Interesting read on Thinkbroadband

Noreen · Jan 21, 2008, 18:15:36

"Tiscali slowly migrating Pipex users to its own platform".
It's amazing that people still sign up for either ISP.

J!ll · Jan 21, 2008, 18:18:35

Rik · Jan 21, 2008, 18:19:37

I saw that last week, Noreen, and issued a silent prayer that I am well out of their clutches.

Niall · Jan 21, 2008, 18:24:32

Quote from: Noreen on Jan 21, 2008, 18:15:36
"Tiscali slowly migrating Pipex users to its own platform".
It's amazing that people still sign up for either ISP.

I still read the Nildram forums on Thinkbroadband and noticed lots of people pointing out they were having DNS problems, then noticed that the "new" servers were all reporting Tiscali networks.

I can't describe how happy I am that I jumped ship in time

Rik · Jan 21, 2008, 18:26:55

You and me both, Niall. I got out because of the heavy hand of Pipex on Nildram, I dread to think what the heavy hand of Tiscali must be like.

Simon · Jan 21, 2008, 18:28:06

A lucky escape for many of us here!

Noreen · Jan 21, 2008, 18:31:32

The same thing is being said on the freedom2support forum re dns, especially as they weren't informed. Nobody at f2s has yet been moved over to Tiscali LLU but they are getting nervous.

Rik · Jan 21, 2008, 18:35:07

The problem is that they may well find they become victims of slamming too.

Sebby · Jan 21, 2008, 21:21:42

Thankfully we have no Pipex accounts. At one point I had three. Now all of them are IDNet.

Lance · Jan 21, 2008, 22:29:00

A wise change to make, sebby!

Sebby · Jan 22, 2008, 19:30:58

Talking of Tiscali...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/22/tiscali_bandwith_problems_ongoing/

It sounds like it couldn't get any worse.

Simon · Jan 22, 2008, 22:10:24

Rik · Jan 23, 2008, 10:44:15

Quote from: Sebby on Jan 22, 2008, 19:30:58
Talking of Tiscali...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/22/tiscali_bandwith_problems_ongoing/

It sounds like it couldn't get any worse.

Don't bet on it, though.

Noreen · Jan 23, 2008, 14:21:48

Quote from: Sebby on Jan 22, 2008, 19:30:58
Talking of Tiscali...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/22/tiscali_bandwith_problems_ongoing/

It sounds like it couldn't get any worse.

Having an effect.

http://www.freedom2support.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9338

Rik · Jan 23, 2008, 14:54:41

I feel sorry for people who are being rail-roaded in this way.

Noreen · Jan 23, 2008, 17:20:43

More Tiscali trouble http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/23/tiscali_pompei_sell_off/

Rik · Jan 23, 2008, 17:22:30

It makes you wonder who would buy Tiscali and why. I can't see it being done to improve the service to customers somehow.

MoHux · Jan 23, 2008, 17:41:22

No other ISP would need to buy it, they are getting the drop-outs already. In large controllable numbers!

Rik · Jan 23, 2008, 17:48:22

Good point, Mo. I note that Tiscali have never made a profit - it leaves you wondering why they've kept going, doesn't it.

Adam · Jan 24, 2008, 20:50:34

It's rather sad that Tiscali have decided to move customers to it's dismal LLU network in an effort to make a profit. It'd be so much easier and better for them to simply raise their prices and bring the network up to scratch, then perhaps they could draw in new customers and retain their existing customers without lengthy contracts.

Sebby · Jan 24, 2008, 22:28:51

I completely agree. Yet they seem to be trying flog broadband for £6.49/month. No wonder they can't make a profit.

Colin Burns · Jan 29, 2008, 09:10:12

True but once your out of that lengthy contract or break your AUP so they will let you leave. They get cleaver and state that you owe them for 1 months broadband and that you shouldn't cancel your Direct debit. What they forget to mention is that they are just going to continue to keep taking funds from your account. then when you stop them and request your money back they send the debt collectors saying that you owe one and a half times the price of your package.

Noreen · Jan 30, 2008, 10:15:48

I saw this post is on the f2support forum this morning, poor man.

"Has anyone tried to get a MAC code recently? I'm just going round in circles here...

I tried emailing the cancel address but never got a reply. So I used the online form and got not reply.

I then tried phoning tech support and was told 'it isn't really their department' but to use the 'cancel service' button in the members area.

I did this and got a message saying I would be contacted to tell me when they could end the service, and to phone if I wanted a MAC code...

I then phoned the number and extension supplied (this time sales) and was told 'it isn't really their department' but to expect an email.

Since then I've had 6 emails giving Pipex id numbers, 3 of which asked for feedback about why I want to leave. I've tried responding but just get confirmation emails with yet more Pipex ids?

Phoning sales this morning I was just told they are very busy and anyway it isn't really their department (arrgghhh!!!), and they couldn't put me through to tech support (who say it isn't their department) so I'd have to phone again and get back in the cue (!) They suggested I wait for an email...

So 10 days on and I've no clue as to when they will cancel the service or give me a MAC code.

My only regret is that I didn't leave a year ago when they still had some form of customer support."

Rik · Jan 30, 2008, 10:23:34

I'd have a letter in the post to the MD, sent by recorded delivery.

Captain K · Feb 02, 2008, 23:55:01

Well, I'm on my way out of Tiscali now, and pleasingly got my MAC code by email 12 hours after I requested it. Only problem was it took me 3 days to get through to a human on the cancellation line - after 30 and 45 minutes in the queue on the previous 2 days I gave up. I have huge sympathy for the folks I'm leaving behind.

Unfortunately, I was on the second page of the sign-up to IDNet tonight when She-Who-Thinks-She-Must-Be-Obeyed pointed out that she has entered hundreds of competitions (a hobby of hers) using the old Tiscali email address, and she needs a month to run these off before I can think about cancelling the old account. After some "negotiation", we agreed 2 weeks. In the littlest of white lies, I told her the MAC code is only valid for 14 days. Think I'm going straight to the very hot place!

Lance · Feb 02, 2008, 23:56:33

Captain K · Feb 03, 2008, 00:05:56

Believe me, the desire to get away from Tiscali can drive someone to desperate measures. Have you ever been in a restaurant and ordered something absolutely fantastic from the menu, and you know its going to to fantastic when it arrives, but you've got 15 minutes to wait before it does, and all you've got in the meantime is a stale roll and some racid butter? That's where I am now.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 00:22:08

The only thing I can say (and I know you know this already) is that it'll be worth the wait.

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 09:39:49

You'll have access to the email for at least 30 days, Bruce, as that's your notice period. So you needn't really wait.

You might like to think about getting a GMail address for the competitions, or you could register your own domain and get an email service from someone like 1&1 for about £8pa - I've moved ISP so many times that it seemed a good idea to me. Then I arrived at IDNet and probably won't moved again...

g7pkf · Feb 03, 2008, 11:28:50

Quote from: Rik on Feb 03, 2008, 09:39:49
You'll have access to the email for at least 30 days, Bruce, as that's your notice period. So you needn't really wait.

You might like to think about getting a GMail address for the competitions, or you could register your own domain and get an email service from someone like 1&1 for about £8pa - I've moved ISP so many times that it seemed a good idea to me. Then I arrived at IDNet and probably won't moved again...

Don't tempt fate.

I think you may jinx things...Just imagine posting an announcement like this..

I have been informed that idnet as of 12:00 today have been taken over by (insert your most hated isp).

now please stop saying things like "Then I arrived at IDNet and probably won't moved again..." youl jinx us all.

just say i am very happy with the level of service i receive.

Simon · Feb 03, 2008, 11:33:04

Always the optimist, eh, Dean?

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 11:33:34

Quote from: g7pkf on Feb 03, 2008, 11:28:50
now please stop saying things like "Then I arrived at IDNet and probably won't moved again..." youl jinx us all.

I appreciate what you're saying. Users arrive at IDNet and can't believe how good the service is. They say they won't move again on the assumption that things will stay the same. I believe they will, but like you suggest, obviously there's no guarantee. It's just a feeling you get.

Ann · Feb 03, 2008, 11:35:15

Quote from: Rik on Feb 03, 2008, 09:39:49
You'll have access to the email for at least 30 days, Bruce, as that's your notice period. So you needn't really wait.

You might like to think about getting a GMail address for the competitions, or you could register your own domain and get an email service from someone like 1&1 for about £8pa - I've moved ISP so many times that it seemed a good idea to me. Then I arrived at IDNet and probably won't moved again...

I use a tiscali email address (sign up as a pay-as-you-go dial up customer) for my rubbish stuff. I've had it for years and years. I tried to keep my own email address clean but it's starting to get spam now.. I don't know who the b****** is who leaked my address. I've also found out that using the tiscali forum dupes them into thinking that you've used their dial up and you get sent their loyalty offers that month. I haven't yet got anything from it but may do some time.

Sebby · Feb 03, 2008, 11:37:14

It's extremely frustrating, Ann. However hard you try, unfortunately the inevitable always happens. A lot of the time I think it's dictionary attacks, but you can never be sure. You can't trust anyway these days.

Gary · Feb 03, 2008, 11:51:16

Quote from: Sebby on Feb 03, 2008, 11:37:14
It's extremely frustrating, Ann. However hard you try, unfortunately the inevitable always happens. A lot of the time I think it's dictionary attacks, but you can never be sure. You can't trust anyway these days.

My old freeserve address was a nightmare in the end for Spam, I have quite a few disposable email addresses now, and Yahoo gives me a few alias (Microsoft hands off

) as you say Sebby you can never trust these days. Most of my spam hell started when a few friends, the ones who go "Oh pop up freebies" and press the damn things got infested, so now I use gmail for them and keep my IDNet ones very hidden.

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 12:03:18

Even the recently introduced forum staff email address has been spammed - nothing is sacred.

madasahatter · Feb 03, 2008, 12:05:58

Don't know if any of you know about this, but I use it a lot:

http://www.mailinator.com/

It's a great service for the things that you have to supply an e-mail address for, but just know that if you do then you're gonna get spam coming out your ears. Saves setting up yet another e-mail account . 8)

Captain K · Feb 03, 2008, 12:11:00

Quote from: Rik on Feb 03, 2008, 09:39:49
You'll have access to the email for at least 30 days, Bruce, as that's your notice period. So you needn't really wait.

The chap at Tiscali told me (from the script of course!) that the email addresses will stop working as soon as the move to the new ISP is complete. I've read somewhere that Tiscali, or Pipex addresses can hang around for months, as its taking them so long to catch up with the cancellations, but I don't think I'll tempt fate. The haul from my wife's competition wins in the last 12 months has been great (business class flights to New York, flights to Australia, whole set of kitchen appliances, to name a few of the big ones

), and I don't want to be responsible for her missing a big one! She's started using a hotmail address now, and reckons 2 weeks will be enough to run off the competitions entered with the old address.

So, I will be along shortly. Just 2 long, long weeks. Of rubbish speeds. Of monstrously high pings. Of iTunes not working. Of port blocking.

Simon · Feb 03, 2008, 12:13:17

Quote from: madasahatter on Feb 03, 2008, 12:05:58
Don't know if any of you know about this, but I use it a lot:

http://www.mailinator.com/

It's a great service for the things that you have to supply an e-mail address for, but just know that if you do then you're gonna get spam coming out your ears. Saves setting up yet another e-mail account . 8)

http://10minutemail.com/ is another useful resource.

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 12:15:29

Quote from: madasahatter on Feb 03, 2008, 12:05:58
Don't know if any of you know about this, but I use it a lot:

http://www.mailinator.com/

It's a great service for the things that you have to supply an e-mail address for, but just know that if you do then you're gonna get spam coming out your ears. Saves setting up yet another e-mail account . 8)

Interesting site. I've used mail.com for years for a similar purpose, before that, I had an account at bigfoot.com. The very first one was at Telecom Gold, £14+ per month, plus data and call charges. Didn't tend to get spam back then.

Rik · Feb 03, 2008, 12:17:01

Quote from: Captain K on Feb 03, 2008, 12:11:00
The chap at Tiscali told me (from the script of course!) that the email addresses will stop working as soon as the move to the new ISP is complete.

That doesn't sound right to me, but you can always arrange for the migration to occur on day 14 with IDNet.

madasahatter · Feb 03, 2008, 12:21:12

Quote from: Captain K on Feb 03, 2008, 12:11:00
The chap at Tiscali told me (from the script of course!) that the email addresses will stop working as soon as the move to the new ISP is complete.

My Tiscali e-mail address ceased a couple of days after moving to IDNet - lucky I'd thought to get everything out that I wanted.

Call me naughty, but I still like to go into their forums every now and then so that I can feel smug at all the people complaining that are stuck with them

Noreen · Feb 03, 2008, 12:21:50

Quote from: Killhippie on Feb 03, 2008, 11:51:16
Yahoo gives me a few alias (Microsoft hands off ) as you say Sebby you can never trust these days. Most of my spam hell started when a few friends, the ones who go "Oh pop up freebies" and press the damn things got infested, so now I use gmail for them and keep my IDNet ones very hidden.

I keep my yahoo.co.uk address for any business type email and also for people that I don't know very well. I do receive some spam on it but it is sorted from my real mail very efficiently by yahoo. My IDNet addresses are reserved for those that I trust and I've never seen any spam with them.

I second your thoughts re MS and yahoo.

Ann · Feb 03, 2008, 12:23:40

Quote from: Captain K on Feb 03, 2008, 12:11:00
The chap at Tiscali told me (from the script of course!) that the email addresses will stop working as soon as the move to the new ISP is complete.

I found that the email address that I made when I signed up with Tiscali to use as a login did stop as soon as I left as they close off the login with your account closure. But an address that you make separately for pay-as-you-go purposes keeps on going regardless.

I just ordered the game Uru from the Tiscali freebies offer.. well it's not really free as they charge £2.99 postage.. ha!