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Internet Service Frequently Asked Questions |
What is my Email address? What is my username?
Your email address is in the form username@pchg.net, where username is
the string you chose when you signed up, such as jsmith. Your username is used
with your password to authenticate you when you dial-up, and when you check
your PCHG mail box.
I'm going on vacation. What happens to my email? How can I check it?
If you are going on vacation, your email will accumulate on our mail server
until you check it again (up to a point - there is a limit on the amount of
mail your box can hold). You may check your mailbox from anywhere in the world
using PCHG Webmail. To access, visit www.pchg.net, click on Webmail, and
log in with your email address and password. You may send mail and retrieve it,
as well as make use of more advanced features such as mail folders and address
books that follow you where ever you are. (Note that you need an active account
in order to receive and access mail - you cannot suspend your PCHG account
when you go away if you need mail service. You may of course scale back your
package if you won't need dial-up.)
What is all this crap in my Inbox? Who are these people?
It is most likely spam, which is unsolicited email sent anonymously to thousands
of people, generally containing advertising for some worthless site or product.
Like junk mail, once your address is on a spammer's list, it is difficult to
stop the flow. The most effective solution is changing your email address. But
you can also filter incoming mail using most email programs so that (some) of
the garbage is deleted as it arrives.
PCHG is working on deploying an effective server-side spam filtering system so
that most of it gets blocked at the source and never makes it to your Inbox. Check
the News section to see the current status of this project.
How can I prevent spam?
If you are already receiving a large volume of spam, there is little you can do
to prevent it. Some unsolicited messages contain "Remove Me" links at
the bottom. Clicking on these links or replying to the sender may have the
effect of getting your email address off the mailing list, but they can also be
used by spammers to verify that your address is legitimate - and so you could
end up receiving more. The only thing you can do is try using an email program
that has spam-blocking capabilities. Note that you will still receive the junk,
but the program will delete (some of) it or prevent it from being displayed.
Why is PCHG sending me SPAM?
We're not. Probably what you are seeing is a message that has been manipulated
to mask its true origin. Spammers often use this trick to confuse and misdirect
you, and to prevent people from replying or contacting their ISP. Fortuantely
the correct information is still present in the message header (the lines at
the top of every email that identify the message origin, destination, date,
transmitting mail servers, subject, et cetera), since every server that passes
the message leaves a fingerprint. On the other hand, if in fact one of our users
is spamming and we find out about it, they are in trouble.
I have a new email address and spam is not a problem - yet. How can I
prevent it?
Be cautious where you post your email address. Don't give it to people or
organizations that you don't want to hear from. Many web sites ask you to enter
your email address in order to access advanced features or to remember your
preferences. Only do this if you trust they won't use your email address
inappropriately or sell it to a third-party. Better sites provide links to
their privacy policies which have more information about what they use your
address for. If you must post your address in a public forum, it is a good idea
to obscure it so that it requires some modification to use - for example, if
your address is john@example.ca, identify yourself as john at example
dot ca. Anyone who wants to email you for legitimate purposes can put in
the minimum of effort required to decipher that.
Does PCHG filter or block web content?
No. We do not interfere with normal Internet traffic. Network firewalls are in
place to secure our servers and limit access to our communications hardware.
Filters are in place on mail servers to protect against unauthorized use and
abuse from senders of bulk unsolicited (spam) mail.
Do I have a static IP address?
Each time you connect, your computer is assigned a unique IP that remains
static for the duration of the session. When you disconnect, that address is
released back into the available address pool. You get a new one the next time
you dial-up. This allows us to maximize use of limited IP addresses, while
affording users greater anonymity and security.
Do compters make mistakes?
No. Sometimes the people who program and use them do.
I am having a problem with my Internet connection. What should I do?
If you are having a problem connecting to the Internet, the first thing to
try is to shut down your computer and restart it before trying again. This is
particularly true if your operating system is Microsoft Windows 98, XP or
Millennium. If this does not resolve the issue, contact PCHG support.
What should I have ready before I call?
If the problem generated an error message, be sure to keep it on the screen
so you can describe it to the support technician when you call. You should also
know your username, and your computer's operating system version.
What payment options are offered?
The cheapest and preferred way to pay your PCHG bill is with an automatic
monthly account debit. We prefer it because it means more reliable payments and
simpler accounting procedures. And for you it means hands-off bill payment.
I want a deal!
You can pay 1 full year in advance if you prefer, and gain a free month.
Can I pay my bill online?
TD customers and Royal Bank customers should be able to pay PCHG directly and
easily online now. If you use another bank, contact the bank to have PCHG
Internet Solutions added as a payee.