No Internet Again

Yesterday AM while I was happily working along, my connection got cut, but since I had to get out of the house asap, I didn’t investigate further. However, I already had that dreaded feeling in my bones, especially when I check the DSL modem’s lights, it indicated it couldn’t login (you’ll get a good idea of what’s going on just from reading modem lights. takes some practice).

I got home around 4-ish, tried to get online but couldn’t. Would have investigated further if it weren’t for the fact I was bone tired from my trip (the heat really sucks out your energy), and decided to take a nap.

Planned 30 minute nap stretched to two hours, and when I woke up, no internet still. Called 172 and my worst dreams were relived – I was greeted by a taped message apologizing for some ‘fiber optic’ idiocy, and would I please understand their situation.

Managed to get through helpdesk, and after once again trying to wrangle the truth from them, confirmed the issue started that morning, and that he had no idea how long it’d take. Mind you I just found out it costs p3.00 each time you call them, so that’s p3.00 I spent for nothing.

Decided that PLDT Vibe, where you can dial up and it’ll get charged to your phone bill, seemed to be the answer. But I couldn’t remember the number and username and password, which they often print on the Vibe advertisements. Called 172 again, and was told to try and call 171+5+1 instead, since they handle Vibe issues. Remember, that’s p3.00. Got through to 171+5+1, and was greeted by a message that stated their office hours, meaning they’ve already stopped working for the day. Another P3.00.

Called 172 again (P3.00), told them the situation (remember you have to listen to that goddam downtime explanation each time), and they told me to call another number. 102-something. Tried it, and got a ‘that number does not exist‘ something or other message. P3.00. Called 172 again, told them situation, was given another 172+ something number, and asked to try again. I sigh deeply, and dial. Another goddam ‘we’ve gone home‘ message.

Called 172 again (I’m stupid that way). Told them “Please, please fucking help me already. I’m not asking for anything special, just give me the goddam login username, password and no. to dial since that info is printed in the PLDT Vibe advertisements anyway.‘

No go. Daft girl keeps saying she ‘does not have access‘ something or other to this info, and asks me to understand.

No I Do Not Understand. I FUCKING PAY almost P3k a month for access, am now willing to pay extra for their dial – up, and the girl CANNOT give me info re their dial up – info which is printed on their GODDAM advertisements. I paid P3.00 again to tell her this. And she’s asking me to call 171+5+1 again, to waste another P3.00 to find out the people who can help me have gone home for the day. FUCK THAT.

I tell her their helpdesk is useless, I thank her for her efforts (its really not her fault anyway, but still), and hang up while she’s trying (I think) to make me file a report or something. I have no idea how much more that’d cost me, but I’m fairly sure that like everything else I’m paying through my nose for to them, it’d be useless.

And finally this morning (no not yet finished), I try to login to a prepaid dial up service Jill’s sis bought for me last night (THANKS KRISSY!!!). I kept getting a busy signal. I tried dialling it manually, and found out that I get a busy signal after dialling just the first 3 numbers. I tried dialling other numbers, and same result: busy signal after the first 3 numbers. Even 172.

So no DSL last night, and this morning, no voice either.

And so I’m here at Netopia Sta. Lucia, where I just finished an article for Speed Magazine. I dunno how much it’s gonna cost, but I’ve been here an hour and 45 minutes already. An hour and 45 minutes worth of Internet I didn’t need to pay for, if it weren’t for stupid PLDT.

Enough.