Identifying an unknown Broadband ISP

You've just moved into your new house or flat and naturally you want to get your PC up and running so you can stay in touch with the world. But when you try to sign up for Broadband, you find that the previous occupier had already done so, and that your chosen ISP is unable to connect you until the previous occupier's ISP is disconnected. Worse, you have no idea who that ISP might be and frequently you have no way to contact your predecessor to ask. What do you do?

You might think that BT (who still at least provide the physical connection to your house) would be able to help. Not so. Along with the many advantages of deregulated telecomms comes this one. BT have no way to tell which ISP is connected to your phone. Instead you need to contact OFCOM on 0845 456000. They will give you a reference number for your enquiry, and should clear the existing supplier from the line within seven days - leaving you finally able to sign up as you wished to do in the first place.