I am on AOL (i know, i know) my contract is due to finish in January.

I recently changed my BT phone number and my internet cut off, i rang AOL yesterday to update my phone number and my broadband connection will be on next friday, until then i have to use their crappy dial up service.

The thing is i spoke to someone on live help earlier and they asked me if i wanted to pay £9.99 per month instead of £29.99 per month and i think they have made me sign a 18 month contract without informing me of it, i was not aware that it would mean signing an 18 month contract otherwise i would not have done it.

Apparently BT disconnected the line completely so i have to wait for AOL to get BT to put my broadband back on and it will be on next friday.

Yesterday when i gave AOL my new phone number they said that the phone line was clear or something, does that mean that there is no marker on the line?

Thing is i feel stuck to AOL, i just wondered if i ordered BT broadband today or tomorrow would BT put the marker on the line before AOL? If so i would do it just to get rid of AOL.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

if the lines clear, and there's "no marker" just cancel the direct debit or whatever to AOL, and phone up say your cancelling at the end of your initial year, and you have no service at the moment any way....

go for someone else using your 'new' line, and get them on it first so AOL cant pull a dirty one..

AOL said the line was clear so does that mean that there is no marker?

I intended to cancel my AOL broadband anyway in January, I ordered BT 8MB broadband earlier, if there is no marker, i'm just wondering if BT will get it on before AOL.

I've heard that ISP's can get markers removed anyway or apparently if you ring BT wholesale they will remove the marker but as i've ordered BT broadband and BT wholesale deal with marker's will BT block AOL from putting on the marker or if it is on will they remove it?

If BT did disconnect the line then it will not have a marker on it (unless it hasn't been cleared off properly by BT, which has been known to happen) until the broadband is reconnected by AOL's order. If you need to check for sure BT have a phone number for customers to call to query this and have the tags removed if necessary - you can call them on 0800 2699576. They'll be able to tell you if there's any pending orders or any existing services on the line.

Hope that helps,