Oh I don't know might be a good idea........ although to keep it fair how about they reciprocate and post the information necessary to allow non customers and all and sundry access to the Zen, Freedom To Surf and IDnet customer forums?

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Why in Gods name would you want non users on a users forum, makes no sense at all?

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I can see your point, but those non-users might be potential customers- if you only allow them to see the BBS's that allow negative posts, they will probably stay as non-customers.

It's a difficult point... maybe non-users could be granted read privileges only, except for one "Visitors" forum/section? Don't know if you can apply rights on an IP basis like that though.

Edited by billford (Sat 26-Aug-06 11:59:01)

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the Zen, Freedom To Surf and IDnet customer forums?

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Can't speak for the others, but the IDNet BBS is open to anybody who wants to register.

Edited by billford (Sat 26-Aug-06 12:11:11)

sure Zen is to

Actually quite interesting reading...... and should I decide to change providers could well be enough to sway my decision, but assuming one exists and which would be the most telling: I could not find one along the lines of "IDnet" customer support.

There isn't a support forum for IDNet that's actually run by the company, but the unofficial one is hosted on their servers and they have a presence there- you'll see some posts on there from "simon", he's a co-owner of the company and handles most of the CS.

They don't have a separate CS department- for one thing they're not yet big enough in the non-business area, and for another not much ever goes wrong

"for one thing they're not yet big enough in the non-business area, "

Interesting statement which goes a long way to explaining why nothing much goes wrong.Are you aware if this is how they plan to stay; or do you see current circumstances forcing them to enter the general market?

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Well I guess I'm off the peerages list then

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Don't lose heart ... it all depends on how much you'd like to "loan" them.

Depends on how much money you have and how much you are willing to "loan". It's money that talks not ability or suitability.

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Are you aware if this is how they plan to stay; or do you see current circumstances forcing them to enter the general market?

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I can do no more than guess about that- I'm not privy to their long-term business strategy...

But I think their main target is business use, and domestic users provide a useful top-up when the business traffic tails off out of office hours. That's not to say that private users class as second rate in any way- they are concerned about reputation and, for example, if someone has a bad experience as a private user they may well be reluctant to use or recommend the same company for business purposes.

I suspect they'll stay as a niche supplier in the domestic market- not too big, towards the expensive end but providing top-rate service. Aimed at the "discerning user", in other words

Edited by billford (Sat 26-Aug-06 14:13:15)