Changing my Internet Plan
I need a new Internet Plan
I currently get 20 gb/40 gb (peak/off peak) ADSL+2 Broadband Plan with Westnet and it’s just not enough for what I’m doing on the net. Every month I pay excess charges because I go over my limit. I want at least 40 gb/60 gb (peak/off peak) and there are plans available, however there is a catch to changing my Internet Plan.
I went first of all to Westnet who are my current ISP. Always in the past it was
- I’m thinking of changing my internet plan
- Westnet would be very helpful,
- New charges were explained,
- It was all organised within a very short period of time and
- Voila, I had a new Internet Plan.
As I said, there is a catch. I’m with Optus (organised through Westnet when I switched my phone to them) and all their new plans are with Telstra so they can’t help me. They were very apologetic but I still can’t have a new plan with them without a lot of mucking around.
I then rang Iinet who had some nice plans and pricing so they looked good and had been recommended by people I trust but again because I’m with Optus, I can’t get any of their plans until I change.
Each company told me I would need to cancel my current service, go to Telstra and sign up during which time I have no internet access, would need new email addresses, possibly a new number and there might be a chance that after all of this, they can’t connect me up to the Internet again because of the exchange.
That’s not a great plan for me.
Time for Plan B.
I have two phone lines running into the house, courtesy of the previous owner and as I only needed one, I disconnected the other. A possible solution I thought might be to reconnect that line and try to get a new Internet Plan through that line and then I might not lose internet access whilst I’m trying to get a new plan on my current phone number which I really don’t want to change.
I tried to call Telstra to discuss options to get the second line connected to Telstra and surprise, surprise, their computer system that might be able to help me is not working and I was asked to call back on Monday.
Another catch of course, despite being with Telstra in the past, is that they don’t have any record of any of the lines into my house ever being in my name – What the???!!!
I was given a number by Telstra to ring to discuss the other option of moving my current phone line to Telstra, guess what? It’s not open on the weekend. The Telstra customer service person didn’t think to tell me that.
It’s the weekend, this is the only time really during the week that I have time to deal with this and for the two Telstra numbers I have, one doesn’t have a working computer system and the other isn’t open on weekends. Oh yes, I really want to be with Telstra again.
Lets try Plan C
I’ll go to Optus and ask them to give me an Internet Plan. Great idea, they have a good plan, it doesn’t need a contract so it’s a good option. That’s not going to work either because they won’t take my current phone number which I’ve had for over 10 years because it’s not portable. Call Telstra I’m told.
I’m really unsatisfied with the inability to change from one provider to another without having to pay to reconnect and disconnect and reconnect and .. well you get why I’m not happy.
I don’t even know how much I will have to pay because anyone who could tell me doesn’t work on weekends. I’m also told it can mean 2 – 3 weeks offline and then no guarantee I will get broadband again with my current or a new provider.
I have broadband, I want more and I can’t get it. Not happy Jan !! indeed.
Anyone else have horror stories about their Internet Provider or any suggestions for how I can get a better Internet Plan?
Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Tanny,
I can’t believe that it’s so difficult to change your internet plan. The monopoly Telstra has over phone lines is incomprehensible. There is such a thing as naked DSL or naked Broadband which means you don’t need a phone line to hook up to the internet. Maybe this is another option you haven’t considered.
Hope you can get it sorted soon.
Hi Dragon
I’ve tried everything. The thing is everyone WANTS to let me change but because I’m on Optus but with Westnet, no one can help me unless I do the changeover. I really have to move to Telstra, then wait 3 months or pay a ‘penalty’ but during that time I can get a bigger plan, but can’t move my phone service.
I’m considering going with the 2nd phone line option, get it as Naked DSL after 3 months and then use my main line (which number I’ve had for over 10 yrs now) simply as a phone line.
I was even on a list from Optus offering a new plan which was going to be perfect, save me about $60 a month, however after all the paperwork was done (and 3 visits by the Optus rep) I got told ‘umm, erm, we can’t do it’.
I want to keep my phone number, I want more internet and I can’t get it.
Meanwhile the NBN is coming to Coffs Harbour. If I knew I had a chance of getting on that, I might just wait. It’s just so annoying.
Wow Tanny,
Talk about the run around!! It sounds like this has been a massive learning curb for you and also totally frustrating. I’m tone deaf when it comes to techy stuff and I hope that I never have the problems that you are currently experiencing.
I think that the whole NBN (national broadband network) is still up in the air and it will depend of who gets into office with the upcoming election.
I like Dragon’s suggestion, maybe look into naked DSL. That’s a way to cut out the carriers.
Hi Bev
I’m still trying to get my plan changed but Telstra doesn’t open on the weekend for this sort of help(sigh) Every other provider can help me on a weekend but not Telstra. Of course, I’m not surprised about that.
The NBN is up in the air now, it’s supposed to be available in Coffs next year, depending on the election, I might not get a chance at that either. GRRRR
Hi Tanny,
I know exactly how you feel and have been in the same position our solution was to go with Optus on the second line but, having said that we were able to have cable to the house.
When we moved 2 years ago we had problems again we ended having to go to Telstra with everything but that took 4 weeks to get it right and because it was a business second phone and we jumped up and down we were given a month free access, just last week we changed our plan to a new bigger access I think it was from 12gig to 25 gig Dropped the second line as we sold the business changed the foxtel as it was a bonus bigger plan it ended up cheaper to do that having foxtel, phone and internet all on one bill saving us around 20-25 a month. All this only took a couple of days.
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Hi Rita
I think I’ll go with the second line and then go Naked DSL.
Nice to see you had a win with your new plan
Hi Tania,
Your saga is terrible. You would have thought that changing internet plans would have been easier. Whenever I’ve got a technology issue I head on over to the Whirlpool forums because chances are someone else has had a similar drama and knows how to fix it.
I’m also contemplating dropping my land line and hopping aboard the naked DSL express.
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Hi David
It’s a situation where I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. I’m probably going with the change to Telstra and hope it all works out. I’m not holding my breath but as I’m away for a week hopefully it will all be fixed during that time. I’ll keep you updated.
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