Broadband. Who's the Cheapest? Article Discussion Area

rockclimber_2

i've just connected to madasafishmax broadband with there talk free pakage.
so far all has gone v smoothly no problems everything happend as it said it would. i can only get 4mb speed (not the 8mb). the only thing they whack you for is packing and postage of the free router, the thick end of £6. thanks mse for the ref.

ginger_nuts

After the fast4/v21 shambles I have connected to Primus broadband today.
I still have a few problems sending emails but if I cant sort it I know I can phone primus for FREE.My mate has been using primus for a few months with no problems.

Jo4

theloft wrote:

Jo4 - I think you have just been unlucky !! I have been with them since June and not a blink !! I suggest you call them on the freephone and ask to speak to the Duty Manager and explain your problems to him. You might get sorted out quicker that way.

At last, my broadband is active today. :j

shaz2

I want to add my voice to the number of people unhappy with this service. Martin please post a warning when recommending them in his article.

When I signed up for the service at a Carphone Warehouse shop, I was told I would be set up in a month. I cancelled my existing ISP to avoid paying double, but it took TT two months - which left me having to visit internet cafes for a month.

More frustratingly, they got my name wrong despite me signing up with, obviously, my correct name. This meant I had trouble actually collecting my modem from the post office - luckily I was able to confirm what was in the package - the man there looked inside and gave it to me! Even he said at the time that TalkTalk are known to be rubbish!

It also means that despite having set up two direct debits, they can't claim the money because they don't have my correct name! I have called them a number of times over the last few months and been assured that my name will be changed, but it still hasn't been! I called just this morning and was told there are no notes on the account regarding this! Apparently I was speaking to the most senior person in the department, which I find hard to believe. He would not give me any account info (ie why they could not tell me why they weren't claiming the direct debit or the notes he made today) becuase I am not the account holder! This is despite me paying the amount owed by card.

I have a mobile phone account with CW in my correct name but they cannot cross-reference the information!

Nor did this man tell me how exactly I was to change the account name. I will be writing to them but this is SO frustrating...

Zebbie_2

Zebbie wrote:

I am a novice to the chat board and haven't read all of the broadband threads but would just like to flag up. I think pipex is pants! I was with them three years ago and got fed up of the poor service then and decided to move to Homecall. Pipex have since take Homecall over so I am now with them again. I am a uni student and was waiting for my student finance to come through and missed making a payment so the put a stop on my phone line and broadband connection. Since I paid the bill over a month ago I've been reconnected on my phone line but cannot get onto the internet. I've reported this to them and they have said everything looks fine from their end so haven't done anything about it. I've also asked seven times for my MAC code as I want to move suppliers but although they keep promissing to send it by post I haven't yet received it.

Anyone else had trouble with them?

Just an update from my first post, I still haven't been able to get my MAC code from Pipex dispite many more attempts and still can't access the internet from home. Am having to access my e-mails from uni whenever I have the time. Has anyone any advice about getting companies to cough up a migration code without all this delay. It's causing me real problems. Help!

daymo

Gingertom wrote:

Only from experience...that I was forever picking up viruses... my daughter who does use IE and OE still has her confuzer in the local shop half a dozen times a year to be debugged.
Using Firefox or Opera I NEVER get any problems
I have been told IE7 is very good but I'll stick with what I am happy with.
For Email....Fastmail.com is superb. I never see any junk mail, only get mail I ask for...no cold calling !!!!!

Mozilla who do Firefox also do Thunderbird, which is alot like Outlook Express but with junk filters,whilst I have had problems with accessing certain sites with Firefox,Thunderbird has worked like a dream.............

Mike_by_the_Sea

Zebbie wrote:

Just an update from my first post, I still haven't been able to get my MAC code from Pipex dispite many more attempts and still can't access the internet from home. Am having to access my e-mails from uni whenever I have the time. Has anyone any advice about getting companies to cough up a migration code without all this delay. It's causing me real problems. Help!

Hi Zebbie

It sounds like they are giving you a real run-around. I would suggest that you contact Pipex customer services again and tell them that you are going to complain to ISPA or OFCOM regarding their non-supply of a MAC code. They are a member of both.

Extracts from Pipex Broadband Terms and Conditions.....

If you are in conversation with our Technical or Customer Service Teams your first course of action should be to ask to speak to a Team Manager, who will try to resolve your query there and then. If a Team Manager is unavailable, arrangements will be made for one to call you at the earliest opportunity.

In the event you remain dissatisfied with the solution or explanation offered we request you raise a formal complaint by writing to us, either by email to:

customercare@pipex.net

As a responsible company Pipex follows the guidelines of the UK Communications Industry regulator OFCOM. Pipex is also a member of the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) and abides by their Code of Practice as well. Please visit their site for more information.

If this doesn't do the trick, the links are:

ISPA - The link is http://www.ispa.org.uk/home/

OFCOM - The link is http://www.ofcom.org.uk/

For information, the extract from OFCOM is below

Migration Process
The process works by means of a migration authorisation code (“MAC”) which customers obtain from their existing provider and give to the new provider they have chosen. Customers need to follow three steps:

A customer wishing to change their service provider must first contact their existing service provider and request a MAC (customers should not request the service be ceased)

The existing service provider will send the MAC to the customer within 5 working days. The MAC is valid for a period of 30 days from the date that it is issued.

The customer must then present the MAC to the provider they wish to migrate to. The gaining provider will then process the request and inform the customer of the transfer date.

Good luck

Mike

Jo4

How do you know if your ip address is the same all the time or whether it changes, as previously stated I am with Primus, in case this makes a difference? When I was reading another thread on these boards it seems like it is better to have an ip address that changes. SORRY but I obviously haven't got a clue about these things but I suppose we all have to learn.

BexTech

http://whatismyipaddress.com will display your IP address, there are other ways too, but it's easy enough to click on a link.

Depending on your use of the internet, some prefer a static IP address, others prefer ones that change often.

Art_2

Jo4 wrote:

How do you know if your ip address is the same all the time or whether it changes, as previously stated I am with Primus, in case this makes a difference? When I was reading another thread on these boards it seems like it is better to have an ip address that changes. SORRY but I obviously haven't got a clue about these things but I suppose we all have to learn.

You will have a static or a dynamic IP address allocated by your ISP. The static one remains the same whereas the dynamic one changes each time you sign on.

If you are only browsing and emailing it really doesn´t matter but if you are in to having your own website etc a static one is needed.

Regards,
Art.