[popolopolous]

On the 31st of December we turned on the computer, to find the Internet not working. We restarted the router, waited a bit but to no avail. So we called our ISP, BBNet, and were told that they had been bought out and had to cancel all ADSL plans, and that we should call EFTel to discuss our account as we were being transferred to them. After calling EFTel's accounts number we were told that they were completing the transfer now, and that we should be connected that afternoon.

Three days later we still have no connection, and have scrounged up a dial-up connection to Dad's VPN at work, and only have Internet on his computer. After spending an hour and a half on hold to EFTel we sent an email to them, saying that the service was appalling and that if no resolution was arrived at we would switch to Internode. We received this email in return:

Quote

Hi, thanks for your email.

BBNET gave us a list of customer who were with them. If you had broadband via your phone line and they gave us your name and number to call, then the 4 sales reps who were in charge of calling the customers did try and call the customers and get the information needed to convert to Eftel.

It seems that there have been a few that were not contracted for various reasons. As of the 31st of December, any customer that was not contracted lost the codes for broadband, hence not having any at this time.

Though we would love to see you stay a customer, we also understand that we can not spend your money. If you wish to go to Internode at this time, you have the freedom to do so.

If you wish to connect with us, please feel free to call.

Best wishes

Michael Giannotti

How pathetic can you get. The fact that the transfer wasn't completed isn't the worst part, it's the weak excuses and the complete inability to answer our calls and tell us useful information that's the bad part. Anyway, we should have Internode by next week and then I can TF2 with you every day with no download counting

Anyone else had bad experiences with ISPs?

[trin]

iiNet gave us a bit of sh!t when we wanted to go to Soul. We had a month with no internet basiclly because iiNet would say that its Telstra's problem for the line but then not even do anything to start the transfer and---long story short. iiNet sucks if your not in SA.

[MLTZER]

im in VIc and have been with iinet for the best bit of 3 years.... never had an issue

[LordZod]

Apart from one time when apparently rain causes your internet to fail, had no problems with Telstra.

And popo, that sounds rather pathetic on their behalf- good luck with your new ISP!

[Etak]

I don't like how expensive internet is. And how far behind Australia is in terms of technology.

[VOOK]

I've only ever been with two, Starwon (small dial up company, who got bought out, again and again eventually went to sh!t) but then we switched to TPG and haven't had a problem at all.

But being in IT and working with the internet I hear horror stories. I only have two 100% avoidence recommendations - Telstra and "Naked ADSL". Both are evil.

[trin]

Yeah Telesta is the sporn of the devil- have you seen their 3G prices :/
The government should buy back the inferstructure so its fair comepition.
Anyway I've been with loads, but I dobut any are as good as what they were when I was with them. For example iPrimus back in the day for Dial-UP.

[Obscurus]

Etak, on Jan 2 2009, 05:20 PM, said:

I don't like how expensive internet is. And how far behind Australia is in terms of technology.

Massively this.

I was with iiNet for ages, but when we moved we couldent get ADSL2+ in our house. So we looked around, and there was only 2 services that said we could get connection, Amnet or that one with the pyrimid as a symbol. So we went with Amnet, because it was cheeper. But it dies constantly, and is in general, slower then it should be.

It shits me to no end that every time we used to call iiNet, they'd palm our problem off to Testra. We never got anything solved.

[popolopolous]

Well our Internet should be connected by mid next week, so looking forward to it, specially the 10GB cap PLUS not having TF2-ing or Steam downloads counted.

Shortly after being told we were being transferred to EFTel we jumped on their website to compare prices. Whereas before we had to pay a ridiculous $45 a month for 512k and a 2GB cap (with shaping afterwards), EFTel charge $50 a month for same speed/cap, except after that they charge excess (7c a MB, which is equivalent to $70 a GB!) up to $50, THEN you get shaped. And they don't send any emails telling you about this either. So we pretty much HAD to change ISPs, and considering Internode does 1500k/10GB for $50... well yeah.

[LordZod]

Telstra is good... when you don't have to pay for it

In terms of their customer service... could be worse- I personally have had no issues with them (apart from the aforementioned "Rain causes internet to die), but I'm sure many have. I can only comment on my experiences though...

[Excite]

MLTZER, on Jan 2 2009, 06:46 PM, said:

im in VIc and have been with iinet for the best bit of 3 years.... never had an issue

Yeah, I live in NSW and I've never had troubles with iiNet either

[Nibbler]

Obscurus, on Jan 2 2009, 04:50 PM, said:

It shits me to no end that every time we used to call iiNet, they'd palm our problem off to Testra.

Was your phone with Telstra or was both the ADSL and Phone with iiNet?

Regardless, iiNet doesnt have its own techs, if there is a problem that requires a tech visit a Telstra tech in most cases will go out to the site to fix the problem as iiNet runs off the Telstra network. Also why a Telstra tech? well they dont want other ISPs or providers touchy touchy their equipment so faults are lodged through the Wholesaler (Telstra) and they carry out the work.



Naked DSL is a specific product. Its more for people who never use their phone line, there are downsides to it like Alarm systems, Faxes etc that use the Landline will wont work. However there are fax/alarm systems that have been know to work through VOIP.

Its all in regards to your needs.
Also if your connection has a problem, your Voip that you would use to make calls wont work either, so your left with making calls to Support on a Mobile. Tho plus side of it, no line rental, ADSL2+ connection, decent download quotas and a VOIP service that has free local/national calls.

Thats things to consider before going into it.


This thread is rather like that Whingpool.

[playa271]

By the title, it should be ISPs that fail. not the net >.>

[flamecondor]

VOOK, on Jan 2 2009, 05:28 PM, said:

But being in IT and working with the internet I hear horror stories. I only have two 100% avoidence recommendations - Telstra and "Naked ADSL". Both are evil.

Hell I work for Telstra and even I would say stay the hell away from them. I'm soo glad I don't have anything to do with Big Pond, it seems like way to much BS to put up with.

[Nibbler]

Bigponds billing system is retarded, when we were with them the bills we received were always wrong, then one month they were charging us for an ADSL2+ service that we cant get. (Damn RIM).
Their call queues are really high and im glad we changed to iiNet. (Mmm Staff discount )

[MLTZER]

LordZod, on Jan 2 2009, 06:56 PM, said:

Apart from one time when apparently rain causes your internet to fail, had no problems with Telstra.

dude you remember that? that was ages ago... but no that had nothing to do with iinet, it was Telstras hardware that was getting wet

[Nibbler]

MLTZER, on Jan 2 2009, 07:21 PM, said:

dude you remember that? that was ages ago... but no that had nothing to do with iinet, it was Telstras hardware that was getting wet

Thats water getting into the Pit and not very well insulated cables getting wet.
Thank the tech who did the cabling for that.

[railspider]

VOOK, on Jan 2 2009, 07:28 PM, said:

I've only ever been with two, Starwon (small dial up company, who got bought out, again and again eventually went to sh!t) but then we switched to TPG and haven't had a problem at all.

But being in IT and working with the internet I hear horror stories. I only have two 100% avoidence recommendations - Telstra and "Naked ADSL". Both are evil.

Oh, what's so bad about Naked ADSL? I was actually just considering it today and planned to ring up about it next week. It works out cheaper for us as we only have a phone in our house so we can use the internet - don't make or receive calls on it. I assumed Naked would work exactly the same?

[/\nthony]

Internode is a great choice. Ill only ever change ISP when the first one to offer ADSL2 in my area crops up. Everything from their game servers, radio stations, customer service, speeds, billing, its all the way it should be.

[Tom The Bomb]

Internode is the best, anyone can tell you that. >_>

[karnophage]

I have naked DSL and it's fantastic. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but it suits our purposes fine. No line rental, no phone charges, its great. And I've never had any sort of problems at all with dropouts or whatever.

[ENKC]

I remain unsure what naked DSL is particularly. I am however in favour of nakedness where the internet is concerned.

[PlasmaDavid]

ADSL hogging the whole phoneline, so you can't also run a normal telephone. Good speedz and shite though.

[Tom The Bomb]

isnt it cheaper too?

its basically if you dont want a phone. so its a good thing.

[karnophage]

No difference to ADSL speeds. Its just a phone line without call codes/frequencies. Which means no line rental. It also means you can't just plug a phone in the wall and make a call. But I never did that anyway, so no biggie.