My 12 month contract with Bell Sympatico expired in August. In September, my rate jumped by $10 per month to $47.95 Since I had previously had two 12 month contracts for $37.95, I decided to contact Bell to negotiate a third contract. Bell is offering new users of their service a 12 month contract for $37.95.

Nothing had changed on my account, so the extra $10 seems unwarranted in my opinion. I do not need a new modem or any extra services.

Below is the chat session I had with a Bell representative on their web site. It took about 1 hour, but I finally got what I wanted. I think I just outlasted them.

Here is the chat.

System
Welcome "Customer Name".

System

Connecting to server. Please wait...

System

Connection with server established.

System

Vijay (SCI-11624) has joined this session!

System

Connected with Vijay (SCI-11624)

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Hi "Customer Name", welcome to Bell Internet Services, my name is Vijay (SCI-11624). By looking at the option you have selected, I see that you have questions regarding your account, how may I assist you with this?

You

I would like to renew my contract for internet service at 37.95/month

You

I noticed that it expired in August.

You

As a result, I was charged $50 in September

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Thank you for the information.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

I can help you with that.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

May I put you on hold for while?

You

ok

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Meanwhile I check with your account and let you know.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Thank you, Stuart.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Give me a moment, please.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Thank you for your patience.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

I have checked with your account and you are in DSL High Speed Product service.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

And the price plan is $47.95/m

You

I have signed a 12 month contract each of the last 2 years to reduce it to $37.95

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Yes, I can understand.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

However, we don't have dsl high speed service any more. We have the implemented high speed service to Dsl performance with more features and benefits.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Can I explain about dsl performance service?

You

My service has not changed. I am still using the same equipment that I have had since I started using Bell Sympatico many years ago.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Yes, you are correct.

You

I do not want a new service or new equpment

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Yes, I can understand.

You

I just want a 12 month contract at a lower price like I have had in the past.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Give me a moment, please while I have word with my supervisor and let you know.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

I could see that you're a long term client of Sympatico, I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate your loyalty towards Sympatico, Thank you for being with Sympatico.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Thanks for waiting, I haven't forgotten you! I really appreciate your patience.

You

The price I am paying now is the same as your Total Internet Max 10 service.

You

Howerver, I only need the Total Internet Performance Service for $37.95 per month.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Yes, I can offer you the price plan as $37.95/m plus modem fee $2

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

May I know have you bundled your service with bell?

You

I have paid for the modem over the years. I am not paying an additional fee for an old modem.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

It will be applicable for all Sympatico customers.

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

So, we are not able to waive off the modem fee.

You

I will call the business office. You have not been helpful. I should not have to pay more than your current promotional price.

You

which is 37.95

You

there is no modem fee in the promotinonal price

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Yes, I can understand. As I am frontline chat agent is the price plan I can offer you.

You

Then pass me to a supervisor

You

If you don't have the authority to make a deal, than I should be dealing with someone who does.

You

Why should a long term customer get a more expensive deal than a new customer?

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Yes, I offer you $37.95/m as your requested.

You

When does it start?

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

But, you need to $2 modem fee

You

pass me to a supervisore. There is no modem fee on packages for new customers

Vijay (SCI-1162 4)

Give me a moment, please while I transfer your chat session to my supervisor.

System

You are being transferred to another Agent. Please stand by...

System

Vijay (SCI-11624) has left this session!

System

Jigna (SCI-9275) has joined this session!

System

Connected with Jigna (SCI-9275)

You

I would like the same rate as is offerred to new customers for the performance package. There is no modem fee.

You

37.95

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Hi Welcome I am the floor supervisor.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Give me few minutes to review the chat session.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Okay. I offer you $37.95/m as your requested.

You

no modem fee?

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Let me explain about the modem rental.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

The modem rental $2 is mandatory for the all the customers.

You

I have an old modem that has long since been paid for. I do not want any new equipment.

You

My service is working for me.

You

I just want to sign a new contract at 37.95 total.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Okay.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

I understand.

You

When will the new price start.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

The price plan is $37.95/m.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

The $2 charge for modem rental for every month is mandatory. plus taxes fro the first 12 months.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

so you monthly bill will be $37+$2 modem rental + taxes.

You

I will call the business office. You have wasted my time. If I am not satisfied, I will switch to another service.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

The modem rental is what you are already charging in the very month bill.

You

I did not pay a modem rental fee in my last 2 years.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Give me few minutes I will check.

You

There is no modem rental fee for new customers on a 12 month contract.

You

Why are you charging existing customers more than new ones?

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Let me explain that also please

You

Existing customers should get better offers, not worse.

You

It costs less to keep a customer than to get a new one.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Give me moment please.

You

Therefore existing customers should pay less not more.

You

you need to type fasters.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

In order check your account information, please give me moment.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Please check the link for the price plan.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

http://bell.ca/shopping/PrsShpInt_NewAccess.page ?userType=NEW

You

It says 37.95 for 12 months. there is not modem fee.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

And click on "details" in the bell Internet performance.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

I will guide to the another link,

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

In the link, please "click on conditions apply*"

You

I did, but the conditions should be on the same page.

You

That is misleading advertising and is against the law.

You

The price should say 39.95, not 37.95.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

I understand staurt.

You

there is no link or asterisk beside the price to indicate that there are conditions other than what is visible on the page.

You

If you understand, does that mean you agree with me and the advertising is wrong?

You

I understand implies that you agree with me.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

In the link you can able to see" Certain conditions apply " in blue color.

You

The conditions link is at the bottom of the page in small print. It is not obvious. This is a misleading page.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

The best I can do you is, we offer you $37.95 + taxes for next 6 months.

You

And then I have to go through this again in 6 months? I think 1 year is better. Give me 12 months and you have a deal.

You

I don't need the extra features of the service.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Umm, give me minute.

You

I don't need a new modem, I don't need the security services since I am on a Mac. I don't need any more email addresses.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Now, you are in high speed.

You

Yes , I am using High speed now.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

I will not do modification in you account, so you can continue with same products with $37.95 + taxes for next 12 months.

You

ok, that is fine with me.

You

what is the next step.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

I will the necessary adjustment so that you billed as we promised.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Is there any else i can do for you now.

You

no, that is all. Thank you.

Jigna (SCI-9275 )

Thank you for choosing Bell, and have a great day. To help us to continuously improve our level of support I invite you to complete the survey that will appear in the window from which you launched the session. Furthermore, download our free Internet Check-up software from Bell for a chance to win a HP Pavilion Entertainment Notebook, one year free Sympatico Internet, a 19” HP LCD monitor, or a 4GB Samsung MP3 player. Go to: www.bell.ca/internetcheckup to enter the contest.

Intel's email support page doesn't let you send an email to tech support.

You first have to know which product you need support with. If the product is not on the list, then you cannot send tech support an email. If you choose any product on the list, either you are directed to the download centre or you get a "Server Unavailable" response. At no time do you get a form or an email address to send a message to. I understand that Intel is a huge multinational corporation, but to treat customers in this incredibly impersonal way is horrible. I guess that is what you get when a company has a virtual monopoly in the microprocessor market.

The product I need help with is a PCMCIA Dayna Communicard Ethernet adapter. I need the Macintosh drivers for this card in order to use it with an old Macintosh Powerbook 1400c running Mac OS 8.6. Intel used to distribute this card and the software used to reside at the following link: http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts ... uctID=440.

As an aside, the domain name dayna.com which was probably owned by Intel at one time, is now a portal for pornography websites. Intel has made a serious error in letting the ownership of this domain out of their grasp and potentially tarnishing their image.

I then went and filled out a form on their website feedback page. I received the following response in an email from their server:

Your email was not delivered to Intel. (LTK419016941941X)

Thank you for contacting Intel.

An email *apparently* sent from your email address to Intel has been identified by our automated email routing system as unsolicited commercial email. If you are attempting to contact Intel, please visit http://www.intel.com/feedback.htm for additional contact options.

Please accept our most sincere apologies if your valid customer support email was accidentally misidentified as unsolicited commercial email. When you recontact Intel, please mention that your original email was captured in one of our filters, along with the approximate date and time you sent your original email, and we will do our best to insure it does not happen again.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

I did use their feedback forum but it was rejected. Obviously, Intel wants no contact with their customers!!!


Followup:
I received a response from Intel customer support today.
Please read below.

Hello Stuart,

Thank you for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.

Please note that the product drivers you are asking for are not provided by Intel(R) anymore since is a very old adapter.

Please be aware that almost any old driver is available in Internet to download, searching for “Dayna Ethernet drivers” in Google* has provided several options, between them you will find this:
http://www.intel-drivers.com/Intel-driv ... 30_1.shtml

NOTE: This link is being offered for your convenience and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Intel(R) of the content, products, or services.

Please note that website does not have any connection with Intel(R) but you might be able to find the drivers you are looking for; we have receive many complaints regarding our website and we are always trying to improve it.

We are very sorry for all the inconveniences you find during your support inquiry.

Best regards,

George R.
Intel(R) Technical Support
http://support.intel.com

Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

I then responed as follows:

Thank you for your reply.

The link you found does not link to any actual downloadable file. When
the link is selected, a new window pops up with more ads, but no file
downloads. I think that this site is strictly a advertising web site.
Every other site on the internet either does not have the drivers or
has a corrupted file.
How old a product is does not mean that the product is not usable.
Just because Intel does not sell the product any longer, does not mean
you cannot provide the drivers on your site.

I was able to find the drivers on an old Mac OS 8.1 installer disc.
This information was mentioned in a post I found on the internet about
this subject. However, it would have been easier if Intel had
maintained the drivers on your site.

In addition, I find it odd that Intel gave up ownership of the
Dayna.com domain name and now it is page that links to Porn sites. One
would think that Intel would be more responsible than that.

Have a nice day.

Today I went to return a large lunch bag to Walmart. I had purchased it at the end of December 2007. After about 1 month of use, the bag started to rip where the shoulder strap was attached. I decided to wait until the spring to return the bag since I did not have the time.

When I got to the return counter, the customer service person told me that it was more than 90 days from the purchase date and that they would not take the return. I explained that the bag was defective and that I did not have the time before now to return it. She insisted that Walmart has a 90 day return policy.

Then I remembered something that I had heard on CBC radio on Brent Bambury's Saturday morning show called "Go". He had a guest, "Lisa Merchant", who decided to use the same techniques used by automated telephone customer service systems. The technique is to inform the person you are talking to that you are recording this conversation for quality purposes.

I pulled out my Sony Clie, a Palm OS PDA, pressed the record button and told the customer service person that I was recording this conversation for quality purposes. I then asked her what the policy was and whether she would give me a refund for the lunch bag. She told me that the policy was 90 days. She then changed her mind and said that she wanted me to go home happy. She then proceeded to give me a gift card for the value of the lunch bag.

The audio link is below.
http://webserver.smphoto.com/audio/080418000.WAV

This past weekend I was buying some chicken legs at a grocery store. There were 5 chicken legs in each package. While standing there, I said out loud to no one in particular that it was odd that there were 5 legs in the package. Why not 4 or 6 legs?

Just then, a woman heard my question/whine and she replied as she walked by saying "just to irritate you."

I had to smile and laugh.

A couple of weeks ago I was at my wife's family's cottage. My sister in law brought up her older Braun espresso/capuccino machine for me to use as I suffer caffeine withdrawal on the weekends. After finishing my espresso, I was cleaning the machine to put it away. As I was cleaning it, I was thinking to myself "I am really doing a good job cleaning this machine." I was wrapping the AC cord around the machine when I tipped it on an angle. Before I realized it, the glass caraffe slipped off the machine and crashed to the floor.

After getting over my shock at my stupidity, I cleaned up the mess. The next week, I called Braun to find out if I could buy a replacement caraffe. The customer service person was very polite, took my name and number and said that someone would get back to me in a couple of days.

I did not hold out much hope, so I went to a housewares store and purchased a replacement espresso caraffe for $10. However, the top from the old caraffe did not fit properly and when I used the espresso machine the next weekend, there was a bit more mess to cleanup.

Today, just after lunch, I got a phone call from a Braun representative. She said that they found a replacement caraffe in old stock and that they would ship it to me. I asked them how much it was and she said that it would be shipped at NO CHARGE!!!

Wow, what a company. What good relations. I will definitely keep Braun in mind whenever I need any small appliances.


Followup:
The replacement carrafe arrived about 1 month later.