24 hour internet

[Monnie]

Anyone out there on BT Openworld or something similar?

Have just given up work and DH is disparing of the monthly internet phone bill, so am thinking of switching to one of these 24 hour access jobbies.

My ISP is currently Freeserve so if anyone is on Freeserve Anytime, some comments from the consumer point of view would be great.

Anybody who is using any other package, I would love your comments too so that I can make an informed decision.

Tx

KS

The unlimited phone use is only applicable to calls to land lines. Anything to a mobile phone is charged at normal rate.

Simonhoward, do you have a link to the survey which rated blueyonder?

Florenceuk

I can't seem to find the one that refered to it (deleted the e-mail from the big boss saying how good it was that the company was being recognised as having good service in this area), but here are a few sites that do have reviews and other bits about it.

dooyoo.co.uk/product/31864.html

207.228.234.38/uk/cable/cable.asp

paler.com/uk_broadband_internet_access.html

www.insideout.co.uk/feats/filmmaking/broadband2.shtml

Hope these help.

And before anyone asks I don't get any commision for getting people to take it up, which would be nice as they are making me redundant and I could use the extra cash.

florenceuk, we're also with Telewest for £25 pm unlimited calls and Blueyonder internet, and haven't had any problems - the only minor problem we had was changing the phone over from the standard Telewest service to Talk Unlimited, they overcharged us in the first month, but it's been fine since. DH wouldn't recommend the cable tv, but I'm not sure why (could ask if you like.)

Some ISPs give you free internet access if you host their discussion boards for them.

Freeserve is one of them. You could offer to host and then get it for nothing, though in the past I have found it cuts off quite easily for no apparent reason.

Of course, hosting is some work experience as well. I think Virgin have hosts as well but I'm don't know if you get Net access with them or not.

thanks for all the info - still debating. Now discovered that the first person who said we needed a microsplitter box (or whatever) was talking rubbish and we are on the list for a technician visit - which takes 48 hrs to process before they can give you an appointment. We don't have a TV, one reason I feel so bereft without the Internet. Still, I can now catch up on reading "Atonement" for the bookclub...

KS

Unfortunately it is standard practice for companies to target people that have enquired or filled in surveys which say that they might be interested in their services.

I got called 6 times in about 9 months by a company trying to sell me replacement facias and other cosmetic parts of the house. On the 6th call I had to actually get rude to the idiot on the phone as they would not stop talking at me long enough to hear what I was saying and then they told me that the sales staff couldn't remove me from their list of potential clients and that I had to call another number to get myself removed. Luckily it was a free phone number so I called it and so go so far.

What I object most to is that even if you tell them that you are not interested or that you can't afford it that they will still try to sell it to you.

(Rant over, normal service now resumes)

KS

Sales people do what they are told will get them commission.

I have worked for a company that wanted me to hard sell products to children and younger teengers parents when they came in the store regardless of if they wanted it or not.

I even got told off by an area manager for not pushing the new stuff hard enough to people that he then bullied into buying it and then we never saw again.

Luckily most companies stamp on this behaviour or realise it is not a good way to get repeat sales or good personal recommendations and stop the practice.

Unfortunately if you are on a bad wage and commission is the only thing that will make it a good one most people will say and do almost anything to get the sales.

KS

No offence taken.

I personally think hard sell tactics are the worst thing in sales.

If you have a product then it should be good enough to attract sales or it isn't the right product.

Adverts informing people of the product are good but this idea of badgering people to buy things just really gets my back up.

This is one reason I love doing almost all my shopping over the internet.

has any-one had hard sell tactics from Grolier books ? I stupidly sent off for a 'free' disney book then got a parcel of 30 day trial books and then then phone calls. I even had one call which started off 'Mrs M, what ages are your children?'

helenmc - Ditto on Grolier! Sent off for a free Peter Pan book using the coupon from the video, then got a phone call promising more free books, no obligation. Then they sent more books and keep sending invoices even though I've sent them a snotty letter saying I'm not interested and to stop hassling me. Unfortunately ds loves the books but I have to grit my teeth when I read them to him as they're so appallingly written, like all Disney books.

KS - have to say that I found Telewest to be the most useless company going. Not least because you could be on hold for the best part of an hour when trying to get through to report a fault.

ks - sorry not to reply earlier - I've been away. We haven't found any 'catches' with the unlimited phone/internet, although as SimonHoward says, mobile and overseas calls are not included. But, you only pay the same rate as you would anyway, so for us it is worth it, as our bill, not including those calls, was more than the flat rate. The only problem I have with Telewest is that they are totally useless at customer service. Our latest problem was a red reminder that we hadn't paid our bill (we are on direct debit!) - the reason being because Telewest had contacted our bank to cancel it...!!!