18

iZZi Broadband 100% Refund within 7 days is a Hoax!

I purchase an iZZiyou wireless broadband package on 1st of November, 2007. Settling the 12 months payment with my RHB Credit Card for the 0% interest free installment, through their reseller Thunder Match promotion booth at Low Yat Plaza ground floor.

I still remember how I ask the salesperson that day before I made the payment. I asked him, “To entitle for the 100% refund, including the activation & registration fees, the ONLY condition is to return it within 7 days? No other condition?” And the answer I get is a very clear and absolute “Yes! As long as within 7 days.” And I was very satisfy with the answer, thinking that it should be good enough to allow me sometime to try out the connection and stability before I commit to 12 months usage.

And once I went back home, quickly set it up, and try out the connection. But the result is disappointing. I only received 30% of signal at my living room, where I usually do my work and surf net. So I called up their helpdesk, told them I am not satisfy with the signal strength, then we do some testing at different location in my house. And I realized that I can only get 80-90% signal strength when I am at a corner of my room and the balcony. So I told them that this is not acceptable, it will be such a joke that “mobile wireless” actually limit my mobility in your own house!! And I can’t be working in my balcony at all times. Then the helpdesk personnel told me that perhaps my house is located at a blind spot and thus only the balcony can receive good signal. They advice me to purchase the external antenna to boost the signal, but that totally defeat the purpose of mobility with the antenna attached to your laptop! And we need to pay it ourselves but yet no guarantee the problems will be solved. So they said I could return back the equipment set to them and get the full refund.

And during this period of time, my friend and I actually took the Izziyou device out to many location to tryout, to see if this is the problem only happen at my house or others too, as we love the idea of the mobile wireless, it would be very convenient if this service provide is acceptable. Thinking that in the future when the signal strength & coverage get improved and I might come back to subscribe their service in the future. On 6th of November I called the helpdesk again, to asked them about how long will I get my refund. They told me it would be approximately 1 month time, and if I take it back to the HQ office, the refund would be expedited. Then I told them, if I return back to the reseller which is located at Low Yat Plaza, I may do it at night after working hours or at the Public Holidays on 8th Nov (Thu), but if need to bring back to the HQ, I can only do it on 9th Nov (Fri). I asked them if I bring it back to their HQ on Friday, would that be a problem, as non-working day on 8th Nov should not be counted and that would make it within 7 days, and the answer I get is “No problem”.

So I went to the iZZinet HQ at Menara Olympia, Raja Chulan. And it took me so much trouble to fight against the traffic to go there, hoping they would help to expedite the refund process. I passed the full set of equipment to a girl named Lee Lin, signed a document for the refund and left, with the hope that I would get my refund asap.

And this is the best par to of the story, as of today - 10th January 2008, 2 months had gone, there is still NO REFUND coming thru. I have been calling their office (03-21720888) in this 2 months time, to ask them about the progress, and this Lee Lin girl keep on telling me different version of the story:
  • We are working on the request, the payment should be ready next week, would you like us to issue a cheque or directly debit into your account?
    • I told them I want the direct debit option and give them my bank account no, but after 2 weeks, no payment coming thru
So I called again after 2 weeks, below are the feedback provided
  • I’m sorry, we are still working on it, it should be ready next week, I will call you once it is ready
    • No call receive from iZZinet or Lee Lin, another 1 week gone
Then called again, another version of the story below
  • I’m sorry, your cheque already with us, I will ask the office boy to bank into your account by this week
    • I gave them 2 weeks time, for “the office boy to bank into my account”, “surprise surprise”, nothing is coming into my bank account again
This time I am really really pissed, so I screwed the Lee Lin girl on the phone, and lo and behold, her new story
  • I’m sorry, your cheque is still with the office boy, he still have not bank in it, I will ask him to do it asap
    • I told them that I should not be the one that suffer due to their inefficiency, I want the refund to be in my bank by end of the week, and I want their manager to speak to me if this is still not be done by the end of the week.
Finally, last Friday – 4th January 2008, there was a girl calling from iZZinet, somehow I just could not recall her name, should be their manager, told me MY REFUND IS NOW IN THE DISPUTE, because of my “more than 3Mb of usage”, and they claimed that this term and condition is written on their website. And they are going to issue the refund but minus RM98 out, because they have to CHARGE ME FOR ONE MONTH USAGE because of the >3Mb download, EVEN THOUGH I ONLY USED IT FOR LESS THAN 7 DAYS. Below are the feedbacks I gave:
  • HELLO??? You gave people 7 days trials and you expect people to use less that 3Mb???
  • Maybe is MY MISTAKE that I did not read anything about this at their website, BUT your sales person ASSURE me that returned within 7 days is the ONLY condition I need to fulfill, that means your salesperson is NOT TO BE TRUSTED???
  • And your staff follow-up SUCKS, because I have to CALL EVERYTIME, even though the Lee Lin girl promised to call me back to update me the progress, but every time I called, there is different story given
  • The LEE LIN is LYING every time I called!!! Because the update she gave previously was the payment / cheque is ready but the office boy have not bank in. That means your staff is NOT TO BE TRUSTED???
  • CHARGE ME ONE MONTH SUBCRIPTION FEES for the LESS THAN 7 DAYS USAGE, that is a very easy money for iZZinet to earn!!!
I literally scream at the manager until I am at the verge of losing my voice because I am really ( X infinity ) PISSED!!!!!! And I felt so CHEATED!!!!!! At the end of the conversation, she said she would discuss further with the company, and she would call me back TOMORROW.

It is 10th January 2008 (Thu) today, and no call receive from iZZinet, no surprise, because with the suckish customer service they had been provided, what will be a surprise anymore?

So my conclusion on this matter is
  • IzziNet Broadband 100% Refund within 7 days is a hoax (with so may hidden term & condition, <3mb>
  • IzziNet personnel – from SALESPERSON, HELPDESK, STAFF & MANAGER, their word is NOT TO BE TRUSTED, either inaccurate information provided or even worse, they lied. But guess what, consumer is the one that pay for the price!
I am telling you people about my experience (a very bad one) with iZZinet broadband, presenting the verdict here, serve as a warning, to whoever that wanted to consider such service; because I certainly don’t want anyone to be cheated in the same way.

But of course, the decision is always in your hand!



Still Very Piss & Still Waiting For My Refund,
YeeLing

18 brainwave:

davidlian said...

Sigh... true mobile broadband is a reality that will take a while to come true in Malaysia... I think WiMAX is overhyped, but even if it was good, it'll take at least 4 years to arrive.

Your best bet is Streamyx, or if you insist on wireless, then Maxis 3G or Celcom lor.

Maxis connection sucks in my house but when I'm out and about, it works just fine.

Myself n I said...

I am using Streamyx with a wireless modem already - ever since I throw back the iZZiyou back to them.
Just tat i want my REFUND, not EXCUSES! :(

Anonymous said...

That's really bad for iZZiNet to delay the refund for so long and dispute it afterwards.

I am still not so confident with the other providers, including Celcom and Maxis also. Still rely on Streamyx.

You are using wireless Streamyx? Good or not? How's the coverage?

Myself n I said...

Maxis 3G is good, but at certain area only. My friend is using it to download movies in the office with his personal laptop.
I am using a Streamyx ADSL wireless modem, so my mobility is only within my house...
But like what David said, true mobility without fuss, in M'sia, a long while more...
So I'm gonna stick with Streamyx during this period of time, too bad, no other better choice

Anonymous said...

you can hack the thing & increase your signal strength.

You can check metacafe or youtube for these vids.

Anonymous said...

yeah u know wat? similar case as u... REFUND THE WHOLE SET on the 3rd day...i think in mid jan '08 i subscribe, now they're still deducting my sis's credit card....any pointers that what shud i do cos i cant really find the receipt from IZZI (silly me)...? if possible can u email the solution to me at andrew_0083@hotmail.com? thanx alot...

Anonymous said...

It's suck a blatant lie for them to claim 2MB/4MB bandwidth when in actual fact, the speed is as slow as dial-up connection. Yes, even when i receive 90% signal strength. I strongly advise NOT to subscribe to iZZi. It's a total scam.

Anonymous said...

Stick to streamyx. It's like your wife, not perfect but very faithful and reliable, will be there for you when you need her (in most cases). Other new wireless broadband is like a pretty woman attracting your attention with it's beauty, features and promises, while all she want is your money, and all the promises is nothing but promises.

That's what i think.

Anonymous said...

Hi, just curious, did you get your refund already? After half a year of process? Office boy should reach your doorstep even he is walking from Bukit Kayu Hitam to Johor Bahru.

Myself n I said...

@Anonymous: Hahahaha! Well said ;)

@Joe: Stalker >.<

@ahfatt: Yes I did, more details read here

cedko said...

izzi.com.my should be renamed as izzi.com.mygoodnessgracious!

should have researched thoroughly before signing up for the izzi package. just got my package in the afternoon and struggled to get it installed.

lousy documention = izzi.com.mygoodnessgracious!

their sales reps gave false information and said that the whole of klang valley got connection. bollocks! i got home to bukit oug and the connection there was extremely poor, between 20% to 30%. when i asked him why, he said that the base station in oug had been taken down. what the...

false advertising = izzi.com.mygoodnessgracious! and possible legal action

called the izzi hotline to ask for the complaint department manager. manager not working then! looks like izzi is not serious in receiving customer complaints!

lousy customer service = izzi.com.mygoodnessgracious!

even with 30 % connnection cannot log in. error message "error 676: phone line is busy" and when i complained, the sales rep had the cheek to reply that "even if ypou can log in, you won't be able to surf"!. what the...

lousy connection = izzi.com.mygoodnessgracious!

thanks for listening but i really feel cheated and need to get it off my chest before it totally ruins my whole evening.

'A said...

I almost gone into the world of izzi's scam. I went to LowYat yesterday, I asked them if the service is available in the UK as I'm going to the Uk in sept. The sales person told me their network partner iBURST is well spread around the world including the UK. I was very convinced by then but I would really wanna check it out before I subscribe, therefore I left.

I check their website, there's no trace of international service. Further more, they answered a question about international roaming by *the service is currently in the pipeline*. I feel suspicious and checked out iBURST UK, they launched a trial in Oxford and its Oxford only! There's no service in whatsoever area in the UK! Now that I've read thru your blog and the comments, I'm at my luckiest.

Myself n I said...

@ASHY: Hey, then you're a smarter consumer than I am :)

Boy Ipoh said...

I personally disagree..i know that some people have a coverage issue. But i'm an iT network guy. I have tons of friends using this wireless mobile thingy. Also some of them work with those isp...so far celcom, izzi and p1 is the most realible wireless compare to maxis..even a fix line like streamyx unstable..coz not all areas are install with fiber yet..

also wirelss is depends on your location..some areas where izzi signal an speed were superb and celcom sucks..some areas celcom were superb and izzi sucks..so u can't really say they were scamming u or cheating...sales booth might be their reseller coz i found out not all izzi booth were direct from izzi even tough they wear izzi shirt..it's like the mybroadband2u booth..they sell streamyx, etc and sometimes they wear izzi and streamyx shirt..so their explanation or experience in the product might be not as accurate or 100% correct...

go surf the net...many people thinks wimax is the solution...to tell u the truth. I just came back from a meeting in Australia. Wimax is Australia is a total failure and the company shut down and iBurst maintains...so do you think p1 wimax in Msia will work..well now they are still new...wait when they had many customer / congested and see how many post something like this here...soon there's gonna be p1.mygoodnessgracious.com...it's a same old thing..then new company come out and later congested all complaint sucks, this and that...and to be honest..i'm a streamyx user...also using celcom and izzi...my izzi works at Ampang and getting from 800 - 1000kbps..sometimes it drops till 500kbps which is still works fro e-mail, facebook, youtube and smooth web surfing...so maybe u ain't lucky or too many noise or blocking or interuption from other radius noise, etc

Anonymous said...

My office in Kelana Jaya and using izzi is really a nightmare..

It takes a decade to load a web site.. sent emails to their support, nobody will reply you, called them directly they will say will be fixed this afternoon but that never happened.. week after week and they keep on doing promotion without taking care of their existing customers ? what kind of company is this...

streamyx is bad but still better than izzi..

Anonymous said...

I've faced the same problem when I cancelled my Izzinet early Apr2010. Izzinet put a condition that I must allowed them to auto debit my credit card account if I want to continue to use for the 2nd year. I've allowed them to debit my credit card from Sep2009 until I wrote to them on 12/4/2010 to stop the service. By Apr2010, they've already over debit my credit card account for more than 2 - 3 mths due to they sometimes double debit my account in a mth. They claimed they must charged me until end of Apr'10 and only refund to me the balance. I've followed up with their helpdesk and their finance manager, Wilson and went thro' the same incidents like cheque being prepared, we'll bank into your account, our office boy wasn't free to bank in, we've banked in the cheque for you, pls check your account, etc. After 1 month of different stories I've heard from them and I still don't get the refund, I've went up to their office to see Wilson personally. In front of me, Wilson still pretended he's surprised I've not got the refund, then I told him I want to collect my refund immediately, he then picked up a backdated cheque for half of the refund amount and said they would only give me half of the amount. I've asked for reason which he couldn't give me. I've insist he must gave me full refund and this finance manager still make up story of Bank Negara ruling. I was totally pissed and raise my voice to him, he went out the office and bring in the bldg security guard and asked the guard to drag me out of the office. I've explained to the guard of the incident and the guard didn't take any action against me but just stand there even though Wilson said they've paid for the fee. At the end, Wilson took out his personal cheque and wrote a cheque to me for the full refund after less their full Apr mth charges.
On 15/9/2010, 4 mths after I've terminated the service, I saw another auto debit to my credit card account on 30/8/2010, I've called up their helpdesk and Wilson, he bring up another crab story again-Bank Negara rules and card declined??? On 17/9/2010, I've called up their helpdesk again for refund of this debit, they said they will refund within 7working days and called me when the cheque ready for collection, until today I still don't get the refund. To prevent Izzinet auto debit my account again, MBB has advised me to cancel my credit card account. I've to go thro' the hazzle of getting another credit card account and transfer my other utilities trans to the new account. I just want to share with everyone of my experience with this company and pls beware of this Izzinet for taking $ from your account even you don't use their service anymore.

Anonymous said...

I am facing the same issue that Izzi overcharged my credit card and no reason given whatsoever. This is equivalent to daily robbering as I had terminated the service more than half a year ago. I am now working overseas and I am really eager to go to Consumer Claims Tribunal to report this. Wilson is useless, doesnt reply email, give stupid excuse, promise calling back but didnt. Izzi is just a blood sucking company.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I am checking this blog using the phone and this appears to be kind of odd. Thought you'd wish to know. This is a great write-up nevertheless, did not mess that up.

- David