Tiscali Complete Pipex Takeover

[Freedom2Support]

Pipex Communications plc, a major provider of telecommunications and internet solutions including broadband, voice, web hosting and network services, today announces that further to its announcement on 13 July, it has completed the sale of its consumer Broadband and Voice division to Tiscali UK Limited for a total consideration of £210 million, on a debt-free basis, before adjustments.

Freedom2Surf is now part of Tiscali, and therefore freedom2surf and it's customers have no further connection with PIPEX Communications plc from this day forward.

[andyw]

this this a good thing?

[kmount]

We'll find out in due course.

[JMansford]

Can anyone recommend a good alternative to F2S now? I doubt Tiscali will maintain the issues important to me:

1. No traffic shaping
2. Professional UK support. I'm an MCSE and don't expect to have language issues or to be treated like a n00b.
3. Decent back-end bandwidth!
4. Static IP (at no additional cost) - I VPN in to home from work and dynamic DNS is a hassle. Least important one here I suppose.

I was considering Eclipse, probably time to jump before it all goes the way of Tiscali.

If anyone from Tiscali / F2S is reading this please feel free to state in what ways F2S will operate the same after the takeover.

Joel.

[chriswsm]

So how long before customer services goes over to India and it becomes near impossible for anyone to get a MAC code?

One thing I do find intriguing is how Tiscali will operate once BT has renewed its network with the 21CN hardware seeing 21CN is not compatible with Datastream products which Tiscali uses as its backbone.

Originally Posted by andyw

this this a good thing?

Not likely with Tiscali's past record.

I am actually very surprised the sale went ahead.

£210 million seems to be a huge amount of money to pay for 1 customer.


When the news hit I decided to migrate after being with f2s for over 4 and a half happy years (well 3-4 happy years) under f2s and the remainder under pipex. (not so happy)

[KevinP_N19]

I doubt any of us can forget the experience of the Spring/Summer 2006 when Pipex moved us. Weeks if not months of lousy speeds, email down for days on end, support requests taking three months to reply etc etc.

Prior experience of Pipex taking over two ISPs I had used in business meant I already knew what to expect and they went ahead and proved my worst fears were correct. While I have no personal experience of Tiscali other than offering technical support to a number of users, I can only fear this will be worse. Tiscali's reputation surely cannot go any lower, both for service and support.

I cannot go through another summer like 2006. It's a bit early to expect news of when (not if) Tiscali will migrate but I think I'd better start looking to move sooner rather than later.

Originally Posted by JMansford

Can anyone recommend a good alternative to F2S now? I doubt Tiscali will maintain the issues important to me:

1. No traffic shaping
2. Professional UK support. I'm an MCSE and don't expect to have language issues or to be treated like a n00b.
3. Decent back-end bandwidth!
4. Static IP (at no additional cost) - I VPN in to home from work and dynamic DNS is a hassle. Least important one here I suppose.

I was considering Eclipse, probably time to jump before it all goes the way of Tiscali.

If anyone from Tiscali / F2S is reading this please feel free to state in what ways F2S will operate the same after the takeover.

Joel.

I've moved to Zen. Bit more expensive but definitely everything you would want in an ISP. The bit extra pays for the service and the independence.

[acidtechno]

so, finally finalised? thought it was already

I wait patiently for freedom2support to get some detailed response from Tiscali about the future of F2S, I know they planned to ask them a set of questions which will get some confirmation on a few issues customers are concerned about. When we see a response is unknown, Tiscali will be looking at their options, hopefully they have and decided already. Have you a set of questions ready? have you sent them yet?

I think zen are a rip off for what you get, ok so no upload counted, but there's no peak and off peak zones, and 20gb for £25 a month? not so good for the pocket.

[wfnuk]

Originally Posted by JMansford

Can anyone recommend a good alternative to F2S now? I doubt Tiscali will maintain the issues important to me:

1. No traffic shaping
2. Professional UK support. I'm an MCSE and don't expect to have language issues or to be treated like a n00b.
3. Decent back-end bandwidth!
4. Static IP (at no additional cost) - I VPN in to home from work and dynamic DNS is a hassle. Least important one here I suppose.

After over 4 years with F2S I migrated to ADSL24 and, from personal experience, I can highly recommend them. My only regret is that I didn't migrate to them earlier.

[Justin]

If freedom2support knew someone to contact in Tiscali who would be willing to answer questions they would be more than willing to do that no doubt

[danellisuk]

Just checked out Zen Broadband; you have an option of 8 static IPs! But it is a little more pricey, 24.99 compared to 19.99 for 20GB. I've been fortunate for last 4-5 years with f2s, however i am not going to hang around if I start seeing issues that other people had during the last takeover. I think I can safely presume that most f2s customers are not the typical end-user, and know what they are doing. So what other providers are available now that can give us a no-bs broadband?

[Golficus]

My biggest worry is that Tiscali foul up the MAC system (purposefully or otherwise) before they then foul up everything else!

[sir-les-mp]

All we can do at present is wait to see what happen's
I will be happy as long as the features i currently recieve remain unchaged
Price, staic ip, multiple email accounts within my Domain Name,free unlimited online backup and most important my current speed doesnt drop
As long as these remain unchanged then i'll remain a loyal f2s customer, if not then i may look for another provider.

[badger]

Originally Posted by JMansford

Can anyone recommend a good alternative to F2S I was considering Eclipse, probably time to jump before it all goes the way of Tiscali.


Joel.

I highly recommend Eclipse. Excellent speeds all the time.

[Handbag]

I plan to migrate asap. I was previously a Tiscali customer before I joined f2s and after 5 yrs, have no intention of being one again.

[Doctor Snuggles]

they have 1 less customer as of 2 days ago, I got my mac and i'm off to sky.

[Noreen]

Joel, have a look at IDNet, they have static IP, one month contracts and are renowned for their in-house Support. I've never regretted migrating to them.
http://www.idnet.net/broadband/default.jsp

Also have a look here http://www.thinkbroadband.com/isp/co...commit=Compare

[No Rest]

Originally Posted by andyw

this this a good thing?

Its a good thing if you want to be with the worst ISP in the UK

But dont take my word for it.

Tiscali

• Complaint - Poor Support / Connection Problems / Slow Speeds / Billing Errors
• No. Complaints - HIGH (323)
• Status Notes - None.
• Details - Customers have continued to complain about a raft of problems with this ISP for several years now, most commonly marking out poor support as being the biggest issue.
• UPDATE (14/09/2007): 4 New Complaints - Poor support, billing and connection problems

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/new/complain/complain.shtml

[Noreen]

A new comparison chart http://www.thinkbroadband.com/isp/co...commit=Compare

[DavidC]

Just thought I'd drop back in.
I went to adsl24 on 31.7.07 and found it to be like F2S was in the old days.

'nuff said.

David

[MuNk]

i think ill stay wiht f2s see how things go, if tiscali screw up f2s then i screwed cause im yet to find a ISP that is as good as f2s has been for me for the last 4 years..

i moved from f2s to another isp when the whole new bandwidth package for 8mb connections came into place after 1 month of moving i had moved back to f2s and never looked back since, so i hope it dont get screwed over. all though tascali in charge dose wory me...

[No Rest]

Originally Posted by MuNk

i think ill stay wiht f2s see how things go, if tiscali screw up f2s then i screwed cause im yet to find a ISP that is as good as f2s has been for me for the last 4 years..

i moved from f2s to another isp when the whole new bandwidth package for 8mb connections came into place after 1 month of moving i had moved back to f2s and never looked back since, so i hope it dont get screwed over. all though tascali in charge dose wory me...

A lot of forum members like myself went to ADSL24 (Entanet) its £19.99 per month, monthly contract, 30Gb peak 300gb off peak.

http://adsl24.co.uk/index.php

[The Villan]

I have moved to ADSL24 about 2 months ago. They are brilliant and support must be the best around and they have their own forum with fast repsonse on queries and fabulous telephone support (national rate and English is the spoken language).
I have been with a few ISP's, but this one is by far the best.

[The Villan]

Thats the package I took as well No Rest