Reunited

[rusty_armour]

After four whole days, I've finally been reunited with my internet. Bell Canada managed to fuck up all the landlines in my building on Monday while performing "upgrades". Naturally, as Bell caused the problem, the tenants themselves were expected to get in touch with the support helpline and, if necessary, book an appointment with a technician. In my case, it meant having to leave work early to make sure I was in my unit when the technician showed up. Thankfully, the technician was punctual and fixed the problem quickly. Being a grumpy pessimist, I assumed he would be two or three hours late (if he showed up at all), be unable to fix the problem, and try to sell me Bell products. I guess the promotional pamphlet that was wedged in my door was the extent of their sales campaign -- thank Herne.

As I tried to explain to my sister, it's not so much that my phone and internet were down. If I were told they would be down for a couple of days, I would be pissed but generally able to cope. Sort of. No, it was the uncertainty of the whole thing. I hate feeling helpless and I hate being at the mercy of a soulless corporation like Bell. I also suck at coping with stress - any kind of stress. I mean, maybe I could have been more zen about the whole thing if this wasn't the week leading into the second series finale of Sherlock, but I somehow doubt it.

Comments

[impishtubist.livejournal.com]

Oh, hon, I definitely understand what you mean. The feeling of helplessness, being unable to cope with stress, etc. That's definitely me. I've had my fair share of internet issues since I moved last summer, so I feel your pain there as well. But it's good to see you're back! :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! :-) It's good to know that I'm not the only one who gets a bit freaked out over things like this. I hope your own internet connection has been more reliable lately and you haven't been going through any kind of cyber-related withdrawal or stress.

[impishtubist.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks, dear! It has been reliable, thank goodness. Let's hope it stays that way through the end of S2!

[lazigyrl.livejournal.com]

Bell is evil. It really is. Of course, I haven't dealt with them in years, but that is partly because I didn't like their customer service (and partly because of Rogers bundles).

Welcome back. :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, lazigyrl. :-) After Bell fucked up, I found myself seriously considering a switch to Rogers. I'll see if I feel the same way in a few days and whether a switch would even work for me.

[avictoriangirl]

I feel your pain. Being without internet is the WORST. Glad it was only 4 days, although even that is too long! ♥

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thanks, avictoriangirl. :-) I actually thought of you when I was writing this post because I remembered you going through the same trauma yourself not that long ago. Fortunately, as you say, it was only four days. And it was the uncertainty of the situation that was more frustrating than anything.

[karen9.livejournal.com]

It's hard dealing with corporations. At least the technician showed up on time and fixed the problem quickly. Being without the internet for four days sucks, especially as you didn't know how long it would be. I understand and sympathise. I need daily access to the internet world and my on-line friends. Fortunately I can easily get away with using the internet for personal stuff at work at tea time. It's sort-of acceptable.

I'm glad you won't have to suffer by missing the Sherlock finale!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

It's hard dealing with corporations. At least the technician showed up on time and fixed the problem quickly.

I'm grateful that at least the technician was reliable and competent. I was very lucky in that respect. :-)

Being without the internet for four days sucks, especially as you didn't know how long it would be. I understand and sympathise.

Thanks, karen9. :-) It really was the uncertainty of the situation that I found most frustrating, though being without internet access wasn't exactly a joy either. *g*

I need daily access to the internet world and my on-line friends. Fortunately I can easily get away with using the internet for personal stuff at work at tea time. It's sort-of acceptable.

Oh, I'm allowed to go online at work during breaks as well, so I wasn't completely cut off. In fact, I ended up saving about 50 pages worth of fic on Wednesday night to take home with me. *g*

I'm glad you won't have to suffer by missing the Sherlock finale!

Me too! :-D

[funkyinfishnet.livejournal.com]

I totally understand. I hate being without the internet. It stresses me out no end. And like you, I hate the uncertainty of it. It drives me nutty. I'm glad you're back online :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, funkyinfishnet. I had a feeling you'd understand. :-D

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know exactly how you feel. I've been trying to get my boiler fixed for months and it annoys me to no end that I have to rely on two businesses to whom I'm only a number.
Glad to see you back in time online though - if only because I don't think I'd be able to shut up about that finale if you had missed it!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know exactly how you feel. I've been trying to get my boiler fixed for months and it annoys me to no end that I have to rely on two businesses to whom I'm only a number.

Yikes! That's really bad! :-( It looks like you've been dealing with a business that also believes in treating its customers like crap. Unfortunately, I think all you can do is to keep bugging them, unless there's someone else you can complain to. I hope you get your boiler fixed whatever happens.

Glad to see you back in time online though - if only because I don't think I'd be able to shut up about that finale if you had missed it!

It's sad but the thought of missing the finale was what upset me the most about not having internet access. *g*

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

Glad you're back online especially in view of Sherlock.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you, grondfic! :-) Yes, I would have been very unhappy if I couldn't watch Sherlock.

[crimsoncorundum.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you've had such trouble with your internet and phone connection, but I'm glad you've got it back now. Hopefully, there won't be anything wrong for a long time now.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, crimsoncorundum. :-) Yes, here's hoping that this will be the last of my internet and phone connection problems for a very long time.

[anitamaid.livejournal.com]

My internet connection failed earlier this evening, and I freaked out, it lasted all of 10 minutes! So you can assume I would be seriously disturbed if I was without my Internet connection for 4 days! yes, see I am the one who should seriously consider trying ween myself off the net for a while.

[anitamaid.livejournal.com]

trying to ween myself, that's what happens when you watch telly at the same time as typing. And it's past midnight here...

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I didn't even notice the typo -- and I don't have your excuses. Well, maybe I can claim that I haven't consumed enough caffeine yet this morning. *g*

[anitamaid.livejournal.com]

I always try to write as correctly as possible, in both languages.
But don't always succeed.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

LOL! Well, ten minutes can be pretty alarming as well. If it didn't freak me out, it would probably piss me off. *g*

[anitamaid.livejournal.com]

I tried to get through to the internet provider service helpdesk, but didn't get through, so I just replugged the router and that helped.

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

I totally understand how this lack of control can be so stressful. I'm just the same. I always assume the worst when dealing with big companies. And I don't cope with the stress very well.

However, the only advice I can offer (from personal experience) is to remember this incident, and the fact that the technician DID turn up punctually and fixed the problem quickly, and didn't try to sell you stuff. Next time you feel stressed thinking about dealing with a soulless corporation, remember that it isn't a definite that it will be a horrible experience. Not EVERY time. And you might just find it relieves your stress a weeny bit....

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only one who finds a lack of control stressful, especially when it comes to dealing with big companies. And thank you for the excellent advice for any future dealings I might have with Bell or other corporations. :-) I mean, I do have a tendency to assume the worst (something I inherited from my dad), but you're absolutely right about the worst not being a definite. If I make more of an effort to dial back on the pessimism next time, I probably could relieve some of my stress.

[jackycomelately.livejournal.com]

Oh that would be horrible! No warning would be the worst. No time to even stockpile fic! Thank god for work internet! I'm so glad you are up and running again.

That's a nasty safety issue as well--no internet and no phone. One reason to have a separate provider I guess. Is Bell the reason why your intercom is such a problem for you? I know they warned us here that there was some kind of wiring issue with the intercoms if you used Bell as your internet. Something had to be changed and you had to pay to change it back when you moved out.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Oh that would be horrible! No warning would be the worst. No time to even stockpile fic! Thank god for work internet! I'm so glad you are up and running again.

Well, there was a notice saying there could be "service disruptions" of up to 20 minutes, but I'd say that was an extreme understatement for what actually ended up happening. *g* Well, as you say, thank god for work internet as I was able to save some fic on a memory stick. However, it's wonderful to having a working connection at home again. :-D

That's a nasty safety issue as well--no internet and no phone. One reason to have a separate provider I guess.

Well, I had my cell phone. I called my family from work to let them know that my home phone was down and they'd have to reach me via my cell phone if they wanted to get in touch with me in a hurry.

Is Bell the reason why your intercom is such a problem for you? I know they warned us here that there was some kind of wiring issue with the intercoms if you used Bell as your internet. Something had to be changed and you had to pay to change it back when you moved out.

I'm not sure if it's Bell or the intercom system itself. I got sick of complaining to my super about it, so I basically just gave up. Thankfully, it's not something I have to use very often. It sucks that you had to go through such hassle with your own intercom. However, after my recent experiences with Bell, I'm not completely surprised. :-(

[boobamiaow.livejournal.com]

I'm the same-always get stressed about things I don't know. When the net isn't working Im fuming, however when I go on hol and have no net for 7-14 days I find it blissful. Go figure!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

It's good to know that I'm not the only when who gets stressed about things I don't know, not to mention fuming when the internet is down. And you're right about the irony of finding it relaxing to get away from the internet when you're on vacation. You'd think it would be the same when your internet is down at home. *g* In my case, the one good thing about it was that I was able to get caught up on some stuff I hadn't watched yet.