As I started this thread, I thought I would toddle along and bring you up to date on my probs. and solution.
Come back with me to the 28th October. Switched on PC and noticed that the adsl light on the modem was flickering. That day and for the next four days it would flicker for some two and a half hours, then it would stabilise and I could connect.
Over the next week, that period of flickering gradually reduced, one hour, fifteen minutes, a couple of mins until on the 10th November, glory be, instant stable light on switch on, but....................that is when the dreaded 0734 errors started. I would try anything up to fifteen times before getting a connection.
I then posted my prob here, and at the same time shot off a mail to VM, complaining of their poor service and of having been duped by them into calling out a BT engineer at cost to myself. I demanded my MAC.
Seven days later, no MAC so remailed VM. No response, so after taking advice here, shot off a log of woe and formal complaint to OFCOM, copied to VM.
But, during the period from my first mail to VM, until now I can connect instantly, there have been no dropped connections and all web pages that I visit, e-mails etc are going faster than I have ever before experienced them.
But still no MAC. Instead a phone call from a VM bod (with a strong Lancashire accent............have you had a hand in this Kitz ?? ) during which I agreed to a new set of rules and a "probationary" period in that I am now on a month-on-month contract, with immediate termination if I wish, and an extendive period of FREE service from VM.
I happy for the moment, I have a fast service, it is currently reliable, I have avoided the hassle of changing ISP with it's attendant fiddling with log-in details etc and upsetting of my contacts. and it is free.
Will see how things go in future.
