Keith Fairley

Second line installed with A&A, no issues, helped with moving IP subnet from line 1 to line 2, love the array of config options you have in the control panel. Really makes you feel like you have full control over your internet connection(s), which leads to peace of mind. Highly recommended for those who know what they are doing and know exactly what configurations they want.

Whilst I am delighted that we now have a fibre to the premises service, and the engineer who installed the internals was very polite, I do feel that it is important to highlight a couple of minor issues - especially as I have been invited to provide feedback, both good and bad.

The internal box (the ONT) was not fixed to the wall properly. The engineer drilled a couple of holes into the wall and screwed straight into the holes. Our walls are fairly old and crumbly and, while this time-saving shortcut may work for plasterboard walls and similar, it left our ONT hanging off the wall with one screw doing nothing and the other about to pull dust out from the drilled hole. The engineer had positioned it so that the actual incoming fibre was quite tight going into the box, with no give. The first thing I did after he left was undue this shoddy work, drill my own holes slightly to the side of the ones he created, plugged them with wall plugs and that solved the issue. Would have taken him 5 seconds to add a plastic wall plug in each hole.

The other issue was that I had to go around the outside of the building and knock several of the cable clip nails into the wall properly on the outside of the building. I realise the engineers don't knock these in to be really really tight against the brickwork, as that can put pressure on the fibre cable, but these were nails that were sticking right out and just hadn't been finished properly.

The end result is, if course, great internet speed and an "ok" installation. Not great but got the job done (with my help to tidy up the engineer's work).

Used Parcel Monkey UK for sending a gift to Spain. It got held at customs for weeks. Parcel Monkey's very own chat monkeys told me that this delay was because the recipient needed to file documentation... except the recipient was not contacted to ask them to file any documentation. The parcel already contained the required documentation in the form of all required customs forms, but OK, if we humour them for a moment... they can't expect the recipient to file documentation if they aren't asked for anything. The monkeys told me that the Spanish courier or customs will have contacted the recipient, but when I asked for proof that the recipient was contacted I was told they cannot provide any proof. The parcel has since been returned to us but Parcel Monkey's monkeys have so far declined to refund, even though I didn't receive the service I paid for. Will have to use the chargeback process. If you don't want to deal with a bunch of monkeys, stay well clear of this lot!

I'm a kind soul so I'll save the monkeys a job with replying to my review, here's what they'll say as it's what they say on all of their replies (I dare them to say something different this time):

They will say: "I am very sorry to hear about the service you have received when using our service. I have escalated the case on your behalf and have asked one of our team to reach out to you."

They will then incorrectly use a semi-colon in the next sentence, like this: "Alternatively, please contact our team at; [their contact link here]"

Finally they will tell me that: "Again, we are very sorry for this and hope we can come to a quick resolution for you."

Heck, they might not even bother to reply. But that's fine as they will never see a penny from me ever again 🤣

UPDATE (26/6/2024): So, as predictable as ever, they provided a copy/paste reply exactly the same as they do on all negative reviews. Would you really trust or want to give your business and hard-earned money to this bunch? They really could not care any less. The chargeback process will also cost them more than my original order so figure that one out...

Despite my previous 1-star negative review advising anyone to stay well clear of XLN, I just had a call from "Billy" to see if he can bring me back to XLN... Even after a terribly negative experience in 2022 which involved me being out of any initial contract commitment, XLN upping their prices, XLN telling me I could leave within 30 days if I did not agree to the new prices/terms, me being threatened with termination charges because I did decide to leave, and having to send tracked mail to their head offices just to get a written response from them that they were in the wrong and should not be charging me any termination fees - and after all that Billy feels he can draw me back in??

I left over two years ago, haven't looked back since! XLN will make you feel frustrated, backed into a corner and it will then be you coming onto Trustpilot to leave a 1-star review... it's just not worth it! Save your sanity, don't even enter into the XLN eco-system and find another company.

I must admit that I do love coming onto Trustpilot every now and then and reading everyone else's negative reviews of XLN - reminds me of how lucky I was to escape their devious wretched little clan of know-it-all jumped-up call centre numpties who would tell me that I would regret leaving and would not get a better service elsewhere - at the time one of them even told me to "look on Trustpilot" and see how good they were 🤣🤣🤣

Seriously - look at all of the other negative reviews for XLN and you will see that so many of them are pleading with you (dear reader) not to sign up or fall for XLN's sales crap. We're all here trying to warn you to stay away from XLN, and we can't all be deluded or wrong - the choice is yours, but if you ignore us all, then I have no doubt that in 3 months, or 6 months, or 12 months - however long it takes before XLN really show you their true colours - you'll be back on here adding your very own negative tale of woe.

Received a promotional booklet from Antalis in my latest copy of Digital Printer magazine. Inside was a full page inviting me to scan a QR code to request a sample box, supposedly full of digital media samples (coated, uncoated, etc.). Did this, which led to a sales call, which led to an "account" being opened, which led to an account manager asking what I needed, and endless questions about what machinery we operate and what papers we use etc. I just want the advertised sample box to start with - then I will consider whether I want to place an order, after I have seen and touched the samples.

I don't expect I will receive the sample box, and I haven't got hours to waste replying to their account manager's emails detailing what samples I require - I expected a box of samples of all that they offer so that I can make my choices and consider new options for new products as we produce them.

It's like they don't want new business.

We order regularly from Premier Paper - would always recommend as they have friendly, local staff. Samples are key to a print company so that they can see and touch/feel the substrate and Premier are always happy to oblige - they have a dedicated sample department. They are also able to provide sample swatches and media selectors to help know what is available and what it looks and feels like ahead of placing an order. They also have a lot of ranges and lines from their own mills, so prices are always very keen. Highly recommended.

Another "owned license" owner here, very disappointed that the ability to download updates will now cost a lot more. Shame on you WHMCS for the no-notice notice!

6th May 2021 Update:

The CEO, Matt Pugh, has today written to me (and lots of others) to try and placate us by adding in two further pricing tiers. He also "invites" us to read his Q&A blog, wherein he states:

"In addition, it's been over 5 years since we discontinued the Owned License product meaning at minimum, license holders have had use of the license for in excess of 5 years. In many cases, far longer. I believe that for any business which is actively using the WHMCS platform, the value they will have received from the product in the time they have been using the product far exceeds the value which was paid and still represents great value for money."

I'm was sure that I purchased an unlimited owned license, rather than a 5-year or 6-year or 7-year or X-years license.

Are you kidding? You're justifying your actions by saying: "Well, you've had your money's worth, haven't you? Isn't getting five years our of your unlimited owned license enough? You expected more?"

Laughably there is also a question in the blog: "Why should I trust WHMCS?"

Myself, I'm left wondering: "why did I ever trust WHMCS?"

Ordered some reams of paper, which turned up damaged (packed in a box that was far too big).

Contacted and after waiting the "usual" 72 hours for a reply, was told the whole order would be collected and replaced.

It was collected and some items were replaced, in an OK state - better than the first lot. However, some items were being replaced in a second shipment which arrived the next day, still just as damaged as the original items.

Now I have to wait another 72 hours to get a reply to tell me what they are going to do next.

My guess would be that they will replace the damaged paper with more damaged paper...?

And I find the positive reviews on here laughable. Loads of genuine negative reviews, and then strangely a load of positive reviews all left on 29th April 2020 - then they go back to largely negative reviews.

Have a look if you want a five-minute laugh!

UPDATE: I got a nice generic reply below, you are really showing off your amazing customer service skills! Keep it up while I go elsewhere in the future.

Left XLN months ago (March 2022ish), they were a nightmare to get rid of! Told me they were going to charge me for leaving etc. even though I left after they changed the prices and gave me a contract exit with no termination fees. Spent weeks chasing, getting calls from some little upstart who insisted I would regret it blah blah. JUST STAY AWAY FROM THEM - they are not worth the headache!