Bell is my Internet Service Provider (ISP). Has been for years. There are options, but I’ve stuck with Mother through thick and thin. This week thin has been see-through.

Norton, McAfee etc. vie for our loyalty in the Internet protection racket. Ma Bell has her own service which is not compatible with the instantly downloadable providers. Instant gratification is a term unfamiliar to the old girl. I needed a modem replaced – 3-5 day wait. I could cancel my service and install a competitor in less time. Eventually the wait time dropped to 24 hours – I counted my blessings – I could have opted out.

The installation of the new connection went relatively well, until Ma Bell alerted me to an incompatibility issue – Norton and she were not on speaking terms. Norton was included on the new computer. Ma assured me I would be protected, so I sent Norton to the Pale, and let Ma bully me into accepting her protection. Wrong!

I found out today that I haven’t been protected for 4 days, because I hadn’t activated the service. I hadn’t activated the service because I didn’t have an account. Yeah, I do…not that account says Ma, but another account with an additional fee. From free to fee, and no protection.

Once the other account was sorted, I asked when I could expect the protective services to begin – not until Monday. What? I have to wait. I have a system already installed and could turn on in 2 minutes, and I have to wait 3 days for your service. Ah come on, Ma.

Switch? Don’t think so. I firmly believe that none of the available ISPs will be any better at customer service. What I wouldn’t give to remove myself from the tyranny of ISPs.