As you might have read below- we moved into our new house. Everything has been great - all but getting the house set up with cable, phone and Internet services. Unfortunately cell coverage sucks up here in the northern beach (boonies) so we get no cell reception at the house. Something we obviously didn't notice while touring the place prior to renting. So you end up having to stand in the driveway to make a call. Annoying but not dire. But we decided we'd need a local land line phone after all. Well setting up cable, phone and Internet has been a disaster. There are only two companies to offer these services- old government monopoly (think ma bell) and new start up. Not to give away the story but they both stink. Service is an unheard of concept (I think because there is no tipping in this country)- just not part of the culture. So we were told that our house was "hot" and ready to go all we'd need to do when we moved in was plug in the equipment. Then found out that nope- it isn't set up and can't be (not without tearing up our driveway to lay new wires since it is against the law to have aerial cables- and that wasn't going to happen). Of course each of these pieces of information were gained only after countless hours on hold and several truck rolls to the house. And by the way, all this could have been avoided if only the owners of the house had told us that we had only one real company option....in the middle of tense protest in our front yard with an installer unwilling to rehook a piece of wire so we could get a signal we received a call from the owners " ya....that is why we have Optus- we built the house that way so you can't use Telstra you can only use Optus "(all of our services were ordered thru Telstra). Might have been good to know ahead of time. You can only imagine how well Michael has taken all this information. I think his name is now on some watch list for customer who may go postal.
A month later we now have Internet and cable but no phone service.
So next time you think that Comcast or anyone else is horrible just think- it could be worse.
2 comments:
Ooooo.... yuck. Sorry to hear but glad to know you've got a house.
its a good thing - acquiring a thick skin as you obviously have, becoming comfortable with in-your-face electrical worker confrontations and breathing deeply re your homeowners casual neglect of like helpful information? Weather here is starting to warm up and I have put the finishing touches on drawings as part of the admission process at The Drawing Center in Soho. Had to compile a minimum of 10-15 drawings (I did 11) for submission to their 'viewing program', compose an 'artist statement' and also a cv...tweak everything too too many times to count and lastly mustering the courage to click the 'submit' box. The review/jury process can take months. My classification is 'pending'. If I'm lucky I'll get word by July. Also, in the life category 'okay what do I do now' I've signed up for a literacy program to help tutor children at a nearby public school two times a week starting this monday. Change of subject.. SO looking forward to Rachael's big weekend. Enough about me...how are you dealing generally. Does Michael travel alot, I know for sure the kids are taken care of but do you have a daily life that's fulfilling enough...have you met anyone you could be friends with, is your au pair good, are you at all considering tapping the professional side of your brain.
Can't wait to be with you in Seattle. with virtual hugs to all Penny
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