Tiscali are useless

[andyrob]

I have a 512k ADSL connection with Tiscali UK and the product is advertised as UNLIMITED broadband. My connection is fine during the day but once peak times come e.g. 5pm, my connection slows to less than old dial up speeds, normal average is 30 kps! What a joke! After reading Tiscali’s terms and conditions I found this entry



8.4 Although we do not operate formal limits on the amount of data that you can send or receive using the broadband service, if we believe that your use of the broadband service is adversely affecting our network (or any part of it) or other customers, we may regulate your usage. For example, we may give priority to light users over heavy users during peak times. Tiscali reserves the right to terminate your broadband service by providing you with 30 days' notice in writing in the event that your use of the broadband service is adversely affecting our network (or any part of it) or our other customers and our regulation of your usage has been ineffective.



So in English, if I use the service to the extent I am paying for and Tiscali’s network cannot cope, they will cap my usage. Which I think they already have!
But they will not put anything in writing saying what they term excessive usage.

This is not unlimited as advertised. How can Tiscali get away with this?

This lot are a bunch of crooks.If u live in Europe and don't have DSL yet DO NOT CHOOSE TISCALI.

[SingaBoiy]

When you say 30kps... do you mean 30 Kb/s or 30 KB/s?

Your connection may be going slow just because of the peek usage and not them limiting your speed.

It is still considered unlimited because there is no set bandwith you have to stay under.

[Samurai]

You have several options andyrob...

1. Contact them and inform them you are extremely unhappy as you have been misled into believing that unlimited meant exactly that. You would not have signed up with them had you known. Say you are thinking about contacting OFCOM unless you are given a migration code (MAC Code). Also refuse to pay anything until this is sorted out.

2. Actually contact OFCOM

3. You may want to think about going to a small claims court if you're that upset.

Unlimited in the dictionary means:

Main Entry: un·lim·it·ed
Pronunciation: -'li-m&-t&d
Function: adjective
1 : lacking any controls : UNRESTRICTED
2 : BOUNDLESS, INFINITE
3 : not bounded by exceptions : UNDEFINED
- un·lim·it·ed·ly adverb

Courtesy of http://www.m-w.com/

You will have to pay a small fee to do this, but it is reletively small (around £40-50).


Hope this helps

By the way, how much are you paying and what connection are you on?

[Voetsek]

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/

forums help and a speed test

[andyrob]

30 Kb/s Which should give me download speeds of about 3-4 KB/s !!!!

Some nights I cannot even surf webpages - Timeouts etc.

The T+C give - "Priority will be given to light users at peak times"
So if I use p2p etc. They throttle my bandwith. This stinks !

http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/f8.html?

There are thousands of dissatisfied customers of this ISP.

[Voetsek]

http://www.pipex.net/ no caps fast and fun

[Samurai]

For 512kB connection you should be receiving 64kB max (minus 10% overheads).

[Voetsek]

Rough Speed Guide
ADSL Speed
Typical Download
Typical Upload

512Kbps 460 Kbps 220-260 Kbps
1Mbps 920 Kbps 220-260 Kbps
2Mbps 1840 Kbps 220-260 Kbps

[Samurai]

http://www.pipex.net/ no caps fast and fun

Solo 2000 looks like the same package I'm on at the moment. I'm with Bulldog DSL.

If I hadn't had chosen Bulldog, I would have gone with Plus.net.

Also UKOnline.net have recently launched their 8MB service @ £40 per month, so it's worth a look to see if you can get it.

[andyrob]

Thanks for the help and suggestions.Tiscali do not support migrations,do not give out MAC codes and can hold the line untill the end of contract. I'm paying £25/month for 512k and getting 30k most evenings!!! Ripped off big style !!! OFFcom gives ISPs 12 WEEKS to solve disputes. I have complained to ISPA, trading standards etc