I'm looking at getting ADSL2+ connected at my place and although they are by far the cheapest; I've had and heard of nothing but negative experiences with TPG & am a little wary that their customers must forgo the 'Customer Service Guarantee'. I have just discovered AusBBS and their prices really are quite reasonable for my needs. Just wondering if anyone can shed any light on this company as I've never heard of them before now. Many thanks.
I think you have to be aware that people generally come to the internet to complain about something but rarely ever leave positive comments. On most forums (e.g whingepool) and other 'state your opinion' sites, negative feedback tends to outnumber positive feedback. When things go right people do not necessarily feel compelled to comment about it. But at the slightest hint of anything adverse or undesirable customers are quick to let everyone know.
TPG worked fine for me and I was with them for over 4 years. My internet connection worked pretty well and there was little need for me to contact their helpdesk or tech support. In the instances that I had to, there was a forum online and they generally replied within 4-5 hours.
Would I recommend TPG based on my experience? I'd say yes, but only if you are aware of what ADSL is and what it can or cannot do.
Back on topic — your choice of an ADSL provider generally does not have a huge impact on how good of a connection you will get on copper networks. The customer service is another story — some companies are better in this regard. The quota and shaping rules also differ depending on the contract.
However, the quality of the copper wires that connect your premises (which can be pretty shite in some areas) and the distance between your home and the ADSL exchange (DSLAM) is what determines how reliable (and fast) of a connection you're going to get, and is not something directly within your control. If your connection with TPG was lousy then there's a chance whatever telco you switch to will not really solve the issue.
Go with cable or NBN if you want better speeds.