[Scan-DC] Wireless Home Phone Service in D.C. area

[Iain McFadyen]

 ( This is a little off-topic, concentrating on Verizon's tactic of sending the "sorry for bad service: Let us switch you" letters.)

As many know, I am overseas at the moment.


Verizon called my home number late afternoon, early last week, and my wife answered. They apologized for the bad Internet service that we were experiencing (which we weren't), and wanted to come round and replace the DSL modem. They offered an appointment at 8am the very next day to come and replace the DSL modem. 

My wife advised me of what was happening later that evening. 

She also forwarded to me an email from Verizon which said " This is to confirm your upgrade to FIOS". Alarm bells started ringing.

I could not reach Verizon to cancel the appointment, and so,... on time ...(that should have been a warning) the Verizon staff showed up, with a FIOS box under their arm. 

My wife called me on the phone and put the supervisor on the line. I insisted that he leave immediately without touching the DSL line.

A conversation ensued with the supervisor along the lines of " why would you turn down the opportunity to upgrade to FIOS, keep your old phone number, and pay $1 less per month (for the first 24 months)?"

I told him of my experience during the Derecho in July 2012, when all the FIOS customers in the area (McLean VA) lost their Phone/Internet/TV service for between 4 and 8 days, whereas my DSL line and POTS line were unaffected throughout the event.

I went on to tell him that I don't need a 15Mbps Internet connection, and that until they offer a 5Mbps speed at a reasonable price on FIOS I will never move.

I also told him that if Verizon DSL goes away, I will have the opportunity to go to a Cable-TV company's competitive service, so don't assume I will roll over to FIOS.

I already have a shoe-box full of letters from Verizon giving the same "sorry for your recent Internet trouble in your area,... let us upgrade you to FIOS". I can't help feeling that these marketing tactics are unlawful.

The supervisor did tell me that the DSL and FIOS platforms are run by two entirely different business units within Verizon.

In McLean, I pay US$49 for 1Mbps DSL and unmetered POTS.

I tried to upgrade my DSL service in March 2012 to 4 Mbps but Verizon refused, trying to tell me that DSL doesn't support 4Mbps. Weird. My circuit used to be 4Mbps, before I downgraded it in March 2011 when I moved overseas the first time... After a long time on the phone, I got the Verizon sales rep to admit that it wasn't a technical limit at all, but that they would be fired if they allowed me to upgrade whilst still using DSL, and that I must move to FIOS and take a 15Mbps minimum package (at $84 per month). 

In Trinidad I pay US$39 for 5Mbps Internet and metered POTS (I pay for every call)

I would suggest that if you have no problems with your POTS on copper service, ... keep it. Just review your package to make sure that you really need all the features you are paying for. Voicemail, call waiting, unlimited local calls (how many do you really make?)

If Verizon offer you the chance to move the POTS service to FIOS, check out how the price per month compares to your current rate, and... most important... check out if the price is 'first 24 months' or for life.

In my phone conversation with the supervisor, at one point he said 'what if I offered you the lower price for life?' (i.e. no price increase after the special offer expires)? I did not take up the offer, though it did catch my attention.

Iain
currently in Port of Spain



On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 1:54 AM, Alan Henney <alan at henney.com> wrote:
 

>My mother and I are seriously considering canceling our Verizon POTS copper-wire phone service.
>
>Checking our bill, 35 percent of it goes to taxes.  This is ridiculous.
>
>Verizon called us a couple weeks ago, apologizing for bad phone service we may have had recently (we hadn't had trouble).  They were trying to encourage us to switch to a new fiber line (I presume) complete with battery back-up which we don't have (and don't need) now.  Should we make the switch?
>
>What options do we have in the D.C. area for wireless home phone service?  I saw ATT and Verizon Wireless both offer a unit for about $22/month in this market (anybody using those?).  How many extensions can you run from the unit?
>
>What about Internet?  What other common VOIP services are there that use our old home telephone (Vonage, MagicJack, etc.)?
>
>We would like to transfer our existing phone number.
>
>Curious what options others are using in the D.C. region.  Since we already have a MagicJack now, I was thinking of going wireless for the other phone line.
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>Thanks,
>Alan
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