dslreports logo

Review by NanDog See Profile

  • Location: Tacoma, Pierce, WA, USA
  • Cost: $32 per month
  • Install: about 5 days
Relatively cheap
Business hours of support
Highly recommended
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I've been using the cable modem HarborNet access (through the City of Tacoma's Click-Network) for nearly 3 years. Speeds are good but naturally have gradually decreased since I first logged on. The support techs I've dealt with are very personable and knowledgeable but on a few occasions their follow-through has not been adequate (i.e. promising to update a MAC address but that not happening 'til I phoned them a second time!) Overall though, I think they're a good value for the money!

Edit: Well, here it is nearly 4 years since that prior review. All I can say is that I'm very satisfied with HarborNet. My connection is constant and pretty fast. Everything's been working so well for the last 3 or 4 years that I don't even think about my ISP until it comes time to pay the bill!

Edit again on 11/19/2009: HarborNet was taken over by Rainier Connect awhile ago but my comments still apply. I've been very pleased with their service.

member for 20.2 years, 2509 visits, last login: 316 days ago
updated 14.3 years ago


Review by NOCguy0 See Profile

  • Location: Tacoma, Pierce, WA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
Solid and reliable
No 24/7 support

I signed up with Harbornet when they first offered cable modem service from Click Network....almost 7 years now.

If I hadn't been satisfied with their service, I would have left long ago.

No ISP is perfect and I don't expect them to be...all I want is good, reliable service at a fair price...Harbornet fits that description.

member for 22.4 years, 16 visits, last login: 15.1 years ago
lodged 17.2 years ago







Review by caffeme See Profile

  • Location: Tacoma, Pierce, WA, USA
  • Cost: $31 per month (12 month contract)
Good communication before signing up
Poor Tech Support and Billing Practices
I just canceled my account after a year if that tells you anything
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Before signing up with HarborNet as my ISP I had only heard good things about the companies computer services but my experience with them has been far from exemplary.

Tech Support:

Over the last year I have had multiple technical issues, mostly resulting with problems somewhere between HarborNet and ClickNetworks routers. Whenever I called HarborNet about a problem I would only get their answering machine and only in once case did a representative from HarborNet call me back. After leaving two messages for a problem I would end up having to drive to their Gig Harbor office to get the situation resolved.

Rate Increase:

After 6 months of service HarborNet increased their rate from $28.99 to $30.99 per month on my account while the other ISP rates through ClickNetwork remained the same. I was told that the increase was going to be universal throughout ClickNetwork but this was not the case and the other ISP's through ClickNetwork are still ranging from $28.99 / month to $29.99 per month for quarterly billing.

Billing Issues:

With my agreement with HarborNet I was paying on a quarterly basis. After two quarters of receiving Invoices via email I requested that my invoices be sent via standard mail since I don't use their email service. The next set of invoices came through the postal service but this last one never came. I did not know that there was a problem until HarborNet terminated my Internet access. When I contacted HarborNet about the lack of service they told me that I was delinquent on my account and that there would be an additional fee to reconnect through HarborNet. When I stated that I never received an Invoice they said that they sent the invoice via email even though I had previously requested that my invoices be sent through the mail (I received the two prior invoices via mail). They refused to reverse the $20 fee and would not release me from ClickNetworks routers until I paid for an additional months service which would act as my cancellation notice even though they wouldn't allow me Internet access for the last month of service that I ended up paying.

member for 17.5 years, driveby review (so far)
lodged 17.5 years ago

TACSPEED
Premium Member
join:2001-04-14
Tacoma, WA

TACSPEED

Premium Member

Harbornet, customer no service!

From my limited contact with Harbornet, I'm not surprised with their lack customer service. I came away thinking that the owner acted like a jerk!

As far as technical support, if you don't call during regular business hours, there isn't any. Even though the contract that I looked at a few years ago stated that the ISP was to provide support after business hours, Click! has never enforced the contract. Getting tech support after business hours is not any better with Advanced Stream, btw.

I think at this point I would write a letter to the manager of Click! and explain the situation. Also a letter to your local city council person wouldn't hurt either.
jef1
join:2006-09-01
Renton, WA

jef1

Member

Re: Harbornet, customer no service!

file a complaint with the washington utilities comission and the FCC, there is not one communications company in the land that wants to have to expalin to the state or the feds

Review by pilot206 See Profile

  • Location: Gig Harbor, Pierce, WA, USA
  • Cost: $49 per month
  • Install: about 1 days
Dependable, Honest and Concerned
Century Tel
Overall the best
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I have dealt with Harbornet since the early 90's. I have found they add the necessary hardware and software before it is needed to handle new customers. Unlike others I have found, they don't play catch-up. The personel are knowledgeable and tend to follow up.

As I have stated the biggest problem is Century Tel, the only source for ISDN and DSL other than cable. A direct competitor, CenturyTel, has the ability to control rates and services, but Harbornet is very active in maintaining their service to me.

I have lived here for over 35+ years and would reccomend HarborNet to anyone seeking ISP and general PC assistance.

member for 18.1 years, 54 visits, last login: 17.8 years ago
lodged 18 years ago


Review by markhamburg See Profile

  • Location: Tacoma, Pierce, WA, USA
  • Cost: $29 per month (month by month)
  • Install: about 5 days
Cheap, reliable (so far) high speed internet, nice people
not-so-good e-mail service, no 24/7 support
Excellent deal
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I was a long-time Comcast (used to be AT&T) cable modem subscriber in Seattle and Federal Way until I moved to the city of Tacoma last month. Although I was happy with Comcast, Harbor Net (through Click!) was $15 a month cheaper than the $45/month Comcast was charging so I went with Harbor Net. (And it will be $25/month cheaper, soon, as I understand that Comcast is raising rates by $10/month for those who don't have cable TV. You get the same great rates with Click! whether or not you have Cable TV.)

So far, so good. I have read that Harbor Net's speeds are slower than Comcast's (though there is a $49/month plan with twice the speed) but I haven't noticed a difference. Maybe that's because I'm not trying to run a game server or other such things- our household just uses it for web access, e-mail, online radio/video, and I use it to connect to my work via VPN. All of these things work great.

I could say more good things about Harbor Net, but all really I expect is a constant internet connection with decent speed. This provides that, for a price that is with in $10 of AOL dial up. What more could you want?

Ok, one thing I do want is better e-mail. They do provide both POP and web access to e-mail, which is good, but the web interface is so-so and you cannot change your password online- you have to call them and give your password over the phone. Then they charge you $5 to change it. They claim you can't do it online because of security. Come on! My work is a secure environment, and we HAVE to change our passwords online because of security- that way even the system admins don't know my password. I also had a hard time adding a second e-mail account. However, a simple and relatively cheap solution is to use another e-mail provider; I'm using smile mail (www.smileglobal.com); $29 for the first year for 5 addresses, tons of storage, and great services. However, if I were to do it again, I might try Net Venture or Advanced Stream (the other two Click! providers) and see if they have better e-mail. Still- this is a small complaint about a service that is otherwise a great bargain!

member for 20.8 years, driveby review (so far)
lodged 20.8 years ago


Review by piith See Profile

  • Location: Vaughn, Pierce, WA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified. (3 month contract)
  • Install: about 2 days
  • Telco party CenturyTel
they will answer, and find the problem, and fix it
not 24/7 . . no support after5pm (when most need it) and not 7days
good people, only problem is the Tel.Co.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I have had Harbornet for 5+ years now. And the only problem I have experienced is really through the Phone company.

Getting Service was fast, like I said it was over 5 years ago, so I can not remember how fast it was, but I know I was online the same day I ordered it. I started out with dial up, and now have ISDN, as soon as DSL becomes available for me I’ll be bumping up to that.

My only disappointment is they do not have 24/7 support, and they are closed on sundays, so if a problem happens on the weekend, I’ll be waiting till Monday for support. Speaking of support, so far if I had a question or a problem I was always able to get the answer to fix it, even if it has nothing to do with the internet, as in computer problems.

Now if the phone company can be 1/10th as good as Harbornet, then what a sweet deal that would be

member for 22.1 years, 514 visits, last login: 11.5 years ago
lodged 21.1 years ago