There are many reasons why you might want to switch your broadband or mobile provider. You might be unhappy with the quality or reliability of your connection, annoyed with their policies, or you might just think that you can get a better deal elsewhere. Before you call them up to give them their marching orders, it is important to check the terms of your contract to find out whether you are allowed to break it after a certain point, and just when that point is.

If you do not have a pay as you go agreement with your provider, then you will most likely have to pay to get out of your contract, unless the minimum term is up.

Find out what is out there in the way of deals and special offers from the other companies, as you might be better staying put.

It is important if you are changing mobile networks, or getting services such as 3G or mobile broadband, to check that you can get reasonable reception for the service you are considering in your area. You dont want to be paying money for something that you cant use in your area. You can check this by doing an online location search, although these are calculated using mathematical models, rather than real world measurements, so you might want to ask some friends who live nearby what their experiences with a certain provider have been like.

Once you have decided which network and package you are going to go for, it is time to tell your existing provider that you want to cancel your contract. If you are switching your broadband provider, you will need to ask your old provider for a MAC code, and if its your mobile network that you are switching, you need to ask for a PAC code. Dont worry if you get these mixed up, as they will probably know what you mean.

If you want to keep your old phone number when you move to a new network, then you will need the PAC number, but if you are happy to take on a new number then there is no need. You cannot, however, switch broadband providers at all without a MAC code, so make sure that you get it.

Broadband providers are legally obliged to give you your MAC code within five working days of the initial request. If they take any longer than this, let them know that you will be reporting your case to Ofcom, the industry regulator, and this should hurry things along. If it doesnt, then you should follow through with your threat to report them.

Once you have given your code to your new provider, the switchover should take no more than two days. If your old provider fails to authorise the switch within this time, then you should complain to Ofcom, or at least threaten to.