I am (soon to be was) a Pipex/Homecall subscriber. I was happy about 15 months ago when I signed up. Cheap rates for ADSL and phone line with a long distance bundle. However, as soon as Tiscali bought up Pipex (who bought Homecall) the quality of service went downhill dramatically. I have had an open support call for the past 4 months for severe reduction in speed starting just before 4pm every day. I have been waiting for my contract to expire so that I can leave. It doesn't matter what the brand is anymore. Bulldog, Pipex, Pipex-Homecall, Tiscali.... they are all the same company and Tiscali is the worst for customer service and underhanded practices of moving customers to LLU networks without notification to subscribers. Once you have been moved to LLU service, when want to leave Tiscali and go back to a BT based service, you have to not only pay to get your BT line back (around £65 at present), you also get to do without your ADSL for a week or more for your trouble.
All in all, I have no qualms with the Tech Support staff except to say that you aren't really Technical but simply call takers workng off a script. I work for the 4th largest software house in the world in a UK call center at 4th Line Support. I know how a call centre works. I know that Tiscali policy is to not allow customers to speak to the real Technical staff which means users end up repeating themselves to a different call-taker everytime one calls in. Technical Support should be just that, technical and they clearly are not which is really disappointing for those of us who know what we are doing at the other end of the phone.
My criticism to Pipex-Homecall is that by making promises Tiscali isn't able or is out and out unwilling to keep, you are going to loose valuable customers (read me) . I cannot in good faith recommend a company that lets their existing customers down so completely after the merger with Tiscali.
PS: Everyone should check to see how much it costs per minute to call into 'Technical Support'.
Pipex-Homecall is 20p/min.. Orange is an outrageous 50p/in... Buyer Beware.