Internet Service Provider in Germany? (My Kabeldeutschland story)

[Torsten]

There are quite a lot of people living and Germany who speak English as their first language. To some of them, it might be difficult to find the right Internet service provider since most of the companies give information in German only.

Well, for those of you who are thinking of choosing Kabeldeutschland, I'd like to share my story.

I signed up with Kabeldeutschland early this year using their phone/Internet package. Right from the start there have been a couple of times when the service was down which of course is not good.

However, last Thursday (exactly a week ago) both our phone lines as well as the Internet connection were cut off and they have not been been restored yet. What's worse, Kabeldeutschland has not made any attempt whatsoever to give us any information as to when the problem will be fixed. Like many other German companies, Kabeldeutschland does not offer a toll free support phone line. Instead, they use a 01805- number which is extremely expensive if you call it from a mobile phone. As of now, I've spent more than 20 euro on calls to Kabeldeutschland. The funny thing is that Kabeldeutschland called me at least 5 times BEFORE I became their customer. Now, that I'm a Kabeldeutschland customer, they make me spend my money on phone calls to them. Very interesting and very German.

I also sent an email to the Kabeldeutschland customer department and I'm still waiting for a response.

If you like I'll keep you posted on the situation so you have more information before you choose Kabeldeutschland.

Of course I'm interested in hearing if you had any similar experiences.

Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, question-response: Weren't you at the conference last month?

[Kitosdad]

Torsten, I made the very big mistake of signing a two years contract with 1und1.

Truly the biggest mistake that I have ever made in my life. Like you, I spent a fortune trying to contact them, ever to be told that it was a DTelecom problem. DTelecom even ran in a new line, and still 1und1 claimed all innocence to any problems. I spent a lot of money in Internet Cafe's, and used my neighbours computer quite a lot. There was no way of cancelling the contract. German law is the law.

Luckily for me, a worker for 1und1 warned me that I must give three months prior notice in writing if I wished to cancel. Had I not been forewarned a new two year contract would have been commissioned without my being told, and the situation would have continued.

After the contract had expired and been terminated, I was contacted by an unbelievably wonderful, charming, pleasant representative from 1und1, offering me all manner of incentives to rejoin. You can be sure of my friendly reply.!!!
_________________
Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Jamie (K)]

Torsten, your Kabeldeutschland story sounds exactly like most people's experience with Comcast, one of the biggest cable TV providers in the United States. They're from Satan, in my opinion. The only difference is that they don't charge you money for support calls, but on the other hand the free call may not bring you any competent support.

It's much better with AT&T, the big phone company. You not only get good, efficient, friendly, free support service over the phone, but they also volunteer the information that their rates have dropped on this or that service without you asking. They don't just give the low rates to new customers! Every time I contact their call center, the operator deals with my problem and then says, "Wait a minute, let me see if I can save you any money." Often they have changed their fee structure, and they lower the price I pay or improve my service for the same money. So far I pay about 33% less than I did two years ago, with no decrease in service! How low can it go?!