If it is working, don't fix it

I have been having such a motto for a long time. Being a pessimist, I worry over unnecessary changes which might create new problems... and I was proven right many times. You cannot believe everything they claim in advertisements. Sometimes, the product or service just cannot meet the expectations of the people.

My wife is known for procrastinations, except when it comes to travel. But this isn't about travel but internet connection. We have had Streamyx for a number of years despite complaints of this and the other... a case of no choice, especially with telephone fixed line. I was toying with the idea of giving up the fixed line but because at the time, all 3 children were then overseas. Fixed line's main advantage is the cheap overseas call, especially from abroad and when using the I-Talk card locally to call overseas. Calling UK is much cheaper than calling Holland, so Cheng has to call us instead or when she uses Skype. Now, 2 of them are back so the advantages are no longer there except for Cheng to call a fixed line.

One day, a friend called my wife and told her that she has opted for this Streamyx Wifi package (at Rm90 per month) which provides, among other things, free national calls to other TM lines. The very next day, without discussion with me, she signed up for the change, despite knowing that our original contract has bills ending 25th of each month. Few days later, a TM contractor's rep came to supply the free router/modem and to set it. So my grouse was also the overlapping period when it started from May 13, and the mistaken assumption about the cheaper calls to mobile numbers which I found out only after I have received the latest bill. Eg. a call to a 012 number in KL costed 75 sen per minute!

Now, whether I like it or not, I am stuck with this Wifi package for at least one year. It is ok if I found it convenient. But I have had problems using it. Sometimes, it showed 'no network', other times, I had to key in the WEP key to get in even set at auto, and to make it worse, it 'trips' soon after!

Before this, I was thinking of giving up the Streamyx using cable, to switch to Digi Wifi. I got one for my daughter in PJ, starting with a starter pack at Rm20 which comes with Rm10 connection for 5 days. It worked well, though there is the inconvenience of buying 'top-up' cards. But then again, any time one is going away for a period, there is no wastage as in a postpaid. Anyway, postpaid saves only Rm2 per month.

Honestly, I have a phobia with postpaid since my wife's nightmare with Celcom years ago. A following month's bill can include the previous month's for certain calls not included! How could we tell? My phobia is that I dread to receive bills which can come with items which are subject to arguments based on 'your words against mine'.

Now, thanks to my wife's sudden efficiency, I am stuck with this Wifi on a 'now you get it, now you don't' basis. Getting help from TM is a hassle I wish to avoid if I could.



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