h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm planning to change my ISP sometime soon. What's the best thing to do about my email? My current ISP has a 'Pay-As-You-Go' service, as well as the 'Anytime' service I'm using. Would it be best to transfer to this until I've notified everybody of my change of email, or is there some way of getting my emails diverted? I've investigated both my current ISP and the one I'm thinking of signing up with. Neither gave any help with this on their website.

There's not I'm afraid. The only solution is when you've got your new email address, send out a "my email address has changed" email to everyone in your address book. That way it's everyone elses problem.

Email divert services cost a bomb, are aimed at big businesses with their own domain and it's a right pig to manage all the MX records for it.

You should be able to download the old ISPs emails as well as the new ones, depending on what your email software is like. I've always done this - you probably won't be able to send from that address unless you dial back into the old ISP, but at least you won't lose any emails, and it gives you time to make sure you haven't forgotten any wanted but infrequent newsletters or friends.