British Comedy Guide

Broadband Tech Support

My broadband went off this morning. I phoned tech support and was on the phone to them for an hour as they went through all sorts of diagnostic procedures with me - they had me moving the entire pc into the lounge where my wireless router is, and hooking it up via cable, eventually they wanted me to unscrew the BT master socket and plug the modem directly into that.

They erventually concluded I need an engineer to come out at great expense. After I put the phone down I decided to try unplugging the router at the wall and switching it back on again. (Up until then I'd just been switching it off via the power button.)

The internet came back on.

So my question is, who's the stupidest twat? Me, for not thinking of doing that in the first place, or Sanjay the clueless tech support monkey? Angry

Sanjay probably thought you'd already switched it off from the wall, but he still should have checked.

Too close to call! I'm going to flip a coin. Heads or tails Lee?

Quote: Lee Henman @ April 2 2009, 12:15 PM BST

My broadband went off this morning. I phoned tech support and was on the phone to them for an hour as they went through all sorts of diagnostic procedures ...

So my question is, who's the stupidest twat? Me, for not thinking of doing that in the first place, or Sanjay the clueless tech support monkey? Angry

Consider yourself lucky you live in the UK and you didn't have to spend an hour or more on hold, waiting for someone from tech support to deal with your call, as is the case with some ISPs in some countries.

As for your question, well, er, when the Net goes down, the first thing to do is switch everything off - including at the power point - wait a bit and then switch things back on. Not only does it work sometimes, but it's also the first thing that tech support will/should suggest.

How much does unlimited monthly broadband cost in the UK theseadays?

Anywhere between £15-50, I believe?

I accidentally discovered the cable-to-socket-non-interfacing trick after a few dodgy drop-outs. But only in desperation, and moments before ringing a helpline.

Quote: Kenneth @ April 2 2009, 12:32 PM BST

Consider yourself lucky you live in the UK and you didn't have to spend an hour or more on hold, waiting for someone from tech support to deal with your call, as is the case with some ISPs in some countries.

As for your question, well, er, when the Net goes down, the first thing to do is switch everything off - including at the power point - wait a bit and then switch things back on. Not only does it work sometimes, but it's also the first thing that tech support will/should suggest.

How much does unlimited monthly broadband cost in the UK theseadays?

Mine's free. I'm with Talk Talk and you get free broadband if you have your phone service with them. By the way Talk Talk are doing a deal for new customers that ends today - free broadband and phone calls for 12 months if you sign up for 18 months.

Quote: Lee Henman @ April 2 2009, 12:49 PM BST

free broadband and phone calls for 12 months if you sign up for 18 months.

That's the advantage of living in a small country with a big population. Unlimited high-speed broadband isn't feasible in non-urban areas of big countries with small populations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgqEIp2YmtE

Now rather belatedly discovering Monkey Dust. Thanks for the link shaggy292.

Quote: Kenneth @ April 2 2009, 1:18 PM BST

Now rather belatedly discovering Monkey Dust. Thanks for the link shaggy292.

Monkey Dust is great. My boyfriend introduced me and I love it.

Quote: Lee Henman @ April 2 2009, 12:15 PM BST

So my question is, who's the stupidest twat? Me, for not thinking of doing that in the first place, or Sanjay the clueless tech support monkey? Angry

You!

Quote: EllieJP @ April 2 2009, 1:48 PM BST

Monkey Dust is great. My boyfriend introduced me and I love it.

Didn't I tell you about it ages ago.....

Quote: Kenneth @ April 2 2009, 12:32 PM BST

Consider yourself lucky you live in the UK and you didn't have to spend an hour or more on hold, waiting for someone from tech support to deal with your call, as is the case with some ISPs in some countries.

No, but you do get put through to (most of the time) some f**kwit in India who neither has any more knowledge than you, nor is actually understandable with the accent.

Quote: Kenneth @ April 2 2009, 12:32 PM BST

How much does unlimited monthly broadband cost in the UK theseadays?

Unfortunately there's no such thing. Trust me. I learnt the hard way.

Quote: EllieJP @ April 2 2009, 1:48 PM BST

Monkey Dust is great. My boyfriend introduced me and I love it.

Much like anal then.

Quote: Kenneth @ April 2 2009, 12:55 PM BST

That's the advantage of living in a small country with a big population. Unlimited high-speed broadband isn't feasible in non-urban areas of big countries with small populations.

We don't get high speed either.

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