The saga with Orange goes on. Having suffered several periods when we couldn't get online for days on end we decided we had to switch providers. We did so with trepidation, knowing that it just couldn't be straightforward.

It wasn't.

Orange took weeks to send an e-mail telling us what our migration code was. We gave it to BT, received our BT boradband kit and waited for the great day when we could finally switch. Except we couldn't.

BT said Orange's migration code was wrong. We'd have to get another one from orange. Also, Orange hadn't cleared the line. Orange said they couldn't give a new code, and in any case their migration codes don't work with BT.

BT wasn't keen to comment on that, but insisted that Orange must clear the line.

Orange said BT had to send someone to the exchange to do that manually. BT listened in silence.

And then, with no BT service in operation, Orange cut us off.

So now we have no ISP, hence a month of no posts from me.

Who does the humble consumer believe in all this?

We've been back to Orange, who now say they'll clear the line in 10 days. BT say that even though Orange has cut us off they can't do anything to help.

When I ask again they say, well, we can send a disk that will give you a narrow band connecion. The disk, when it comes, seems to be for renewing broadband drivers. I load it but can't begin to understand the instructions it gives me.

BT say we could also complain to Ofcom. Easier said than done. Ofcom give you a sort of diagnostic Q and A and then tell you to ring BT wholesale. But BT has already said it can't help for another 10 days.

So, we ought to have our line cleared on January 3, and we might get connected to BT five days from then.

Meantime, no ISP, no help and no idea who is telling the truth. And yet, I am online. I've done it by finding a wireless broadband service that covers my area. I've no idea whose it is, or whether I'm breaking every online law in using it. But it works.

Could this be the future - will we one day have no need of Orange, BT and all the other useless providers of no service whatsoever?

That would be nice. And cheaper.