Suggestions for unlimited ADSL2+? TPG just annoyed me

brentsbits on 31/08/2017 - 14:40

So TPGs service is fine but I just had the situation where my credit card was compromised (message from the bank) and they are issuing me a new card that will take up to 10 business days to arrive. It should be shorter but with AusPost you never know.

I asked for a week extension (I'm still not at my billing date) just in case and they said due to system limitations, they couldn't do it.

As usual, their service is fine, their customer service sucks.

So I'm considering moving elsewhere. Anyone know any good ISPs I can look at? I've been with TPG for so long that I don't have any clue who is even out there now and who they all are.

Cheers

Internet

Comments

  • gaz3342 on 31/08/2017 - 15:03
    +1

    Better the devil you know.

    Moving internet providers is often a pain in the ass, I would just swallow your pride and stay with Tiny Pig Goat.

    • brentsbits on 31/08/2017 - 20:49

      I get what you are saying. It's not so much pride as just being told to piss off when I've literally been with them for 10 years. That's just rude.

      I'll probably end up doing as you suggest in the end but now's a good time to check out my options in case there are any good deals out there. I'm a great customer, they could be ripping me off but the only time I shop around is when they piss me off.

      • scrimshaw on 01/09/2017 - 11:00
        +1

        This got published by Lifehacker just now:

        "Screw NBN, here are the cheapest Unlimited ADSL2 plans instead"
        https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/09/screw-nbn-here-are-the…

        Optus sits right near the top, so you could try Optus if you are willing to fork out 60 a month. Spintel is cheaper by $5 a month.

        • brentsbits on 02/09/2017 - 19:48

          Cheers, $60 a month is what TPG charges including home phone line as well (which we need for a particular thing we have at home, not that we actually talk on it). So, as pissed off as I am, I'll suck it up and move on.

          It's good to actually shop around though, which I never do unless someone annoys me.

  • vchan on 31/08/2017 - 15:22

    I would also like to find out. Tbh TPG was really good for me when I had their FTTB. Maybe it was because of the speeds. Moving to ADSL2 after that is hard.

    I'm with Belong and they are nothing special. Customer support might be good but I had a case where they retained me on old pricing and I was paying higher for a limited plan when there was an unlimited plan for lower price. Did not get any refund. If this was Telstra they would have easily given back the money. But Telstra is expensive - maybe worth the service and speeds, can't confirm. Belong is no contract, lesser modem price, even a $75 cashback.

    • brentsbits on 31/08/2017 - 20:56

      I'm not sure if Telstra is any better with speeds these days. I think we've reached the point where pretty much all of the ISPs have a backend capable of running whatever needs running and the limiting factor is the copper length from the exchange.

  • 3dgy on 31/08/2017 - 15:25

    I would recommend you try iiNet - very good customer service and $79.99 unlimited adsl 2+ deal at the moment.

    I have been a customer with them for over a decade.

    Once direct debit details have expired, you can still pay manually each month. They have automatic extension for over a week or two and if you really need to you can even talk to someone and ask for an even longer extension and they have given a 2 month extention for me while I was out of a job temporarily. They do not charge late fees either, and show they appreciate loyalty and they love listening to your stories about whatever feedback you wish to talk to them about.

    If somehow you forgot to pay and also forgot to ask for an extension, they will even reconnect you and get you back online just because you called up asking for an extension at that point!

    Also well worth noting - This ISP fought in court for our user privacy on the internet at great financial cost to them as well.

    • brentsbits on 31/08/2017 - 15:31
      +1

      Thanks for the response.

      Isn't iiNet just TPG?

  • 3dgy on 31/08/2017 - 15:46
    +1

    Oooh seems you are right TPG bought iiNet- TPG is owned by Soul Pattinson - same as in Soul Pattinson Chemists - and they are a private company. Their network was originally built by SPT Soul Pattison Telecom as a duplicate of the Telstra network backbone at the time and had the lowest ping times back in the 90's comparable to Telstra when everyone was using dialup.

    IiNet customer service is still much better though even today.
    I just got a two week extention til the 11th September a few days ago. All I had to do was log in to the online toolbox and click the 'apply for an extention' button.

    • brentsbits on 31/08/2017 - 20:47
      +1

      What a tangled web our corporate overlords weave!

    • Aniseed Steed on 31/08/2017 - 21:08

      TPG is owned by Soul Pattinson - same as in Soul Pattinson Chemists - and they are a private company

      Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) is a conglomerate that owns 25% of TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM), Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW), and Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ASX: API), the company behind Priceline and Soul Pattinson chemists.

  • Irate Monk on 31/08/2017 - 16:26
    +1

    I ditched TPG and moved onto Uniti Wireless; really impressed with them.

    They have a promo now, and their website says:

    "For a FREE 30 Days try our SUPER-FAST Fixed Wireless Broadband! It’s a $0 Obligation for 30 Days, just use the code THIRTY in the referral code field on application. Experience our 50Mbps Download Speed difference. The great news…we can connect you this week!"

    • brentsbits on 31/08/2017 - 20:53

      I just checked out their site, I was about to say they were quite pricey till I saw they were wireless. The speed boost would be nice but I don't think I can justify the price. Thanks for the recommendation though.

  • outlander on 31/08/2017 - 18:27
    +1

    I switched over to optus cable when a deal popped up late last year. I was a little apprehensive (Actually I was really apprehensive, went around counting cable lines and talking to stranger neighbours) but it turned out to be the right move. Twice the speed for the same cost.

    • brentsbits on 31/08/2017 - 20:48

      I wish I could get cable where I am. A friend has it and gets speeds the NBN promised.

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