Hi all, not sure if this belongs here, but here goes.
I have been using V21 as my ISP for some time now. First dial up and then broadband.
All went well until the hot spell and then, problems. Wrong kind of heat I was told.
Next, a company called biscuit took them over with a request to be patient until all the "gremlins had been removed." Patience is not my middle name, but what the hell. I have had to live with all sorts of sporadic faults and lately, apart from being told my user name and or password were incorrect, things seemed to be improving.
Then, on Wednesday, a page appeared saying there was a dispute between somebody called netservices and v21 and to sign up with Ezee DSL. NO OTHER alternative - broadband dead.
I had a look at what was on offer and did not like what I saw.
Contact numbers given lead to a recorded message, each blaming the other - legal action in progress. Both companies tell you to go online and get further information. HOW??? In the middle of all this, netservices flatly refuse to give up the MAC code.
The only reason I am able to write this, is the fact that V21 are providing a free dial up service until the matter is resolved. The biggest problem is that after about 10 days, if you refuse/neglect to take up the recommended Ezee DSL service, BT will remove the broadband from my line and the whole process will have to begin again, with the resultant costs.
Sorry to bore you all with my "rant" but I feel that this should be a "Public wallet health warning."
Graham
A cautionary tale
Moderators: Guru's, The Ministry
A cautionary tale
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Graham,
With regard to the MAC code, I wouldn't hold out much hope. Looks like Netservices have been there before (checking the web, on several occasions).
From the Ofcom site (my bolding):
1.14 Problems also arise where a broadband supplier fails to provide its customers with a working broadband service, but then does not respond to customers’ requests for MACs. A particularly acute example of the difficulties that consumers can face when they are unable to get MACs was the recent withdrawal of broadband provider E7even from the consumer market. Two of E7even’s wholesale suppliers, Tiscali and Netservices, were unwilling to release E7even’s customers once E7even had terminated their contracts. They instead gave customers a choice: to move to a specific broadband provider to resume service quickly – by signing up to a 12-month contract costing £19.99 per month which was higher than a number of alternative providers – or in all likelihood to have no broadband service for several weeks.
1.15 In this case, Ofcom made it clear to both Tiscali and Netservices that it did not consider it appropriate for wholesale providers to restrict customers’ choice of a new supplier. However, these wholesale providers did not change their course of action, and Ofcom was unable to take formal action to remedy the situation due to the voluntary nature of the MAC process.
What a crock of sh1t - what's the point of Ofcom?
Why not change to another provider? I don't know what you're paying now but look around. I certainly wouldn't go with Netservices after that treatment.
With regard to the MAC code, I wouldn't hold out much hope. Looks like Netservices have been there before (checking the web, on several occasions).
From the Ofcom site (my bolding):
1.14 Problems also arise where a broadband supplier fails to provide its customers with a working broadband service, but then does not respond to customers’ requests for MACs. A particularly acute example of the difficulties that consumers can face when they are unable to get MACs was the recent withdrawal of broadband provider E7even from the consumer market. Two of E7even’s wholesale suppliers, Tiscali and Netservices, were unwilling to release E7even’s customers once E7even had terminated their contracts. They instead gave customers a choice: to move to a specific broadband provider to resume service quickly – by signing up to a 12-month contract costing £19.99 per month which was higher than a number of alternative providers – or in all likelihood to have no broadband service for several weeks.
1.15 In this case, Ofcom made it clear to both Tiscali and Netservices that it did not consider it appropriate for wholesale providers to restrict customers’ choice of a new supplier. However, these wholesale providers did not change their course of action, and Ofcom was unable to take formal action to remedy the situation due to the voluntary nature of the MAC process.
What a crock of sh1t - what's the point of Ofcom?
Why not change to another provider? I don't know what you're paying now but look around. I certainly wouldn't go with Netservices after that treatment.
Thanks for the reply Ian.
As the Bard said, "therein lies the rub."
I did not know that NetServices was supplying V21/Biscuit, and without the MAC code, it would appear that my line is blocked. The original rocxk and the hard place at the minute.
The saving grace at the minute? is that V21 are providing a free dial up service. The big joke of course, is the fact that they offer a migration link, and guess what, one of the first things they ask for is the MAC code.
Graham
As the Bard said, "therein lies the rub."
I did not know that NetServices was supplying V21/Biscuit, and without the MAC code, it would appear that my line is blocked. The original rocxk and the hard place at the minute.
The saving grace at the minute? is that V21 are providing a free dial up service. The big joke of course, is the fact that they offer a migration link, and guess what, one of the first things they ask for is the MAC code.
Graham
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
I think you're best off getting your broadband from a well known supplier. I have had people recommend me some company I havent heard of before becuase of this or that and then find out that they themselves subsequently suffer lots of problems which arent resolved.
Take the mickey as people may do, but I have been with Freeserve/Wanadoo/Orange for years now and apart from a week or so after a bad electrical storm knackered my old BB modem and a few calls to their Indian call centre and another week when I relocated, I have had practically zero downtime in several years and no other cockups.
Take the mickey as people may do, but I have been with Freeserve/Wanadoo/Orange for years now and apart from a week or so after a bad electrical storm knackered my old BB modem and a few calls to their Indian call centre and another week when I relocated, I have had practically zero downtime in several years and no other cockups.
I have to agree with Toby. I cannnot say my supplier (BTInternet) is better or worse than anyone else since I've only been with them (for about 12 years - dialup then broadband). But I have had no reason to change. And since most of the other resellers are just reselling BT facilities, I'm not convinced of the benefits anyway.
But just taking BT as an example, there are no sign up costs (didn't EZ wotsit have an initial fee?) and 8Mb ADSL is what you get (distance from exchange permitting).
And since you seem to be already with BT (via a reseller), how difficult can it be for them to keep the service going, with ot without a MAC code?
But just taking BT as an example, there are no sign up costs (didn't EZ wotsit have an initial fee?) and 8Mb ADSL is what you get (distance from exchange permitting).
And since you seem to be already with BT (via a reseller), how difficult can it be for them to keep the service going, with ot without a MAC code?
I am alreadt in contact with BT and waiting for someone to come back to me. My reference to them was not as a supplier, but a statement from NetServices that my broadband would be discontinued by BT if I did not take up the Ezee Dsl offer. No other choice was offered.
The Ezee DSL had have an administratio charge of £45.00 I believe.
Thanks for the replies chaps. I will just have to wait and see what develops and keep chucking another bucket of coal on the dial up in the meantime. At least I can get on line and avoid total withdrawal symptoms.
Graham
The Ezee DSL had have an administratio charge of £45.00 I believe.
Thanks for the replies chaps. I will just have to wait and see what develops and keep chucking another bucket of coal on the dial up in the meantime. At least I can get on line and avoid total withdrawal symptoms.
Graham
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
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speedbird591
- Battle of Britain
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I'm with Ian on this. I've been with BT for a very long time purely because they were one of the first and that I had a BT phone contract. I think I pay over the odds as BT only seems to offer better and cheaper services under competition pressure. On the other hand, I've only had two relatively minor problems - sorted out quickly and efficiently.
It's probably naive to think this but I feel that as BT own and run the BB infrastucture (through Openreach) it must be easier to deal with them direct rather than via a less experienced middle-man.
I'm waiting to see how the new Sky BB performs, but it will have to be a very good deal to persuade me to move from the security of BT even at the cost premium.
Ian
It's probably naive to think this but I feel that as BT own and run the BB infrastucture (through Openreach) it must be easier to deal with them direct rather than via a less experienced middle-man.
I'm waiting to see how the new Sky BB performs, but it will have to be a very good deal to persuade me to move from the security of BT even at the cost premium.
Ian
