If there is one thing I love, it’s companies that take the time to really build a relationship with their customers.  Yak Communications has been doing just that with one of their newest customers.  The following is a review of Yak Communications from my dear friend Jo-Anne, who so graciously offered to do one for my blog.  

I love the internet, I use it about 14 hours a day.  I google, Facebook, twitter, look up recipes on pinterest, download movies, watch Netflix and I contest.  My internet connection has never been great.  When I moved to Sarnia, Ontario from Cambridge I never realized  how much my internet connection was going to suffer.  I went from lightning fast speeds to tolerable speeds.  My son and I are both online at the same time and we found ourselves re-scheduling our downloads and other activities around the slow times.  This was not the most practical but after numerous phone calls we just learned to live with it, at least we had the internet and it couldn’t get any worse right? Wrong.

June 2014, 2014 my son and I were both online.  I had taken a picture and moments later myself and my son were disconnected.   My smartphone automatically uploads my pictures to my Dropbox and my Google account.  It was the beginning of the end.  My already slow download and upload speeds went from a sad 500KPS download /1 KPS upload to just 300/.040.  I could no longer watch Netflix if he was online.  I could not upload or download anything without dropping the connection.  My nightmare began.   3 dozen phone calls, 7 modems and 15 service calls we resolved ourselves to the fact that it was not going to get any better.  If anyone called we were now getting disconnected.  It was time for a change.  I was paying over $70 a month for my internet and that was about $69 a month too much in my humble opinion.

I googled and researched and finally I found Yak Communications.  I had seen them online.  I was aware of the name and has seen online ads but I had never really paid much attention.  Now I am going to be honest.  I have always gone with the big companies because I felt I would get better customer service and was convinced that only the bigger names would have the “real” professional technicians working in tech support.  I could not have been more wrong.  

I spent a while on their site looking things over and then I picked up the phone and gave them a call.  Let me tell you,  everything about Yak is top of the line, %100 professional.  I feel quite foolish now thinking that a company has to be huge to be good.  I spent over an hour on the phone with a representative going over every single detail of my wants and needs.  They offered DSL and Cable, home phone, long distance and mobile.  I was currently on DSL and wanted nothing more the do with it.  I wanted cable, I wanted fast and I wanted unlimited data.  I saw that the speeds varied depending on where you are located but I was thrilled to learn that I could get 55 MPS on a cable line in my area with unlimited data.  The more we spoke the more I wanted away from my current provider.  

 Out of curiosity I inquired about their home phone and long distance rates.  I almost fell over.  I was currently paying $55 a month for my home phone which includes long distance Canada/USA.  I knew that it would be VOIP (voice over internet provider) which was fine with me.  Currently I have a bunch of wireless phones and since I live in the basement apartment I get nothing but static.  They had a bundle of  internet and phone and after I reviewed them I was sold.  They have 3 wonderful plans at incredible prices but I chose the Deluxe package which gave me 1500 North American minutes a month, 11 features, first month free and NO CONTRACTS for only 19.95 a month. You have to purchase an adapter to connect your phone line to the modem but the cost is only $30 and again you can purchase it outright or over a 12 month period.  I went with outright so it could be mine, mine all mine.  Did I mention you get to keep your current phone number if you choose.  They port the number over.   I did not schedule my internet and phone for the same day simply because if anything went wrong I would be out of luck and with me if it can happen it will happen.

I chose to install the internet first and I went with the Extreme package which would give me unlimited usage, 55/10 MPS and it would be cable.   I originally chose the end of the month as my installation date  but changed my mind later on in the week.  It was just too long to wait and I could not bare these slow speeds any longer.  I called and let them know I wanted it sooner, I was shocked at how soon this could all get done, eek.   A date was set and we were good to go.  Now, I did not cancel my current service even though we really were not using it because a crappy internet is better than no internet at all right?  

I received my modem in the mail a few days prior.  The technician showed up right on time and it was over in moments.   Now, since most of my house is on wireless I did have to go purchase a wireless router.  The modem supports a single ethernet connection.   I liked that I could decide the model and make myself.  I also want to point out that you buy the modem.  You can either pay for it over 12 months or purchase it outright.  I went for it and just purchased it. Mine all mine lol.   I installed my modem, connected my cables and boom I was online.  I had my son and his computer hardwired (gaming and recording youtube is best hard wired) and myself on wifi.  Before I switched my desktop over to Yak I wanted to do a speed test using speedtest.net.  Here is the screenshot I took of the results.    I was paying for 10 MPS/2MPS.  This was taken when nobody was online.

My speed with my old provider on the day of Yak installation

 I then switched my desktop over to Yak and re-ran the speed test.  Here is a screenshot of my speeds on Yak.

My speeds with YAK

I know right? I almost fell over.  Now my son and I both got online and went to town.  I kept my smartphone, tablet and both laptops on the old ISP.  I wanted to just get a feel of this new power.  

My son gamed and gamed, I turned on Netflix and set everything up.  I had a movie running using my wireless receiver, and just for the heck of it I downloaded a movie.  I want to point out a movie took over 13 hours sometimes.  At 178 KPS a 1.6 GB movies is a lot of work.  Here is the screenshot of my download speed and upload speed.  It took all of 5 minutes woohoo.  The speeds you see on the screenshot just kept going up and maxed out at a 5.3 MPS.  Now that is what I am talking about! This was with Netflix running and my son on Steam gaming.  

Just to add insult to injury I took a picture with my smartphone (still connected to my original ISP) and a 2019 x 3078 Pxl image had an estimated upload time of 21 minutes, enough said!  I switched my laptops, smartphone and tablet over on the spot.  

My Speeds with Yak

Did I mention how much I love Yak?  

 My phone number was to be ported on the 18th of February.  Sadly, my provider cancelled my phone early and the number was not able to be ported.  Needless to say I freaked out.  Armed with only my smartphone and limited minutes I tried to contact my provider and figure this out.  I reached out to Yak on social media and within moments they responded and arranged for an agent to call me.  They explained what I needed to do and assured me everything would be fine. 

These wonderful people re-issued my port and looked after cancelling the line for me.  Now I want to tell you the most amazing part.  My phone rang on Sunday morning March 1st.  It was Yak calling me, “just checking that everything is okay and to see if you had any questions?”   How many companies do you know that will reach out to a customer to just “check-in” and on a Sunday?  Ya, I didn’t think so.

I fully intend to go with Yak on my mobile when my contract runs out.  I have never experienced such amazing service and their customer service is second to none. 

 Here is a product overview for Yak:

Yak Home Phone

Yak Home Phone Service is an easy way to stay connected to family and friends from home (and on the go via YApp Mobile) without the high cost of a traditional Home Phone line. Keep the features and quality of a fully loaded Home Phone, with great savings. Plus, it’s contract free! 

Port your number over to Yak, or choose a new one. Yak ships an ATA to your home with all your details programmed in, and two clicks later (between Internet modem and your main receiver) you’re up and running.

Yak Internet

Yak Internet is available in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and BC.

Finally enjoy Internet with savings and without a contract – how fresh is that? Enjoy Internet with no caps (it’s UNLIMITED for Cable, and comes with an UNLIMITED add-on DSL), so download away and forget about those overage charges. Bundle with Yak Home Phone Service and save even more!

Yak Mobile

With 3 ways to use Yak Mobile – YApp, YApp Callback and Access Number – you’re sure to find a way to save significantly on local and long distance calling. Download or request an access number card and kick your current mobile provider’s inflated long distance charges to the curb.

Yak Long Distance

Yak offers ways to save on long distance calling no matter where you are or where you are calling. Home, Travel and Mobile long distance calling to destinations worldwide at a fair price. All contract-free. Join the over 1 million Canadians who have saved with Yak. 

Want to know what else is awesome about Yak? They are giving you, my awesome and loyal readers the chance to win some great prizes!

(1) Grand prize of a $200 Mastercard Giftcard

(1) secondary prize of a $100 Mastercard Giftcard

(5) Third prizes of a $50 Yak Communications account credit that can be used for any new or exisiting account

You can enter below for your chance and let’s share the Yak love by chatting with them on facebook and twitter too!

*Please note that if your comment does not show up right away, it will be there shortly! 

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored but as always my opinions are always my own or in this case, Jo-Anne’s

Tags : full service across canada, giveaway, giveaways, home phone service, internet provider, YAK, yak communications