Broadband - superhighway or dead end
14-May-2008
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Broadband - superhighway or dead end

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I've used the internet now for a number of years both at home and at work and have been waiting for the day when I can have an 'always on' high speed link at home at a relatively low cost.

Broadband, ADSL, Cable Modems
High speed Internet access for all

The choice of this type of service is fairly slim and most people will be limited to either ADSL or Cable modems.  British Telecom remains the major provider for ADSL and NTL are responsible for most cable modem installations in the UK.  Whilst this is all very well if you live in a major city or densely populated area, many of us who live in rural parts do not have as many options available to us if any at all.

I first signed up for ADSL with British Telecom nearly two years ago when they first announced openworld and at the same time indicated interest in cable modems with NTL.  Since then I have had no joy in obtaining either and currently use BT Internet as my service provider with a basic 56K modem.  Although this is acceptable for occasional usage I would really like to be able to work from home, download software and generally use the Internet in a more productive manner.

My gripe is not with the actual service that these companies provide, rather with the poor coverage of the country and extremely slow rollout that we are currently facing.  In a recent conversation with NTL when I finally got through their telephone exchange to speak to a real person, I was told that there was a problem in my area and I would not be able to receive digital services yet.  This was 5 weeks after I originally placed my order and was told by the sales person that someone would contact me within the next few days to arrange the installation. Is broadband getting there?
Waiting for high speed Internet access

Friends who have either ADSL or cable modems assure me that it is well worthwhile and makes a big difference when surfing and downloading files.  I now wait with baited breath to find out when I can join this exclusive club and whether it will be BT or NTL that win the race.

Getting into the fast lane

BT openworld
There's plenty of information about BT's OpenWorld service on their website and there's even an availability checker there to tell you can't get it.

NTL
Check out what NTL have to say about their cable modems.

Campaign for Rural Broadband
This is an interesting and well laid out site that highlights the problems faced by potential customers that live in rural areas. .

Broadband News
This site is dedicated to all things broadband and has lots of information about service providers as well as an email newsletter and opinion poll.


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I have recently encountered broadband troubles and after 2 hours talking to their so called support, the best I got was that I had a problem with my hardware - all 3 pieces (2 laptops and an IPOD). Strangely, these were miraculously OK when I connected to other wifi hotspots. Eventually I gave up and called the cancel service number, whereupon I was quickly offered a new hub! BT has no kind of after sales support and I would not recommend them as a first choice supplier!
*Unhappy  08-May-2008 14:06

 
I took out a BT broadband package in February - the delivery of the service can only be described as ' Broadband at dial up speeds' They did send an engineer out who disconnected all the telephone socket axcept the main one and then said that there was nothing they can do 'it's the computer' . I am getting a new machine at the end of the month. If this is not the problem then I will refuse to pay BT any more money until it is sorted.
*Steve c  08-May-2008 08:14

 
I Hate Tiscali
I changed my package to get my phone line and broadband with Tiscali, for 3 weeks I had no broadband or house phone, and every call that I made to Tiscali was by mobile phone. When the problem was sorted I was told I would get a discount due to the fact that I had only recieved a weeks worth of service before it went dead again. I paid the full £28 then I decided to cancel after I experianced more problems. I was told that I couldn't cancel and in order for me to justify my cancellation I should have made a compliant 28 times about an issue, and that I was still going to be charged for a service that I didn't get! According to Tiscali I have only made one phone call and that was an enquiry about changing my package, I have proof on my mobile phone bill that I called then 18 times over a period of 3 weeks. That really sucks and if they think they are sending me a bill, well we all know what they can do with it............ Tiscali can ask for it 28 times!
*I am so mad  05-May-2008 17:40

 
I also upgraded to Tiscali talk anytime package in January 2008. They advertised a waiver of the £30 set up fee as a Christmas present. As you might expect they then charged me a set up fee. I refused to pay. After numerous e-mails and letters they finally arranged a credit and I then settled the outstanding bills. A few days later they suspended my telephone account and I am now not able to make any calls. Their High Level Complaints team is just as useless as the rest of their incompetent organisation. I can't wait to change to a reliable ISP (if there are any).
*Noel (Preston)  05-May-2008 15:34

 
I have just had a silly few months with Id-net. They are wonderful when it comes to customer service but not dedicated sufficiently to pin point a simple issue within the opening ten days of my custom. This problem now identified several months down the line is simply the factthat my line does not support the speeds that I am paying for and I may well have stayed with dial-up! Humpf
Gone are the days of good old British hard work and ingenuity.
Can someone recommend someone who is good PLEEEEEASE.
*Deborah  02-May-2008 13:20

 
BIG PROBLEMS!!!
Trying to shop with Teso on BT Broadband!!!!!!
Neither of the Numpties at Tescos (scotttish call centre) or BT Broadband (indian call centre who have no idea what Tescos iare at all! -they do not know what they sell)
We cannot shop on Tescoa site but can on Sainsburys so Justin King gets our money instead of Sir Terry!
Tescoa - your service and advice is very poor, you have just lost 3 customers in 50 inutes -
NICE JOB
*Tescoswebsitecrap  01-May-2008 21:46

 
I ask tiscali to upgrade my line and switch me to their free calls/ line rental package on 3/4/08.
I lost all access to the internet from then.only after calling every night to "tech support" then finding head office complaints line did I get a temp ""dialup"" access!!!
One month on they still are unable to repair fault in local exchange.What is worse every other day a call from them asks if everything is now working ok? They are a complete shower! No one seems able to deal with this.I must have spoken to 10 different operators in India and 3/4 in the uk.After 10 years as a customer I feel let down by this complete lack of customer service.If anyone is thinking of moving ISP's DON'T USE TISCALI.
*Mr FIXIT  01-May-2008 16:58

 
I am using Orange broadband, helpdesk is hopeless.They have charged me for free calls and now they are unable to deal with this by email, I have to write them a letter. An Internet provider unable to deal with emal queries.
*ark  30-Apr-2008 14:53

 
My Broadband is totally unreliable and drops off on a regular basis, many times per day, and if I try customer services I find customer service is non-existant. My supplier is BT and I wonder if any of the others are better or will I have the same problems with any supplier because the network (lines and exchanges) are antiquated and not up to the task in hand.
In all I find Broadband a very usefull but totally unreliable tool.
Tony.
*Tony Morris.  29-Apr-2008 21:44

 
My broadband connection was getting slower and slower and was often disconnecting for hours at a time. After numerous calls to helplines was persuaded to upgrade (thats a joke) to a Home Hub and a faster service. Since then I havent been able to connect at all. That was three weeks ago. Three visits from engineers later, still no connection. No green broadband light on the hub has ever appeared. I now have three hubs...... Trying a Netgear router, the green light is on and the computer tells me I'm connected to broadband but I still can't connect to any websites.........
*Karen (seriously p***** off in Surrey)  29-Apr-2008 15:52

 
I was pestered by Tiscali to 'upgrade' to their phone/8 mps broadband package from my straight 2 mps service . Ok it was the same price. They quickly changed the BT line rental but have done nothing to upgrade the line speed. All attempts to get it resolved have proved fruitless. Even their escalation process is met with stoney silence. Letters to the Service Manager and General Manager completely ignored. Use this ISP with caution. Do your research and find an ISP who will respond to queries/complaints. Tiscali will most certainly prove to be absolutely useless.
*23dom  28-Apr-2008 15:45

 
On a lighter note I also lost the ability to use my phone,no dial tone and if ringing in allways engaged I was lucky my internet still worked, after a week of trying to get some response from tiscali using my mobile I got an email stating, We are unable to contact you on your home phone. da
*Marty  27-Apr-2008 11:14


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