ISPrankings.com - Tiscali Broadband

Tiscali Broadband

Description: Downloadable up to 1Mbps
Unlimited monthly usage*
FREE modem and connection
FREE email anti-spam and anti-virus
Dedicated customer support
Keeps your phone line free
Always-on connection
Easy to install

Reviews (16):

misleading advertising by Tiscali
Reviewer: Anonymous England 03-14-2007
Although at first it appeared Tiscali would be good value as they offered unlimited download at 2Mbps. After signing up I received an email an extract is copied here:-

''You may upload and download as you wish outside the peak hours;
however we ask that you are considerate when using the internet
during the peak period. Peak hours are from 6pm to 11pm Monday to
Sunday. To avoid any further heavy use warnings
we strongly recommend you adhere to the following guidelines:

o) Do not download large files during the peak periods

o) Do not use Peer-to-Peer file sharing software during peak
periods (e.g. Kazaa, BitTorrent)

o) Try and keep internet use to email and web browsing during these times.

If you do not reduce your usage during these peak times we
will manage your usage.;;

It would appear that Tiscali are using misleading advertising to steal an advantage on other ISPs who are more honest about the restrictions on there usage.

They are absolutely rubbish
Reviewer: ao 04-15-2006
I recently purchased Tiscali broadband. They sent me a modem which I thought I would be able to connect to my existing wireless router, how wrong I was! The modem hasn't got an ethernet port to allow you to connect to the router. The only way I can get Tiscali broadband wirelessly is to purchase the Speedtouch 580 modem (which I later found out I have to buy to get wireless internet access) but they didn't say anything about that when I was signing up to Tiscali. It was only when I received the modem that I realised it wasn't going to work with the wireless router. If you are thinking about setting up a wireless router with Tiscali, think again unless you want to pay Ł79.99 for their wireless Speedtouch modem!

Tiscali, Well All I can say is Useless
Reviewer: CustomerisKing 04-15-2006
Well, I joined Tiscali Broadband in October Last Year (2005), everything was fine and dandy, all worked brilliantly, excellent speed, great downloads and I could not ask for more, and then suddenly a FUP (fair use policy) Warning Email, so I cut down on downloading, did not even connect for two days, when I connected again, well I received another FUP and then immediately another, saying that my usage has been moved to other heavy users. Since then download speeds have dropped to between 1KB/s and 5Kb/s which is ridiculous, considering I had not even connected for two days.

I would not recommend them in a million years and now am in the process of sourcing a better ISP even if I have to pay more to change. Screw Tiscali

It's now crawling every time, very disappointed.
Reviewer: CustomerisKing 04-15-2006
Well, I joined Tiscali Broadband in October Last Year (2005), everything was fine and dandy, all worked brilliantly, excellent speed, great downloads and I could not ask for more, and then suddenly a FUP (fair use policy) Warning Email, so I cut down on downloading, did not even connect for two days, when I connected again, well I received another FUP and then immediately another, saying that my usage has been moved to other heavy users. Since then download speeds have dropped to between 1KB/s and 5Kb/s which is ridiculous, considering I had not even connected for two days.

I would not recommend them in a million years and now am in the process of sourcing a better ISP even if I have to pay more to change. Screw Tiscali

Cheap contract
Reviewer: spoon86 04-15-2006
Tiscali are the worst company I have ever had the misfortune to deal with. First of all the line test and check took over 3 weeks weeks to complete, once I was connected all was fine until the phone rang which would always disconnect the internet (whether this was a faulty phone line on my part or Tiscalis fault I’m not sure but I wasn’t taking any chances) – so I decided to play it safe and cancel my account with Tiscali on day 1 of the 7 you have before you are tied in for a years contract. All seemed fine until I signed up with Demon (highly recommended) their line tests showed that Tiscali had not removed the marker on the phone line (this was over 3 weeks after I cancelled with them). I phoned up their customer services and eventually got my point across. About 2 weeks later the phone line was clear, but in the mean time I had received two bills for Tiscali even though I cancelled. The letter they were meant to send me to confirm the cancellation never turned up and I received another 3 bills after this. Each time I rang up and told them I had already cancelled. After 1 more bill I sent a letter to them. I have not heard from them since.

Only worth joining if you do not live near lots of people who will join the same service as you.
Reviewer: beld01 04-15-2006
Only worth joining if you do not live near lots of people who will join the same service as you. If they do then Tiscali's pipeline is so narrow that you do not see their promised speeds.

Our broadband requirements were modest (1Mb). To begin with, nine months ago, if I used my Ping, I'd get speeds of 12-15ms. That's fine. But, since the New Year (Jan 2006) our Ping speeds average over 130ms. A drastic change for the worse (almost the same speed as the dial-up connection I use when travelling.)

Several households on my suburban street have switched to Tiscali and the service has accordingly declined. I am now going to change to another ISP.

Tiscali broadband managed to have me connected and online in just one week from phoning them.
Reviewer: Firmbutfair 04-15-2006
Tiscali broadband managed to have me connected and online in just one week from phoning them. At some points I have a connection (worked out at www.internetfrog.com) that can download at more than 1Mbps. I also always connect like lightening to a 2.2Mps service! All for just Ł17.99 a month! Who can argue with that?? They are fantastic!

Since I started using Tiscali Broadband in November 2005 I have had nothing but problems with the speed of broadband
Reviewer: austinfamily 04-15-2006
Since I started using Tiscali Broadband in November 2005 I have had nothing but problems with the speed of broadband, or should I say the lack of it! If anyone is thinking of setting up with Tiscali, I wouldn't recommend it! Their technical support is laughable, and once you have signed up for 12 months they have no interest in your problems.

Honestly, EVERYTHING! IS BAD!
Reviewer: james944 04-15-2006
This is quite a long review but this is an accurate account of what happened to me during my days with Tiscali, please read it - it’ll save you a lot of stress.

Well here we go, where shall I start? hmm at the beginning...

I had been with another broadband provider (BT) for many years and was very happy with the service but not the price. I saw the offer with Tiscali and thought it was time to move and save some hard earned cash. I wanted the 2Mb package as that was what I had with BT, I was happy that the fair usage policy wouldn’t affect me as I don’t do much peer to peer sharing, but I do play a lot of games online (BF2). I had read all the bad reviews and thought that it must be a few isolated individuals, so I thought I’d give it a go (FEEL FREE TO KICK ME NOW).

I tried to join Tiscali using their website, but because I already had broadband it wouldn’t let me proceed, even though I had already got my MAC code.
So I called the freephone number, but was told by the operator that I had to call a 0870 number as I already had broadband. I called that number and listened intently to the menu options, none of which said anything about joining. I redialled the freephone number and went through the usual bits and pieces, and the operator signed me up! Not a very good first impression I thought, perhaps the first operator was new? Anyway, I also wanted the free phone package, and was told by the operator that I’d have to call back the next day to get that set-up. OK, so the next day I called to get my phone set-up, and I was told that they could only do that once my broadband was active with Tiscali? Perhaps the operator was new?

Within a week I received a welcome letter and then my modem. On the day my broadband was switched over I installed Tiscali very easily and started to surf. All seemed well and I was very pleased. At this point I have to tell you that I work shifts and this was at 10am - I was on a 2pm-10pm shift that week. I continued to use it each morning and at night once I’d got home from work (11pm). I regularly checked the speed and it was always 2Mb or above.

The week went by and Saturday came. I played Saturday morning and all was well, but I didn’t play on Saturday afternoon/night. Sunday came and I didn’t play until the evening, and that’s when the trouble started...

I noticed my ping was over 200, which was very strange, as with BT it rarely went above 15! I then checked my speed and it was around 512Mb, less than a quarter of what it should be. I continued to check it and it just kept getting worse. So I decided to phone technical help. and that’s when it got even worse... “yes your speed is slow but it’s not us, it must be your PC”. Sorry I said but no, I build PC’s and I can assure you it’s not me. “Oh well then your line is not suitable for 2Mb broadband”. Sorry I said, I’ve had 2Mb broadband for the last 2 years now! “Oh well I’ll send you an email on some things you may wish to try”. This email was never received. At this point I have to point out that their Tech services number is a 0870 which means you can’t dial them for free even if you have the Tiscali phone package, which is very poor.
Anyway at that point all the reviews I had previously read came flooding back, and the realisation of what a fool I had been started to dawn on me.

It was at that point I realised that I was just within the 14 day cooling off period and phoned the customer services number to cancel, but they were closed so I had to wait until Monday morning.

Monday morning couldn’t come quick enough, and I must have been their first caller. They tried to tell me it was my PC’s fault again, or that my line was at fault, but I did not falter and insisted on the code. I was told by the operator that the code could take up to 5 days to be generated?!?!? I was not happy with this, as I was convinced that this was rubbish, and that if I didn’t receive it within 24 hours they could overlook that I’d called to cancel and I’d be roped in for a whole year.

As soon as I’d hung up, I phoned back and spoke to a different operator, and he gave me my code straight away!! Perhaps the other operator was new?? A quick call to BT and it was done, just got to wait a few days to get swapped back.

I have been experimenting with Tiscali in the final few days, and I've have noticed the following things:
• If I just surf the net, my speed stays around 2Mb's regardless if it's “peak” time, but as soon as I do something else, i.e. play a game, it slows right down.
• I tried downloading some drivers from Nvidia. The speed test before I started indicated that I was at 2Mb's, but when I started to download, my speed immediately went down to under 512Kb. I tried other sites just to be sure it wasn’t the site, and the same happened.

It would appear that some sort of limiter immediately puts the brakes on your speed the moment it senses that you’re not just surfing.

If you use the internet for more than just surfing, then I suggest you don’t join. If you're just online to buy your groceries and check your mail, then it will “probably” be suitable for you, but ask yourself this, “what happens if one day I want to use the net for more”?

Tuesday I go back to BT, THANK GOD!!

Slow replies to emails, cost of technical support was too expensive, bad service in general.
Reviewer: michellelevens 04-15-2006
I wanted to go to broadband, I was on AOL at the time and I couldn't afford AOL broadband so I went searching on websites for the cheapest and the best value for money broadband.

I came across Tiscali broadband it seemed pretty cheap at half broadband 5x faster than dial up for Ł19.99 a month, I thought great and proceeded to sign up to them. I was excited and couldn't wait to get broadband.

I got my modem about 5 days later and couldn't wait to get it set up. I will say Tiscali broadband was easy to set up.

Anyway got set up started to download it was great so I decided to sign up to 10x broadband it cost me Ł25 set up fee but I thought it would be worth it as it was still cheaper than AOL.
They upgraded me the same day I thought that’s great what a fast service they have.

The next day I used broadband I had to make a call, then when I did I lost my connection, I thought to myself this isn’t broadband I thought you could use the phone at the same time as the internet.

Also later that day someone called and yet again I got disconnected, I was not happy at this stage.

I tried to ring Tiscali all that day but was always engaged and would cut me off so I had to keep ringing I never got through at all that day so I decided to email and say I wanted to cancel my contract.

It took Tiscali over a week to reply, they said I couldn’t cancel as it had been 14 days since I had signed the contract yet if they hadn’t taken so long then it wouldn’t have been 14 days.

Anyway I thought ok I’m stuck with it I emailed technical help got a reply 3 days later took the steps they told me broadband still was the same .

I rang them when I finally got through they said it might be because I had sky and a cordless phone, they said it said in terms and conditions about cordless phones but it did not.

I decided to bear with them and tried what they said nothing worked, again I wrote an email of my problems and got the same reply as before.

I decided to look at there forums for support yet I wasn’t the only one having problems.

I kept emailing them but never really got any help I rang them and said I wanted to cancel as I wasn’t getting the service I was promised they said I could cancel if I emailed them so I did.

Over a month went by I did not even get a reply to my email I was unhappy so I rang and said all my problems and how they hadn’t replied in a month all of a sudden they said I could cancel my contract, although I was stuck with Tiscali for over 3 months I was so relieved at being able to cancel. They also billed me for some broadband a month after I had left them. I personally would not recommend anyone to use Tiscali broadband but then maybe some users have a good experience with Tiscali Broadband and that is fine.

I am now with AOL broadband I don’t think I would ever change ISP with the experience I had of such poor support.

Human being answers eMails, fast service, simple installation doesn't take over your whole machine
Reviewer: Tim Carswell 04-15-2006
I researched the various UK broadband companies in some depth before finally making the 'big leap'.

The Tiscali tariff is equal or better than the others that I looked at and there is no bandwidth limitations.

I applied my 'acid test' I eMailed their customer service with a simple question about POP3 access for the eMail accounts, and waited for the response.

Within the day I got a two line answer back from a human being who gave me all the info I had asked for and needed. This guy actually had a name and an eMail address that I could write back on - there was no mass of preset text and no constant referal to some self-help website.

I telephoned (free) the service desk and set up the account, simple - by the next day they had had the line activated - the following day I had a snail mail letter confirming everything - eMails kept me in touch every step of the way - the modem arrived 4 working days after my first phone call [although they advise it can take up to 8 to 10].

The Tiscali eMail account was set up immediately after my first phone call, so I could use it while waiting for the modem.

You get six eMail accounts, and an initial 50MB of free webspace (there is a further 5 x10MB webspace with each additional eMail address that you bring into use).

There's also a neat feature to allow you to receive faxes on a dedicated phone number through your PC FREE, but it costs the sender and theres a minimum monthly use to preserve the service.

There is a cooling off period, change your mind within (I think) 14 days of the modem being dispatched and they don't debit your credit card anything - after that you are bound on a 12 month contract.

If your phone line fails the necessary finally tests, there's no charge.

If all goes ahead you are charged 30 days after your modem is dispatched, a Ł25 set up fee and the monthly charge (the modem is free)

The installation was idiot proofed. The CD went in, on screen prompts lead me through the modem installation. In less than five minutes I was up and running.

The installation disc installed the minimum drivers and (apart from changing my home page to Tiscali which is expected) my computer was unchanged, there were no branded icons spinning around, no dedicated browser windows - the system meter showed no unusual hogging of resources - it connects only when I want it to.

I don't have any experience with any other broadband provider, maybe this is the norm ?

Bad Service and call centres in India.
Reviewer: suenick 04-11-2006
First of all Tiscali Broadband cut us off from their broadband service, blaming BT (which was not the case) and when we cancelled our account they have taken over a month to get the line untagged (although it is only meant to take 15 days) and we were never offered a migration code which would have made life a lot easier. Phoning India for technical advice is not the best idea because of language difficulties

Too many to mention
Reviewer: Mark Robertson 04-11-2006
My Tiscali broadband service doesn't work.

Every time I want to use it I have to re-install it, and even then it's slower than dial-up (not bad for 1Mb).

The Helpdesk don't help, even when you're on the phone to them for over an hour. One of the main reasons for that is because they're in India and you can't understand them, and they can't understand you. I'm sorry, but I find it quite insulting having 'reset' spelt to me again and again. This is not a racist comment - it's just common sense - you have to be able to understand each other to be able to get anywhere.

I could rant on about it forever. They may try and tell you that you can't end your contract, which isn't true. Every piece of legislation on the sale of goods and services protects the consumer for just this particular type of thing.

I'm voting with my feet after just one month.

Useless Tech Support
Reviewer: lildevilcoxheath 04-11-2006
I first signed up for Tiscali Broadband in 2003. At first had no problems, fast speed, reliable connection. However for the last couple of months have had nothing but problems: Slow Speed, rubbish tech support. Contacted Tech Support regarding a speed issue on the phone for 45 mins and they blamed my pc, decided to ring head office within a day I was getting correct speed.

At peak times it is slower than dial-up
Reviewer: rockpile 04-11-2006
I have been with Tiscali broadband for about 8 months. At first everything was fine, but the last 2 months have seen a drastic decline in service during peak hours. It's slower than a dial-up modem, and often just won't work at all.

I am now looking to change service provider. It would be worth spending a couple of pounds more for a reliable service.

I signed up with Tiscali Broadband last September and they failed to set up a direct debit until February.
Reviewer: fugglem 04-11-2006
I signed up with Tiscali Broadband last September and they failed to set up a direct debit until February. The service seemed to be OK though until two weekends ago when my router suddenly couldn't log into the service.
I rang up the service line to be told that all due to unusually high volumes of calls, the lines were busy, phone back later and the line went dead. This continued for 2 days when the internet suddenly came back. I then viewed the Tiscali web site that said there had been no interruption to service.
I contacted Tiscli's support via the web site and received an email saying I would get a response after 24 hours and a week later I received a response saying that they had not replied because of the high number of calls they had received and the service was fine and it must have been my router. The router of course was fine and I hadn't changed the configuration apart from restarting it a few times which made no difference.
I then sent an email through to the complaints system and they replied saying there were no problems with the service so it must have been my router.
What I don't understand is if there are no problems with their service, why are they getting so many calls that they take a week to respond to an email and they have to switch off their support line completely?

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