Escape from TalkTalk - where next?

macman

If you can connect OK by ethernet to one PC and wirelessly to another, then the problem clearly does not lie with the line or TT's equipment-it's with your laptop's wireless hardware (wireless card) or configuration (encryption set-up), neither of which are TT's responsibliity. TT come in for a lot of stick on here, and justifiably so, but they're not obliged to supply support for your own equipment. Have you tested the wireless function on another wireless network (friend or neighbour)?-that is the obvious first step.

NB: bear in mind that if you are already on a TT line that is LLU'd, you can only take your line rental back to BT for 12m free on a return to donor-you cannot go LLU to another LLU directly (except possibly to Sky), you have to go via BT first-and this will mean a break in service of 10-14 days while you provision your new ISP after you have returned to the BT network.

unsure

Macman,
Actually they were offering support to get the conenction up and running just not doing it very well and then came up with the "corrupt network card" line when they couldn't think of anything else. I'm sure you are right that it's something to do with the settings. This is frankly just the last (and probably the least significant) of a long and painful set of problems for which i have not had any helpful response except from the cancellations guy!
I'm not really looking to sort this out any more, I'm looking to go to a new provider who provides rather better support and customer service and actually does things like calling back when they say they will and not leaving you waiting for weeks at a time with an unsolved problem. The lengthy litany of different problems I've had with TT over some time and the number of broken promises and unfulfilled commitments on their part would be too lengthy and too tedious to repeat.

I wouldn't judge a company just by how they deliver minimum standards of service but also how they deal with a customer's problems. My real complaint has been about the difficulty of dealing with customer services over several months and anyone who has tried to get help from TT will tell you it's no fun. I've reached the end of the line with them and that's why I was asking for advice on alternative suppliers not for advice on troubleshooting this issue - which I'm sure helpful MSE'rs would be kind enough to offer if it was requested.

macman

Your experience of TT is repeated almost every day on here. They offer a very cheap LLU service, which is why they have huge market share. Given the huge proportion of their income that is spent on promotional activity, something has to give, and the woeful lack of basic tech support is just one area in which they economise. So, as long as the service works, they're generally OK. But if you have technical issues, or need your hand holding with stuff like setting up a wireless network or entering a wireless encryption code, forget it. You get what you pay for, and in those circumstances you'd do better to ask on here first, or failing that, just get in a local PC engineer who can probably sort out the problem in 30 mins for maybe £25.
My point was that if you switch ISP's then, from what you have said so far, you are going to get exactly the same issue with your laptop.
If you do a exchange search on https://www.samknows.com and post your LLU options, then advice can be given on the best alternative ISP's for you-but bear in mind that you may need to do a return to donor on your line first.

Mr_Oink

Inactive wrote: »

Excellent ISP with a great phone deal = IDNet.

Err NOT. There are a small vocal set of IDNET users who recommend them, but I can tell you I've had HELL with them.

ZEN were mostly OK, but I'd not put your money anywhere near IDNET.

unsure

Macman,
The laptop connection really isn't the problem it's just the latest in a long line of badly-handled issues which all add up to appalling service....but it has at least offered me a way out! I never bought into TT they took over my old ISP, who were not fantastic....until you compare them with TT. I just want a decent service and support and I'm prepared to pay a reasonable amount to get it. I don't usually need much handholding and have managed to set up and troubleshoot internet connections and networks in the past, sometimes with the help of MSE'rs,and I can even manage to enter an encryption code. TT specifically said on the supplied paperwork to call for help with any connection problems which is what I did and I just got more of the same poor support and service I've been getting for months.
I don't disagree with anything you've said...which is why I was looking for recommendations for better ISP. Plusnet who have won several industry awards for customer satisfaction are looking like a good bet at the moment.

Inactive

Mr_Oink wrote: »

Err NOT. There are a small vocal set of IDNET users who recommend them, but I can tell you I've had HELL with them.

ZEN were mostly OK, but I'd not put your money anywhere near IDNET.

I have been with them for over 4 years, I am completely satisfied with their service as are the overwhelming majority of their customers, of course, no ISP can please all of the people all of the time.

Actual user input is quantified here;

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/isp/compare.html

Mr_Oink

Inactive wrote: »

I have been with them for over 4 years, I am completely satisfied with their service as are the overwhelming majority of their customers, of course, no ISP can please all of the people all of the time.

Actual user input is quantified here;

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/isp/compare.html

And I have been with them for nearing a year and have suffered some of the most appalling service known to man with them. I won't retread it here, but it was utterly awful.

What the OP needs to consider is he is looking for good support. IME IDNET currently *don't* offer that. Their helpline is 'free' (0800) but don't bother calling it in the evening or at weekends. Also, don't expect them to know what they are talking about or be truthful.

I don't want to retread it all here as things have been better now for about three months (the first six being the worst broadband experience of my 10 year dsl lifetime) - but I could not possibly recommend them to a poster looking for better quality support than other ISP's provide knowing they are unlikely to get it.

That said, even with my appalling experiences with IDNET I would still recommend them in parallel to ZEN for customers who are at a technical level where they understand DSL well. However, if you are gullible and swallow bulls*** easily, neither of these providers are, in my opinion, ideal for you.

With regard to your 'thinkbroadband' link; When I raised my issue with them on their forum I was consistently attacked by other IDNET customers closely associated with that site (moderators and all) both openly, and in private messages. We came under attack with port scans and brute force attacks and a watermarked email address I had used to register with their forum ended up in the hands of spammers within a few days. Comments I made about the experience I was having with IDNET were removed and it was clear that 'friends of' IDNET pulled the strings there. Therefore I personally don't consider Think Broadband to be accurate, untainted or even useful to UK consumers looking for accurate and unbiased information.

Inactive

I stand by what I said, I have found IDNet to be excellent in the last 4 years that I have been using their service.

As have the overwhelming majority of their customers I am sure.

I do not even post on ThinkBroadband, my link was just to the " compare " section where independent users rate the service of their providers.

Mr_Oink

Inactive wrote: »

I stand by what I said, I have found IDNet to be excellent in the last 4 years that I have been using their service.

And I stand by what I said. I've found them to be bile, incompetent and expensive offering poor support.

Sorry we don't agree, and I wish I shared your experience.

Inactive

Mr_Oink wrote: »

And I stand by what I said. I've found them to be bile, incompetent and expensive offering poor support.

Sorry we don't agree, and I wish I shared your experience.

I am sure the very best ISP cannot please all of the people, all of the time, I do not recall ever seeing anybody else having a bad word to say about IDNet on here.

Whereas, Talk Talk is slated by customers almost on a daily basis for their dire service.

Equally, I am sorry that we do not agree.