Views on PlusNet please

I'm considering migrating from Prodigynet to Plusnet (mainly 'cos Plusnet are
offering a 1Mb connnection for £14.99 - okay capped but you just pay more if you use
more). I think I'd get a 1Mb link, I think the noise level on my line was around
46dB.

Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated. Nothing wrong with
Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is cheaper and faster.

TIA


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Andrew Sayers

On 28/09/2004 19:06 Andrew Sayers got up from the bar and shouted..:
> I'm considering migrating from Prodigynet to Plusnet (mainly 'cos Plusnet are
> offering a 1Mb connnection for £14.99 - okay capped but you just pay more if you use
> more). I think I'd get a 1Mb link, I think the noise level on my line was around
> 46dB.
>
> Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated. Nothing wrong with
> Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is cheaper and faster.
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> The reply to email address is a copy of a spammer's address
> Please feel free to use it.
> However if you want to reply to me, then please
> use the newsgroup.

Can't fault them at all, and they also do free migration (no setup fee).
I only wish they waived the setup fee for non-migrations, but it's a
BT imposed fee :-(

You get some good stuff, nice amount of webspace, supporting
CGI/FP2000/PHP, you get Fax2Mail (to recieve faxes), you get unlimited
inboxes, it's damn reliable (touch wood), and the support team are very
good (regularly answering questions in here, as well as responding to
private support requests very promtly). Their news server has recently
been upgraded, and is now a pleasure to use.

I say go for it... (if you could use my referal code: mgillespie , I
would be gratefull)

--
"This dog don't give a feck..."

"Andrew Sayers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm considering migrating from Prodigynet to Plusnet (mainly 'cos Plusnet
are
> offering a 1Mb connnection for £14.99 - okay capped but you just pay more
if you use
> more). I think I'd get a 1Mb link, I think the noise level on my line was
around
> 46dB.
>
> Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated. Nothing
wrong with
> Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is cheaper and faster.
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> The reply to email address is a copy of a spammer's address
> Please feel free to use it.
> However if you want to reply to me, then please
> use the newsgroup.

I hated everything about them. From their dodgy sales people to the
disgraceful billing errors. Only stayed with them 4 months as I bought a
short contract.

Many people on here too have had a very good service from them so maybe I
was just unlucky but I wont be using them again.

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:06:46 +0100, Andrew Sayers
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I'm considering migrating from Prodigynet to Plusnet (mainly 'cos Plusnet are
>offering a 1Mb connnection for £14.99 - okay capped but you just pay more if you use
>more). I think I'd get a 1Mb link, I think the noise level on my line was around
>46dB.
>
>Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated. Nothing wrong with
>Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is cheaper and faster.
>
>TIA

I have used Force9/Plusnet with work for the last 6 years and have
been very pleased with their service.

More recently I have moved my account from Zen to Plusnet and have
been very satisfied with the service.

Their customer service team monitors these groups, and actively reply
to queries.

Would highly recommend them. I think it can be expected with any ISP
that there may be troublesome times, but so long as the good times out
weigh the bad ...

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:06:46 +0100, Andrew Sayers
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated. Nothing wrong with
>Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is cheaper and faster.

I have been with F9 (same company as PlusNet) for over two years and
I can tell you it will be the best move you will make in your life.

Tech support excellent. They rarely make mistakes or give silly
advice, but they are only human. They are always polite and pleasant.

F9 are very good at keeping us informed and not treating us like
mushrooms (by keeping us in the dark and feeding us bullshit).

Etc etc.

Just join them <g>.
--
Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

Andrew Sayers wrote:
> I'm considering migrating from Prodigynet to Plusnet (mainly 'cos
> Plusnet are offering a 1Mb connnection for £14.99 - okay capped but
> you just pay more if you use more). I think I'd get a 1Mb link, I
> think the noise level on my line was around 46dB.
>
> Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated.
> Nothing wrong with Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is
> cheaper and faster.
>
> TIA

I'm a plusnet customer and generally I think they are ok. My friend is
getting the run around from them though. He can't get a reliable connection
at his new place and he has had to pay BT to fix a problem on the line but
it's still unreliable. Before he moved his kit all worked fine (I'm the bod
who has to set it up etc). Poor sod has paid £120 so far and still hasn't
got the connection he's paying for.

I've read the notes from plusnet and they will assume you are technically
literate, which strikes me as a mistake, given that I would assume they want
to expand their customer base. My mate just wants things in plain English
and for clear procedures to be followed. I can't help but feel that Plusnet
are following this strategy in order to tire him out, avoid paying for a
broadband engineer to come out, and to continue to get the monthly sub.

I've suggested he posts his problem here as I'm not sure myself.

I think Plusnet is one of those ISPs where if everything is ok, things
tickety-boo. And they appeal to those with technical leanings and are
proactive in diagnosing problems themselves and view support as a last
resort. If you want handholding then you need to pay for it.

On 29/09/2004 00:56 Deano got up from the bar and shouted..:
> Andrew Sayers wrote:
>
>>I'm considering migrating from Prodigynet to Plusnet (mainly 'cos
>>Plusnet are offering a 1Mb connnection for £14.99 - okay capped but
>>you just pay more if you use more). I think I'd get a 1Mb link, I
>>think the noise level on my line was around 46dB.
>>
>>Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated.
>>Nothing wrong with Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is
>>cheaper and faster.
>>
>>TIA
>
>
> I'm a plusnet customer and generally I think they are ok. My friend is
> getting the run around from them though. He can't get a reliable connection
> at his new place and he has had to pay BT to fix a problem on the line but
> it's still unreliable. Before he moved his kit all worked fine (I'm the bod
> who has to set it up etc). Poor sod has paid £120 so far and still hasn't
> got the connection he's paying for.
>
> I've read the notes from plusnet and they will assume you are technically
> literate, which strikes me as a mistake, given that I would assume they want
> to expand their customer base. My mate just wants things in plain English
> and for clear procedures to be followed. I can't help but feel that Plusnet
> are following this strategy in order to tire him out, avoid paying for a
> broadband engineer to come out, and to continue to get the monthly sub.
>
> I've suggested he posts his problem here as I'm not sure myself.
>
> I think Plusnet is one of those ISPs where if everything is ok, things
> tickety-boo. And they appeal to those with technical leanings and are
> proactive in diagnosing problems themselves and view support as a last
> resort. If you want handholding then you need to pay for it.
>
>
Unfortunatly, I think all UK ISP's fall into this same catagory. What
do you think in additon to what's already been done, say someone like
AOL would have done?


--
"This dog don't give a feck..."

Black Shuck wrote:
> On 29/09/2004 00:56 Deano got up from the bar and shouted..:
>> Andrew Sayers wrote:
>>
>>> I'm considering migrating from Prodigynet to Plusnet (mainly 'cos
>>> Plusnet are offering a 1Mb connnection for £14.99 - okay capped but
>>> you just pay more if you use more). I think I'd get a 1Mb link, I
>>> think the noise level on my line was around 46dB.
>>>
>>> Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated.
>>> Nothing wrong with Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is
>>> cheaper and faster.
>>>
>>> TIA
>>
>>
>> I'm a plusnet customer and generally I think they are ok. My friend
>> is getting the run around from them though. He can't get a reliable
>> connection at his new place and he has had to pay BT to fix a
>> problem on the line but it's still unreliable. Before he moved his
>> kit all worked fine (I'm the bod who has to set it up etc). Poor
>> sod has paid £120 so far and still hasn't got the connection he's
>> paying for.
>>
>> I've read the notes from plusnet and they will assume you are
>> technically literate, which strikes me as a mistake, given that I
>> would assume they want to expand their customer base. My mate just
>> wants things in plain English and for clear procedures to be
>> followed. I can't help but feel that Plusnet are following this
>> strategy in order to tire him out, avoid paying for a broadband
>> engineer to come out, and to continue to get the monthly sub.
>>
>> I've suggested he posts his problem here as I'm not sure myself.
>>
>> I think Plusnet is one of those ISPs where if everything is ok,
>> things tickety-boo. And they appeal to those with technical
>> leanings and are proactive in diagnosing problems themselves and
>> view support as a last resort. If you want handholding then you
>> need to pay for it.
>>
>>
> Unfortunatly, I think all UK ISP's fall into this same catagory. What
> do you think in additon to what's already been done, say someone like
> AOL would have done?

Yeah well I guess we are talking about private companies. It just strikes
me, as it does my friend, that the standard of customer service in this
country is still very poor.
All I would expect from Plusnet is to play a straight bat on this one and
not try to confuse and delay. I would respect them if they just explicitly
said "look it's probably your equipment and we don't want to spend any money
on an engineer so it's your problem - ticket closed." Instead telling him
to use alternative equipment is ridiculous - he's just a normal guy and
doesn't have a pile of routers lying in a cupboard - hell I've only got one
router.
If I was them I would find an old router that works and mail it out. Once
he's tested that he could post it back. What would that cost versus the
loss in confidence in the company and it's products?

As for AOL I suggested that to him as a joke but he didn't get that - going
into geek mode doesn't work for me either. I'm sure AOL would have been
better with the handholding but I don't know if they would go the extra mile
which is the kind of service that we would all like.

"Deano" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Black Shuck wrote:
>> On 29/09/2004 00:56 Deano got up from the bar and shouted..:
>>> Andrew Sayers wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm considering migrating from Prodigynet to Plusnet (mainly 'cos
>>>> Plusnet are offering a 1Mb connnection for £14.99 - okay capped but
>>>> you just pay more if you use more). I think I'd get a 1Mb link, I
>>>> think the noise level on my line was around 46dB.
>>>>
>>>> Any "real world" opinions on Plusnet would be much appreciated.
>>>> Nothing wrong with Prodigynet really, just the Plusnet option is
>>>> cheaper and faster.
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm a plusnet customer and generally I think they are ok. My friend
>>> is getting the run around from them though. He can't get a reliable
>>> connection at his new place and he has had to pay BT to fix a
>>> problem on the line but it's still unreliable. Before he moved his
>>> kit all worked fine (I'm the bod who has to set it up etc). Poor
>>> sod has paid £120 so far and still hasn't got the connection he's
>>> paying for.
>>>
>>> I've read the notes from plusnet and they will assume you are
>>> technically literate, which strikes me as a mistake, given that I
>>> would assume they want to expand their customer base. My mate just
>>> wants things in plain English and for clear procedures to be
>>> followed. I can't help but feel that Plusnet are following this
>>> strategy in order to tire him out, avoid paying for a broadband
>>> engineer to come out, and to continue to get the monthly sub.
>>>
>>> I've suggested he posts his problem here as I'm not sure myself.
>>>
>>> I think Plusnet is one of those ISPs where if everything is ok,
>>> things tickety-boo. And they appeal to those with technical
>>> leanings and are proactive in diagnosing problems themselves and
>>> view support as a last resort. If you want handholding then you
>>> need to pay for it.
>>>
>>>
>> Unfortunatly, I think all UK ISP's fall into this same catagory. What
>> do you think in additon to what's already been done, say someone like
>> AOL would have done?
>
>Yeah well I guess we are talking about private companies. It just strikes
>me, as it does my friend, that the standard of customer service in this
>country is still very poor.
>All I would expect from Plusnet is to play a straight bat on this one and
>not try to confuse and delay. I would respect them if they just explicitly
>said "look it's probably your equipment and we don't want to spend any money
>on an engineer so it's your problem - ticket closed." Instead telling him
>to use alternative equipment is ridiculous - he's just a normal guy and
>doesn't have a pile of routers lying in a cupboard - hell I've only got one
>router.
>If I was them I would find an old router that works and mail it out. Once
>he's tested that he could post it back. What would that cost versus the
>loss in confidence in the company and it's products?
>
>As for AOL I suggested that to him as a joke but he didn't get that - going
>into geek mode doesn't work for me either. I'm sure AOL would have been
>better with the handholding but I don't know if they would go the extra mile
>which is the kind of service that we would all like.


I don't really need the tech support side - just a 24/7 contact number so that if
the service is down for any reason, I can find out and not waste time fiddling with
settings here.


--
The reply to email address is a copy of a spammer's address
Please feel free to use it.
However if you want to reply to me, then please
use the newsgroup.

In article <415a7069$0$42211$(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...

> All I would expect from Plusnet is to play a straight bat on this one and
> not try to confuse and delay. I would respect them if they just explicitly
> said "look it's probably your equipment and we don't want to spend any money
> on an engineer so it's your problem - ticket closed." Instead telling him
> to use alternative equipment is ridiculous - he's just a normal guy and
> doesn't have a pile of routers lying in a cupboard - hell I've only got one
> router.

All we need to do in these situations is eliminate all the local issues
from the problem. This means hardware, software and internal wiring
problems all need to be ruled out before we can really progress it.

We are not trying to delay you, and we are not trying to prevent an
engineer being dispatched - You appear to have the wrong end of the
stick with engineer visits. If an engineer went out and it was the
internal wiring, for example, it would be your friend who would be
footing the £50 bill and not ourselves. We are just trying to ensure
this does not happen.

Our initial testing will have shown no faults on BT's side of things so
we need to be as thoughrough as possible with the fault diagnosis.

Trying with alternative hardware is the best test - or they could go to
anyone elses house who also has ADSL (not necessarily through ourselves)
and test his own hardware there to try and replicate the fault - just
use the username and password specific to the address you are trying it
at.

Regards,
--
| Josh Berry.................Unmetered & ADSL solutions
| Customer Support..................for Home & Business
| PlusNet plc.....................@ http://www.plus.net
+ ---- My Referrals - It pays to recommend PlusNet ---+