Internet cowboys in Poland - Internet Providers

Over the past few weeks i've been getting really p1ssed of with my internet provider.
2 years ago i signed a contract that states i must be provided with internet that has a speed of 2mbs.
I find it really rare when i am actually getting that.
For the past 2 weeks ive been at war with them, because it has been so slow, and takes me upto 6 minutes just to access my email.

Non of these programs work, Gadu-Gadu, Skype, Yahoo msg, Msn msg, all radio stations i listen to over the net, they buffer every 10 seconds, i've given up on you-tube as it took me 6hours for a 9minute clip to load.

I complain and complain, try to get them to come and examine it, but all attempts are useless. Im fobbed off with excuses such as;

"its your wireless router" - so i bought new one, and had same problem.
"its your computer" so i tested it on various different networks and providers....it worked fine.
"too many people are using the router" there are 2 computers in my flat, hardly 1000's.

So i finally gave up, and told them that if it wasnt fixed, or they didnt provide the connection on the contract, i would look for new provider. To which i was told, we are the only people who can provide internet in that block, we have an agreement with the administrators, so you cannot change provider.

I mean, cmon, so much for the customer having an open market.
Has anyone else dealt with such cowboys before?

And yes, i will name and shame the company, its STARNET, they provide internet to the Kazimierz area of Krakow. Avoid the feckers like the plague!

I think it may be some BS given to you in hope that you're an ignorant.
There are wireless options by telecoms, have you checked their offers ?

Yeah, but i have to provide a wireless internet service to those staying in my flat too, so i really need a stable connection, without pay neostrada prices.

Could you get that statement in writing? They're almost certainly breaking competition law with that agreement, so you could set the office for competition and consumer protection on the feckers.

That's the trouble with cowboys - they'll state a max speed but this might well decrease significantly when the system is clogged with other users. I pay a bit more and go with TPSA - I've been on Neostrada now for abou 4 years and never had any problems. They own the infrastructure and have the best personnel I guess.

Hi mate, one way to sort out if it's a problem on your machine or are providing a substandard service is to ping your IP and see the packet loss full step-by-step instructions are here help.expedient.com/general/ping_traceroute.shtml

I used this to find out that my wireless router was knackered as it was dropping packets, a simple replacement solved it; however, it is not as straight forward as replacing it for another one.

But whatever your problem is they should come out and test the line and your system to make sure you can receive it, and maybe it would be good idea to send telefonitika round there so that she can practice her Polish language skills on them lol

Luckily we have dam good internet here in Pulawy that is run by a family business and they are fantastic, and they are thinking of increasing our speed from 2mb up to 4mb at the end of the year, at no extra cost to the customer :)

Avoid Sferia's wireless service. It is dire. I'm looking for a new provider, don't want a TPSA landline, and can't do it via the cable. There must be something available.

If you've got a stationary phone and you want to pay less than in TPSA, you may try Netia. I've got it and it's quite OK.

You can also get wireless Internet (e.g. blueconnect), it's more expensive but it's independent from your administrator's ideas.

I had blue connect and it wasn't so great - they use the same bases stations as the Era phone network which takes priority - not so great if you live next to Lazienki Park, as I do. Netia might be a good idea, though there are some problems in this building. It might be worth waiting until TPSA recable the block.

Orange has a mobile service which sounds interesting though.

Avoid teleplus at all costs! they are absolute shite, I now use orange business everywhere with a thing that plugs into the computer its great and really reliable for only 120 pln per month.

We also have Neostrada at home but only because we have no choice. TPSA is a French-owned monopolist wit NOT capable employees and a horrible attitude.

Same for Cyfra+, another French-run horrible company who seem to despise their own customers.

Whatever. They own the infrastructure and at the end of the day their techies have the most experience. I've been with them for 4 years and I've never had more than 6 hours downtime.

Actually, when France Télécom took a controlling share in TPSA, after the initial inspectorate report of the exchanges and computer systems, France Télécom was surprised because it was more modern than their own system in France.

This was because the whole system was modernised after the fall of communism in Poland, although the line infrastructure needs modernisation the basic computer system is one of the best in Europe.

Yes - I think the Polish system leapfrogged a lot of technology to go from the old Strowger style exchanges to the modern digital ones. Lot of investment there.

sure ill go round and give them a piece of my mind :) or at least practise my polish on them ... :)
if it helps dtaylor get a decent net connection anyways ...