Breathe Networks Acquires Small UK ISP Zetnet

[Mainframeguy]

a friend has mentioned "spidernet" in this context, are they related?

[Sibear]

Spider Net were the old mail handlers for Breathe. Breathe have not paid their bills and Spider Networks have withdrawn their service. Breathe have filled the gap but NO mail is getting through. Spider Networks kindly offered all Breathe customers their original e mail account back so that they would be able to access anything that they had kept via the web based service. However, Breathe have blocked any access to the sign up page which may not be ilegal as it contains Breathe in the address. However, Breathe have also blocked access to Spider Networks own website which is ilegal. Are we suddenly living in China? Not only that but Breathes DNS service has been a joke for the last 2 or 3 weeks. Maybe even longer. I often have to reset my router 4 or 5 times just to get a few seconds worth of internet access. Sometimes though it lasts for sometime as it is now. I have raised a ticket with Breathes online garbage support and info service. I will also be contacting OFCOM later today. I suggest that any Breathe cunstomers get out now before we end up in the same situation that first landed us with Breathe. ie the famous V2(?) walled garden affair. I'm going to Sky this week. I'm sick of paying 30 quid a month for a pathetic service. I will keep you updated on their lame excuses for blocking access to Spider Networks website.
I so do not need this right now as my ex has taken my 1 year old daughter 400 miles away and the only way I can see her is by webcam. I also rely on my e mail to keep in touch with my new girlfriend who lives in Washington USA.
I am so disgusted by Breathes appalling service.

[Doctor_Wibble]

Originally Posted by Sibear

However, Breathe have also blocked access to Spider Networks own website

Am I right in remembering that they have done this kind of thing before? Was it this forum or the vitalvictims forum that they blocked back in the day, or both?

the famous V2(?) walled garden affair

Something that has been done more than once before. Though sometimes it's done through necessity, rather than evil intent (no, really, if perhaps rarely).

Speaking of users, where have they all gone?
According to one of the recent Reg articles, Breathe has 25,000 at the moment, but according to an older article, they had 50,000* back in 2001. Do less people have internet access these days? Does this show that the internet was just a passing fad, or is this just proof of what happens when you have no respect for your customers?

* not counting the alleged 650,000 portal users since this was at the tail end of the "portals print money" myth when people were waking up a bit. The number might have been a bit of a porky too, since the page stats had a slight divergence from the ones that had been previously touted in press releases.

[Kits]

One route none of you have considered is to contact your MP's to officially complain about OFCOM's lack of power to make companies behaving either adhere to the rules or close.

Has anyone an email address for Breathe that works and is likely to reach their admin people?

They appear to not advertise ANY on their site - they plainly want to rake in as much as possible from the phone line. The one given to me my tech support on the phone doesn't work emailsupport at breatheinternet.com

Many thanks

I just received an email from Nominet telling me that ZETNET cannot register .uk domains anymore. I've been with ZETNET for 5 years and recently renewed my Domain name registration with them until April 2011. Nominet confirmed the registration renewal at the time.

Now they are saying I will have to find a new tag provider, or pay them £92.00 for the privilege of having them (Nominet) register my domain name. If I, and presumably ZETNET have already paid the registration until 2011 (I have the Nominet email to confirm this), how can they charge me again? I realise that I will have to probably pay for hosting again, but this just seems like daylight robbery.

Again, I am just a person with a hobby website, not a huge company, or any type of company at all.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a reasonably-priced reliable provider?

Eless

[Sibear]

Hi. Need to get customer support mail to Breath. Use this portal https://secure.breathebilling.com/cu...les/maMain.asp
Just use whatever e mail ady you have for your login and the password that goes with said addy. I warn you though. Breathe tech support know nothing about the internet and will try and confuse you with total BS. The only way I have found to get proper responses from them is to threaten them with anything that you can, including leaving. As they did not advise on the change in e mail provider and the e mail is still not working ( I had 2 test e mails sent from the States day before yesterday which haven't arrived) I would consider them in breach of contract so you should be able to threaten to leave without much problem. Breathe suck and I would so love to get one of their reps on here so we could virtually tear him a new one. I am simply waiting for a day when I have the patience to phone through to the always helpful peeps at Sky and see what deal I can get out of them. Always haggle for everything with Sky. I always get fantastic discounts.
Anyway, good luck.
Simon

Thanks, Sibear,

I have just phoned Nominet and they are saying that I got this email because Breath Internet have acquired Zetnet - there is no need to worry, as if everything is working normally, they expect everything to be settled in the next 3 days.

They also say, that as my domain was recently renewed, I can ignore the paragraph about Nominet charging £92 for it.

I asked about changing registrar and hosting facilities and was told this may not be necessary - to 'wait and see'. Meanwhile, I have to try to contact Zetnet by email, when I know you guys have been trying that and got no joy.

So why the h*ll send the email in the first place??

Eless

Originally Posted by Kits

One route none of you have considered is to contact your MP's to officially complain about OFCOM's lack of power to make companies behaving either adhere to the rules or close.

That *is* a very good point and worth people following up. Might also be something for the Department of Business And Stuff Like That (as per next bit).

I wonder also if there is more to be made of this - if we recall, Fast4 was bought by breathe a bit over a year ago for an undisclosed sum, the fast4 management went on to work for breathe and have now bought the whole lot back (with extras) at a knock-down price after it went bust on their watch. Is that a fair summary?

If so, does this or does this not sound utterly dodgy?

Fast4 (Breathe) have today taken £8.99 out of my bank account for dialup subscription, I was informed by email from support@fast4.net .
It is normally £6.99, as stated on current Fast4 website.
They have taken extra money without notice or permission.