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Thread ID: 50655	2004-10-28 03:33:00	Is it just me, or are all ISP's busier today	Kame (312)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
285392	2004-10-28 03:33:00	Spent ages trying to get through to Orcon, trying to find out whether they're going the same way with Xtra and whether they too are offering free connection till the 12th December. Been trying for hours and have been getting a busy dial tone. I rang Paradise, to find out what plans they have and they took my contact details and told me they have to get back to me on that, as they don't have the new price plans yet, so I'm wondering if this is the reason for ISP's being busy. It probably would be wiser for Orcon to have multiple numbers for different sections for new join ups and general help, you can't get help from them if they're busy like this, usually you'd get put on hold but it seems quite full at the moment. I would ring Xtra but they aren't reasonable enough to even bother with them anymore. So does anyone know if other ISPs are advantaged by Telecom's offer of free connection or is it only Xtra? Cheers, Kame	Kame (312)
285393	2004-10-28 05:27:00	In the end had to speak to Telecom/Xtra and the offer is only available to Xtra residential plans . Free connection, Free modem + 2 Line Filters, they never told me what type of modem so I can't say whether it's any good . However this option is good compared to having a second phone line and using dialup, with the elimination of the second line, and maintenance charges you'll save about $17 a month . You have a limit of 1GB at broadband speed but after that limit is reached you'll be lowered to 64kbps, so it works out if you are a dialup user using a second phone line and don't mind the slowness after you reach 1GB, otherwise you're better off paying the $99 connection fee and joining another ISP like Maxnet or Orcon for $44 . 95/mnth unlimited* and buying a modem, or looking at other ISPs for a more suited plan . That way you're not stuck with Xtra for their 12months contract experiencing the ups and downs . I spoke with Maxnet, and they told me they could offer similar plans, meaning the connection will be free but you won't get a modem, and you will be paying $44 . 95/mnth, but don't believe it, as he was uncertain of this, but he did say he could offer the same package provided by xtra . Also I recommend Maxnet, because of their generosity in taking over a local server hosted by a friend of mine, who was not willing to keep his server going, and he had a large member base with it . Was not able to get through to Orcon not one bit, so not very impressed . Will email them and find out what they have to say with their situation . Have to wait for a paradise sales representative to get back to me on their plans, so again, not really a quick fix, but minimal waiting time for answers . Cheers, Kame	Kame (312)
285394	2004-10-28 06:29:00	This is all because of those muppets called Telecom. The whole changing to Bitstream business has caused lots of problems (eg just logging into jetstart at the moment is a pain) and Orcon are constantly flooded with calls at the moment. Telecom wont deal with technical problems unless you are with Xtra. They divert you to your ISP. And yet they are the ones creating the problems in the first place. The whole business over the Xtra offerings is also a scam. Bitstream comes along...Telecom obviously dont want people signing up to that cos they will lose a bit of money. They'd much rather people sign up with Xtra. So they come out with these super-fast plans (eg 2mb per sec) that you can only get through xtra (or wholesale). Lots of people sign up thinking "wow that's fast", until they later realise that 10GB is nowhere near enough to satisfy their needs. Then they are stuck, because the sign-up agreement is for a minimum of 12 months (yes - a whole YEAR!) - that's if you want to take advantage of their 'free' sign-up and equipment offering. Looks like you can't get this with the other ISPs and certainly not through bitstream. They have made the bitstream offers look completely inferior to the uninitiated internet user, the like of which will no doubt come along in their droves and hand over their cash to Telescum, leaving the poor ISPs to operate on an even tighter margin and struggling to get new sign-ups. I imagine all the ISPs are busy dealing with bitstream sign-ups (probably mainly those more experienced internet users wanting a decent MB allowance) and explaining to customers why the heck they haven't been connected yet and/or are having problems with their current jetstart connection.	barmypom (6048)
285395	2004-10-28 08:39:00	Well so far, there's the churn fee that comes into play . If you're switching ISP, telecom will charge you as normal for enabling/upgrading your lines to support ADSL, but only with a different ISP to Xtra . In fact anything done differently outside of Xtra, will result in a churn fee, how nice is that, may as well put the dice down in this monopoly game . Kame	Kame (312)
285396	2004-10-28 08:44:00	Right - so if I signed up to Xtra and decided to switch ISPs, I'd have to pay Xtra $100 for an early termination fee, AND have to pay a fee to swap ISPs? (or something along those lines). Telecom really do play dirty, but then we've known that for a long time and expect nothing less.	barmypom (6048)
285397	2004-10-28 09:12:00	>Telecom really do play dirty, but then we've known that for a long time and expect nothing less. I hate to be off topic here and cause a token rant, but I have had nothing but a jolly good show from Telecom. Infact Xtra was fine today.	Growly (6)
285398	2004-10-28 09:15:00	That's how I interpretted it. You pay to get out of the contract and the connection I believe has to be paid for again from what the representative told me and that bill will be passed through to you from Telecom to your other ISP, your ISP gets Telecom still to sort your connection out. You won't be paying Telecom the hidden charges because it's accounted for in your ISP charge. I don't know whether you lose the free modem package, but it would probably seem that way too, since why join up and instantly leave them the next day (if possible) and still benefit from it. They've got a fee for everything! Also there's a postage and packaging charge for having the package sent out to you, they don't even state this, you have to view the charges near the end of their sign up form, although it's reasonably charged at $3.95 inc GST I think. Kame	Kame (312)
285399	2004-10-28 09:16:00	You don't pay the bills though,and im sure your parents would object to a $100 fee just to switch providers.	metla (154)
285400	2004-10-28 09:16:00	That was in reply to Growly btw.	metla (154)
285401	2004-10-28 09:20:00	I'm not saying Telecom are evil, I'm just wondering why all these charges are happening, everytime Telecom offered free connection sign up, all ISP's benefit from it, but now is not the case because now the charges aren't being shown in your Telecom account but have been taken into account from your ISP, even the rep from Maxnet was surprised by it when I spoke to him and actually knew nothing of it, and this offer has been available for quite some time. It quite possibly related to the fact that now Telecom aren't having hidden charges with the ISP, just that the ISP is now covering up your hidden charges for them. Since Telecom can now hide more, they can also add more charges, especially in getting line connections through other ISP's The way I see it, Telecom still own the product, and have somehow tried to make it that they are seperate from other ISPs, hence more charges can be made. Kame	Kame (312)
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