If I change internet provider do I lose my email address?

[Toorapid]

We've had the same internet provider since we first got email and it really needs upgrading.

My email address is [email protected] . If I change provider will I need a new email address or will I still be able to use it through the provider's webmail? This the the reason I haven't changed it so far, because of all the bank accounts etc that are linked to that address.

It depends. DH has a btinternet.com or btopenworld.com address which is the bane of our lives, when we changed providers he had to pay a stupid amount every month to retain it. Then when we upgraded broadband we went back to BT solely so he didn’t have to keep paying for the address, and they have been spectacularly shit. So, I think you need to check with your provider. Sorry, not v helpful!

Usually yes.
I learnt hard way with AOL yonks ago.
I know have Gmail and yahoo.
I'd set up a remote email and just gradually start moving things over. This will give you time to sort out any glitches etc whilst you still have access to your current email.
Once your happy it's all up and running OK, you can leave your isp.

Why do you keep the provider address? This keeps you stuck with the same provider.
I use gmail, and that just transfers over to whichever provider I use.
It may be worth doing this, a hassle to change everything to start with, but once done you have the freedom to move to whoever you want.

@SnowyBranches,
I agree with you, BT charge me £7.50 a month for my email address! I believe Ofcom are looking into this.

I've had a btinternet.com account for almost 20 years and haven't been with by for at least 10 years. Never been a problem.

I'm stuck for the same reason, BT internet. I am trying to move over to gmail but having used BT for 20 years there are an awful lot of accounts to shift and it can get really complicated (eg I'm a member of a sports club and my email is linked through the club system into various different related accounts to do with the governing body which all have to be the same email, including my DBS checks). It's a total pain.

I have a dormant Hotmail account and, when I stopped using it, I set up a filter so that new messages into the inbox are automatically sent through to my new Gmail account.

You could then start using the new email provider straight away and start to move everything over bit by bit.

Can't believe how much BT charges for an email address!

I think it depends on the provider.

My parents changed from TalkTalk (formerly AOL) about 18 months ago. They still have their AOL email address and don't pay anything for it.

Ah. Ignore my 'advice'. That won't work if you stop paying for your current provider!

It depends. We haven't had broadband from Sky for years, but our Sky.com email addresses still work.

It's a real mish mash. Some carry on for free, some stop working forever, some you can get in apps but not on a website, or the other way around or something, others you can keep if you keep paying.

@InsaneLockdowner

Usually yes. I learnt hard way with AOL yonks ago. I know have Gmail and yahoo. I'd set up a remote email and just gradually start moving things over. This will give you time to sort out any glitches etc whilst you still have access to your current email. Once your happy it's all up and running OK, you can leave your isp.

That's a shame AOL didn't give you choice to keep your email address. I left them about 10 years ago and they asked if I wanted to keep my email address free of charge.

To be honest you sound a bit behind the times!

Telling us this:

"My email address is [email protected]"

does not help! What provider are you with? This will enable someone to assist you. You know you can change your email address with whoever you like? Your bank, your water company, your electric suppliers. You may well be able to still use the old one to check in for a while but you will almost certainly have it cut off without warning. Until you say which provider you get your internet with, we cant help!!

[quote Ifailed]@SnowyBranches,
I agree with you, BT charge me £7.50 a month for my email address! I believe Ofcom are looking into this.[/quote]
Sod that!! They can justify this by people being to scared to get another address!

depends on the provider, and yes if it is BT you pay or you lose the email. Keeps a lot of people with BT at their very high prices.

as someone else notes, Ofcom have finally noticed this but don't hold your breath for enforcement.

bite the bullet and change to a non-specific email, or keep paying. Your chouce.

I've had a bt email for years.
Got a google gmail one recently and have begun to change things over slowly.

Yes, I know I'm behind the times, that's kind of the point of the post!

I didn't realise it would make a difference who the provider was, it's plusnet.

Yes, I now have other email addresses but used this one for a very long time, so it's a big exercise to move everything over.

Yes. I use gmail for that reason.

There are people who have an email like

[email protected]

Or

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

But I don't know how

I did that about 10 years ago Piglet - set up my own domain name and used it on top of my btinternet account with a view to being able to switch it easily to another provider. Unfortunately it has never been 100% reliable, doesn't work with some services (file sharing via Onedrive) and causes problems with using the account through mail on my phone. I have gradually phased it out again.

All you have to do is register domainname.com and it costs a few quid a year and you can have [email protected] forwarded to any email address you like.

I used [email protected] for a few years as a way to try and work out who was selling my email address but in the days of illegally hiding the required permission in the cookies message, it doesn't work any more.

I'd be surprised if the likes of @smith.com or @smithfamily.com are still available although in some cases the people who own them will be willing to sell them at the right price.

I am just going through the process of setting up Gmail accounts so I can eventually leave my crap internet provider. It's actually been painless, I transfer a few each day, have set up one Gmail for shopping and one for regular email. It has been surprisingly painless, not the enormous task I thought it would be. Also a good way of cleaning up what you want in your inbox!

@PigletJohn,

As BarbaraofSeville says, You get a domain name for a few quid a year. You can then forward it to another email address such as gmail.

Or, for a few more quid a year you can get email hosting and set up different accounts for you, your OH, you kids, your cats, etc. and have complete control over your mail.

Moving hosting provider, should you need to, is quite straightforward.

tks

do you know a good provider?

I use Fasthosts for my domain name

Setting up a new email address, whether with your own domain or not, is the easy part. Like other PPs I've had my address since 1998 and although I could probably update most of my contacts, that would still others - I haven't kept all my emails for the past 23 years!