XBOX Live - Down - Now whateports went out last week that some peoples Xbox live accounts were hacked, of course Microsoft denied this, why wouldn't they - how on earth could live accounts get hacked?

Monday came an email arrived from Xbox Live announcing scheduled maintenance planned for today, I thought this could be in response to the PS3 release, my guesses included

• Halo 3 beta released
• Web browser addition
• 360 Dashboard update
• Functionality for DivX movie playback

We all wait with baited breath, unable to beat/play/speak to each other online, I had to resort to an evening in the real world with SWMBO.

When she realised she's better off when I'm in the virtual world she went to bed, I wanted to find out more about the Live downtime so.....

"MICROSOFT ANNOUNCE XBOX LIVE ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN HACKED"

OOps !!!!

Who would be clever enough to do this I hear you say, how could people hack accounts of people who only use this account to play online or check stats on xbox.com

Simple :-
By calling Xbox Live customer service and "Pretexting" - It was that simple

Come on "Gatesy" get it sorted, dont let me PS3 fanboys bitch any more about Microsoft.

news.com - TG Daily - Techshout -

Updates

ASDA - to vent our frustration my fellow Xboxers wrote to ASDA and UbiSoft (Authors of GRAW 2).

• Asda came back stating they weren't aware of this policy, followed by this is their policy....
• Ubisoft came back stating they will investigate.

If/when I hear anything back from either companies, I will update.

Pipex

Result... I managed to speak to the account manager at my company regarding these problems, unfortunately I can't name them but my unlimited connection is now back to unlimited.

I have no idea how one would go about sorting this out based on a purely residential only connection, but where a considerable amount of money is involved, it clearly shows that money talks.

BOYCOTT ASDA - NOW !!!!!!
ASDA Have ruined my life...

Well day, on a week of Shit Pipex, I now add ASDA to my list of Shit Companies.

Ghost Recon 2 was released today, happily gathering 8 lots of £40's I trundled off to ASDA to purchase 8 copies, to be told

"You can't have 8 copies as this is classed as wholesale"

What Bollocks...

After walking off in disgust, I decided to walk back and speak to the manager, who... wouldn't come out of his big leather chaired office, and resorted to telling me over the phone that I couldn't buy 8 copies.....

Fair enough, walked straight to gamestation, they quite happily sold them to me and even gave me £2 off each copy.

Result...

So ASDA, be warned, I will be soon visiting your ****** branch to purchase 20 cases of Alcohol, wait for you to scan them in then change my mind, due to my own policy of not having the piss taken out of me.

Heres the letter from Pipex that's got me into a rage

Dear Damian Byrne
Important notice regarding your broadband usage

Pipex introduced network traffic management in 2005 to help manage the network and provide a fair service for all our customers particularly during busy periods of the day. The usage behaviour of a small minority of our customer abase has led us to introduce, with immediate effect, a Fair Use policy online at www.pipex.co.uk/legal.

We have established that your usage levels are in excess of the levels we would expect for normal home use, and your behaviour along with a small number of other customers may be having a detrimental effect on the service available for the majority of the Pipex customer base.

How do you define "Normal"

We would like you to change your usage behaviour immediately or let us know if you think we have got this wrong, If we don't see a reduction in your usage in the next 14 days we will contact you and may take further action.

In addition to changing your usage behaviour there are a number of alternatives for you to consider:

* You can move to our Midi broadband product which has a usage allowance of 15GB a month with the option to purchase more allowance on a monthly basis. We would allow you to continue with your current level of usage on this product as long as you confirm in writing to us that you are complying with our Acceptable Use Policy and using your connection for normal home use.

* You can switch to our sister company Bulldog Broadband where the service may be more suited to your needs. You will need to purchase a telephone service and line rental with a new 12 month contract.We advise that you visit bulldogbroadband.com first to check that you can receive their service. If you then decide to take this option please call us on 0800 107 5902 to request a MAC code.

* You can switch to an alternative provider that offers you unrestricted use of your broadband connection. If you wish to take this option then please call us on 0800 107 5902 to request a MAC code.

Finally, please can you confirm to us in writing within the next 14 days using the attached form that you are complying and will continue to comply with our Fair Use and Acceptable Use Policies

...and My Response

Dear Mr Carberry

With reference to your letter dated 22 February 2007,

I understand the need for Pipex to introduce a fair use policy at Pipex however would like to comment on your letter.

“We have established that your usage levels are in excess of the levels we would expect for normal home use.”

I would like to know what you define as “Normal” for home use, at no point in your letter do you define;

a - Normal levels are for home usage

b - My usage that has prompted such a threatening letter

“We would like you to change your usage behaviour immediately.”

I am disgusted by this statement when, you have already implemented traffic management on my connection, thus restricting my 8Mb connection to no more than 50kbps at best, and 10kbps on average. Clearly this is something that has been done on purpose as my telephone call with your Technical Support department (a lady by the name of Abi) confirmed, I also find extremely upsetting that despite my emails and phone calls querying my connection problems (Call reference **** ***) you failed to tell me that this was happening, wasting my time and money testing and replacing my own equipment as well as emails and phone calls to your technical support department. I was told that these restrictions are reviewed every Saturday, was I told this to get me off the telephone, or do you really do this kind of work at the weekend?

You have then given me 3 options.

1. Move to Midi
2. Switch to Bulldog
3. Switch to another ISP

1. I chose Pipex Max for the specific reason you sell the product for, as quoted on your site (www.pipex.com) “Comes with Unlimited monthly usage allowance. Tailor made if you're always on the internet” If I wanted to be restricted, I would have chosen Pipex Midi and paid for extra.

2. I cannot switch to Bulldog. When going to their site and inputting my details, I am redirected back to Pipex. Not very helpful

3. Switch to another ISP – This really is my other option. I have been a loyal and long time customer of Pipex since you started back in 2001, (Previous username ******), although I have had a few problems, these have been dealt with promptly, I have recommended you to at least 5 of my friends and co-workers and even recommended you to my company, who still use your company’s services. (Company Name). I agree my download usage may have been higher than before, this is due to moving home, (hence the change in username), and as such, purchased an Xbox games console and High Definition TV, my gaming habits have now changed In that I play online, as well as this, I have also downloaded High Definition content for the purpose of trying out on the TV. The HD downloading has now stopped however, thus my download habits will revert back.

It is quite clear to me that now Pipex is established and “making money” you’d rather these very same users that help build your company, are being “punished” I am sure the majority of these users have been with Pipex from the outset, as you were one of the first to offer 512kbps broadband to home users, we have stayed while you as you grew.

I am sure you do not issue letters in this way in a business to business environment. Do you not think residential users being sent letters such as the one you have sent me would encourage people to have their business from Pipex. My company spend at least £26000 per year for 2 leased lines. Not only could this be obtained elsewhere, could also be obtained for less than half this cost.

Finally, you ask that I send back the form agreeing to comply with your FUP and AUP. Unfortunately, I do not agree with these, especially when you have already implemented what you threatened to do, without the 14 day warning, and even more so, without advising me my actual level of usage. If you lift the restriction on my connection however I will agree to the following

• Ensure "Company" continues to use Pipex for its business use for the foreseeable future
• Limit my download speed (bandwidth)
• Limit my download time to off peak only

In the meantime please would you advise what you define as Acceptable or Fair Usage.

I would appreciate a prompt response to this letter, however feel I will either get a standard template response, no response at all or further threatening letters.

I have also emailed a copy to

mark.carberry@pipex.net
Postmaster for the Attention of Mark Carberry
Pipex Customer Services
Network Infrastructure Manager – Company
Friends and co-workers whom I have recommended Pipex to;

Pipex - again

Unlimited -
adj.

1. Having no restrictions or controls:
2. Having or seeming to have no boundaries; infinite:
   
3. Without qualification or exception; absolute:

The continuing saga that is Pipex. - To Skip the boring intro bit, go to "However"

My on-off connection problem (pardon the pun) with Pipex started a couple of years ago, back in the slow days of 512k broadband, back in those days downloading from Kazaa, Audiogalaxy, Limewire etc were extremely slow, I moved to downloading from newsgroups, I even *PAID* for access to NewZbin and Easynews,

A few calls here and there got my connection problems sorted, it felt like you were on first name terms with Tech Support/Customer Services.

As broadband evolved, Pipex grew, I upgraded to 1Mb, then 2Mb, and finally last Aprill, a whopping 8Mb connection, downloading from Newsgroups at 800Kbps, ( I only lived 800m from the exchange).

As regular readers know, I moved house in November getting the usual moving house problems with my ISP, (cancelling and rejoining with another username).

A couple of connectivity problems and I was up and running in Decemeber, problems that I put down to BT and it's infrastructure.
I am now further from (a different) exchange but still get connected at 4.5Mb, with downloads at approx 400kbps.

However

My relationship with Pipex has seem to break down, I logged yet another problem a couple of weeks ago, was asked to run the usual speedtests and report back to Tech support, this I did with the standard "check your hardware" and "it's a problem at the BT end".
after chasing this again last week, I received a letter from Pipex, the full letter can be found here, however phrases such as ....

"We have established that your usage levels are in excess of the levels we would expect for normal home use"

and

"We would like you to change your usage behaviour immediately".

Grrrrr

In my eyes, unlimited means exactly that.

This is not over.... Oh No

Griffin, UKFSN - Looks like you'll be having an influx

Bloody Hell

What is the world coming to again, Sitting there happily waiting for SWMBO to go to bed, Hotel Babylon had just finished and I was waiting to play Xbox, on came East Midlands Today and I noticed someone I know has been jailed for attempted murder.

The phrases "Hired as a hitman" and "jailed indefintalely" Sure shock you, the last time I saw Richard Robinson (Right) he was dressed in a suit working.

Its a terrible world where you can hire or be hired as a hitman to cause death to someone.

Damn...

BBC News - This is Derby