Topic: Biscit

It looks like Biscit customers are to be given help to migrate to a new ISP by BT as "of the size of [Biscit's] end-customer base and the fact that a lot of them are businesses".

BT Wholesale will issue a Migration Authorisation Code (MAC) to any of the 6,500 affected customer base, with the full details being given by a webpage which they will be re-directed to.
One short term problem is that "customers of Biscit for telephone services are also advised to look for an alternative supplier, as from today they will be unable to make outbound calls, with the exception of 999 calls", but this will be seen as a minor problem to those affected.

After Biscit went into administration last week it seemed that a saviour was on the horizon after Breathe sought to buy the company.

However it now seems that all is not rosy as the ISP were not able to go through with the sale. According to a statement on their website the reason is that Breathe were "prohibited from contacting [the customers] directly, and cannot migrate them to our services, although we will be delighted to provide any assistance that we can to anyone who contacts us".

This is because of the ongoing dispute on who actually owns customers, after Biscit's acquisition of V21 led to difficulties with V21's previous supplier, Netservices. Although Biscit won the case there is a "legal dispute, and does not involve Breathe Networks", but this is no comfort to it's 12,500 customers who look to lose out if the situation isn't resolved.

It seems that Biscit customers who have recently seen their ISP go under have been given some good news.

ISP Breathe have said that it will be taking over the 13,500 broadband customers who have been affected by the collapse, so users should be unaffected. As Breathe and Biscit use the same supplier then an Authentication Realm transfer can take place, where only the account details are changed, with the customers username and password remaining the same.

Any customers who are unhappy with the terms of the Breathe service can apply for a Migration Authorisation Code (MAC) to allow them to move to a provider without any disconnection.

Biscit customers are asked to contact Breathe on 0870 740 5836 or check out the transfer information on the Breathe website.

It seems that another budget ISP has bitten the dust after administrators have been called in.

Biscit have called in Tony James Thompson of company insolvency specialist Piper Thompson to be appointed as the administrator on Monday, although the details are only now being leaked out.

The ISP has had a very chequered history after buying another ISP, V21 last year and then went into a prolonged battle with Netservices over the acquisition (if you have forgotten it's here and here). Then it withdrew for the Internet Service Provider's Association (ISPA) which meant that it's 35,000 customers were no longer protected by the industry code of practice or complaints procedures.

The question is who will be next?

Biscit have responded to claim by ISPReview that they were having cash problems.

According to the report the ISP was suffering from cheques being bounced which gave rise to suspicions that they were suffering cash flow issues. Biscit CEO Hugh Paterson said that the story was  "overblown" and "no mystery".

The problem was of two Biscit customers who had been overcharged by the ISP and following  legal action Biscit issued refund cheques to the customers which then promptly bounced. This was due to the ISP closing one of it's bank accounts the day before issuing the cheques, which wasn't too clever.

New cheques have been sent to the affected customers, who no doubt will rush to the bank to cash them!!

Biscit have announced it's new phone and broadband package which they hope will take on TalkTalk's 'provision challenged' service.

Called freeMax Unlimited it will give customers 2400 minutes per month to UK landlines, unlimited international calls to 2 nominated numbers per month, free calls to other Biscit landlines and  8Mbps unlimited  broadband.
It has no minimum contact term and costs £29.99 per month plus a one-off set up charge of £29.99.

Biscit has ended it's minimum contact term for residential broadband contracts. This applies to new residential contracts taken out from September 1st, previously terms of up to 18 months were in place.

Telco Biscit and ISP V21 have decided to form a merger to compete with the larger telecom companies.

Biscit is one of BT Wholesale's core telecommunications and broadband providers and can now provide telecoms and broadband to V21's 43,000 customers.

After the news last week of "free broadband", London based biscit step up to announce "freeMax" - offering a voice and broadband deal to tempt the masses lured by the thought of not paying for something.

freeMax from biscit couples subscribers with an upto 8Mbps broadband service and traditional telephone service for £19.99 per month for six months, rising to £21.75 per month after that. The broadband service includes a 2GB data allowance per month with the option of purchasing more allowance at £1.99 per GB. Focusing on the voice side of things sees a 12 hour call nationwide landline allowance. However, the package as a whole attracts 18month contract term which might be a stinger in the tail for some, and there's the "obligatory" connection-fee .. in this case, charged at £29.99.

Those fancying taking the biscit^* can do so here.

^*Appologies for the awful puns.