Tiscali BroadBand & Its Bad Customer Service

Oh yes! I promised to write this after my B’day about my ISP. Now here it is.

Being one that likes good customer service so well, I always look out for that great and excellent customer service which compels one to stay put and pay through the nose. But yes, for me, its better I pay highly and get a service than pay little and be frustrated. Many Ups to Vodafone, they hold my praise for best customer service in the UK.

For the past 15 months, Tiscali has provide my broadband service but it has been like going through hell. At first, I also routed my phone calls through them, but became wiser after few months. And you know what? I returned to BT and had been happy ever since.

Every thing about Tiscali seem to be wrong. I had to stay with them on broadband till now due to 12 months contract system and the hassle of re-connected to another which at best might take over a month to get done. And visiting internet cafe isnt something I love doing while that goes on.

Starting from making a phone call to Tiscali, to the time you drop the phone – usually an average of 1 hour – there is nothing to write home about them.

First there are different phone numbers for different departments, Technical, Billings, Customer service etc. Most annoying is that when you are connected to one of the various ditches-of-woe called departments, you will need to drop and dial the other department which is basic cos they can never solve your problem within a department. And the exasperating part is that you have to go through the whole process of selecting endless options and listening to unwanted music. Meanwhile, your phone bill is mounting because they charge you for calling to rectify their own mistakes.

Secondly, as said above, all calls are charged at national rate. May God save you if you are with BT which charges the lowest on national rate and please, dont even dial from you mobile. And as you most likely have to to jump from department to department, get ready to incur a phone bill of not less than £2 and above per call.

When and if you finally got a response, it is time to deal with the all-round Indian customer service assistants. Now get me right, I am no racist, but at least if they employ people who speak what you understand, that would be better. Though I suspect they are one of these ruthless companies who are charging UK rates and paying Indian wages; Wisdom. These telephone attendants seems to have lived all their lives in India and so speak with the heaviest of accents - I do have accent too.

Anyway, that might be the least of your problem on this journey for customer 'support' cos you are yet to discover that these attendants do not listen to what you say but deals with complaints like programmed-computers. In fact, from the point they pick up the phone, the badger into your with muddle of words that you end up wondering how to respond. They greet you, say their names, ask your customer code, your phone number, your address, etc. everything in one go and you are left panting and almost dropping the phone cos you hoped to speak to a human being not a robot; sorry, I suppose they are.

Well, at this point, I’m sorry to tell you that you are yet to find out all Tiscali staff lack sa ense of responsibility. Well, of course a computer don’t take responsibility. You will be put on hold many times for them to consult a senior staff (or an oracle), you will be pushed to other department because these irresponsible staff and the toothless supervisors do not want to be the one to do what you ask or offer any solution, and on it goes, the endless cycle.

And funny enough, just on my birthday of all days, I found out they seem to be using customer accounts for training (or playing) that they have changed my broadband package to a different one without my knowledge and completely messed my day so that I dont have connection.

Now you may wonder. Am I still with them; and why? Well, I am still there because I hope to move home some time soon and don’t want to go through the hell of changing address with a new provider. But it seems we have come to our tether’s end now. They have 72 hours from me to put themselves in order in regard to me or they will be reading my own small prints very soon and replying to the Communication Ombudsman cos I don’t play child’s game.

My Passion Series - Disliking Self Righteous Clerics

The time is 09:12 hours (GMT+!), I am listening to BBC Radio 4 Sunday paper review. The presenter read out a very interesting information from The Times (I suppose) that the Bishop of London, (my Diocesan Bishop of course) has declared flying on holiday and owning a ‘big’ car SINFUL. I can’t stop laughing.

Now this is serious in a spiritual sense of view. Accept it or not, this is one of the things that make me wonder what these clerics take themselves for. And talking of clerics, I mean across religion. This sect’s holy regard of their mortal self is one of the problems seriously destroying the world.

For whatever reason, the bishop (or little god as he might feel) has no spiritual (as I suppose that’s what he thinks) or moral right to declare such choice sinful. Moral advice; yes, but outright judgement NO. By the way, if God feels his product (the world) is not ok, He can repair it or HE cares less. And that makes me ask if these little gods in the religious houses even believe in the God they preach. The Bishop went on a sea voyage in an expensive ship during the 2006 lent/Easter season whereas some members of his diocese cannot afford average good living. Was that good moral example or very righteous to do?

My opinion is that the Bishop or whoever can advice to reduce these activities but not to declare people sinners for buying a car. Someone remind him that eating can also be sin among every other thing; so say Proverbs in the Bible.

Shalom!!!

My Passion Series - My Friends

Over at MY LIFE BLOG, I just mentioned 4 of my most dearest friends in an article –Fluctuating Emotions. They are the very wonderful people who have been my main support since in England. I wish I can thank them enough.

Mark is English and an Anglican priest. I met him when I was looking for my own place the first time in 2004. being under duress from my friend I lived at his then, which was where I arrived to England at, I checked every possible advert that came my way – the way you do things when you need to create peace. When I met Mark, as a good person, he want to know who I am and why I have to move and all those sort of things real people who are not after your money alone will ask you, I answered him honestly. He was to offer me to check my email on his computer when I wanted to rush out to an internet café. Being a real nice person, he left me in his sitting room for privacy while I did my mails. And when he came in to take some stuff and met me typing at high speed, he was fascinated and offered me there and then a place to function in a conference his office is organizing. That was the beginning of it all. Near to 2 years now, he has helped me in every way more than a blood brother will and still does. I have access to him any time I wish and he tries to help in every way he can.

Sammy: An Eritrean, I met Sammy online as usual. At 40, he looks much like a 25 year old and have a wonderful heart. Heart. He is one person that wont like to hear anyone cry regardless of who the person is. When you think the world is made up of people without feelings, Sammy is one of those that makes you think you were imagining things. He can let go of his last penny for another; friend, brother or stranger to have comfort. Having been friends with him for 2 years now, I cant but feel he is a brother to me. Always there for me if only I will say it. These days I prefer not to let him know so that he don’t get all worried because of me.

Milo: he is gorgeous 29 year old who is well read and still studying. In fact, Milo is my only personally known egghead. With a smile as appealing as a diamond cube, he can listen and proffer solution as hearty and concerned as only a saint can do. And he is one. Checks on me like a big brother with all kinds of petting name he can afford loaded with praises. I bet I would have been a spoilt kid if I had grown up in the same house with him. Knowing how much I hated the hot weather, he checked on me on every hot day even after buying a desk fan for me. What a friend I have in this pure white English brother. I think he is my second most loved English person after the Queen.

Andrew: I am typing this from Andrew’s flat. As it may sound, reader, you may be wondering which among these men is the best, but I tell you what, I too cant compare. Andrew can wake up in the dead of the night to my call. In fact, he goes haywire if I fail to tell him of a problem. These days he calls me to check how things stood and I bet he can do anything; only if I should ask. Today I am spending a night at his for the first time to get away for a minute from my room and he’s been all over me asking me time without number if I am alright; ‘yes I am!’. Did I hear you ask if I am shouting on him? None of your business, he doesn’t mind if I do.

Roger: Is one of those persons that makes you wonder what sort of tuft this earth is made of. Being friends since 2002, we have not met each other in persons since we live in different continents. But our communication has built and become something more than physical contacts can keep. Gifts from Virginia have flooded me in various modes including the T-shirt I am spotting on now. Last winter, I got a winter scarf and gloves from him which made me use both for the first time since I don’t use gloves nor scarf in winter ‘cos I love the cold. Roger has been a great friend indeed and as it is, he is an American of the Greek origin.


Ali: Have you heard people call others their mate? Well, this Dubai originating British born lad is my matey... So cool and endearing you could think we grew up in the same community. In religion, he is quite very strong as a muslim but very different from what various rascals have made of Islam. Think of the saying "Islam for peace", then you know Ali. We get along very well indeed regardless of me reading my Bible as he read his Qu'ran, it doesn't matter. Still living with his parents in East London and studying in UCL, his friendship is one that motivates and encourages especially as it reflects a good surprise of an Asian Muslim with an African Christian; if you understand what I meant - both extremists religious people. hehehe...

I do have many other friends and they have all been wonderful. From the ones who don’t check on me no matter how much I check on them to the ones who remembers me but cant call other network because they are on T-mobile (hahaha... poor fellas), to the ones who send only text messages and the ones who go as far as giving a call once in a while, I really cant enumerate. But friends are the real brothers and sisters our mum didn’t give birth to. I have them in quantum, some I have not even met in person.

All my friends has something in similar, they are a selected group who are wonderful and amazing, caring and feeling and even though they don’t understand me most times yet, the only thing that I wish all humans have: respect for others and self; I find in my friends.

God bless you all.

My Passion Series - Human Integration

Being one that always wish for a world without inhibitions, demarcations, segregation or any of the boundaries that keeps us apart, I do get joy to see people come together forgetting their differences and forging ahead for a common goal. This is the reason I love London.

Although I dislike the World cup, (well, I love football 65%) because it takes the shine off every other things and starve issues of attention as every (or most) eyes turn to it. One of the things that makes me like and cherish the world cup is the level of integration seen on the fields. For countries like England, Switzerland, Germany, it is quite wonderful to see players made up of different colours. It is marvellous.

But accepting that as a fact, and praising politics for the achievements, it is a pity to note that human manners are yet to adapt without complaint. So while on the field of play racism seem a forgone issue, on our streets it still prowls. Yet we can agree that its level cannot be compared to what our parents and grand-parents had centuries ago.

It is this differences that has created a world of irregularities. A world of class based on anything possible. To me, people be able to go where they want without the entire huddle we put on their way?

Well, with the advanced countries altering the differences of nature and creating mixed societies, it is very enjoyable and portrays a free world. Yet, for whatever politics and democracy has put in place, human attitude need change to adapt to it; but that is quite a task. Only parents and child rearers can help. And as such I think it necessary to make kids know of different religions, colours, traditions, etc without prejudice and leave them to make their choice. At the end, tolerance will abound, acceptance will increase, peace will be more achievable. And we can move along forgetting our difference but fighting for those things that makes life good for us.