Talktalk to start charging for email addresses if you do not have a contract

[badshoehabit]

Link to info: TalkTalk

I have had the same email address for 20+ years and always used a computer based email client, currently Thunderbird. I carried on with this email when I switched both broadband and mobile providers. TalkTalk, the company with whom I had broadband originally is planning to charge if you don't have a contract. This may affect other UK Mac users.

I have tied myself in knots trying to a) add a second email address to a little used google account and b) adding this to my Thunderbird email account!

 

[chscag]

It appears TalkTalk wants all their customers to be on contract with them for broadband. Same tactic used here in the US by certain carriers. They want you to use their mail facility but at the same time be on contract for their expensive broadband.

It really leaves most users with little to no choice unless they're happy with snail like speeds.

 

[MacInWin]

I can understand the carriers' position, but I admit I'm confused by what is happening here. Is TalkTalk offering (up to now) free or PAYG email and broadband? Is the issue now that they want to restrict that broadband to contract, taking it away from PAYG? If so, what is left for PAYG?

I use PAYG when I visit the UK because 1) I don't want to be on a contract when I only need the service for about 4 weeks/year and 2) they won't let me contract because I don't have a UK address or credit card. Right now I have an EE SIM card and an account at EE that will accept my US credit card, so I top off my PAYG account the week before we leave for UK and activate it after landing there. Easy and simple.

I'm also curious how you transferred your old email address to TalkTalk or between broadband/mobile providers. I haven't been able to do that, but I have a mail-forwarding service that lets me keep my same public email address whilst changing the forwarding address when I've moved/changed providers/carriers.

 

[badshoehabit]

Jake: I had TalkTalk (previously Tiscali) as internet provider from 1997 until April 2018 when I moved my broadband contract to Vodaphone because it was much cheaper for the same service. Vodaphone do not provide email addresses but I was allowed to continue using the talktalk address. Now, because I am no longer a TT broadband customer, they will charge £5 per month from September 18 (see TalkTalk link in post 1). After that I will be able only to access webmail, which I don't want to do. I've never used webmail and don't want it now (too much of a faff). Presumably it will also not sync with my other devices unless I pay.

Am going to start another thread as am now having problems trying to add different email address to Thunderbird on my MBP.