If I change broadband provider will I lose my email address? If so what can I do so that I do not lose the ability to log onto the websites I am registered with?

[cece]

Basically can I swap my email address to one now before I swap providers so that I can still access them once I am with the new provider? If this is possible, how do I go about it?

Well you could have a hotmail address or Gmail for example which are free.

If you wanted something a bit better you could pay for your own domain name and have several emails addreses like this.

[email protected]
[email protected]
etc

There are lots of hosting companies that do email packages. 1to1 is often mentioned

and yes you will almost certainly lose the one you have when you change providers so it's a good move to have an independent one

Oh thanks. So I need to sort this out before I cancel my provider and swap?

I was thinking googlemail - is it any good? I suppose it would be a temporary thing till I set up an email with my new provider but if it is good I might keep with it. Can I get into it through outlook express?

I'm changing providers as soon as I am out of contract. I have a Hotmail account now, and every time I go onto a website the first thing I do is change my email address to the new one.

Is hotmail better then? I have a few friends with hotmail so maybe it is easier/more popular.

I am out of contract now so want to sort it quite quickly but can see this swapping of emails is going to take some time! LOL

tissy, who are you thinking of changing to? I was thinking the talktalk phone and broadband package looks good.

there is something about this 'out there' - its called your mac code:
some info here - sorry I don't know much about it other than I've heard abotu it.

I've changed supplier a few times. Each time the old email address for receiving mails has stayed active after I've changed but I haven't been able to send using the address.

You don't need to change address on sites you log in to, the only difference would be your alerts which you would have to change the address to get them sent to the right one, so there's no rush to get it moved over.

Webmail is much of a muchness TBH, it depends on the other features (chat, games, groups etc) that you like but if you're not interested in those then it doesn't make much difference.

Hotmail is webmail. Which means you can only access it by logging onto their website. If you want email you can do with outlook express etc then you need an account that allows pop access. Googlemail does so that might be your best choice.

I'd recommend getting an account with whoever you choose and sticking to it. ISP accounts are a nuisance since you end up having to change them again each time you switch.

long story, but am changing to BT. Have been having a lot of problems with my broadband, and every time I report it to ISP it takes ages for them to ask me a whole lot of questions, then refer me to 2nd line support, who phone me back and ask the same questions again . Then they eventually agree it's the line that's at fault, and take about 2 weeks to report to BT. As soon as they do it, the fault is fixed.

i know that BT don't have a great reputation, but at least I cut out the middle man when reporting the fault.

It's so complicated no wonder I have stayed with the same co for so long! The price keeps going up though and we lose connections more and more frequently so...

You can set up Outlook to pick up webmail.

tissy! LOL we are leaving BT!

cece if you are leaving BT you can call them and arrange to keep your BT email addresses for the fee of £1.50 per month for up to 5 email addresses connected to the account. We left BT a few months ago, and whilst it annoys me to still be paying BT it gives us a few months to set up new addresses, notify friends and sort everything out.

Outlook express does have the option to add webmail, but hotmail won't let you use that on a free account any more. Not sure about other places.

Yahoo does I'm sure. Don't know about the others as I've only used Yahoo and Hotmail.

I have a gmail account & it's fine - I actually got it because Hotmail kept blocking the newsletter & roundup from Mumsnet!

Thanks for all your help. It still sounds complicated but at least I can start investigating it all!

babypringle, thanks for that top tip I might do that for a while to make sure I mop up all my contacts!