to Third Party Fire & Theft.
Not so in the US?

Hmmm. It's been a while. I really can't remember. I'm sure I still have
all the renewal documents. Somewhere. Not with me at the moment. Now
that you have jogged my brain you could be right. I'm sure that there
were some differences in the way it worked between here and there. It's
possible that they only have comprehensive and no TPFT. I think you
could opt out of the personal health cover if you already had it in
some other policy.

I do remember that the first quote I got wanted to treat me as having a
drink driving conviction and charge a ridiculous amount because I
couldn't prove that I didn't have one, which sounds like a pretty poor
view of American attitudes to driving.

Hope that helps.

[Nick Odell]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Joe Kerr

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by J. P. Gilliver

I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering
new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be
outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted.  A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least
thereafter).
(One I'd like to see is the treating of gambling ad.s the same as
tobacco ones, but society has changed and no party has even mentioned
them - for some years.)

Well, I present constrict err…. contract, runs for a few more months
yet so
I lives in hopes (forlorn ones no doubt. I wonder what
Virginontheridiculous would say if I end the contract one day and apply for
a new (much cheaper) contract the next day?

Ah, that's different. The (proposed?) change was that there should be
no deals for new customers that were not available to existing ones;
that was to stop the practice that started in I think motor insurance,
of offering ridiculously low deals for new customers in the hope that
lethargy at renewal time would ... (but it's spread to all sort of
business now). There's also legislation - I think actually in place -
that they have to remind you, with the renewal quote, what you paid
last year - though I suspect that's _only_ motor insurance.

One thing I liked about American car insurance was that I got a
breakdown of the premium into - I forget - accident, theft, third party,
medical assistance, mumble mumble? It was interesting to see where the
money was going.

Swerving onto American car insurance for a moment.
Fiction suggests to me that Americans will casually allow random people
to drive their car.
In the UK (AIUI), having anyone other than a named driver behind the
wheel reduces coverage to Third Party Fire & Theft.
Not so in the US?

Sounds to me like a question for misc.legal.moderated. They need
something new to talk about to take their minds off recalcitrant
Supreme Court Judges who strike down the one piece of legislation in
which the Democrats and the Republicans and the NRA were harmony
over[1] and recidivist politicians and their family antics.

Nick
[1]The decision was very recent and I don't think that discussion has
started yet - but it will...

[Ben Blaney]

Post by Sam Plusnet
Swerving onto American car insurance for a moment.
Fiction suggests to me that Americans will casually allow random people
to drive their car.
In the UK (AIUI), having anyone other than a named driver behind the
wheel reduces coverage to Third Party Fire & Theft.
Not so in the US?

Not so. Basically: in the US the vehicle is insured. Sure there's a person
named as the primary user - which affects the risk profile to some degree.
But in principle it is insured, no matter who is driving it. It is very
convenient.

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Ben Blaney

Post by Sam Plusnet
Swerving onto American car insurance for a moment.
Fiction suggests to me that Americans will casually allow random people
to drive their car.
In the UK (AIUI), having anyone other than a named driver behind the
wheel reduces coverage to Third Party Fire & Theft.
Not so in the US?

Not so. Basically: in the US the vehicle is insured. Sure there's a person
named as the primary user - which affects the risk profile to some degree.
But in principle it is insured, no matter who is driving it. It is very
convenient.

In practice, I think the UK has moved to that too, in that when one sees
these criminals-caught or similarly-named prog.s, they often talk about
"uninsured vehicles", so I assume the national database goes by vehicle
rather than driver (thinking about it, it could hardly do otherwise). I
presume people like delivery drivers, those who work in the motor trade,
and similar, i. e. those licenced to drive anything, have a tedious time
of it when stopped (or maybe they carry a big card or something).

The UK, having anyone other than a named driver transfers the insurance
to that driver - which often does indeed reduce to minimal cover, I
think in some cases even less than 3PFT - possibly the absolute minimum,
which I think is called "Road Traffic Act". Also note that, although
most policies _do_ let you drive anyone's car (with their permission),
the usual example being to drive a friend home from the pub if he's had
too much, not all do - and this includes at least one of the Big Names.

[Kosmo]

Post by Mike McMillan

Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Kosmo

Post by Mike McMillan
I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted. A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least
thereafter).
(One I'd like to see is the treating of gambling ad.s the same as
tobacco ones, but society has changed and no party has even mentioned
them - for some years.)

Well, I present constrict err…. contract, runs for a few more months yet so
I lives in hopes (forlorn ones no doubt. I wonder what
Virginontheridiculous would say if I end the contract one day and apply for
a new (much cheaper) contract the next day?

I have certainly done that with car insurance.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by J. P. Gilliver

 I thought I heard a while back that the ISP’s practice of offering new
potential customers special deals that they then denied to existing
customers (I’m looking ar you Virginontherediculous!)nwas to be outlawed?

All sorts of things get promised but are never enacted.  A promise is
cheap and soon forgotten.

Yes, I thought that too - but if it was in upcoming legislation, all
that stopped, on the day of the Drowning Street Declaration or the day
after. AIUI, there will be No New Laws until the general election (and
in practice I very much doubt for 3-5 weeks at the very least thereafter).

I wonder if some will interpret that as 'all laws are declared void,
once the election is called'?