ADSL fun and lessons learned.

[PepperElf]

I'm trying hard to not be an SC.

First lesson I learned... when the tech comes in and says your ADSL is up, make sure it really works before he leaves.

Second Lesson. Don't try to get ADSL in December in Japan.

Part of this is typical - it takes about a month to set up service... a couple of weeks for them to drop off the modem (at least it's free with the service) and then a week or so before they come over to turn the service on.

Problem is... they started service on the 28th, but sillly me didn't verify that I could actually web surf before he left. (hence lesson #1)

After some trial and error we found the number for the English Tech Support... and ... they can't check the lines until January 4th or 5th cos the workers are on holiday. (New Year's is the major holiday here, not Christmas).


So... am hoping for a small refund, almost 2 weeks without service.
I'm just not expecting it.

no internets for now though, except if i go out ...

[Shabo]

Isn't Japan notorious for their customer service though? I can understand not having any workers since they take their New Years so seriously, but I would imagine that they would give you credit for no service. Hope that gets fixed soon for you!

[PepperElf]

lol yeah, actually great service... it's just been a bit of a trial getting the internet...

1) went to Yodobashi to check out rates. they were sweet but couldn't explain them, had to come back on the weekend when they would have someone who speaks English.

2) Went on the weekend and picked a plan and started to fill out paperwork. No we don't have an immigration card... no internet until we get the card...

3) BF goes to city hall for immigration card and finds he's ineligible (due to his job) but for the same reasons he's not required to provide the card to get internet either.

4) Back to Yodobashi. Oh, wait it's not the weekend... But, as we're puttering around we find another internet kiosk inside. I don't know... maybe he was psychic and realized I was a rather unhappy customer (not an SC, just someone who wanted to say "screw it, let's just go home"). So... he was cool, willing to work through the language barrier and all (yay!) This time my bf has the book from City Hall that shows the immigration card requirements and that it doesn't apply (the book also has it in Kanji thankfully). So, all's done and we just have to wait.

5) Two weeks later the modem is delivered... Okaay... it's after 9pm...but hey it's actually ahead of schedule.

6) And then ... yeah back to the part where he says all the ports in the wall are up. He leaves, it doesn't work


And yeah... the New Year's is a major holiday for them.
I'm kinda bummed out about it not working, but I also understand the delay.



and .. yeah, o well, a few more days of not being able to web surf in my PJs. hehe.

[PepperElf]

update

Update!

We called back and they said they were checking the line out already and that they'd call me back that day or the next.

The called back on Sunday while my phone was off (stuck at work for the entire day). On Monday they called twice... the second time I was finally there.

After walking me through a few steps we came upon one of the issues....

Side note.... boyfriend and I had the modem in the right spot before when we first called, had even tried using the correct spot on the modem...but it hadn't worked before.

1) The installation technician had plugged the phone cord into the wrong slot of the modem and plugged it into the right slot.

2) It does matter which phone jack I plug it into - there's like 5 different stations in the apartment, 4 of them in the same room.

3) After setting it up properly, everything worked! Yay! I suspect they hadn't patched it in correctly or hadn't actually turned the service on at the switch, and mixed with our own issues in trying to figure out where to plug things in....

But it's up now, I'm very happy with them, and am in fact posting from home on the internet connection in question.

[Damien]

hmmm I had a happier experience with my Internet experience, here in Japan - I only had to wait 2 weeks, and on the day (the day after I returned from a trip to beautiful Kanazawa) everything was installed, verified and I was set and never had any problems at all.

I get a call every now and then to see if Iam happy with the service, a call I do not mind and happy to tell them that I am very happy and then in a sort of reverse telemarketing way, ask them about other offerings!