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Review by MacBridger See Profile

  • Location: Mercer, Mercer, PA, USA
  • Cost: $45 per month
  • Install: about 14 days
  • Telco party Verizon
Solid connection
Worst tech support possible
Solid in this area
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

***** Update (9-23-2013) *****

To my shock and dismay I am still with Verizon DSL nearly a year after my initial order. Even more shocking, my connection has been solid. I have had negligible down time, the service rarely dropping at all. When it does drop, the service is back within minutes, typically without needing to power cycle or call support. In fact, I have not had to call support since installation.

The only issue I have had was a tip to ring short on the line which somehow did not disrupt the DSL. It played havoc with the phone, but the DSL plowed right through. Consistency makes me happy, even if the speed isn't great. But hey, what can you expect from DSL?

***** New Service Location (11-3-2012) *****

Well, new locations make us consider the unthinkable. Like coming back to Verizon. It has been 7 years since I have had Verizon DSL and not much has changed. The only thing changed is my location and that Verizon is the only game in town. Yippie...

Ordering went smoothly and was completed online with no help from a support person. The website worked quite well and I give Verizon kudos for that. I set up an appointment date and time, 8am to 5pm... Seriously, can't we narrow that down a LITTLE? Thankfully the tech called beforehand and all was set up and ready to go. Just to hook up the modem...

So I hook up the modem and it wants me to activate service. I log in with my Verizon username and password and... it tells me to create my username and password. How odd... I call tech support. Complete waste of time. The tech had no clue of the issue, let alone how to resolve it. They just wanted me off the phone. A blind, deaf, neutered monkey would have provided better support. Thankfully the issue was simple impatience on my part, and I just needed to wait for the activation to go through. I'd hate to think I ever have to call again...

So far the service itself has been rock solid. I haven't tested speeds, but no dropped sync yet. I hope it stays this way... I remember how bad it was in Elizabeth...

***** Previous Service in Elizabeth, PA UPDATE (8-31-05) *****
Good: None
Bad: Sync loss, Denial of problem, Service interuptions, Merry-Go-Round contacts
Bottom Line: Verizon is the worst

All my services are now through Comcast. Even my POTS goes through Comcast. The Merry go round continued as I could not even contact Verizon to have my account cancelled. Thankfully, Comcast took care of that for me.

Unfortunately, I received a bill from Verizon just yesterday. I haven't had any Verizon services in 2 months and they still continue to bill me. I still can not contact Verizon, as their phone system hangs up on me when I call in.

Thus, I will be contacting Comcast shortly in hopes that they will remind Verizon what company my services are with.

This experience with Verizon is the worst I have EVER had with ANY company. I will NEVER do ANY business with Verizon EVER again.

(Oh, and I put certain things in CAPS for those who can't read)

***** UPDATE (5-4-05) *****

Shortly after my last update Verizon made the ultimate. My service has been terminated by Verizon. I did not receive any notice before service was terminated.

I called VOL to discuss my continuing service issues, and was notified by the tech that she could not troubleshoot because my account was terminated. I asked who had terminated my account, and she told me that it was automatically disconnected for nonpayment.

SINCE MY BILL WAS PAID UP, I asked her to transfer me to billing. This is where the merry-go-round begins. Instead of billing, I get sales. Sales transfers me to telco sales who transfers me back to tech support. Tired of the hassle I hang up and call VOL billing myself.

VOL billing informs me that their attempt to charge my phone bill was blocked by Verizon telco. So now I'm off to Verizon telco billing. Right? Wrong.

Merry-go-round part 2 begins as I end up in sales, tech support, and then back to VOL billing. Exhausted I have given up. It's too much hassle for me to keep this crap. I think I'm going to give Comcast a call and have my entire phone service switched over. Sure it's a little more expensive, but they won't disconnect my services without reason.

***** UPDATE (4-5-05) *****

After using Verizon for several months I have run into some problems. Sync consistently drops, often 10 times a day or more. Upon calls to Verizon, nothing is wrong with my line. This despite persistent problems with voice service as well.

My initial ratings have dropped greatly, and continue to do so the more I deal with Verizon. The good news is that I have come up with a snappy motto for Verizon. "If you've never had phone problems, you've never had Verizon."

The honeymoon is over, and although we're not getting divorced yet, we are headed for counseling.

***** Original Review*****

I placed an order for Verizon DSL on Saturday evening, December 4, through Verizon.net's website. Today, December 7, the DSL modem arrived in an install package. I hooked the modem up to verify sync. To my surprise the DSL came on solid green. Sync and only 4 days from my order date. Over a weekend at that!

I installed Verizon's self install software. I have to say that I'm impressed with their software. Very easy to use for those that need a lot of help and guidance. It should save a lot of time for their tech support. I skipped through much of the installation instructions and let the software install the PPPoE client and the support center. I was surprised to see that Verizon by default is still using software PPPoE clients when their modems could handle that. Makes my job easier of setting up my router later though. Oh, and this was installed on Win 98 SE via Ethernet.

After that I was up and running. Time for some tweaking. A few minutes with DSLR's tweaktester and Dr TCP and I was flying. I ordered the basic DSL service, 1500 kbps down and 384 kbps up for speed packaging. I was very pleased to see that my speeds were right on target.

To recap:
1500/384 Westell 2200, dynamic IP, PPPoE, $79 a month including unlimited long distance and local calling, 4 days from order to live and it was over a weekend. Ordered online.

I also admit that this is immediately after install. I will update as I get to use the service more.

member for 23.2 years, 6021 visits, last login: a few hours ago
updated 10.5 years ago

limefan913
join:2004-10-07
Jeannette, PA

limefan913

Member

Seemingly odd results

Thats odd. Your CO must be having trouble or something. I'm in Greensburg PA (Westmoreland County) and my DSL connection is working great. Have you gotten your 3/768 free upgrade yet? I'd contact them about it. I hope your DSL experience gets better, and hold out for that FiOS

Mr POTS
@unknown

Mr POTS

Anon

Fix Your POTS First

If you're also having problems with your voice service, odds are very good that it's going to hose up your DSL service, too. Get that resolved and odds are also very good your DSL problems will clear up.

Depending on the problem, it could be something as simple as the connections in your NID (the box outside your house where Verizon's responsibility ends and yours begins) needing to be cleaned up. I had problems a couple of years ago and upon opening my NID found that a slug had taken up residence, and died while sitting across the terminals. (Yummy!)

MacBridger
Late to the party
Premium Member
join:2001-01-11
Morgantown, WV

MacBridger

Premium Member

Re: Fix Your POTS First

Verizon telco also denies that there are any problems on my line. Complete inaction from Verizon on all my issues. It's nothing new from Verizon though.
iwnt14me
join:2000-10-13
Chesapeake, VA

iwnt14me

Member

Re: Fix Your POTS First

Here's a suggestion pay your bill so you can have your non regulated services back. I mean you write the last update like it Verizon's fault you were irresponsible and didn't pay your bill I mean come on what kind of update is that.

Neil6
Stop All The Downloadin
join:2003-08-20
New York, NY

Neil6

Member

Re: Fix Your POTS First

Yeah, the OP never said whether or not he was late with his payment, or anything. Was it really VZ's fault?

MacBridger
Late to the party
Premium Member
join:2001-01-11
Morgantown, WV

1 edit

MacBridger

Premium Member

iwnt14me

The bill was paid moron. Maybe if you actually READ the review you would know that.
VOL_Monkey
join:2004-02-23
Beverly Hills, CA

VOL_Monkey

Member

Re: iwnt14me

Your local telco made the decision, not to allow Verizon Online to bill your account. This was at the sole discretion of you local telco. Probably because you didn't pay you r bill on time dead beat.
albee126
join:2001-08-31
New Kensington, PA

albee126 to MacBridger

Member

to MacBridger
In his defense you made it sound like the dsl bill was paid but the telco bill was not paid. Your experience with Verizon started way better that industry average. Now to consider this. MacBridger just an FYI ........Comcast can't cancel your dsl for one....so if they told you that they lied. Second, if you still have gotten a bill with verizon....either Comcast did not send Verizon the disconnect as you say they had or You would no longer get the bill from Verizon. Verizon is governed by the PUC in PA. Calls are received daily and answered promptly. Try these numbers.....for Dsl.....you have to call them yourself...i repeat comcast cannot do that for u ......1 800 567 6789.....I just called yesterday and got right thru at like 9 am ...no time at all. Upgraded to 3.0 dwn...My service is great............for home phone comcast can have the disconnect issued but they have to send the order ...it's all them ...you may well still have Verizon phone service to this day sorry to tell ya.....but POTS tn 1 800 660 7111.....good luck...don't cancel home phone if want that tn with comcast as the same number though.
Fact is all the other companies claim verizon to be the bad guy. I'm certain that you will not hear Verizon ever bad mouth the competition. I have worked in connection with Verizon for 5 years now and I've heard alot of story's. Fact is ....Verizon still has the "image" of being the bully but fact is that Verizon has strict guidlines that ARE HEAVILY enforced by PUC. So all the other company's tend to blame Verizon and for some reason ...even when clear..people just want to believe the other companies. You clearly said that Comcast said they will handle the disconnect with Verizon. If Verizon has an order ...believe me they have disconnected u and u would not get a bill. On the other hand....if Verizon never got a disconnect from Comcast. you possibly have 2 services. Verizon's responsibility is to put service to the Network box on your house aka NID. I'm willing to gamble if you take a corded phone out to that box and open the customers side and plug in that phone directly to the box...bingo you have a active phone with Verizon. Comcast uses their own box so they have a technician visit your home and they move your internal wires from verizon's NID to their box ....hence if they don't put a disconnect order in with verizon.....there is no way for verizon to know that u want to turn off your phone....your in a catch 22. You can't call Verizon and say disc my phone unless you want a new telephone number with Comcast. If you call and disconnect with Verizon yourself.....you will lose your telephone number that some people have had for 20 or 30 years. It's the beauty of an open market. But pay close attention to what is happenning...just caz Verizon had one or 2 problems they caused you doesn't mean they are at fault for it all. Use your head or you could end up in that circle for a long time and all the while you blame the wrong people. The initial problem could have been many things including the wires inside your house....which would not be Verizon's problem...I will tell you i've had dsl with verizon since the day it was launched and they probably pushed it to market early to compete but that was over 5 years ago and they've made leaps and bound and its an awesome service...never a problem since i had it setup.....here is something for u though.....find out how close you are to Verizon's CO...that's the building your phone wires end up at. You must be within 18000 feet from the wires leaving the office to your home or you can't get dsl. If your on the outter edge of that number ....say 17500 or so....could be right on the border and the further away u are the more likely you lose sync......
I'm certainly sorry to hear about the issues you had....and if you lost your optional services on your POTS line (phone service) then it also stopped DSL from being able to bill you.....i'm not sayin u did or didn't ...that's just what you seemed to indicate happenned.....if that's the case....your loss of service was only your own fault....if it wasn't then of course Verizon made a mistake but not an unforgivable one and it certainly doesn't make them the scapegoat for everything. As for the loop you went into...well....shame for that....afraid that's a part of the business that every company today does..i delbt with it just in the last month with my bank and unauthorized charges on my credit card.....it's frustrating...in their defense....there had to be another order so u get service back asap....telco can not caz they would still see that dsl was active...takes some time to update in systems.....dsl....u needed a sales rep to place a new order for u first .......billing and sales should have linked together with u on the line or on hold to resolve it.....hope all works out for u....dsl is a great deal with verizon ...especially if your close to the CO ....I just got 3.0 down and 768 up for same price as i used to get 384/128 for 5 years ago.....give them a 2nd chance ...but find out house close the CO is first.....and what i did is paid them to install a homerun wire.....that way i don't need any filters inside the house...the filter is outside in another box by the NID.....works fantastic. Good luck man...but remember to play close attention when dealing with the actual phone....if it sounds too far fetched ...it probably is....and if someone tells u they are gonna do something ...hold THEM responsible for their statements.....

MacBridger
Late to the party
Premium Member
join:2001-01-11
Morgantown, WV

MacBridger

Premium Member

Re: iwnt14me

Verizon has continued to bill me for POTS, and the number has already been ported over to Comcast. Comcast has issued a disconnect for Verizon. These are facts.

Isn't it amazing how things will escelate. Verizon telco screwed up my account when I ordered DSL. I also order a new POTS package at the same time. My next bill was a shock, I was billed for my original phone package, the new freedom package, and the new freedom package with DSL. Yes, I was billed 3 times for phone service for the same period of time.

At that time I was actually able to reach POTS billing and corrected the mistake. Until the next bill when they billed me for 4 telephone packages. Got that one straightened out and paid up, when my next bill is too small. POTS cut off VOL. After that I have never been able to reach anyone at Verizon telco. Their IVR (Inbound Voice Recording) just disconnects me when I've called.

I'm glad that you to admitted your bias. Your livelyhood is dependant on Verizon. I admit my own bias towards BellSouth as an employee of that comapny for 3 years, I think BS is great. It's good to see someone honest about their attitudes.

As for the connection, I know what a CO is, and I can tell you that physically it is 5 blocks away. I had major sync issues anyway and could never get anyone to run an MLT to see if there was a physical issue. At least I was never even hinted at the results if one was performed. I think the strangest thing was that my modem stats looked like I was at least 15,000 feet off a CO DSLAM. A footprint with 60 db attenuation, and a mere 10 db noise margin is not good. That was even on a noise profile/interleaved.

Even with those issues I was willing to work it through. To put it simply, POTS ruined any faith I had in Verizon services. This was Verizon telcos 3rd chance. They have not been able to provide reliable telephone service to any of my last 3 homes.
VOL_Monkey
join:2004-02-23
Beverly Hills, CA

VOL_Monkey

Member

Re: iwnt14me

"Even with those issues I was willing to work it through. To put it simply, POTS ruined any faith I had in Verizon services. This was Verizon telcos 3rd chance. They have not been able to provide reliable telephone service to any of my last 3 homes."

Don't you mean trailer? Let me help you out here, try changing the actual phone hand set.

YOUR WELCOME tool

meesterfox
@east.verizon.ne

meesterfox

Anon

understood

I have verizon right now. I don't even get 20% of the 3/768 i should be getting. I can understand getting maybe half that as acceptable. but... i'm just unhappy with them. I sent them an e-mail, and they didn't get back to me. I'm not even going to bother calling them ort anything, since I'm sure it will do no good.

so.. i'm going to go with comcast. ZTHe speeds are much better, which is what I need anyway. Hopefully I'll have better luck with them
KennyG944
join:2005-09-16
Pittsburgh, PA

KennyG944

Member

Where to send complaints

If ya really want someone to complain to... check out these links.

»newscenter.verizon.com/c ··· act.vtml

And here's a list of names and photos of the executives.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\Verizon\Verizon Newscenter.htm

Doing a little homework using anywho.com and sites containing public records, I have been able to find the home numbers of some of these executives. Shaygan Kheradpir (Chief Information Officer-Information Technology) looks like a good person to track down. Calling Verizons executives at home would be a great way to stir up a hornets nest. Good luck.