Gawd!! The ISP Crusader strikes again!! :wink:
In principal, I agree with what you are saying, Lona. Personally, I am quite happy to pay a relatively small amount in order to 'queue jump', if I am at liberty to do so, and the decision is my own. I can't see their argument that it's more difficult to regrade than to set up a new customer. Surely it's easier if the BT line has already been enabled for ADSL, whatever the speed? That seems a bit of a cop out to me.
As far as leaving and rejoining, that might be more hassle than it's worth, but if you decide to go through with it, you'll want to make doubly certain that the ISP you join in the interim has a good migration procedure, a mimimum contract term of no more than one month, and doesn't charge for migration. You may find that by the time you've done all that, Pipex may have upgraded you for free anyway! Did you actually ask them what the timescale is for free upgrades to existing customers?
Just one other thing - I don't understand why you didn't get the free modem and set up when you joined, as I thought that was an ongoing offer. :?