I have just changed to another ISP who unfortunately don't allow the running of a home-based server. I have moved to optusnet.com.au because my previous ISP

iiNet.net.au SUCKS

iiNet was my ISP for 8+ years and I had no intention of leaving them.

Initially they were a small ISP based in Perth, Western Australia. Their managing director Michael Malone (who started the business in his garage with a friend in 1993 whilst at University) was intent on "rattling the cage" of Telstra (Australia's dominant Telco & ISP) by offering competive dial-up, and eventually broadband plans and providing "real customer service & support".

Over the past 8 years, iiNet grew it's customer based and acquired many smaller ISPs, and eventually listed on the stock exchange. This was due mainly to the loyalty of customers and referral by word of mouth - so much so that iiNet was regularly noted for it's outstanding service and customer loyalty by Australia's various computer magazines.

Although ASX listing brought in additional investment and allowed iiNet to grow into the 2nd largest ADSL (broadband) provider in Australia, it gradually resulted in less ownership and control by Mr Malone. As they continue to roll-out their own infrastructure around Australia (allowing speeds upto 24000/1000 kb); it appears that the accountants are now "guiding" the company's direction - ie; maximise profit, look after the shareholders, forget the community factor it was built on.

Fom late 2005 iiNet has increased prices on many plans, lowered the speed of several plans, and discontinued others. Most severely hit were those customers currently not able to be placed on iiNet's own DSLAM equipment due to Telstra's restrictive policies on access to sub-exchanges or RIMs, and availabe speeds in them.

In July 2006, emails were sent out to many of these loyal customers stuck on Telstra exchanges informing them that their speeds would be dropped from 1500/256 down to 512/128; alternatively they could option to pay an extra $20/month to retain the existing speed & download quotas, or they could opt to leave with no termination penalty.

As these new prices now placed the plans above that of several competitors, and the overall cost of all bundled services was greater than many others, there really was no option other than to find another ISP. (see the reaction of other loyal customers that were given the same option - read whirlpool forum posts)

Loyalty is a 2 way street; the customers supported iiNet throughout its growth; but now that iiNet has become a ASX listed company, it seems has forgotton it's loyal customers and become just another corporate entity that sees cusomers as nothing more than an income source for the shareholders.

Once iiNet were unique; they were a friendly, helpful, competitive & personalised ISP; they had a loyal customer community (something you can't buy).

They were great........now they aren't.