Major broadband provider with 1.5million customers is AXING free service and introducing £15 charge

The Sun

a day ago

PLUSNET is scrapping a free in-house service used by thousands of customers and replacing it with a paid subscription model.
All Plusnet email customers are being progressively moved to a new provider called Greenby, but the company insists it's not cutting the service.
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The move, which began last month, will see existing Plusnet email addresses and inboxes migrated to Greenby's platform by the end of November.
The broadband provider said it's making the change to ensure its customers inboxes remain safe and secure.
A spokesperson added: "We're ensuring our customers get the best possible experience."
Plusnet will contact those affected with instructions when it's their turn to switch.
After the switch, customers with Plusnet broadband at the time of migration will get two years of free email service with Greenby.
However, customers without Plusnet broadband at the time of migration will only get 30 days of free service, after which they'll need to pay £15 per year to Greenby.
Plusnet won't add any charges to customer bills.
If a customer chooses to opt out, they'll lose access to their Plusnet email account.
Greenby said: "We understand that many people rely on email addresses they've used for years, and it's important that those who want to keep using the service can do so with confidence in its reliability."
We recommend using a free standalone email provider to avoid the hassle of changing email services if you switch broadband providers in the future.
Free email providers
WORRIED about your email being tied to your internet provider?
There are plenty of excellent free email services you can use instead.
Here are a few popular choices:
Examples include:
Gmail: Google's offering is feature-rich, with plenty of storage and excellent spam filtering. Integrates seamlessly with other Google services.
Outlook.com: Microsoft's webmail service offers a clean interface and integrates with Microsoft Office apps. Good storage options are available.
Yahoo! Mail: A long-standing provider with a large storage capacity. It includes a built-in news feed.
Proton Mail: For those prioritising privacy, Proton Mail offers end-to-end encryption. Based in Switzerland, it has strong data protection laws (free but limited storage).
GMX Mail: Offers a good balance of features and storage space. Includes a spam filter and virus protection.
Last year, Plusnet told The Sun that it will no longer offer home phone services to existing customers once analogue services are switched off.
This means that customers who still want landline phone service in the future will be forced to move to a different telephone company that offers a digital service.
It comes as all copper-based phone lines will be switched off by the end of 2027.
The telecom firm previously previously shut its TV service and has begun winding down its Plusnet Mobile operations.
Plusnet Mobile stopped selling its own-brand sim-only mobile plans to new customers at the end of March 2023.
At the beginning of May 2023, existing Plusnet Mobile customers received emails confirming that the network would close for good in June 2024.
Switch providers and cut costs
SWITCHING TV, broadband and landline providers has become significantly easier due to new rules introduced in September 2024.
Customers now only need to contact their new provider to make the switch, eliminating the need to deal with their current provider, even if they find a better deal elsewhere.
Since 2015, customers using Openreach's network – which includes providers like BT and Sky – have been able to switch by allowing their new provider to handle the process.
However, switching to or from providers like Virgin Media, which operates on its own independent network, previously required contacting the existing provider to arrange the change.
Ofcom 's new "One Touch" rules have streamlined the process for all networks.
Now, customers switching services only need to liaise with their new provider, regardless of the network.
These rules also ensure that customers won't pay notice-period charges beyond the switch date, meaning they won't be billed for overlapping services.
Additionally, providers are required to compensate customers for any issues during the switch, such as being left without service for more than one working day.
The amount of compensation will vary depending on the situation.
The new rules align broadband and TV switching with mobile switching.
Since 2019, mobile phone customers have been able to switch providers using the "text to switch" system, avoiding the hassle of calling their current network.
To find the best deals, consider visiting comparison sites such as MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch.
These platforms allow you to tailor your search based on factors like price, data allowances, and preferred providers.