Latest Broadband Reviews

Your broadband reviews are crucial to helping Kiwis make an informed decision on their next broadband provider so please take 60 seconds to review your current NZ internet provider below. A review of your current provider allows the ISP’s to gather real feedback from customers and gives you the opportunity to highlight anything great or not so great that you may have experienced. Please submit a review below.

19 July 2021

Rory 1

Scammers, will slowly put your bill up without you knowing.
Signed up for the $84.95 plan 2017
Now getting charged $90 and the plan still $85

Pros

Nothing

Cons

Scammers, will slowly put your bill up without you knowing. Signed up for the $84.95 plan 2017 Now getting charged $90 and the plan still $85

19 July 2021

Craig Barrow 10

kia ora. We so loved Lighwire when we lived in the middle of nowhere. Good speeds for rural and absolutely amazing support. Love them!

Pros

Excellent rural access and pricing

Cons

slow as it is rural, but good speeds for rural

15 July 2021

Demz Ngakuru 8.2

Heads up all the way.Their service and product outstanding.I had my doubts about reception but no problem.Thankyou Professional.

15 July 2021

Andy Christian 8.6

My new broad band product is fast and just works

Pros

Just works

Cons

None yet

14 July 2021

Michael Hutchinson 5.4

Speed is not the best and the support is non existent.

Pros

None

Cons

Slow. Support is non existent.

11 July 2021

Just Another 'Customer' 2.2

Skinny have consistently messed up EVERYTHING I contact them about. To their DISadvantage? It's their own fault, e.g. not disclosing all info for a consumer to make an informed decision - PLEASE REMEMBER THAT POINT. The Consumer Guarantees Act protects us consumers from cowboys like Skinny (who are essentially the 'budget' Telecom - same company underneath!). So? If a consumer is NOT given all information prior to making a decision? CGA has you covered. This alone has ensured Skinny have had to take ownership of their numerous - overt - mistakes; EVERY time. And there have been MANY. Yeah, they can put me on hold for extended times (and they do), And each time something goes wrong? I insist on speaking to a Team Leader - no questions/if's/but's/maybe's. I wish I didn't have to use them - though like another reviewer, fibre required digging through neighbours lawn etc (that'd be worse than dealing with Skinny!). HOWEVER - This week? Civtec have been in the cul-de-sac connecting ALL houses to fibre (previously, fibre relied solely on power lines in the cul-de-sac - and they were all maxed out at six connections - apparently the max allowed). Bottom line? If you try Skinny? Be prepared for CR@P service, long hold/wait times/being disconnected/given misinformation/NO information, etc. Though please BE PERSISTENT. Their real-time online chat generally yields better service (though it's still Skinny), and with it, an increased ability to understand the problem succintly (including statements such as - if the phone recording proves you're right - "I'll fight for you!" Insert LOL emoji here). They're meant to be providing 'service' - not treating people disrespectfully in the same manner other major monopoly holders do. Stand firm. Don't take their cr@p. Their wireless broadband is overpriced for the rubbish speed available (it's garbage, really - even using wired ethernet connection). Plus, not all plans are available in all locations, e.g. unlimited - WHY? If the service is available, then ALL plans should be too. That alone is SUSPECT if you ask me - it has NOTHING to do with cell towers or whatever - it's about PROFIT. Cell tower placement etc - BLAH. I live in a major city other co's can offer what Skinny fails to deliver. So, hmmm. Also? Have noticed an OVERT deterioration in customer service compared to, say, 12+ months ago? Oh yeah, Covid lockdown! Everyone had to be nice back then, didn't they? (Plus they were working from home in PJ's). Suffice to say? NOT A SKINNY FAN. Never was; never will be. Though also unsure about the fibre HYPE. EVERYONE has awesome intro deals - half price, then BOOM! Hello ~$100 per month. No thanks. It's STILL ridiculously priced here in NZ. We suffer from being the Land Of The Long White Cloud...miles away from anywhere else (though that's clearly a bonus re Covid - Catch 22, huh)? Cr@p internet + no Covid - OR - better internet and a lot of Covid. What a 'choice'?! *Facepalm. Oh! And not long ago Skinny shafted many when they 'refined' their WB plans - essentially they ditched their cheapest plan (though you could stay on it by letting it auto-renew), and raised cost of all their plans. Then? If on cheapest plan, though to resolve an issue - e.g. DESPITE written support from NZ Police and NEEDING to renew your - woefully inadequate data - plan a FEW DAYS early, because NO data left to run ESSENTIAL equip such as SECURITY CAMS? You're FORCED to move from the (now-defunct) cheapest plan for 'reasons' beyond their control, and - OF COURSE! - FAILED to tell you they CAN'T move you back to the plan you COULD/SHOULD have remained on - if ONLY there were data add-ons available to buy to tide you over! Getting you to change your plan BEFORE advising you the relevant fine print - while also giving ZERO indication THEIR solution would be an issue, i.e. by flagging it first - e.g. "However - if I move you from this plan? You won't be able to change back" - so simple, huh? Utter Corp SC*M. Will never forget that blunder Telecom...ooops, I meant to type Skinny! ...read more

Pros

None. Only that it's available and avoided having neighbours lawn disturbed to reach termination point deemed closest, when another one was equidistant the opposite direction. They (were) the lesser of two evils. Thus not exactly a pro, is it?

Cons

Too many to list. Read the fine print, and who they're owned by. That says it all. AVOID. NOTE: Perhaps familiarise self with contact details for the NZ Telecommunications Dispute Resolution org - you may need the detail ...read more

11 July 2021

Mark D'Silva 4.6

Service in my books is almost non existent. They do not compare with what other providers are providing or offer anything better or at the same price as other service providers.

Pros

Difficult to find any benefits

Cons

No contact with customers. I feel we just pay for the service and thats about it.

09 July 2021

Steve Brett 9

Trouble free

08 July 2021

Jason 4.8

I'm always on the look for the cheapest, which generally means I'm on a Fibre 100 plan locked in for a fixed year term. Slingshot proved to come out on top with a $68 monthly subscription which included land line.

Pros

It worked when it worked. Cheap.

Cons

I had to reset (switch on and off) the modem/router supplied by Slingshot everyday. If not their modem, then the repeater it connected to, or my device itself, or the odd time the fibre router, or a combination. Basicall ...read more