How much do you pay for Tech Support Calls...

causal

I just did a quick surfvey [sic] of how much calls to broadband Tech Support cost:

NTL - Free
Eircom - LoCall
BTIreland - LoCall
UTV - LoCall
IBB - ?LoCall?
Smart - Premium Rate (€0.95 per minute)*

As I understand it LoCall rates are: Peak=4.93cent; Offpeak=1.26cent
So a 30 minute call to tech support would cost:

NTL = €0.00
Eircom - €1.48 / €0.38 : Peak/Offpeak
BTIreland - €1.48 / €0.38
UTV - €1.48 / €0.38
IBB - ?€1.48 / €0.38?
Smart - €28.50 :eek: :eek:


*The Smart FAQ says:

Please call 1550 719 199 for all technical queries. Calls are charged at apremium rate (0.95 cent per minute).

This is obviously meant to read "95 cent per minute", or "0.95 euro per minute". imho that's hideously expensive.

Not aimed at any particular provider, but I'm sure we've all spent a long (& very expensive in some cases) time listening to the automated drones say:
- Your call is important to us please hold until one of our representatives is available...
- All of our customer representatives are busy at the moment...
- Your call has been placed in a queue and will be answered in rotation...

Just a thought.
causal

CyberGhost

so that's the catch, that's where they make up for the low prices

well spotted casual!

KdjaCL

Boards = €0.00

But be clever always have a 56k modem in your pc just in case

kdjac

Irishpimp

Eircom charge like 95c aswell! for there Home Starter But Calls to for Home Starter Plus are Locall

Dinner

Yeah thats right. Eircom home starter is a rip off too. Glad I'm only paying 1.48

Cabaal

BT Ireland Business have a freephone number for Tech

Sarsfield

All Eircom Broadband support is now at the LoCall rate. Has been for quite some time.

1890 260 260

http://support.eircom.net/contact.asp?Bro

TimTim

But Smart are only making €11 a month off you after paying your line rental. There is only so much a company can do with €11 a month.

Dinner

Sarsfield wrote:

All Eircom Broadband support is now at the LoCall rate. Has been for quite some time.

1890 260 260

http://support.eircom.net/contact.asp?Bro

Sounds like another thing UTV has to change on their site so. Link

iano

TimTim wrote:

But Smart are only making €11 a month off you after paying your line rental. There is only so much a company can do with €11 a month.

Will people please stop making this incorrect statement?
SMART pays 14.65 euro per month to Eircom for each LLU line.
Yes, there are per-exchange and connection charges but it is marketing waffle to talk about 11 euro (intended to be 35 minus 24 = 11). You also have to use their phone service which has good margins.

Moriarty

14.65 +vat, iano. But yeah I agree.

damien

My two cents says add em.