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Review by rnr0 
Posted: 8.7 years ago
member for 8.7 years, 21 visits, last login: 8.3 years ago
 Ypsilanti,Washtenaw,MI
 $25 per month (12 month contract)
 about 17 days
 Ameritech
CLEC party: Covad
 "next best thing to almost free dsl"
 "unable so far to achieve advertized 608 download speed"
 "best deal now that winfired has probably bit the dust"
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The Ford/PeoplePC Model E program had a DSL offer(subsequently withdrawn in Jan due to isp problems) of 12-36 month 608/128 DSL or 144/144 service for $25/ month. I placed the order on 12-4 and was told installation could take 30-45 days. was emailed almost immediately confirming order and told would be contacted re installation. after straightening out address snafu order was initiated and initial appointment set up. due to another snafu missed covad tech who arrived as scheduled but he failed to contact me at work before coming as i had arranged thru his service center. after a couple other no shows he arrived and finished his thing in 30 minutes. Covad tech was very knowledgeable, convinced me to use ethernet modem instead of usb, have speedstream 5260, bignet branded enternet software, pppoe protocol, dynamic ip. Covad has already refunded my $198 installation cost, and bignet has billed me $81 for first 3 months. Since i started knowledgeless, i've used this site and a few others for self education. however, nothing i do seems to have any effect on speed. i average about 410 down 110 up and no amount of registry tweaking improves my results. Bignet tech support has been unable to help me increase my download speeds but the rep did tell me about speedguide.net. All in all compared to dial up service i'm more than satisfied but would like to achieve the advertized 608 speed.
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Review by pooch1
Posted: 8.7 years ago
member for 8.7 years, 1 visits, last login: 8.7 years ago
Westlake,Cuyahoga,OH
$52 per month
about 130 days
"Good when it actually works"
"Hardly works - and their billing dept. is a mess"
"Avoid this one like the plague"
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Bignet is an unbelievably bad company to do business with. The folks from Covad that came out for the install were great. After having a taste of roadband for just a few days (and at least 5 visits from Covad), I ended up going six weeks without it while they had to make some changes to the line.
Now, they have a 'Hold' on my account for billing reasons - mind you I have a clean credit history and the service is auto charged to my platinum card. I verified through my credit card company was I debted the $52.01 a week ago. The worst part is they kicked out my service on Friday night and no one will be in billing until Monday.
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 Review by johnruder1
Posted: 8.7 years ago
member for 9.4 years, 538 visits, last login: 4.3 years ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
$49 per month (12 month contract)
about 35 days
Ameritech
CLEC party: Covad
"Hmm"
"Tech Support, lack Thereof"
"I Terminated 5 Months Early"
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Ordered BIGNET DSL in August of 2000, was about 35 days from Order, Ameritech Install of NIC, Dedicated line and COVAD install. After TWEAKING, (Thanks to DSL REPORTS), speed ranged from 400 to 460 down, to 80-109 up. Did regular speed tests, line monitoring, security scans, etc. from Sept, 2000 to recently.
Service was OK when UP, however, when down, fairly regularly, their tech Support was HORRIBLE. Terrible wait times, sometimes INEPT support folks, (Once heard dog barking and child crying in background. Usually told problem with Computer, (HP 866 P-III). Told that ethernet card failed on three occasions, not true. Service ticket NEVER opened an ANY call. Billing department HORRIBLE. Tried to bill me 99.00 for inside wiring NEVER done, billing for Universal Fee, Billed Credit card WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION for the 99.00, (Which EVENTUALLY got back). Was told that I would have better luck with hold times for tech support if I dialed direct, (NON 888 number), paying for call myself. Caused me to call HP tech support on numerous occasions when Service was down and NOHING wrong with computer.
Finally so discontented with service I cancelled early, did not care if I took a 5 month bath, and took 10 days to get service cancelled.
Am now awaiting line provisioning from AMERITECH to have Earthlink DSL.
Ordered EARTHLINK 13.Feb, and have my fingers crossed for a better relationship with EARTHLINK/MINDSPRING DSL
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Review by polick
Posted: 8.8 years ago
(review was emailed from domain bignet.net)
Ada,Kent,MI
$50 per month (12 month contract)
Ameritech
CLEC party: Covad
"Covad Tech was helpful and informative"
"Speed is horrible, customer support is nonexistant"
"Don't go with BigNet"
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A sales person called me after I put it a request in for DSL, he seemed very
nice and responded to everyone of my questions. I was ready for DSL and put
an order in. I signed the one year contract for IDSL which stinks, but was
assured that I would be upgrade as soon as ADSL arrived. The install was
fast and Ameritech was actually good. The DSL worked and I was happy but
the speeds were slow, I email BigNet and told them that I was unhappy with
the speed, yet they responded by saying I should contact them. I called
many time with no response, I must have left 15 messages and 10 or so emails
with no response. I am glad I have DSL but where is the speed for $50.00 a
month. I have still not been contact and have now sent BigNet a letter of
complaint. I question how much longer BigNet will actually be around.
Matt
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Review by JWBloniarz
Posted: 8.8 years ago
member for 8.8 years, 36 visits, last login: 2.7 years ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
$49 per month (12 month contract)
about 45 days
Ameritech
CLEC party: Covad
"Connection has been reliable"
"Download speed far less than promised (384 vs. 608 promised), unresponsive tech support"
"Get it in writing, deal with companies who provide verifiable results"
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My sales person took the order on 2/14/2000 but scheduled it for installation after 3/1/2000 so I could get the 608/144 service, which was to be available after that date. I ordered a full year to get the $5 per month discount, making my price per month $44.95 (supposedly). Covad offered a $150 rebate on the DSL bridge, so installation expenses should have been nominal. In fact, total bill was $749.34 less Covad's $150, or $599.34. Per month, that works out to $49.95. So much for my $5 per month discount.
I called almost every other day from 3/7/2000 until it was installed on 3/29/2000. Each call was excruciating long, although I occasionally got some people who appeared to genuinely want to help me. Too bad they had nothing to do with getting the installation accomplished.
The equipment in my house is a SpeedStream 5250 DSL bridge, and I have it plugged directly into my home network hub. The IPs are dynamic.
Once installed, I noticed that the download speed never seemed to go above 325 KBps. I started interacting with Bignet technical support by e-mail and phone (at least 6-10 times). They had me run several tests downloading from their FTP site until it was obvious I was only getting 325 KBps. I never heard from them again. All e-mails went unanswered, all phone calls were put on hold and no one ever picked them up again. I cannot express my frustration, even though I was enjoying very good speed compared to the 56KB dial-up modem from which I came.
I finally got through to Covad who said 608 service did not start until 5/1/2000. My sales guy had already left Bignet by that time. He was only with Bignet for about a month or two.
In November of 2000, the Covad trouble-shooter who was responsible for the Bignet account told me to look for assistance from Covad in the near future, that I was not alone in complaining about Bignet. I recently saw the Covad Safety Net program on their web site and called back to inquire if I was eligible as a customer of Bignet. The person who returned my call told me to sit tight, that I would hear from Covad before my contract was up (about 3/29/2001).
I am waiting to hear from Covad, hopeful that they will tell me that I can make a no-charge switch to one of their better-known and hopefully more truthful and friendly ISPs.
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2/6/2000: I've been in contact with Covad a couple of time about the Safety Net. They say I need an "ISP Switch" letter of authorization from BigNet. That should be easy to get since they never respond to any communications. Covad migration specialist says I can get the generic switch form from them but it doesn't release me from my contractual obligations with BigNet. That's fine with me, since the contract is about to complete anyway. I just want out!. Looks like Speakeasy is a good one to switch to for me with a local POP here in Chicago and rave reviews on DSLReports. I hope Covad lets me select the ISP of my choosing. I'm also hoping to get the 608 service I was originally promised, since most of the replacement ISPs partnered with Covad are offering that level.
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Review by mfertig
Posted: 8.8 years ago
member for 9.2 years, 35 visits, last login: 2.8 years ago
Farmington,Oakland,MI
Contract price not specified.
"We'll never know!"
"Confused. Cannot answer simple questions."
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I wanted to switch ISP's, since mine is going under. Calling BigNet's tech/service number all morning, there is no answer, no voice mail, at all. Calling their sales number, they give me the number to BigNet's main office. I called the "main office" and the person that answered the phone said that it was a retail store, and he didn't know anything about DSL.
Save your time and money . . . go somewhere else.
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Review by vbowers
Posted: 8.9 years ago
member for 8.9 years, 20 visits, last login: 4.7 years ago
Greenville,Montcalm,MI
$63 per month (12 month contract)
Ameritech
CLEC party: Covad
"Reasonably quick install, decent speed"
"non-support (tech or otherwise), slow news server"
"Pray for an alternative!"
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I've dealt with these folks since May 28, 2000. Tech support (for business IDSL) has rarely been available after 5PM Eastern for months! Most tech's don't know squat about IP or hardware.
Also, I've been trying to get an extra static IP address for 2 1/2 months for a
firewall. Even though they have billed me for it, I have yet to receive the address. When I call about it, I regularly get put on hold until I get "disconnected". As a residential user I *might* be able to put up with this, but not as a business user.
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Review by kbrown114
Posted: 8.9 years ago
member for 8.9 years, 1 visits, last login: 8.9 years ago
Acworth,Cherokee,GA
Contract price not specified.
about 61 days
BellSouth
CLEC party: Covad
"Sales reps sweet talk you into giving them another chance."
"Missed work, installers no showed, account cancelled, but billed, nobody bothered to notify me of this."
"They like money but would hate to install dsl service unless they had to."
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Made order 10/21/00, was promised a 45 day or less turn around. 61 days later and after receiving a message from covad that they were coming out yesterday to complete the connection, they no-showed, no-called, when I complained to them, they're reply was that I had been cancelled, and that if I wanted any further information I would have to contact the isp, "BIGNET". They, bignet have missed 2 promised completion dates, don't tell customers what's going on if anything, and don't even seem to care when somebody misses a work day because time of day can't be pinpointed. Their attitude seems to be that there are more dumb customers where these came from. If ANYBODY out there would like the e-mail and paper trail that is now growing at a frantic rate, I will be happy to release them to you soon as my atty. says that it is okay to do so, but I have been notified by him that until entered into evidence of wrong doing, that they shouldn't be released publicly. All of this after countless hours on hold and calling THEM to find out what is going on, without phone calls being returned for sometimes up to 10 days. Also, my credit card has been charged twice now and I have not received even an installation kit, go figure???
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Review by ArtSpalding
Posted: 8.9 years ago
member for 8.9 years, 2 visits, last login: 8.9 years ago
Marietta,Cobb,GA
$50 per month (12 month contract)
BellSouth
CLEC party: Covad
"Could install when others said too far from CO"
"Covad installer inept"
"Doing better after first 3 months, major latency"
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I have had them for 8 months. It seems that there are a few peolpe who can get things done; make certain to ask for a manager if you encounter any trouble. It took over eight phone calls , some of which were not even recorded by them, and 35 days to restore service after their 'upgrade'. Finally, I got a manager who knew what he was doing and service was restored rapidly. The Covad installer was a bad joke, which cost me a separate wiring contractor adn then COvad had the nerve to try to charge me for inside wiring. It always depends who I get on the phone, so keep calling. All departments are similar: billing, tech, and sales. However, once its up, I have had very few problems and all difficulties were eventually resolved.
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Review by Lordstimpy
Posted: 8.9 years ago
member for 8.9 years, 36 visits, last login: 1.7 years ago
Liberty,Clay,MO
$24 per month (36 month contract)
about 42 days
Southwestern Bell
CLEC party: Covad
"Price, Covad guy was cool, no problems yet"
"Having to move my computer"
"Great service so far"
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I recently became a Peoplepc/Ford member and when they offered DSL at 24.99 I had an intrest. I Compared prices and when I found out that was really good and only having one phone line, my mom heartfuly agreed. I used the net ording form and every thing went good(10/27). The only problem I had was that Covad contacted me on 11/8 and said I had a problem with the line and SWB had to look at it again. I emailed them, 11/13 asked about the service, 11/14 recieved a responce that they are working on it, cool. The SWB guy came unannounced, but he was cool, we talked DSL service and when I mention the price he quickly asked about if it was available for him. I didn't think so. Well when that was situated I thought cool. On 11/22, I got a email stating the Covad guy would be there December 7 b/w 12 and 5, a day off work. On 11/29, I recieved and email form Shawn, confirming my install date and asking if a change is needed. Since every thing was peachy keen nothing did. The day before 12/6, I decided to move my computer to a new room, took an hour and then some more to figure out that my speaker wires to my DTT2500 5.1 system were switched. I got it all set up, just waiting for the guy to come tommrow. CHecking the Answering machine I notticed Shawn called, from a cell phone so I only got that he was comming tommrow to install it and he would be there b/w 12 and 5. That morning, it was a day off, I awoke around 11 to clean the house a little, I didn't expect the guy until 5, murphy's law. I get a call around 12:30 from shawn asking directions, I was still in my boxers. I gave him directons, he was only a few seconds away. I never got dressed so fast. When he arived he was nice, asking about phone lines and were it comes in and stuff. I didn't know much about the wireing the house, my dad did it and he is really creative with it too(he cant help he passed away a few months ago). We finnly figured out that the best place was by the jack that my computer was orginaly. We got every thing up and running execpt I wasn't billed out, it only took a few minutes fix that. Well today 12/9 every thing is fine and dandy.
2/26/01
So far so good. I haven't had much problems yet. There was a day when the network was down. The Tech people were kind enough to put a message on there tech support number.
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Big Net, Inc.
