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Free Laptops - Ask Our Expert

If you have a broadband question, why not write to our Broadband Expert, Michael Phillips, at OurExpert@BroadbandChoices.co.uk

Q ~ Dear Michael,

I am currently with Orange Broadband and like many I have seen their advert for a free laptop with PC world. This offer is only for new customers and I was hoping that I could switch away from my package and sign up as a new customer again to get this deal but Orange have told me I can’t have a MAC code to change from one package to another with the same company, is this true?

Perhaps I could ask for a MAC code and not tell Orange who I am going to?

Hope you can help

Steve Hore, via email

Our expert says...

MAC Codes are only used to switch from one provider to another as the engineer uses them to locate and moves your connection within the BT exchange, so you wouldn’t be able to do this. They might allow you to re-contract to qualify for the offer if your current contract has expired though.

If they don’t however, AOL have a similar offer, with a better broadband package and a much higher download limit, and a higher spec laptop from Dell (the laptops offered by Orange are already out of date and have been replaced in stores by newer models).

You have to pre-register for the AOL offer and there are currently only 100,000 available (to be sent out in September). Remember that by pre-registering, you’re not committing to the contract.

However, I would urge you to think twice about these offers as they are two year contracts so you would miss out on faster, cheaper broadband in the meantime and would be tied in for 24 months. But if you’re sure that you don’t need more than 8Mb, you could get a Dell laptop worth around £500 and switch to a better broadband package from AOL.