Connecting to the Intranets

OK. Seriously. How f*#king hard is it to try and get your new abode connected to the internet? It has been pretty much six weeks now that we have been trying to sort this out, out it just isn't happening.

Two weeks before moving, we contacted our internet provider, asking them to ensure we'd be right to be connected up again at our new address. They claimed we would have to contact the telephone company to ensure there were enough ADSL ports to do so. When we contacted the telephone company, they informed us that they couldn't tell us, but that our internet provider would be able to tell us. Our internet provider then gave us the same information as they had before. The final solution, at this point, was to disconnect our phone at our house we had sold a few days early, and re-connect at our new house, and that this would ensure we could be connected before moving in.

Misinformation.

Having done as asked, our internet provider then got back to us to say that the line had not been upgraded, and that they would need 14 days to get the new home connected. Showing patience, we agreed.

13 days later, I received a call from our internet provider to say that they were unable to connect our home using the current phone line, and that they would have do cancel our account.

Having used a few choice words, I then hunted down the most popular four internet providers in our area that did NOT include our telephone company. After a couple of hours, I discovered that none of them believed that they could connect us to the internet in our current position and with our current equipment. So, I went with the phone company's internet service, and applied online to be connected. At this time, I was informed that it would take up to 14 days for my application to be processed, and for us to be connected to the internet.

Misinformation.

Yesterday - 13 days later, I received a call from the phone company's internet arm, informing me that they could not connect our house because there were no ADSL ports available at our phone exchange. He had no alternatives for us to actually connect to the internet, and he informed me that he would have to cancel our ADSL application. I said nothing, given that if I had started, I just would have lost it, and done myself and the guy on the phone no good at all.

Helen took the bull by the horns, got on the phone, and proceeded to spend over an hour with the people at the telephone company. Firstly, she discovered that apparently there WERE ports available for ADSL for us. Secondly, she waded through the plans and accessories available if we were to connect with them. Finally, after an hour (no, I am not kidding... an hour) she was told that they couldn't connect our house, because there was already an order to connect ADSL to our home in their system. Further on we delve, explaining (again) about the phone call I had received over an hour ago, and that they couldn't connect us, and that's why we were calling... so they transfer to connections. Another five minutes explaining the whole story passes, and agreement is reached on the plan (again) and the term (again). Helen is told she will be on hold for ten minutes, after which she is promised everything will be completed.

Ten minutes later, and we are informed that they cannot connect us for three days, but they promise to call us as soon as connection is available.

So, with a business to run and living in a so-called developed country, there is a real chance that we will not be able to access the internet. Can anyone actually believe this? How does our country move forward?

FYI. Internet provider = TPG. Telephone company/possible internet provider = Telstra. Other internet providers = Optus & Dodo.

And my wife is a champion. Over an hour on the phone getting nowhere, and she handled it all beautifully. But don't get on her bad side, because she is more than willing to take her problems all the way to the top of your company...  :)