Phorms Ts and Cs

[Peter Fairbrother]

Paul Vigay wrote:
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> In a dim and distant universe <48E3A5AF.1090709@zen.co.uk>,
>    Peter Fairbrother <zenadsl6186@zen.co.uk> enlightened us thusly:
> 
>> Now if you were to offer to get the MAC number, rather than requiring
>> the luser to get it - some of the free ones do it, I don't know how that
>> works though.
> 
> That's interesting. I wonder how they obtain that, as it normally has to be
> generated by the losing ISP.

Speculating, with a bit of vague memory added in, I think the new ISP 
gets the MAC from the old ISP directly, rather than getting the customer 
to do it.

This may only be possible for the "free" ISPs, as they take over the 
telephone line as well as the ADSL. But as I said, I don't know for sure.

However I'm pretty sure that in a couple of cases existing contracts 
were terminated without penalty - and if you could offer that, maybe 
based on BT's illegal actions, or breach of contract, plus hassle-free 
transfers ...



One other point, when BT ask if you want to "opt-in" tp Phorming, is 
that an marketing message covered by the Privacy and Electronic 
Communications Regulations?

If so, BT can send such messages as long as the user didn't opt-out when 
they obtained the address (presumably when the user signed up), but 
under the regulations the marketing message must also include an 
effective opt-out, so the user doesn't get any more messages.

I don't think offering the option to store a long-term cookie counts - 
people may either delete all cookies regularly, as I do and recommend, 
or they may connect a new computer to the same ADSL connection.




I also wonder what technology they use to make the user's computer 
display the message - anyone know? I can't think of a way to do that 
without committing a crime or two, but maybe they are cleverer than me.

Or maybe they are just committing even more crimes.




-- Peter Fairbrother