Broadband Firm Vanishes, Leaving Customer Stranded
Cork Resident Battles Non-Existent Service Provider
A Cork resident, **Aisling**, faces a daunting battle with her broadband provider, C Tek, which appears to have effectively dissolved, leaving her without service and unable to contact the company.
Provider Ceases Operations, Leaves Customer in Digital Limbo
Pre-pandemic, **Aisling** signed up with C Tek, a local Cork and Waterford area provider, for enhanced bandwidth at an affordable €15 monthly addition to her subscription. Initially satisfied, her internet speeds plummeted earlier this year, revealing a stark lack of communication channels from the company.
Attempts to reach C Tek via phone and email were met with an automated message stating they no longer offer telephone support due to migration to the National Broadband System, directing all inquiries to email. However, these emails go unanswered, and the company’s website is suspended. Invoices arrive from Stripe with a defunct return email address, leaving **Aisling** with no direct contact point while payments continue to be debited.
Investigation Reveals Company’s Likely Downfall
Background checks reveal C Tek is not listed as an approved provider by National Broadband Ireland. The company website is registered to **Chris Tyler**, also from the Cork area. **Chris Tyler**’s LinkedIn profile indicates he ceased freelance network engineering for C Tek in May 2025 and began employment with another company in December 2023. The website has been suspended since 2022 and is set to expire in mid-September 2025, suggesting the business has been struggling for some time.
The severe drop in internet speeds prevents **Aisling** from working remotely, a significant disruption.
Consumer Rights and Recourse
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) outlines that service providers have legal obligations to deliver advertised services at agreed prices. Consumers should first contact the provider in writing to detail issues and request a response within a reasonable timeframe, typically 10 working days.
To resolve her predicament, **Aisling** contacted her bank to halt payments to C Tek. Armed with documentation of her unsuccessful attempts to contact the company, the bank approved the stop payment. Since early July, she is no longer paying for a non-existent service.
Ongoing Payment Attempts and Alternative Solutions
Despite payment cessation, C Tek continues to issue reminders and invoices via Stripe and has attempted three debit transactions in the last fortnight, all blocked by **Aisling**’s bank. This may indicate automated processes as no individual from the company has made contact.
In the interim, **Aisling** has successfully identified and selected a new provider through the National Broadband Ireland website (nbi.ie) and anticipates improved internet speeds shortly.
Expert Advice for Contractual Disputes
“In the immortal words of Liam Neeson in Taken, I have a certain set of skills and was able to do some background investigation into her issue.”
—Reporter, Consumer Advocate
This situation serves as a prime example of navigating issues with non-performing service providers. Maintaining a log of all communication attempts, including dates, times, and call durations, is crucial.
Setting diary reminders to follow up on emails within 7 and 14 days is recommended. If resolution remains elusive after these efforts, customers should request a final response from the company.
Following receipt of a final response, complaints can be escalated to the relevant supervisory body. However, seeking advice from the CCPC should be the initial step.
The average broadband speed in Ireland currently stands at 45.56 Mbps, according to Ofcom reports, highlighting the significant impact of such service disruptions (Ofcom 2024).
We attempted to contact C Tek for comment through multiple channels without success prior to publication. If you have experienced similar issues with this company, please reach out.
