PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Broadband, Networking, PC Security, Internet & ISPs => Topic started by: Delgado on May 11, 2007, 10:05
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I recall a few people that are thinking of switching from Pipex Broadband. I think Simon was one.
This makes interesting reading.
http://www.webuser.co.uk/news/118757.html?aff=newsletter
Maybe you should think again!
;D
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However, the IPI report does not take customer service issues such as technical support into account.
I think that's the area they fall down on more than anything Delgado which happens to mostly all the ISP's that grow too quickly as they don't tend to increase their staff in proportion.
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At the moment, I have to admit, the service is 99% faultless, and this makes it seem reckless to move for the sake of it, ensuing all the drama that comes with switching broadband providers. However, I am concerned about who will eventually take over Pipex, and what impact any changes may have on customers, particularly as Pipex themselves probably wouldn't bother to tell us.
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I've switched to Zen. Eclipse was OK but their email service was crap.
dunno how long I will last with Zen as it's 20gig max download.
I have used 20% already and only been with them for a week.
There customer service is excellent and the speed is great but I dunno if I can survive on 20gig download.
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Anything must be better than Bulldog. The actual connection is good, but the Customer Service is appalling. I should think that their staff come from the local looney bin!
Im switching to Pipex again soon, as I have Pipex Homecall for my phone, which gives me free calls to anywhere in UK for £24-50 a month which includes landline rent. I can add Pipex Broadband to this pasckage for £6 per month.
;D
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I've switched to Zen. Eclipse was OK but their email service was crap.
dunno how long I will last with Zen as it's 20gig max download.
I have used 20% already and only been with them for a week.
There customer service is excellent and the speed is great but I dunno if I can survive on 20gig download.
Is that from downloading movies, Lona? What's the general speed like, and is it better or worse at peak times? As for as I know, it's not just downloads that count towards the 20Gb limit, but web surfing and emails too. How much of the quota you have used, do you think is from specific downloads?
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I have heard only good things about Zen.
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Is that from downloading movies, Lona? What's the general speed like, and is it better or worse at peak times? As for as I know, it's not just downloads that count towards the 20Gb limit, but web surfing and emails too. How much of the quota you have used, do you think is from specific downloads?
I haven't been downloading many movies, Simon. I think only one since I joined ZEN but then you never can tell what my son is downloading, although I have warned him I will be keeping my beady eye on my allocation. Zen have a customers portal that you can check your download for the move. At present I am sitting at 58% but May has nearly gone.
I have a much better speed so far 6mb but it can be a bit slower at week-ends. Max I ever got with Eclipse was 4.5mb.
It's early days yet but so far so good and at least their email server doesn't keep crashing.
One good thing about Eclipse was no restrictions after 10pm at night till 8am in the mornings but speed was never consistant. I would still not knock Eclipse. I simply changed because I was fed up with the mail server always breaking down.
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Anything must be better than Bulldog. The actual connection is good, but the Customer Service is appalling. I should think that their staff come from the local looney bin!
Im switching to Pipex again soon, as I have Pipex Homecall for my phone, which gives me free calls to anywhere in UK for £24-50 a month which includes landline rent. I can add Pipex Broadband to this pasckage for £6 per month.
;D
Further to my post above-what a nightmare this has been!!
I received my modem and installation kit with a letter dated 18th May telling me I would be advised of my connection date. In the same post was a letter telling me my connection date was 25th May. I thought this was looking promising; how wrong can you be!
Upon installing the software and modem, my PC flashed up a message that the hardware was faulty. I disconnected the modem and attempted to uninstall the software. The software appeared to be corrupt and wouldnt uninstall. After several attempts, i had to give up and use system restore to get rid of the bloody corrupt software.
I then put the connection details and password into my router on the 25th May, and couldnt connect. To cut a long story short, I have been phoning every day until yesterday trying to connect. The people are blaming Tiscal now, saying that Tiscali are the carriers of Pipex broadband, and they dont know why I cant connect.
Yesterday, after being offline for days, I put back my old details from Bulldog, and found I was still connected to Bulldog!!
Needless to say I have contacted Bulldog, who tell me the Mac Code hasent been used yet, and Im still a customer of theirs!!!
Ive decided to stay with Bulldog, and sent an e-mail to Pipex, telling them what they can do with their broadband-better the devil you know.
I am now waiting to see what happens next-are all Internet Service Providers scouring the Lunatic Assylums for staff??
:crazy: :crazy:
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its a common story now.. the reason I dont want to move from telewest (sorry virgin).. they always have good staff - maybe not on the phone I recently had fun with an indian (trying to explain I was using a custom built linux router was not fun!)... but when the chap came round he fixed it in 5 minutes... not bad.
I hope everything works out well... I had an awful time writing letters to orange for my uncle in a similar situation, I think in the end I confused their accounts department with b******t terminology and when I threatened legal action all of a sudden his connection worked....hmmm
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I thought there was new legislation in place to make it easier to switch broadband providers, but it obviously doesn't legislate against having muppets running the ISPs. DG, can I infer from what you said, that Pipex now belong to Tiscali? God help us all! I am due to start considering whether to switch from Pipex in the next couple of months, but at the moment, although the company is detestable, and customer service is appalling, changing providers seems akin to trying to poke butter up a pigs arse, with a porcupine needle, so I'm thinking it might be less hassle to stay where I am.
This really shouldn't be the case though - it should be easy to use whichever broadband service one wants to, and quite clearly, the legislation of Feb 2007 doesn't go far enough to support the consumers right to free choice of service.
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Hi Simon,
I dont know whether Pipex is owned by Tiscali.
A woman in Customer Service (I use the term lightly) said that Tiscali were the carriers of Pipex Broadband.
Im beginning to think that although pricey the best option might be BT, after all they own the lines.
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My move to Eclipse from Pipex was painless and also my move from Eclipse to Zen was very fast and no problems either.
I'm working my way through them all. ;)
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My move to Eclipse from Pipex was painless and also my move from Eclipse to Zen was very fast and no problems either.
Well, they wouldn't dare mess you about, Lona! ;) ;D
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My move to Eclipse from Pipex was painless and also my move from Eclipse to Zen was very fast and no problems either.
I'm working my way through them all. ;)
I guess your just one of the lucky ones-try moving back to Pipex, and see what happens!!!
:laugh:
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I guess your just one of the lucky ones-try moving back to Pipex, and see what happens!!!
:laugh:
I would never move back to Pipex on principal supposing the were the best on the net. They way they treated their loyal customers was appalling
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changing providers seems akin to trying to poke butter up a pigs arse, with a porcupine needle,
:lol:
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Just an update to this saga-
Having spoken to a guy in the cancellation dept of Pipex, who was most helpful might I add, I have reached a deal with Pipex.
As the reason for my changing was purely price, and my connection with Bulldog has been very solid for 12 months, they suggested I keep my phone package with Pipex, which I have also been happy with, and stay with Bulldog for broadband, and Pipex will apply a running credit on my account of £18 a month which will then result in my total cost of £29-99 for phone and broadband which I wanted in the first place! Bulldog is also owned by Pipex.
It would appear that Tiscali are having problems with BT about connections.
I have the guys name and extension, so if it goes tits up I will be back!!
:crazy: :crazy:
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well done mate... you were lucky, sounds like you got through to the only competent person that they have on staff!
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Yes, you must have got the zoo keeper, rather than one of the monkeys.
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News item.
PIPEX may be broken up after the planned auction of the whole broadband business fell into disarray.
Originally BSkyB , Virgin Media, BT and The Carphone Warehouse were all said to be keen to pay as much as £470 million for Pipex, chaired by Peter Dubens.
But bidders vanished amid concerns about the valuation. Pipex's market value was £320 million on Friday.
The Carphone Warehouse last week said it was not interested in a deal, but with the price of the group's broadband subscribers alone collapsing to perhaps £100 million BT may once again consider acquiring Pipex's customers. Pipex said in December that it had 570,000 broadband subscribers and about one million phone customers, but analysts were concerned when results published this month did not provide an updated figure.
Pipex refused to comment.
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Pipex refused to comment.
No surprise there. >:(
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Well, here we are again. As expected its all gone "TITS UP"
Still being charged the same price as before! When I phone up, I either cant get put through to the guy who I had before, or whoever I talk to dont seem to know who he is!!!
I have had numerous businesses in my life (Im now over 60) and I have never come across a company that is so poorly run. They promise to phone you back-never do! They dont answer e-mails! What the hell do they think they are running, a childs kindergarten!!!
I am sick to death of this company, and have e-mailed them and told them to cancel all dealings with them, and I will also move my phone business elsewhere!!!
Im looking for a broadband package with phone for about £30, anyone have any ideas?
I looked at Virgin Media, and as I dont have access to cable, found they also do a non cable package through your existing line, for about £20, but I dont know whether you have to pay BT for the line on top. Anyone here know much about Virgin?
There is also a package from Tiscali for about the same price, which includes a free line rent.
I want uncapped also.
Message for Pipex- :bartmoon:
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I can't offer any personal recommendations, as I have only ever used Pipex, but I would say that Tiscali have had their share of criticisms too, and regularly used to come first in the top 10 of most complained about providers on www.ispreview.co.uk. Can't say if the situation has improved.
My cousin has been using http://www.plus.net/ for years, on dial up and had now upgraded to broadband. I have had occasion to ring them on her behalf, and they have always answered the phone fairly quickly, and seem to have good knowledge of the system. They offer a wide variety of packages, including with phone, and I wouldn't hesitate to suggest you at least click the above link, and check them out for yourself, DG.
Best of luck! :)
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Thanks Simon-will look into this.
;D
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i use virgin at home and will be continuing with them when i move... so will find out how good they are with new customers, telewest used to be pretty good... oh I'm in a cable area so don't know about their non-cable services.
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I cannot remember how many ISP's I have had, six or seven I think. But I then found this company
NDO (http://www.ndo.com/testimonials.html) back in 2003 and have been with them ever since. Their tech support [not that I needed it very often] is the best I have ever experienced. As I download financial data 5 days a week from 7.00am to 9.00pm continuously I need a reliable service. And when I moved house, the new ADSL line changeover and activation happened the day I move in.
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I have also looked at NDO / Namesco, Tony, but the big problem is that they only give you one email address, which just doesn't suit my needs.
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I have decided to go with Virgin Media, and so far have been impressed with the service, although not connected yet.
I applied online and an hour after giving my details I had an e-mail with my log in info and my new e-mail address! I then had another e-mail telling me my line had been tested and my service should be live in 5-7 working days. I also have the choice of a free Netgear Router or a Virgin freeview TV Box. I chose the router because I already have Freeview.
On the same day I had an e-mail from Pipex saying that as I was leaving them and taking my phone business elsewhere, as they care about their customers, they would keep in touch with any future special offers!! I think they must have taken over from Bernard Manning, as the kings of comedy!!!
I will now get Broadband and Phone Services for £19-99 per month.
;D ;D
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good for you! I've been with virgin (telewest/ birmingham cable) for a very long time, we hardly have any problems with the BB and if there is a problem they normally send out an engineer (if it cant be fixed over the phone support) within a couple of days. Since I'm moving out of my parents again at the end of the month I will be having Virign installed again but as a new customer - so hopefully it will also be nice and easy....
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You lucky lot. I can't get cable in my area but would certainly consider it if I had the option. I'm finding Zen incredibly good for now. Only drawback is the restriction of 20gig per month but so far I have never reached my target.
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You lucky lot. I can't get cable in my area but would certainly consider it if I had the option. I'm finding Zen incredibly good for now. Only drawback is the restriction of 20gig per month but so far I have never reached my target.
I cant get cable either Lona, but now Virgin are doing a service via your BT line. That is what Im having.
;D
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I cant get cable either Lona, but now Virgin are doing a service via your BT line. That is what Im having.
;D
Hope you read this Delgado........................
http://www.virgin.net/allyours/faqs/traffic_faqs.html#heaviest
My friend is on virgin BB and they do manage your connection. It's a giant con that your sevice is unlimited.
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Everything is a giant con! To be honest, I'm starting to think I could do without the drama of changing providers. Pipex might be sh*ts as a company, but at the moment, I can't fault the service, and better the devil you know...
That said, I am quite attracted by Zen, and the 20Gb limit wouldn't be a problem for me. I would rather have a constant fast connection, without peaks and troughs, but I don't think I would get a faster connection than I have with Pipex, because BT haven't upgraded the lines in my area yet, so we are only averaging between 2 and 4Mbps at best.
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Have a look here Simon :
http://www.ukfsn.org/home/internet/adsl/maxallowance.html
This package looks ok :
Home MAX 30 30 GB 300 GB £19.99
Supposedly no throttling or restrictions on speeds at all and I think I read that you could have 5 email addresses last time I looked but cant see it at the moment.
It comes in at about the 5th or 6th best ISP on ISPpreview.
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Hope you read this Delgado........................
http://www.virgin.net/allyours/faqs/traffic_faqs.html#heaviest
My friend is on virgin BB and they do manage your connection. It's a giant con that your sevice is unlimited.
Hi Lona-
Yes I have already read this, but they only do it between 4pm and Midnight. As I am retired now that dosent really matter, as I do most of my downloading in the day.
I have not come across any ISP that dosent manage connections, unless you pay very high prices that are rediculous. You either have a limit on your connection or its managed.
For £19-99 I think, as it includes all phone calls free in the UK, its a fair deal. You have to have a BT line of course, which you pay BT £11 .
;D
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Have a look here Simon :
http://www.ukfsn.org/home/internet/adsl/maxallowance.html
This package looks ok :
Home MAX 30 30 GB 300 GB £19.99
Supposedly no throttling or restrictions on speeds at all and I think I read that you could have 5 email addresses last time I looked but cant see it at the moment.
It comes in at about the 5th or 6th best ISP on ISPpreview.
Thanks San. Can't say I've ever heard of them though.
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I hadnt heard of them until I was looking at the top ten on ISPReview.
Its only a monthly contract too which makes it easy to get away from if they turn out to be not as good as they seem.
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Ive tried this question on another Security Forum, but didnt get a sensible answer, so now asking it here where I always get sensible response.
:thumbs:
Has anyone ever used PC Guard Security Suite that is given free with Virgin? If so, how did you find it?
;D
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Can't say I've ever heard of that one, DG. I assumed it was one of the other suites, rebranded, but the screenshots don't look familiar, other than a slight resemblance to Bullguard.
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Can't say I've ever heard of that one, DG. I assumed it was one of the other suites, rebranded, but the screenshots don't look familiar, other than a slight resemblance to Bullguard.
Thanks for reply Simon- it is a suite put out by a Company that looks after ISPs, but Ive just Googled it, and the opinions seem to be that its bloated and slows down things like Norton. Not to be recommended I think.
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Oh I used to use Bullguard many years ago when I was on Win95. If I remember correctly it would bark rather loudly when it wanted your attention. To be honest I wasn't impressed and switched to Norton's when I upgraded to Win 98. Some would say "out of the frying pan and into the fire" which is why I now use AVG.
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Oh I used to use Bullguard many years ago when I was on Win95. If I remember correctly it would bark rather loudly when it wanted your attention. To be honest I wasn't impressed and switched to Norton's when I upgraded to Win 98. Some would say "out of the frying pan and into the fire" which is why I now use AVG.
I now use AVG with its own Firewall, but sometimes wonder if its up to the job! Maybe something like Kaspersky would be safer.
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I have a friend who uses the free virgin suite and he seems to like it but when I have used his pc it annoys me as its always coming up with warnings as Clive said, and you have to close the box before you can do anything more with the pc.
Incidentally this guy isnt a newbie, hes the guy who taught me most of what I know about pcs in the early days of me having a pc :o
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Clive, I can't believe you're still using AVG after all those viruses got through on Mrs Clive's machine!
DG, it seems Kaspersky has been in for a bit of a rough ride over on Wilders. On balance, I would still recommend the F-Secure over all the rest, as it seems to be the one people complain about the least.
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I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt Simon. The underlying problem was a faulty router port so maybe AVG wasn't to blame.
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Has anyone ever used PC Guard Security Suite that is given free with Virgin? If so, how did you find it?
its crap. nuff said.
As for AVG - I still think it does the job nicely.. I'd blame Clive on their problems, its bound to have been his fault! :-D
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Isn't everything?
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yep!
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;D
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its crap. nuff said.
As for AVG - I still think it does the job nicely.. I'd blame Clive on their problems, its bound to have been his fault! :-D
Thanks for your opinion-think I will give it the go by.
Always fun discussing anything here!!
:laugh: :laugh:
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Forgot to thank you other guys for your opinions also!!
;)
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fair enough, always worth giving stuff a go but I dont think it will add anything to your security... and might install crapware....
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fair enough, always worth giving stuff a go but I dont think it will add anything to your security... and might install crapware....
No what i meant was I will go by it and not use it!!!
Lol
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oh yes, sorry my mind is definetly telling me that sleep is needed!
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Isn't everything?
Mrs Clive seems to think so!!