Link2ICT - Notice Period?

[lparton]

Hi lads and lasses,

 

Does anybody know if there's a notice period for cancelling Link2ICT's internet connection? This information is proving to be troublesome to get from Link themselves!

 

Cheers

[foofighterjim]

I believe it is 60 days but @Michael may know better.

[lparton]

Uh-oh! Thanks!

[Michael]

It's 3 months officially, however seeing as you pay for 12 months, it shouldn't make any difference. They may support you until you cross over to your next provider. I very much doubt they'll just cut schools off, put it that way

[Michael]

Hi lads and lasses,

 

Does anybody know if there's a notice period for cancelling Link2ICT's internet connection? This information is proving to be troublesome to get from Link themselves!

 

Cheers

 

Who have you decided to go with, out of curiosity? PM if you like!

[eshaq786]

Is it possible to ask them for a 6 month only connection instead of paying for a 12 month period as I am planning on moving and we are at renewal time. I don;t really want to pay them for a full 12 months at their rip off prices.

[foofighterjim]

Possibly but I would get on your phone with your account manager now to make sure. Let me know if you can as this is something that I may look into.

[eshaq786]

I have a meeting on Friday with him. He's really gonna get a good rant from me. I will let you know what he says about the 6 month thing. If i forget just PM me to remind me. Thanks.

[Synkrox]

Yeah you can get 6 months - I did it just last year as a transition period to our new supplier

[eshaq786]

Well I've had the meeting and they seemed very reluctant to allow for a 6 month period for the internet connectivity. Their rep said he'll see and get back to me so i'm not sure where we stand really.

 

They seemed to keep trying to push me to their super expensive 100mb for £10K:shocked:

 

I am seriously looking at moving and will probably do so if they do allow for 6 months, if not then at the next renewal period next year. Bunch of rip off merchants link2ict are.

[Synkrox]

Of course they are reluctant! Feel free to use me as reference if they give you any grief about 6 months as they did it for me just last year.

Just make sure your replacement connection is in and running before then, don't believe the lead times, BGFL use Virgin connections, if you are moving to another provider then they will probably need to blow a fibre to your premises.... if a duct has collapsed or new pole needs putting up anywhere you could be waiting 6 months just for the line to go in (thanks OpenReach!)

Chris

[eshaq786]

Of course they are reluctant! Feel free to use me as reference if they give you any grief about 6 months as they did it for me just last year.

Just make sure your replacement connection is in and running before then, don't believe the lead times, BGFL use Virgin connections, if you are moving to another provider then they will probably need to blow a fibre to your premises.... if a duct has collapsed or new pole needs putting up anywhere you could be waiting 6 months just for the line to go in (thanks OpenReach!)

Chris

 

Can I ask who did you go with for ISP? I'm thinking of going with EXANET. Can you also PM me which school in Birmingham so that I can mention you should the need arise.

 

Also link2ict were reluctant to provide me with a solution to access services like CRISP and FCS. How did you overcome this?

 

I'm looking to get FTTC so the fibre to the cabinet has already been installed. Just need to get a copper line put in.

 

Thanks.

[Synkrox]

I went with BT, I know there is a bit of stigma attached to the old utility companies but they were actually really good. They migrated all my domains from L2ICT and set up all the filtering gear too.

FCS has not been an issue for us - BGfL are apparently looking at a solution for CRISP but in the meantime I think our SEN team phone changes through.

[DevilsAdvocate]

When we moved from Link2ICT to our new supplier we only wanted a 6 month contract. We ended up agreeing to pay for 12 months and then getting reimbursed for 6 months worth afterward.

[foofighterjim]

FCS has not been an issue for us

 

What was the solution for FCS? VPN to the bursars desktop?

[Synkrox]

FCS Seems to work fine from outside the grid

[foofighterjim]

That's an interesting one and far from what Link2ICT would have me believe!

[Synkrox]

Well.... At least I think it does, I don't have anything to do with it but no one has complained about it not working yet!

[Michael]

FCS Login definitely wouldn't work without some clever trickery - either a VPN has been setup, or indeed an Extranet so you can still access certain resources as required.

[eshaq786]

Did you have to implement any kind of VPN solution for any service whatsoever? Link2ict have been trying scare tactics with me, the head, admin staff, etc, saying we won't have access to numerous services. HR and finance portal are web based and appear to work outside the grid. CRISP doesn't and FCS I wasn't sure about but if it does work then thats one less worry and i would only need a solution for CRISP which is easier to justify to the head.

[Synkrox]

Well I would def know if either of those had been set up, and they haven't. Just checked with admissions dept and they used FCS last week with no probs. No VPN, no meddling. Just normal internet access. :-)

[Michael]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Crisp is being discontinued in the near future due to its funding or more to the point, lack of funding. HR Portal is definitely open and has been for some time.

 

I think the odds are FCS will most likely be replaced by something web based (I'd have thought), via a secure web page. It's literally some XML files submitted from a folder within your SIMS or Facility share to an LA hosted server, then it goes to wherever to be processed. I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if FCS is FTP based or FTPS (secure FTP).

 

Most services are going via the SSL route on port 443 and is accessible from any browser and more importantly, any ISP.

[foofighterjim]

I may have to get a wireless card into the finance computer and try FCS tethered.

[Michael]

I may have to get a wireless card into the finance computer and try FCS tethered.

 

Try it... will be interesting to see if it does work via 3G/4G presumably? Amazing how all these services are being opened. Someone must be working overtime as something new appears to be happening every week!

[eshaq786]

While your doing that, ask the staff to try out any other services they are likely to use and let us know which one works and which services dont work. Eagerly waiting your reply