After deciding on getting the next big thing through slingshot in an earlier post, I've since had much fun with my contact with them:

Firstly, I checkout their website to see if I can get the next big thing where I am located (I live in dead central Auckland). Very handily they have a page for you to fill in your details to tell you if you can get it, but it keeps on spitting errors back at me as the form won't accept the phone number not being filled in (address is not enough?!). Arrgghh...

So I try messaging them directly, explaining my situation that I'm not a current customer and don't have a phone line but would like to get all my phone and internet services through slingshot as part of the next big thing. <sarcasm> They very helpfully reply back </sarcasm> asking for my "Slingshot user ID or account number" . I'm just shocked, I write back explaining how I want to become a slingshot customer and thus I don't already have an account number.

My most recent reply from them says the next big thing is only available to existing slingshot customers, this only serves to confuse me further. Does this mean I have to be on one of their other plans for a month first before I can be on the next big thing?!?! I'd presume/hope not.

Anyway, rang up their 0800 number this afternoon in the hope of getting this sorted quickly (I'm feeling naked without any internet access at home!!). Turns out I can get this where I'm living, but I can't get this as we don't currently have a phoneline and they do not make new connections! Sigh, looks like I'm in for a whole lot more trouble before I get internet access at home. Are they trying to avoid getting new customers perhaps?!

So, does this mean I'll have to be with Telecom for a month first (to get with them my "new" landline connection) and then once the first month is over I'll have to change over to Slingshot?

What is the best way to do this? Ideally I'd like to get this done faster, not pay for a whole month (or even worse be on a 12 month contract and have to pay an early termination fee!).