Telstra Broadband

Hi Reiner, I know what you are talking about (been there)......but now that it has happened maybe you should do what I did to minimise the risk of ISP change/problems, I went to an "off shore" web provider for my email addy. have a look at Fastmail at least now I can change ISP whenever I want and not worry about my email address going west when I do so. I think from memory I paid US$16 for "lifetime" membership (as long as the account is not inactive for certain period of time) so far no problems at all and has been able to be checked/integrated with Outlook, Windows Mail (vista) & Outlook express.

regards
Shane

Bugg..r should have hit reply not follow-up

Shane

Reiner - I too would be taking this to the TIO, but first keep demanding that Telstra re-instate you email address as it was their fault. Keep contacting Telstra as every operator will give you a different story. Fight fight fight for your rights. Good luck.

Motherhen

Thanks Gerry and Motherhen. We have tried to call the Ombudsman but reply was lines are to busy send e-mail. We did write a letter and send it per fax........so far no reply.
Telstra offered to send us a compensation form but I'm still to angry to even contemplate going there. We did get told there is no way in hell we get our e-mail address back .

Reiner

Thanks John. we do own two domain names and will go the way you suggested. Plus we will have the broadband cable plus a wireless connection with a different company so we never get stuck again. We found West Net sounds pretty good and will go with them on wireless. I have a mobile on contract with Telstra but I rather pay the penalty and get away from Telstra.
Thanks for your thoughts

Reiner

How were you "hacked" and why was it the fault of Telstra?

hotmail.com is not always accepted, for internet trading etc.

If I had known how I was "hacked" I could have done something about it. I am not a IT nerd I was paying for a service which I was not getting. Telstra would do nothing about it. Why did I think I was hacked? My usage did not agree with the time I was on the internet nor was the useage compatable with the downloads. 20 mb to read the SMH? There is not 20 mg in the news section of the paper and I am not interested in the ads. I used a friends pc and found that the download registered as 4 mg. THAT is why I felt I was hacked.

Brian,

If someone was hacking your account, then there would be more discrepancy in the usage than a few Mb. It could have just been your computer getting software updates, or your Anti-Virus program updating itself.

I'm not saying that you didn't get hacked, just that it is rare that a hacker would nibble at your usage - they tend to hit you hard and fast. I would be looking at your usage when your not on the net to see if your getting hacked.

Shaker is right about hotmail not being accepted. Most free email providers are blocked throughout the business community due to the high levels of abuse from these providers. Besides that fact that 'company_xyz@hotmail.com' is a pretty pathetic way to advertise your business - kinda screams 'backyardie'

company_xyz.com.au domains cost $60 every 2 years, and company_xyz.com domains cost $20 per year. WebCity can host your domain for $5/mth (this gives you 5 email addresses or $7/mth for 100 email addresses) giving you a pop3 email server & web server, which includes spam and virus protection & webmail as well.

So it costs $90/yr to have an Australian domain & have it hosted for you that is completely separate from your ISP. And its all a tax write off.

Maybe you are right. Still it seems odd that since I have been with another organisation I have had no trouble over 15 - 17 months.
I am too old to pay tax so I take what I can get for free. I have never had any problem purchasing goods using my Historiwa@hotmail address. Maybe my credit card is sufficient.
I mainly buy cds from the U.S.
Just the same, thanks for your help and advice.
It may help other users in the forum, and that is what it is all about I think.
Kind regards
Brian