Verizon DSL ripoff Torrance California
I have been a loyal customer of Verizon for many years. I've had their DSL service for quite a few of those years. My husband and I decided to try the Vonage phone system. We stayed on the DSL plan we were on. However, we began to experience dropped calls. Our web pages were loading slowly.
At this point, we decided to upgade our service to the faster speed (up to 3 MB). We were having more problems than ever. We were losing connectivity all together.
I attempted to get the problems resolved myself by rebooting my entire network, including the phone system. It didn't work. After much effort, I was able to "chat" with a techie. We ran a check on our DSL and the speed was only 118 KB. I lost connection 3 times while "chatting" and had to navigate my way back to the help site. At one point, the techie didn't even remember me and started from scratch.
I was "chatting" for over an hour and a half.
I pleaded with him to escalate my issues to a senior tech or supervisor. After refusing to do so twice, he finally relented.
I never heard whether the issue was resolved (it wasn't). So I signed up for Road Runner. Now Verizon DSL says I owe them a cancellation fee of $50.
I say that's a rip-off. In exchange for my service contract, I expected SERVICE.
Stay way from Verizon DSL. The support sucks. I read in PC World that it's illegal for the phone companies to cancel your DSL service because you are no longer using their phone service. However, they can "prioritize" who gets service when. So they're giving VoP that isn't theirs the lowest priority.
Suzanne
Torrance, California
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Adolph
Elkhart,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Correction last missive:
#6Consumer Comment
Mon, February 27, 2006
Stated incorrectly: "Vonage very effectively hooks on to their existing customers".....
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**yawn** asleep at the keyboard again...D'oh! I meant Verizon, not Vonaage
Adolph
Elkhart,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Update! Update! Verizon REALLY, TRULY, SUCKS!
#6Consumer Comment
Sat, February 25, 2006
Verizon in N. IN now has VOIP capabilities. Verizon won't, however, allow any numbers to be 'ported' (to a "dry loop", meaning no dial tone, only DSL capabilities) to any other VOIP provider than Voice Wing (or even just to their former phone service customers, for any reason) Voice Wing and Verizon are apparently in bed together, or Voice Wing IS Verizon.
.
Vonage was unable to 'port' my number in spite of their promise to do so last December. Three months with Vonage and no VOIP without maintaining Verizon phone service. Verizon stated "no numbers will be ported to any other VOIP entity. If you want VOIP, it's either keep your phone active,(how asinine) or sign up with Voice Wing".
.
That's just swell! Voice wing is rated DEAD LAST on most VOIP service critique sites and links. Voice Wing is,additionally, among the four or five most expensive VOIP providers.
.
Thanks, Verizon! Thanks for all the service calls being routed off-shore to people who: don't have English as their first language making dialogue difficult; have no knowledge other than what they can bring up on their computer; subject your customers to hang-ups and / or disconnection frequently.
.
And most of all, Verizon, thanks for giving your customers only the choice of the bottom-of-the-barrel worst VOIP provider who is also one of the most high priced.
.
When I read your cutsey "we're working for you" slogan, I could just about hurl. You sure are! When my contract ran out last November it was renewed WITHOUT MY KNOWING IT. Now I must wait until November 2006 to avoid the $49.00 "Early termination fee". Month-to-month after the contract is fullfilled? Yeah-at about $8.00/ month or so above the "contract" price.
.
Vonage very effectively hooks on to their existing customers and then sets the hook real well. I'm reminded of the "help, I've fallen, and I can't get up" commercials of a few years ago. Only this time it's "help, I'm hooked to Verizon, and can't get loose".
.
Verizon sucks! That's not just a subjective,anecdotal opinion, that's a FACT !
Adolph
Elkhart,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Update! Update! Verizon REALLY, TRULY, SUCKS!
#6Consumer Comment
Sat, February 25, 2006
Verizon in N. IN now has VOIP capabilities. Verizon won't, however, allow any numbers to be 'ported' (to a "dry loop", meaning no dial tone, only DSL capabilities) to any other VOIP provider than Voice Wing (or even just to their former phone service customers, for any reason) Voice Wing and Verizon are apparently in bed together, or Voice Wing IS Verizon.
.
Vonage was unable to 'port' my number in spite of their promise to do so last December. Three months with Vonage and no VOIP without maintaining Verizon phone service. Verizon stated "no numbers will be ported to any other VOIP entity. If you want VOIP, it's either keep your phone active,(how asinine) or sign up with Voice Wing".
.
That's just swell! Voice wing is rated DEAD LAST on most VOIP service critique sites and links. Voice Wing is,additionally, among the four or five most expensive VOIP providers.
.
Thanks, Verizon! Thanks for all the service calls being routed off-shore to people who: don't have English as their first language making dialogue difficult; have no knowledge other than what they can bring up on their computer; subject your customers to hang-ups and / or disconnection frequently.
.
And most of all, Verizon, thanks for giving your customers only the choice of the bottom-of-the-barrel worst VOIP provider who is also one of the most high priced.
.
When I read your cutsey "we're working for you" slogan, I could just about hurl. You sure are! When my contract ran out last November it was renewed WITHOUT MY KNOWING IT. Now I must wait until November 2006 to avoid the $49.00 "Early termination fee". Month-to-month after the contract is fullfilled? Yeah-at about $8.00/ month or so above the "contract" price.
.
Vonage very effectively hooks on to their existing customers and then sets the hook real well. I'm reminded of the "help, I've fallen, and I can't get up" commercials of a few years ago. Only this time it's "help, I'm hooked to Verizon, and can't get loose".
.
Verizon sucks! That's not just a subjective,anecdotal opinion, that's a FACT !
Adolph
Elkhart,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Update! Update! Verizon REALLY, TRULY, SUCKS!
#6Consumer Comment
Sat, February 25, 2006
Verizon in N. IN now has VOIP capabilities. Verizon won't, however, allow any numbers to be 'ported' (to a "dry loop", meaning no dial tone, only DSL capabilities) to any other VOIP provider than Voice Wing (or even just to their former phone service customers, for any reason) Voice Wing and Verizon are apparently in bed together, or Voice Wing IS Verizon.
.
Vonage was unable to 'port' my number in spite of their promise to do so last December. Three months with Vonage and no VOIP without maintaining Verizon phone service. Verizon stated "no numbers will be ported to any other VOIP entity. If you want VOIP, it's either keep your phone active,(how asinine) or sign up with Voice Wing".
.
That's just swell! Voice wing is rated DEAD LAST on most VOIP service critique sites and links. Voice Wing is,additionally, among the four or five most expensive VOIP providers.
.
Thanks, Verizon! Thanks for all the service calls being routed off-shore to people who: don't have English as their first language making dialogue difficult; have no knowledge other than what they can bring up on their computer; subject your customers to hang-ups and / or disconnection frequently.
.
And most of all, Verizon, thanks for giving your customers only the choice of the bottom-of-the-barrel worst VOIP provider who is also one of the most high priced.
.
When I read your cutsey "we're working for you" slogan, I could just about hurl. You sure are! When my contract ran out last November it was renewed WITHOUT MY KNOWING IT. Now I must wait until November 2006 to avoid the $49.00 "Early termination fee". Month-to-month after the contract is fullfilled? Yeah-at about $8.00/ month or so above the "contract" price.
.
Vonage very effectively hooks on to their existing customers and then sets the hook real well. I'm reminded of the "help, I've fallen, and I can't get up" commercials of a few years ago. Only this time it's "help, I'm hooked to Verizon, and can't get loose".
.
Verizon sucks! That's not just a subjective,anecdotal opinion, that's a FACT !
Adolph
Elkhart,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Uh-oh! I'm probably next........
#6Consumer Comment
Fri, January 13, 2006
I have had Verizon as a phone line, ISP, DSL and cellular provider for several years. I purposely had Verizon provide all my internet access functions, as any problem experienced couldn't be shifted to a second or third entity. Other than a few iniitial problems (crap Fujitsu modem replaced by a Westell) things have been pretty smooth.
.
I then found out Verizon could / would provide a "dry loop" (a line with no dial tone)) for DSL only. A totally new policy, obviously not out of the goodness of Verizon's heart. I knew the Feds had to be responsible for this to be initiated.
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I also signed up with Vonage, and am waiting for my number to be ported. My Vonage line is active, in effect I temporairly have two active lines while waiting.
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What now concerns me is the fact Verizon will probably blame Vontage for any connectivity problems and vice-versa.
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Sorta' like waiting for the other shoe to drop. I hope I have better luck. (Hope springs eternal)