When you arrive for the first time at Brussels, you normally look for a place where to live...and of course, one of the first things after that is to get an internet connection at your place.
In Brussels, the first thing you need to know is: which are the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that provide services where you live. This information is not easy to find, it is not posted anywhere, and depending to whom you ask, and you will get different responses. Ideally, your "Commune" (City Hall) should provide an official list, but it will probably take you a lot of time and hassle to get that through them.
Today I will list some of the ISPs that work in the area of Belgium, but I warn you this is not an extensive list. I will also give you some guidelines and criteria that will help you to choose your ISP.
MOBISTAR www.mobistar.be
BASE www.base.be
BELGACOM www.belgacom.be
SCARLET www.scarlet.be
NUMERICABLE www.numericable.be (it was called CODITEL before)
TELENET www.telenet.be
E-LEVEN www.e-leven.be
It is important to remark that the mobile phone companies (e.g. BASE or MOBISTAR) are also offering internet access through cable or phone lines.
HOW DO I CHOOSE INTERNET PROVIDER???
Well, I will tell you what I did BEFORE SIGNING OR FILLING ANY APPLICATION:
1) Check out carefully the information on the website. Many providers announce VERY TRIICKY offers online, but you must be very careful. I have witnessed how Belgacom announces one price lower, and then when it comes to registration the price is much higher than the announced!!!! Personally, I mistrust a provider when their website is not clear, tricky, and there is missing information (e.g. download/upload speed of the connection, monthly volume of data, etc.).
2) Call the client service to ask for further details and to compare what it says in the website and the reality. My experience showed me that in the case of Belgacom, I tried to call three times in the same day in order to get extra information about their offer, and every time I called an artificial voice told me I had to wait at least 8 minutes for someone to speak to me. Imagine, if they leave a potential new client 8 minutes waiting, what they will do when you have signed your contract with them??? Will they answer the phone if there is any problem? So, calling them will give you a better idea of how they will treat you later.
3) Try to do a “false” application online before you make the real one. In other words, start the registration process with a false name and address….you will most likely find surprising charges (e.g. activation cost, renting of modem/router, ….etc) coming up, like when you buy a flight with a low-cost company. Besides, you will notice that they will show you the links to the “CONDITIONS OF SERVICE” or any other relevant documents, once you have sent the application to them….oh my friends….TOO LATE TO GET BACK, you already applied for it!!!!! This tells you about the tricky practices they make in order to trick you, or make you pay more. Be careful and read all conditions and details before signing or applying for anything. If you have doubts you can always, try, to call them.
Wednesday 11 February 2009
HOW TO CHOOSE AN ISP - INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER IN BRUSSELS
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That is so true about Belgacom. I also prefer providers who are open with details of their offer. And I try both telephone and email customer services.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising that the "sales" staff in these companies hardly ever know what the current offers are. I am with Mobistar now. Before I signed up, I had to tell the nice lady via email to look at their own webpage for the offer that I was talking about...
I wish I'd read this earlier. I signed up with Scarlet for internet and what I thought would be unlimited internet at 19.95 Euros a month suddenly became 24.95 Euros because they said they thought I knew that I had to pay an extra 5 Euros for renting DSL cable from Belgacom. They sent me username and password fairly quickly but the problem was something was wrong with the Belgacom DSL line and it took me many phone calls, much time and money (I was using mobile phone as home phone hadn't been connected) to speak to someone at Scarlet to sort out the problem. It took about 7 weeks for internet connection to finally work. And my husband now wishes I hadn't signed up with them as at times the connection speed is so slow it beggars belief.
ReplyDeleteHello. I recently had a nasty experience with VOO (internet+TV provider) in Brussels. I accepted a proposal but luckily didn't sign any contract. Everything seemed ok at the beginning when me and my wife went to the shop to get all the information. Then I had to make some (2 or 3, can't remember) phone calls in order to get an appointment at my place so they could start "the Procedure" (which means install Internet+TV at my place). As agreed, some two weeks later, two operators came to my place: they simply unscrewed the power point (what for?),manipulated the TV and finally told me I had to pay 100 Euro extra, because they needed to install a new cable. Not only that, but also they had to do some works at the appartment in order to complete the installation. At that point the situation turned to be hilarious. I was annoied so I didn't accept, and as a consequence I still don't have internet at my place. Hope this change soon. Bye
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