It's a rip-off 50p per minute and I'm in a queue
Discussion
Been having trouble with receiving emails today. My ISP's got a "24 hour telephone helpline". It costs 50p per minute to wait in a queue.
Now you don't have to be terribly bright to realise that the company will generate greater revenues by delivering a poorer service. That can't be right! I reckon I'll be voting with my feet.
Now you don't have to be terribly bright to realise that the company will generate greater revenues by delivering a poorer service. That can't be right! I reckon I'll be voting with my feet.
Most ISPs now charge for tech help calls, albeit at different rates. I am with AOL and they charge a maximum of 7p ish a minute, less in evenings and weekends. Before the cynics start I can't recall the last time I had a problem and had to call them!
However AOL do have message board were users can discuss technical problems and usually get better help than that offered by the tech line! Your ISP might not have such boards but you might want to google for "Isp name email problems" to see what comes up. Someoone somewhere might have the solution!
However AOL do have message board were users can discuss technical problems and usually get better help than that offered by the tech line! Your ISP might not have such boards but you might want to google for "Isp name email problems" to see what comes up. Someoone somewhere might have the solution!
I have a very simple rule - if they advertise on telly, dont go with them, if you hear of them from word of mouth - straight to the top of the pile.
I use Newnet, and have set up 6 accounts with them for friends, family and work, averaged about 99% plus uptime.
On Thursday my parents connection became flakey - phone to newnet must have almost got to the second ring before it was answered, only just though. 2 minutes later, BT had been instructed on the line fault - BT couldn't make it out till monday (weak link as usual) but did find / repair the fault there and then (bloomin squirrel chewed the line!) followed 2 minutes later by a call from newnet to say they understood the problem had been sorted, could we please test through useage and call if there was anything else they could help with!
I must admit though, once they were REALLY busy and I was in a queue for at least 1.5 minutes before I got through (7p min), but of course I could have just hung up and emailled, usually reply within 10 minutes or so to them
I use Newnet, and have set up 6 accounts with them for friends, family and work, averaged about 99% plus uptime.
On Thursday my parents connection became flakey - phone to newnet must have almost got to the second ring before it was answered, only just though. 2 minutes later, BT had been instructed on the line fault - BT couldn't make it out till monday (weak link as usual) but did find / repair the fault there and then (bloomin squirrel chewed the line!) followed 2 minutes later by a call from newnet to say they understood the problem had been sorted, could we please test through useage and call if there was anything else they could help with!
I must admit though, once they were REALLY busy and I was in a queue for at least 1.5 minutes before I got through (7p min), but of course I could have just hung up and emailled, usually reply within 10 minutes or so to them
I've been reading through the endless ICSTIS guidelines on premium rate lines recently (forthcoming business activity :P).
One thing that sticks in mind is that they dont like people being made to wait "excessive" periods of time for premium rate tech support.
A lot of their judgements and terminology are very subjective, but there could be grounds fo a complaint and a refund if you've been made to wait for too long.
Have a quick gander on www.icstis.org and see what they can do for you
One thing that sticks in mind is that they dont like people being made to wait "excessive" periods of time for premium rate tech support.
A lot of their judgements and terminology are very subjective, but there could be grounds fo a complaint and a refund if you've been made to wait for too long.
Have a quick gander on www.icstis.org and see what they can do for you
srebbe64 said:
Been having trouble with receiving emails today. My ISP's got a "24 hour telephone helpline". It costs 50p per minute to wait in a queue.
Now you don't have to be terribly bright to realise that the company will generate greater revenues by delivering a poorer service. That can't be right! I reckon I'll be voting with my feet.
I used to get this with Onetel. email would stop I like many others would duly phone the helpline at 50p per minute, fifteen minutes later I would get told "can't see any problems at this end, try again". Lo and behold email would be working again but I would be pissed of and at least a fiver poorer, At a guess Onetel would be at the very least several thousand of pounds richer. I voted with my feet.
pp
Thats an awefull lot of porn..srebbe64 said:
Been having trouble with receiving emails today. My ISP's got a "24 hour telephone helpline". It costs 50p per minute to wait in a queue.
Now you don't have to be terribly bright to realise that the company will generate greater revenues by delivering a poorer service. That can't be right! I reckon I'll be voting with my feet.
I provide a reasonably priced reliable service for email. No need to change your broadband connection either, although I can recommend a better company than AOL
www.tallbloke.net >> Edited by tallbloke on Tuesday 20th December 19:43
m1spw said:
...However AOL do have message board were users can discuss technical problems...
Thats all fine and well, but if your internet connection is buggered how exactly do you post on the messgae boards?
Well does tend to depend on what the problem is, but the original post here was complaining about email!
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff