Internet service provider V21 is to sue its erstwhile wholesale provider NetServices, after its customers were suddenly routed through to a new ISP.
The incident, which began unexpectedly on Wednesday, has angered customers, and left them unable to connect to the internet without signing a new contract — often more expensive than their previous one.
V21 was bought by another ISP, Biscit, only last month. But, on Wednesday, V21's customers found themselves faced with a page, hosted by rival provider ezeeDSL (a subsidiary of the provider 186k), explaining that their ISP no longer had any web services. No warning had been given of the cut-off.
My choice is to pay a lot more for broadband from EezeDSL, wait nearly a month to change suppliers, or resort to dial-up.
Graham Pike, music publisher
"As of today, V Two One 'Biscit CSP' will no longer be able to provide your existing Broadband services," the screen read. "186k is not in a position to comment on the reasons for this unexpected announcement at this time. However, a plan is in place to ensure you have minimal loss of your service."
The page went on to explain that V21/Biscit's customers could ensure "service continuity" if they promptly entered their credit card details and signed up for a new 12-month contract with ezeeDSL/186k, which is also a wholesale customer of NetServices. Any customers who had already paid up front for their V21 contract would have to take it up with V21, with 186k claiming it had no customer or contract data from V21, and customers would need to start from scratch.
Worse, customers wishing to move to a provider that was not ezeeDSL would have to wait 10 days for BT to "action such cease requests". Such a process should be able to be smoothened by the issue of a migration authorisation code (MAC) but NetServices claimed that their wholesale distribution agreement with V21 forbade them from issuing MACs.
Biscit then announced on Thursday afternoon that it is beginning legal proceedings against NetServices for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
Customers of V21/Biscit's service have reacted angrily to the sudden cut-off, and the suggestion that they should sign up with ezeeDSL.
Graham Pike, a music publisher who signed up with V21, is faced with paying nearly twice as much to continue his broadband service through ezeeDSL. He currently pays £11.99 a month for an service with a maximum speed of 8Mbps, but is being offered the same service for £25 a month from ezeeDSL. Alternatively, he could take a 512Mbps Office product for £20 a month.
"My problem is that I work from home so I need a broadband connection to send large files to clients," Pike said. "My choice is to pay a lot more for broadband from ezeeDSL, wait nearly a month to change suppliers, or resort to dial-up."
"Don't do it people, just say no!" blogged another customer on Wednesday. "Do not give in to underhand tricks, and do not commit yourself to another 12 months with a NetServices ISP, and probably little hope of a MAC at the end of it. Better to be cut off and live with dial-up, then get a new, decent, non NetServices ISP!"
Pike added that he had contacted Ofcom....
Talkback
A really useful article exposing some very underhand trickery. I will be advising all my friends and contacts looking for an ISP to avoid ezeeDSL.
Why thank you 79196! Always looking to be of use.
I need Internet access for the business i run. When v21 went pop and the ezeedsl page came up i checked it out then i signed up.
The speed that i've been getting on the 2mb MAX service seems a lot faster than that of v21.
Ok, it does cost more, but i couldn't run my business without it AND i certainly can't wait to be cut off then reconnected! I'd be out of business by then (and i'd have to lay some of my staff off) and all just before Christmas!
Before signing up with ezee i did read loads of comments good and bad (by uising dial up) on the forums, but i'm happy with my new connection...so thumbs up from me (and thumbs down to v21!).
ezzedsl or whatever its called is run by netservices as was v21/biscuit/ there will be no difference. I appreciat you needed internet quickly, but migrating to the people who cut us off in the first place is an unfortunate mistake, especially considering its more expensive. If you actually read any of the news articles it seems netservices are the biggest bunch of W*ANKERS around. Nick.
I hate the fact I have been forced into taking the ezeeDSL package, but I couldn't wait the 3 or 4 weeks it was going to take to get another service provider. I even contacted NTL (spit), but they couldn't respond quick enough.
ezeeDSL offered me the full 8mb service with 30Gb download limit and several other services. None of the other services detailed any download limits or over limit charges. When trying to select one of the other services I found they weren't available in the drop-down they all stated Office rather than Home.
I am decidely unhappy and have referred the whole matter to Ofcom, Watchdog and Which? magazine. If you can think of anyone else I can complain to please let me know.
I also set the account up on a credit card that a don't really use and as soon as I figure out a way to cancel without getting the bailiffs on my doorstep I will terminate the card. Any ideas please let me know.
Thanks
Rob
The problem with taking the eseedsl deal is that you will still need to get your MAC off them and they will say you are contracted for a year.
As for places to go, I'm going to Ofcom, Computeractive, Web User and then anyone else who will listen.
Netservices had acted in a completely unethical way. If they can move us to unezeedsl then they could give us our MACs, but they are trying to hold us to ransom!
The problem with taking the eseedsl deal is that you will still need to get your MAC off them and they will say you are contracted for a year.
As for places to go, I'm going to Ofcom, Computeractive, Web User and then anyone else who will listen.
Netservices had acted in a completely unethical way. If they can move us to unezeedsl then they could give us our MACs, but they are trying to hold us to ransom!
The good news is that i managed to get internet access while i was "switched off".
In order to access the internet while you are being "blocked". Open up a web browser and go to
https://www.proxify.com
now you are able to browse the web using them as your browsing agent!
EzeeDsl do not block port 443 so any services that use it are fully open and available.
I moved over to Talk 101, a company that seems to be much much better at everything compared to ShitServices.
I hope Ofcom give NetServices a good hard thrashing for being a bunch of tossers.
I fully support V21 in their court action and hope they win as NS did exactly the same to Fast 24.
Down with NetServices!
Er, we'd like the evidence please! Get hold of me at david.meyer@zdnet.co.uk.
What can I do? I was pirated by EzeeDsl on 15 the Nov. as I needed internet access -but i do not have a business yet the cheapest they offered on my computer that evening eas £24.99 a month 3 months in advance. I had nothing but trouble in the next 3 months being unable to stay online , still using v21 as part of my dial up and having no email and no access to my old email Thank gdness for msn! I complained many times and asked to cancel at the end of Dec and again in Jan . EzeeDSL said I couldnt. I contacted trading standards who said Ezeedsl had breached their contract as they had not provided promised service and to sensd a registered letter which I did. EzeeDSL keep ignoring my letters and emails. The 1syt payment had to be credit card so they had 3 months in advance -they said it would not need to be credit card after that BUT although I cancelled with them and also cancelled my credit card agreement they still took £74 .97 this month and so I am now also in dispute with the credit card co. as I had cancelled my credit card in Dec. fearing such a dishonest co. would try and get the money somehow. I have sent several emails (from the local library and relatives computers as I have no internet access from my home computer!) and they seem to be ignoring them. All I want is a good ISP. Can someone advise me as to what else I can do-please email me at Angelique5@hotmail.co.uk if you have good advice only please
http://www.londonstockexchange.co.uk/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id=1429553&source=RNS
Just searched on my isp and found this news on the stock exchange.
Jonno.