Most Internet Service Providers (ISP's) supply a free email service as part of your overall subscription e.g.

• @btinternet.com / @btconnect.com
• @blueyonder.co.uk / @virginmedia.com
• @sky.com

The issue is when you change ISP, whether it is voluntary or forced due to the current provider not being available in your new location.

When you change ISP:

• You are no longer paying for other services: Phone, broadband, TV; hence they want to charge you for the service. The cost is usually per email address.
• In the case of Virgin, you email account is deleted along with all your emails.
• Sky is currently free but may change in the future.
• In some cases they will supply a free access service via an internet browser known as Webmail, but you 
• Cannot access using the mail function or app on your phone/tablet.
• Cannot access using a program on your computer such as MSOutlook, Mozilla's Thunderbird or Apple's Mail program; these are all known as an 'email client'.

RESULTING  -  In people being trapped with a slow broadband service or expensive provider because they are too scared to lose their current email especially if you use one for business.

Why should they supply a free email, they have to pay and service equipment and they are responsible for your data, plus they may not make money from adverts like google/gmail. 

There are several free email options - gmail, yahoo, hotmail, outlook, zoho, icloud, mail.com, aol, to name a few top ones.

SOLUTION  -  Whilst you are not being charged move to a free provider.

• Some have a migration service so you can move all your existing emails over.
• You can use mail forwarding so all emails sent to the old email are automatically sent to the new email - thus you only need to access one inbox.
• You can use mail filters so that all emails coming from your old email will be automatically separated from the heard and moved to dedicated folder for you to review.
• You can set up auto-replies that will automatically notify people of your new address when they email the old email.
• You can run an overlap so you don't miss anything.
• Your overlap could run for a year so you can ensure you catch everyone whilst you slowly change your login for all those companies you use online.

Another solution is to purchase a domain name.

• This is very good for business as it makes your email more professional.
• If you sell your business, retire or cease trading, you can let your business email go so you are not bothered any more.
• You can use domains for personal use too, having one for all the family - I do.
• Before gmail & hotmail were invented in the mid to late 90's my first email was with eurobell, that changed to telewest (blueyonder) and changed again to virgin media.
• I predicted in 1996 there would be a problem with email changes and thus bought my first domain for personal use £9.99.
• Whilst there is a ongoing cost there are ways to keep the cost low to under £100 pa. You may ask how is this different to paying say BT for your email. The cost is per domain name not per email address and usually you can have an unlimited amount of email address per domain.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE SOME FREE ADVICE ON RE-ORGANISING THEIR EMAIL STRUCTURE, PLEASE CALL SO WE CAN HAVE A CHAT; I AM VERY GOOD AT RE-ORGANISING.