Broadband T&Cs

I don't read them all and the below might be standard T&Cs for all. So has
anybody any idea what the software is,if it's *really *needed*, is it a
standard requirement and would you accept these T&Cs?

Ponder...

So, free spyware for life eh?

I think I'll spread that around the usual places ;)

The actual T&Cs are at the following link (pdf), nice find Rabbit :-)

$irVivor & =?iso-8859-1?Q?=A7ire=DFird?=...

Not a chance Sandra, would not touch that with some one else's 10ft barge
pole, let alone my own.

Rabbit...

It's proof that hype followed by mass hysteria does jbex :-(

$irVivor & =?iso-8859-1?Q?=A7ire=DFird?=...

Neither hype nor hysteria Sandra, but then I wouldn't buy, rent, lease a
house, if the agreement insisted that I allow them to use someone else to
monitor how things were working and give them a key so they could 'pop in'
and fix it whenever they felt like it.

Rabbit...

I agree but I'm certain that many people will sign up for the *free for
life* BB just because of the hype :-( I must admit I'd probably have done
it myself at one time but I learned that if it sounds too good to be true
then it probably is.

$irVivor & =?iso-8859-1?Q?=A7ire=DFird?=...

Isn't that the truth :))

Tickettyboo...

If they are the T&Cs and I want broadband from that particular company
then yes I would agree. Mind you I wouldn't have read them . If I have

Rabbit...

Me neither,that's why I wasn't sure if it was *normal*

a connection that turns out to want me to install summat I don't want then
I will trip off elsewhere. If all the isps want me to do it then I would
have to live with it or do without BB.
Its way down my list of stuff that concerns me though

Jeff Gaines...

No!

Which ISP?

Rabbit...

Talk Talk and a friend of mine has just signed up for the *free for life*

andon...

But with a 5 gb per month limit
That is like one movie download and text news per month.
By the time their spyware tracker has done its bit there
prob wont be enough to even d/l a feature length film.

[1] BB.
[1] *Free for life* is IMHO misleading advertising.

5.6 In order to connect to the Broadband Service, we may require you to
install on your PC certain software belonging to a third party. We will

=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A7ire=DFird?= & $ir Vivor...

That's enough to say no way, no how.

Ali...

Fair enough, so long as it's the modem drivers.

provide this software, without charge to you, in order to assist with your
initial installation (and continued connection) to our Broadband Service and
to diagnose any problems that you may face in this regard. You will be
required to enter a licence with us governing the use of this software.

Ali...

This *could* just be bikesheds-type software, that only runs when allowed;
and only for the duration of the problem-diagnosis and rectification
session.

However, even though we may have provided this software to you we do not own
it and so this licence will also support the rights of the third party,
which owns the software. We consider that the use of this software is

Ali...

Fair enough, so long as the software owners aren't caliming any rights to
acess your machine.

necessary to deliver and enhance our customer service to you and so, if you
decide not to install this software, we may not be able to resolve any
installation and/or connection problems you may experience. In addition, we
will not be liable to you for any matter that may arise as a result of your
failure to do so. By installing this software you will also allow us access

Ali...

OK, they're not going to support you if you don't let them see what you're
doing.

to
your PC so that we can diagnose and fix any problems you have encountered
with your connection to the Service. You hereby authorise us to have

=?iso-8859-1?Q?=A7ire=DFird?= & $ir Vivor...

That would most definitely confirm it's an ISP that isn't worth
touching in any way shape or form!! The fact that they've put in an
aggregate liability clause shows they know they will have claims.

Which ISP is it?? IIRC NTL tried to do the same thing - or something
very similar.

Ali...

Again, OK if, AND ONLY IF, that access is under the direct control of the
computer user.

such remote access. You acknowledge that this paragraph is subject to clause
9.4 but that its provisions shall not affect your statutory rights.

9.4 Our aggregate liability, (other than for those circumstances covered by
clause 3.14 or 9.11) whether in contract or for negligence or breach of
statutory duty or otherwise, to you for any loss or damage of whatsoever
nature and howsoever caused shall be limited to and in no circumstances
shall exceed Ł1,000 for any one incident or series of related incidents.

Ali...

They want full access to mess around with your computer, but will only pay
a maximum of Ł1000 if they completely destroy all the valuable data on it,
and render it usesless?!!

The answer to your last question is NO.

As an aside, ow many people here have given full remote access to someone
they've never met, with no mention of compensation for foul-ups at all?

Tickettyboo...

Only remote access stuff I have seen mentioned in here is netmeeting.

Ali...

VNC and , I think, Skype, have also been mentioned.

Ali...

VNC definitely does remote control. Skype, I thought I had read references
to using it for desktop sharing, but I could be wrong.

Whoever is remotely accessing can be stopped easily at the click of a
mouse, so its not what I would class as 'full access'.

Ali...

True, but only if the local user is aware of what is happening.

Ali...

Would a helpdesk bother pointing that out? It would only make their job
harder.

Ali...

Trouble is, by the time it becomes obvious, it's sometimes too late.

People in here aren't ( I wouldn't have thought) a fair representation of
the majority of pc users. We have been reading about pc related stuff (
the techy stuff) for quite some time, and even if we don't understand it
all, we know where to ask if we get problems.

Ali...

Very true.

I would guess that for a lot of pc owners, remote access would be viewed
as no different to someone they have never met ( maybe got their number
from the Yellow Pages) coming round to fix a pc, or taking it to a shop to
be fixed.
So, a fair percentage of pc owners may find the facility for their isp to
have remote access to diagnose and fix their connection probs a good thing

Ali...

Yes they would. Indeed I believe that XP comes with such a system 'Remote
Assistance' built-in.

The trouble is, TT's T&C's don't say what the scope of their software is,
nor apparently do they provide the required third-party licence for
inspection and consideration.

It's the lack of information that causes paranoia.

?

I would have thought that for anyone who knows summat about their pootas
and perhaps dislike and distrust the idea of their isp having access,
there will be a workaround on the net within days. :-)

Bill P...

Sixteen pages WOW you need a degree in law to understand all
that,,,,if,,,,you ever managed to get through it all without giving in to
the urge to run sceaming down the street.

Ali...

I'm sure any technical issues can quickly be fixed. Legal ones may take
longer. It really depends on whether there really is spyware involved, or
just a contract covering the isp for all eventualities.