My ISP took over my phone line and computer!

[Lamb Chop]

Weird yesterday pm - my phone rang once and thought wrong number and carried on with working on computer.

Then having been on a site for quite a while, tried to go to a new link and got directed to my ISP's website where a mandatory message told me I must update my email address - it showed my profile and everything was up to date so hit the update and proceed - nothing.

Tried another tab same thing re directed and then noticed a line on the profile page saying the system had blocked my phone.

So tried ringing the ISP the line very bad and finally got a human and told him the tale - he put me through to Technical Support - and they were a bit surprised as my details were up to date and shouldnt have had this as usually only used he said if not paid the bill and well over on allowance which I am not.

Cut to the chase - only way to get rid of the thing in the end was to clear all caches and shut down and then restart - and told me next time do this.

I am only posting this as I was truly amazed that they had the power to shut down my phone line and later had several calls from folks saying your phone was out this afternoon!

I only use the ISP for ADSL and my phone line is with a different supplier.

Bit cheeky even if I had used up my limit on my broadband plan because the only thing they should be able to do is to shut down my internet connection.

Should not be allowed to shut down my telephone line.

So as I pay bills promptly am I naive and this is usual practice?

[Alan2273]

Its not a practice I have heard of, if I was in your position I would be after compensation for the inconvenience they have caused you.

And i would also change my supplier.

[Lamb Chop]

Its not a practice I have heard of, if I was in your position I would be after compensation for the inconvenience they have caused you.

And i would also change my supplier.

We have an Ombudsman and it costs the ISP if there is a complaint and so could go here as I do think it is very high handed. Almost Gestapo tactics:angry:

But first I will also look for another plan and think about doing the above as they may then muck me about if I churn by not taking themselves of the ADSL or whatever happens at the exchange. Might forever block my telephone line or some such - I didnt know they had this power seems OTT. Not when I dont rent a land line through them.

As I haven't used any other ISP but this one for around 8 or so years.

Have to find out how I do churn - which is why I haven't changed before. Always of the mind if it aint broke etc.

hence been with the government phone provider for ever.

[-pops-]

You have a new PM now, complain to her!

[Lamb Chop]

You have a new PM now, complain to her!

Wouldn't get past the gatekeeper!

These days like call centres - pollies dont want to know and you cant get hold of one unless you are a billionaire etc or on the telly or a Bonnie & Clyde:lol:

It's the celebrity decade:censored:

[wiseseoservice]

ISP's can be quite infuriating. They are frequently making changes to their network causing down time to the consumer but they still want their money. If you call into them, generally speaking you get the run around and it is like pulling teeth to get someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Unfortunately if you want to have internet access, you have to put up with a certain amount of frustration.

[catgate]

ISP's can be quite infuriating. They are frequently making changes to their network causing down time to the consumer but they still want their money. If you call into them, generally speaking you get the run around and it is like pulling teeth to get someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Unfortunately if you want to have internet access, you have to put up with a certain amount of frustration.

Oh! That's interesting.

[Dencandy]

There is another possibility, Lamb Chop, that you're the victim of a browser hijack. The request to update your email address is an old dodge, espcially as your ISP seemed unaware of this happening & confirmed your account was OK. To check that do a scan with up-to-date Spybot S&D or MalwareBytes.

[Lamb Chop]

I since was told that they can do this to get your attention if you haven't paid your account etc.

Not applicable to myself as they have my Internet Credit Card number and debit it along with my land line supplier the same that way I keep this lot and any programs I buy or on line stuff on one account. It has a low limit too in case of hijack so cant get a lot out of me. ;)

Dencandy I have SAS real time and also Malabytes and scan frequently and did straight away back then.

Pops that PM is now there in a hung Parliament took weeks due to our silly representative way of getting MPs - they changed it for the worse - instead of first past the post as in UK - now have to get 50% of primary or goes to 2nd or 3rd votes and takes forever - to work out hence we only just got it sorted and now with 1 Green MP who won the seat on preferences, 2 independents same, and 2 independents who got in on primaries. Green and 1 went straight away with Labor and the other 3 milked the situation for 3 weeks and then 2 went with Labor - 1 because is Labor but couldn't get endorsement and the other because about to retire I reckon and couldn't be bothered to go back to the polls and his very nice fat pension is already in the bag. They used to get 69% of their annual salary put to one side in super.Now 9% like the rest of us. But he has been there a while and then they get jobs for the boys on Boards and usual Commissioner of picking up the nails in case they puncture the tyres or some such:censored:.

I tell you this because it was said that the UK Lib Dems want to try out our system - tell them to forget it. Not democratic as they do deals with each other over the preferences and we the public miss out as usual :(