Whirlpool

Hi..

Recently I signed up another account with BigPond for an ADSL 2 connection to another phone line in my house (BigPond ADSL on the other line). They told me they couldn't tell me whether ports were actually available in my area, but they'd need to send out someone to test the phone line at my house.

This guy came around, tested it, told us everything was fine and that they'd be sending out the necessary stuff (modem etc.) within seven working days. Four days later I am called up and told that as it turns out, there are no ports available, this person also tells me that the person who I'd initially spoken with would have KNOWN there were no ports, and signed me up anyway.

So they offer me an 8mb/w/e service(same plan and price), so I decided to take it... Then she tells me the phone line is of no use to them, it won't work with the exchange for anything other than a phoneline. So now I can't get ANY connection on this phone line, after being told I could get both ADSL 2 and ADSL, lol.

Should I have to pay the money to have had the tech come out, even though apparently BP KNEW I wouldn't be getting the connection I'd asked for on it, the guy lied to me and told me everything was good, and then I was told I couldn't get ANY connection on it?

Should I be able to get the 8mb service on my original phone line (1.5Mb ATM)? If so will I still be able to have the 60GB plan, and at the originally offered (discounted) ADSL2 price?

Can interleaving be disabled, or is this just a standard ADSL connection?

Also, how much would it actually cost to have the second line re-installed and fixed up to work with the exchange (the plan was to have two internet connections into the house, I'd still like to do this)? Or does no ADSL 2 ports also mean no ADSL ports?

Thanks.

BadHabit writes...

Should I be able to get the 8mb service on my original phone line (1.5Mb ATM)?

Yes.

Can interleaving be disabled

Not on any of the ADSL1 plans.

Or does no ADSL 2 ports also mean no ADSL ports?

Not necessarily.

Wow. That's the exact situation that i am in / have been in for quite some time.

When i initially signed up, the same thing happened. I was currently with ADSL 256k on Bigpond but then i wanted ADSL2+. They sent me out all the stuff, etc. and i set it all up and got things ready to go. However, there were no ports available in my area. So i managed to get 8mbps instead for $10 a month less and 25GB of Downloads. I was quite happy.

However, i have been ringing up and re-applying for ADSL2+ once every two or so months just in case some ports become available. No luck as yet though.

Since you are paying the same price for 8mbps as you would be for ADSL2+, i would be ringing up every now and then if i was you too.

Shouldn't I be put on a list or something? Having to ring up to see if I can actually get the plan I'm paying money for is a bit sad, and 8Mb kinda sucks, seeing as I'm only 800m or so from the exchange, I'd be getting 20Mb+ :(

Well that's what i figured. But i was told that it doesn't work that way. Even if you were on a 'make-up list', if someone applied the day that a port became available, they would get it.

It does suck, i would agree.