Singnet…What the…?!?!?!

So I get a call from a rep from Singnet (my internet service provider) and they said my contract is done in 3 months, would I like to renew. I said no. They asked why so I told him to review the calls previously in which I called to complain why I didn’t receive the free modem/router as advertised when I renewed last year. So he said, would you renew if I gave you the modem/router now? I laughed and asked him why I should take his word for it when it was in print that I get the modem/router free but didn’t. Then a couple days later, my mobile internet usage warning sounds…in the 2 plus years of having modem internet I’ve NEVER had the warning go off and I have it set 1 gb below the max.

Since the day I got off the plane 8 years ago til now, the decline in service and social responsibility is staggering ! Here’s some more examples (summarized):

1) I called customer service asking if Fineartamerica.com was being blocked. Fineartamerica is a print on demand site where artists upload their works of art for sale. They asked me to check a whole buncha settings in my computer, I told them I already did and that only their service cannot access the site. They then told me they needed access to my computer to figure out the problem, I said no. He said ok, I need you to follow these steps and then proceeded to get me to open a remote assistance session. Unbelievable! So I told him that’s not gonna happen and that I wouldn’t need any more “help” from him. I contacted fineartamerica.com and they said they think they are censored by Singent because some of the artwork has nudity….oh well. Go have a look at the site if you can and decide if censorship is warranted or not.

2) Up until last year, I had refused to connect mobile internet to my phone and was perfectly happy until I got my daughter a phone and connected it to my plan. Low and behold she managed to rack up almost $4000 in mobile internet usage. I went and asked why there was internet charges when my plan doesn’t come with internet. They said my phone was internet capable so I can access the internet. I told them if I wanted internet on my phone, I would have chosen one with discounted (free) usage. They said too bad. The only thing they can do is let me choose a data plan and apply the minutes so I would only be charge the max for going over my data usage limit. That price came up to almost $300.

3) I had set up a home network for someone years ago (prior to coming to singapore, I was an IT/Systems administrator). Then recently the router/modem broke and Singtel went to replace it. I got a call from the technician asking my what the password is. I asked him password for what and he said for the internet. I kinda laughed and asked him to clarify and he said I changed the default password cuz he tried the default password and it didn’t work and if I didn’t give him the password he’ll have to call his office for them to reset the account. So I asked him again what password is he asking for he said the account password. So I quite rudely told him it was impossible for him to know that the account password had been changed and that there was no way there would be a default password for customer accounts. Right? He kept quiet, so I asked him again, what it was that he was trying to do, he said configure the internet. I chuckled and asked if he plugged the box in and he was trying to access the box so that it would connect to singnet’s servers, he said yes, so I told him the login and password he needs is for the modem/router not the customer’s account. He kept quiet again and I told him that if the default credentials don’t work then the unit is a used one and he needs to either hard reset it or get a new one. So he asked me if I knew what the password to the account was and I said yes but I’m not telling you. He hung up. I got a call 15 min. later saying after hanging up, the guy got it working and just left.

4) Also highlight videos from NHL.com (professional ice hockey) don’t work either but they work on mobile. Can you guess why?

So I’m done with them. Your choice is up to you.

My list of shops to never shop at

BLACKLISTED – for various reasons, various shops

1) MSColor – Confirmed item at shop. Went down told no stock but offered 3rd party item with 10 day warranty. 7th day item not working. Refused refund/exchange and downright rude. I was a frequent customer there too, spent thousands in there.

2) Red dot photo corridor shop in Funan- Customer service is rude and sarcastic that’s if you can get them to look up from their digital device. Online shop is ok tho, but I choose not to have anything to do with a shop that has people of that calibre behind the counter.

3) Alan Photo – have bought many things from them, by and large pricing not that bad, it’s the add on’s they try to get you to buy. If you’re immune then no prob. I just don’t feel like putting myself in that situation. They’ve used this line on me, “you buy such expensive lens and only put cheap cheap filter” (yes, that’s how the guy spoke). The filter I chose to buy was an $86 Hoya filter. Subsequent visits leaves me unimpressed, they’re all so grumpy all the time.

4) Best Denki – ruthless bait and switch tactics, false advertising (all relating to desktop computer systems). Complaint made to CASE, twice.

Grey Listed:

1) TK Photo – sometimes rude, sometimes ignorant in product knowledge, sometimes shady practices by sales people. Like selling demo items as new, jacking up the price at the register when paying by credit card (anywhere between 2-4%) I’ve heard it all. If you need to change a ThinkTank product, best email ThinkTank first and get a go ahead from them before you approach TK. I had to provide all correspondence between Thinktank and myself. Grey listed because they are the only place I know to get full line of Think Tank products and Rode mics.

2) Sgcamera store – mainly 3rd party stuff, good prices but the shop I usually go to is gone, now in Peninsula Shopping Centre under different management I think. First time there I had to redo my “membership” details, product bought Rosco Gel Collection of which all 5 1/2 CTO gels were missing….waiting for response from them.