<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by MacGyver:
I hope that it turns into something else real quick. Do yourself a favour and listen to these tech call recordings. Also keep in mind that Sympatico and Rogers (the two big Ontario ISP's) have the worst tech support and there are plenty of frustrated people in this province.

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Hmm...I wonder if I'm on any of those! LOL! I had a REALLY hard time with Rogers Tech support. I had Rogers cable (stress HAD) about a year ago, and I haven't had any worse problems than when I was with them. First, I had connections constantly dropping out. When I ran a "ping" I kept getting "Hardware error." I said, "Now, I may be wrong, but I think that it means theres something wrong with the HARDWARE."
They had me change from dynamic IP to static IP, then from static to dynamic, and back and forth. Every time I restarted the computer, it would work fine for about an hour, then die.
It was a full install, so I didn't want to screw around with any of the hardware they put in...it was THEIR responsibility.
I did a clean install of Win 98, blah, blah, blah. No go. I tried different CAT5 cables, tried different coax cables. Still the same problem.
I told them all this, and still I struggled with "please try removing your TCP/IP protocol, and reinstall it."
"Gee...my computer works... BUT IT WILL STOP WORKING IN AN HOUR!"
"Well, if it's working, we can't do anything..."
So, again, I struggled.
Eventually I said, "Listen, the network card is bad (this after I had the modem changed, the cable-in-box tested, blah, blah, blah)." The tech told me that he believed me, but he would have to pass it by a supervisor before he could send a tech out to change the NIC.
So, the weiner-supervisor gets on the phone and said, "I don't believe you. I've never heard of intermittent problems. It will either work or not work. There is NO way it will work one minute and not the next. If it's NOT the network card, we WILL charge you the $200 for a service call."
Man, I went ape-sh!t on him. I said, "Well, obviously you haven't worked with computers that long if you haven't heard of an intermittent problem." I also related to him that it WAS NOT working from day 1, and it was THEIR responsibility to ENSURE it was working from the moment the tech left my place. This was NOT done, so whatever it was...Windows problem, driver problem, cable problem, network card problem, THEY had to solve it since I PAID to have a full, and proper installation.
So, I eventually got a network tech out. He popped in a new NIC, and schwing! I was hopping on the net no prob. He tried it out for a while, and there were no sags.
I cancelled the service cuz I went with LookTV. I was forced by the super to go back with Rogers Cable (apparently 2 3" screws can bring down a 12 floor building ), so I decided to go back on cable internet (stupid...stupid...stupid). First thing I told 'em was, "I am doing a self install. I don't want any of your MORONS touching my system again!" I got sags, and connection losses again. Fearing another bad NIC, I grabbed a new one from work, which I KNEW worked (benefits of working as a retail tech). Same problem. So, I tried a fresh install of 98. Same problem. So, I decided to call 'em to see if there were any blackouts in the area.
"Which browser are you using?"
"IE 5.0"
"We don't support IE 5.0. [click]"
GRRRRRRRRRRRR!
So, I call back.
"Which browser are you using?"
"IE 4.0"
"Ok, sir, there is currently a problem with our Kingston server. We expect the problem to be solved in 24 hours."
(Apparently, if you're running IE 5.0 you don't have priviledge to that information).
So, 24 hours go by. Still no connecty. I decide to try again in the morn, giving them 32 hours to solve the problem (I respect field techs, I know the potentials of nightmares). Still no connecty.
So, I call 'em back up. This time it was a problem with their mail server, or something retarted. Give 'em ANOTHER 24 hours.
So, another day later. No connection. There's some OTHER problem. After 2 weeks, I had no good clean connection to the net. I told 'em I wanted to cancel my service.
"Sure, no prob. We'll send a tech out to pick up the modem." (Since they sent one to drop off the modem).
Two weeks go by. No tech came to pick up the modem yet... So, I decide to call 'em. I had cooled off a bit by then, and asked what it would take to get me back on the net. "$80 set up fee."
"WTF?! My cancellation request hadn't been processed yet, and I still have the equipment."
"Oh, and I see that there is a $700 charge on your account for failing to return the modem."
"WTF?! YOU F&*%ING MORON! YOUR F&^*ING MORONIC TECHS WERE SUPPOSED TO COME THE F&%* OUT HERE TO PICK UP THE F&%*ING MODEM!" (Yes, I did use those explicits...you TRY to be nice)
So, I storm down there, and chew the clerk's head off a bit, calling him an idiot working for an idiot company.
Mr. Rogers and I aren't the best buds...

I've had problems with the PPV also. I was offered 3 months free digital TV service. Sure, no prob!
So, my wife and I are watching the tube, and decide that we want to try out the PPV. We had look before, and PPV was as simple as choosing the movie you want, push the "PPV" button, and it would dial-up and download the encryption for the movie.
Hmm...the Roger's tuner doesn't have that option. The channel we wanted the movie on had "To order this movie call 1-800-blah-blah-blah".
So, I call. It was 8:50pm, and the movie started at 9:00pm. I navigate my way through their maze of a phone system, FINALLY reaching, "To order pay-per-view movies, press 1".
So, I punch 1.
"Thank you. All our operators are currently busy. Please hold..."
Blood pressure rising... It's starting to take WAY to long to get a movie.
FINALLY a CSR (customer service rep) answers. I give her my phone number, and which movie I want.
"Thank you. That will be on Channel 310 at 9:00." (8:59)
So, I settle in with my wife to watch the movie.
Hmm...it's not starting...9:10pm rolls around, still no show. Grr...
So, I call 'em up. Navigate away. 9:20pm rolls around, I FINALLY get to talk to someone. I told 'em my perdicament, and they said, "Ok, we'll cancel that order, and set you up for the 9:45 showing."
Great, 25 minutes SHOULD be enough time to get the order squared around.
10:00pm. I navigate through the IVR (integrated voice response) maze AGAIN. I'm a little grumpy at this point.
I FINALLY get to talk to a CSR again. I told her that I wasn't impressed with the way PPV was working, and I maid the off-hand remark, "Geeze, you'd think a multi-billion dollar corporation would figure out something as simple as PPV!"
"I just work for the company, sir."
Suddenly, I could FEEL my blood pressure rise through the roof. NEVER EVER EVER say to me, "I'm just doing my job." IMHO, that is the WORST excuse in the world to give someone. So, I tore her a new a$$ and said, "Let me speak to your supervisor, twit!"
I was put on hold for 5 minutes. Then, she came back and said, "Sorry, there isn't a supervisor available."
I tore her another a$$, and told her, "You better HOPE that I don't get ANY charges for these movies on my bill!"
She tried to reassure me that they wouldn't, and I told her that I had VERY little faith in the company she worked for. I slammed the phone down, and went to bed.
MAN! If I could just sit down with Rogers and say to him, "Man, what kind of Mickey Mouse operation are you running? Don't ANY of your employees have kindergarten diplomas yet?"

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***the Beast
- I only came for the platypus soup