While an anonymous hacker took credit for taking down web host GoDaddy earlier this week, the company says that the outage was their own darn fault. It wasn’t a hack or distributed denial of service attack, but “internal network events that corrupted router data tables.” More relevant to this site’s interests is that they offered a small refund to affected customers, but only those who took the time to click on a link in an e-mail explaining and apologizing for the outage. [More]
outages
Should Cable Companies Credit You For Outages You Didn't Complain About?
By 5.9.12
There’s that old question that asks: If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? But in the world of Consumerist, a more appropriate query might be: If the cable goes out for a few hours and customers don’t notice, should they get refunds anyway? [More]
Why Does My Internet Connection Take A Daily Afternoon Siesta?
By 3.20.12
Three hours. That’s how long Nate’s Internet connection goes out for, every day except Saturday. He has no idea why. His Internet service provider, Charter, has no idea why. All Charter is able to do is send technician after technician to check out the problem, replace hardware, and ultimately not solve the problem. [More]
With Neighb's 'Net Down, Super Holds TWC Node Hostage. Ransom: Free Cable
By 10.7.11
In the middle of reports of widespread Time Warner Cable outages in New York’s East Village late this week, one building supervisor has decided to hold a local cable node hostage. This node controls cable and internet not just for his building, but several others on the block. His price for access? Free cable. [More]
Three Weeks Without Internet Access: No Hurry From Time Warner, And No Credits
By 9.23.11
In the six years she’s lived in her current apartment, Kate hasn’t had any major problems with Time Warner. Now Her Internet access has been out since the beginning of September, despite a modem replacement. They’re sort of giving her a whole decade’s worth of major problems all in one go. When Kate mentioned that she needs Internet access to look for jobs, one rep helpfully suggested that she change providers. [More]
How Our AT&T U-Verse Outage Lasted 5 Days Longer Than It Should Have
By 9.16.11
Ron has his AT&T U-Verse cable TV, Internet access, and phone lines working now, but only after spending most of the past week fighting with AT&T. He could have had access back on Saturday, the very first day of the outage, but an AT&T rep told him that sending a tech out to him on a Saturday was impossible. It’s not. They shipped a replacement for his malfunctioning gateway out via UPS. It got lost. Ron is frustrated, because he likes U-Verse. When it works. [More]
Sony CEO: Company Was Not Slow To Notify Users Of Data Breach
By 5.18.11
Sony CEO Howard Stringer lashed out at those who complained that the company waited too long to notify customers of its PlayStation Network data breach. [More]
Sony Offers Year Of Identity Theft Prevention Service As Hackers Allegedly Plot Another Attack
By 5.6.11
To regain the confidence of customers burned by its infamous PlayStation Network outage and data breach, Sony is offering U.S. users a year’s subscription to an identity theft prevention service. [More]
Sony Confirms Yet Another Credit Card Data Breach
By 5.3.11
As if it wasn’t bad enough that 10 million credit card numbers may be at risk due to a hacker’s takedown of PlayStation Network, Sony is also facing a data hemorrhage on another front. Sony Online Entertainment — maker of EverQuest — confirmed another data breach has left 12,700 non-U.S. credit card numbers and 10,700 bank account numbers exposed. [More]
Sony Apologizes For PlayStation Network Outage, Says 10 Million Credit Cards May Be At Risk
By 5.2.11
At a press conference in Tokyo over the weekend, executives for Sony issued a public apology for the ongoing PlayStation Network outage and admitted that upwards of 10 million users’ credit card information could possibly have been breached. [More]
Sony: We Waited A Day, Not A Week, To Tell Gamers Hacker May Have Swiped Their Info
By 4.27.11
Sony ignited a firestorm Tuesday when it revealed that its week-long-and-counting PlayStation Network outage was caused by one or more hackers who may have swiped users’ personal information, including credit card numbers. [More]
Microsoft Finds Opportunity In PlayStation Network Woes
By 4.25.11
Offering less-than-sincere condolences for a competitor’s misfortune, a Microsoft spokesperson publicly hoped the ongoing PlayStation Network outage would lead to more action on Xbox Live. [More]
Skype Offers $1 Credit Voucher Following Massive Outage
By 12.29.10
Following last week’s 24-hour crash that left millions of Skype customers searching for landlines, the online phone company is offering some token compensation to those who were inconvenienced. [More]
Skype Outage Leaves Millions Searching For Landlines
By 12.22.10
No, it’s not just you. A Skype “supernode” outage has left millions of users without access to the popular Internet phone service. According to company engineers, the problem may last a few more hours, and video calling may not be available until even later. [More]
Netflix Has Another Streaming Outage, Apologizes With Credits
By 11.11.10
On Tuesday night Netflix suffered another temporary streaming outage. This late afternoon they once again apologized by sending out customers an email offering a 2-3% reduction off their bill or an extension of their free trial. You’ll have to click on the link in the email to claim the credit. Hey, if Netflix keeps going at this rate, soon we’ll end up with a free month! [More]
Virgin Mobile Jolted Into Action By Executive E-Mail Carpet Bomb
By 7.8.10
Nancy tells Consumerist that she and her husband recently bought shiny new phones from Virgin Mobile, and were quite happy with their service. Well, until Nancy’s phone stopped working entirely. She tried the normal technical support channels, but encountered a run-around that lasted for almost two weeks. Two weeks during which Nancy lacked a functioning phone. She gave up on the normal channels, read our guide to sending an executive e-mail carpet bomb, and sent us a copy of her original missive. [More]
AT&T Took Me Offline For Nearly A Week When I Upgraded Internet Service
By 12.25.09
Since you’re reading this on Christmas Day, there’s a reasonable chance you’d agree that losing internet access for a week is tantamount to going without food or showering. [More]
