Anyone ISP Hopping? Are There Any Downsides?

I recently came out of a "first 6 months" deal with my current ISP, and I'm now looking at another ISP that has a very sweet "first 6 months" deal (Dodo, $10 per month at 100Mbps). I'm considering jumping to Dodo to take advantage of that deal for the next 6 months, then re-assessing in 6 months for another ISP with a decent "first 6 months" deal, or settling on the ISP that I "liked" the most..

Does anyone ISP hop currently, taking advantage of signing bonuses then moving on to another ISP?

It seems silly not to take advantage of these offers, but wondering if I'm missing something.

Comments

  • +2

    Dodo, $10 per month at 100Mbps

    Isn't that just $10 off per month? So $65/mth for 100Mbps which isn't much different than others like leaptel, superloop etc

    But no, no real issue jumping between providers. Minimal downtime, possibly some router tweaks depending on ipoe/pppoe

    • +2

      Oh boy, you're right! They've got me with some tricky wording, well not really even that tricky, I just read what I wanted to read 😬

      • +1

        Obviously didn't read your bank statements.

      • If it was only $10 a month they would be making a huge loss and someone would probably get fired for posting such a cheap deal.

  • +1

    I'm currently in my first cheapish 6m with superloop
    I plan on hopping to another afterwards too

    • I'm still paying the same price with superloop as it was during the promo. If it goes up (or I upgrade from FTTN) then I will look at changing

  • +3

    I fully intended to do that when I signed up with Superloop, but shortly after the 6 month promo they offered a free Static IP (because of covid), so I stuck around a bit longer, then a free 6 month upgrade to gigabit… then I could take the 6 month promo price for gigabit…
    They've been rock solid and good to me, so I never got around to ISP hopping…

  • +3

    I've been ISP hopping for about 3 years now. Its fine. Only downside is the cancellation admin and reconfiguring of the modem settings, which isnt that big of a deal.

    • -3

      and the fact that each company has nameless faces accessing your ID stuff,data and in some cases email account during setup and support, and gods knows how often if they are based offshore. Which would be OK if the customer had some proof the staff were police checked to Aust standards etc, and when you dealt with a support person you had their name or staff number each and every time, and our local authorities were overseeing the whole system for security purposes.

  • +2

    I don't think there are any downsides to it outside of what has been mentioned.

    It would also be worth contacting ISPs and seeing if they have a retention offer before churning.

    From reading previous deals, there are probably a few minor things to watch out for:

    • notice periods
    • credit checks

    Though, they may be Exetel specific.

    • This ^^^ everytime I have called my ISP they have counter offered for 6 months/ 1 year discount to match. Saves the hassle of churning…
      I just set a reminder everytime the discount is ending

    • I did this recently. Only got offered $5 off per month - I didn't have the time / energy to argue further but just enough to mute me until I see another good deal somewhere else rather than jump immediately.

    • Contacted Belong to ask for any retention offers and was offered nothing. Disappointing so might actually move ISPs now

  • I'm about to join Leaptel from Superloop on the 1000/50 plan. Superloop were good while it was cheap. But I don't find the service itself that much better from other less reputable providers.

  • i churn every 6 months

  • I've done it. Was with belong for a year, then Tangerine for 6months, then Leaptel for 6months and last month changed to Exetel. I wish the promotion period was for an entre year so that there was less churning to do.

  • if your with commbank you can get 3 months free with more telecom

    the only downsides are reconfiguring modem and some isp charge extra to remove cgnat.

  • +1

    In short, Yes ISP hopping is fine you get minimal downtime just a matter of changing a couple of Modem / router settings and off you go.
    Its probably not great from an ISP loyalty perspective but then again most don't offer much beyond the six month discount.
    As for staff reading your emails that is pretty doubtful unless you use an ISP provided email and you needed technical support that is about the only time staff would notice any of your emails.
    Generally we have better stuff to do all day.

  • I have been doing it for the last 5-6 years. I think we pay way to much for internet and not in the habit of paying anymore than i have too.
    Currently on Leaptel right now cause they were offering 12 months at a discounted rate so decided to jump on it and not have to worry for at least that long.

    But previously would flip between Superloop, Exetel and Tangerine/Internode. Never had any issues doing so, yeah i would have a small outage but nothing to long maybe 20-30mins at most.

  • Hey, can you go back to your previous isp with the same email? E.g superloop to tangerine and then back to superloop?

    • depends on how long you have to stay disconnected for to be considered a new customer. not 100% sure but most places you have to wait at least 12 months, hence why i always jumped around between 3 providers. But i have always used by primary email and have never had any issues.

  • I'm going to say probably not, well you could but you won't be classed as a new customer you would be classed as a returning one, some ISPs do have offers for returning customers but you would need to check with the individual providers.

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