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Review by jbcg 
UPDATED: 6 years ago
member for 8.1 years, 37 visits, last login: 4 days ago
 Milwaukee,Milwaukee,WI
 $69 per month (12 month contract)
 Ameritech
CLEC party: WorldCom
 "Calvin is a hero. Also a little faster than my prev. svc."
 "Outages, inavailability of promised 24/7 support, calls not returned AND NOW OUT OF BUSINESS??"
 "Run away! Far, far away!"
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I selected Bean Net earlier this year, under some duress, as a replacement for my DirecTV DSL connection (which had been great). For six weeks I researched and sweated the issue, though regrettably I didn't read the user reviews on DSLR. I finally went with Bean Net because they were the only ISP in my area who offered static IP and 24/7 support (I have an email and a Web server) at the $70/month price point. (I have 768/384 connection speed.)
Initially they told me Bean Net could use my DTV equipment (something I doubted, as the DTV gateway is proprietary). I called later to verify and spoke with Calvin, who indicated I'd need a self-install kit after all. Although I didn't order one, a self-install kit arrived two days later, thankfully at no charge. My IP addresses were available a few days later. But it took several weeks to get my service set up--the "hanger" being getting things worked out with SBC (and presumably WorldCom).
The speed has been better than with the Ameritech service I had two years ago and much better and more consistent than the DTV service. But I've had too-frequent outages that have lasted for as long as 36 hours.
One such outage started last Wednesday. After verifying my config, checking my equipment and rebooting everything, I decided to just sit tight until Bean Net got it going again, my usual strategy. Friday afternoon, still down. Called the 24/7 support line and ended up leaving a voice mail. Mem Day Weekend and four more messages later, still no service, no returned call and their support line was giving me an "all circuits are busy" message. Uh oh.
So I looked up the name of the helpful and professional tech rep who gave me my original IP addrs . . . Calvin . . . and called his extension directly. He answered within a couple of rings, and despite the incredible amount of activity he must have been suffering, was able to mediate my problem right over the phone.
Turns out Bean Net had switched my IP address and gateway on Wednesday, with nary a call, voice mail or email! Apparently I wasn't the only one, as a later call to Bean Net to inquire about the 24/7 support ("oh, that's not available any more since we had to let go a bunch of our techs for poor performance") I learned that a number of other customers were out, too. (Judging from the "all circuits are busy" message, I'm betting it was a LOT of customers.)
Now I'm going back and reading comments of other reviewers and really regretting my decision to do a 1-year contract with these folks. I feel like a real idiot. I'll talk with their sales rep later this week (when the call volume dies down), but based on Bean Net's own responses on these forums, I don't hold out much hope for a professional, responsible fix.
The most infuriating thing is that I'm an independent contractor (MCSA/MCSE) and my web site and email services are a professional showcase of my skills. When I'm down for 5 minutes (let alone 5 days!) it impacts my business and looks terrible to my clients.
Bottom line: Bean Net is not the service for you if you have infrastructure that must be on the 'net 24/7 or if you telecommute, and I'd probably skip it even for just gaming use, based on some of the customer service indications in Beannet's (Matthew Dalton) own posts. His posting titled "Clearly, you have a problem reading" was especially sobering.
Good luck.
--UPDATE--UPDATE--UPDATE--
Well, Bean.net and its illustrious principal, Matt Dalton, have apparently bitten the dust. While getting my most recent critical outage fixed (see my comment under DUMBBEANUSER below) I was told by an MCI employee working for BritSys that Bean.Net was basically not providing any service whatsoever and had turned over repair service to BritSys, Bean.Net's upstream provider. I got a very helpful call from MCI who fixed the problem almost instantly after they called me, and my service has been rock solid ever since.
Now today I get the following letter in the mail (and I quote directly):
BritSys Inc.
(address)
October 22nd 2003
URGENT
Dear BEAN.net DSL Customer,
We're sending this letter to inform you that BEAN.net will no longer be providing DSL services to your location. Your DSL line was migrated to BritSys.net in May 2003 as part of cost cutting by Bean.net to ensure that your connection remained up and running.
Unfortunately we have yet to receive any payments from BEAN.net for DSL services migrated to our network which is why we are contacting you directly.
Since your DSL service is already part of our network, you will not have to make any changes to keep your DSL service active. BritSys.net will now be the ISP that will be billing you for your service and supporting your DSL line.
Since we have not been able to reach any officers or employees of Bean.net for some weeks we are assuming that they are ceasing operations and are unable to make payments.
We recommend that you dispute the credit chard charges should you be charged for DSL service by Bean.net November 2003 onwards. Bean.net cannot charge you a cancellation fee for service since you are on our network.
We apologize if this comes to a shock [sic], our job is to ensure that our customers (wholesale or retail) remain up and running should their ISP cease operations.
Please contact us by November 5th 2003 to migrate your account to BritSys.net to avoid any interruption of service. There are no fees for migration and you will be billed the same amount for your DSL service.
Information needed for the migration:
Full Name & Address and contact telephone number so that we can match your information to your order in our system. Please contact Regan King directly with this information on 1-800-459-5996 x4 or email Billing @britsys.com. Please feel free to leave us a voice message after hours and we will return your call.
If you have DNS/hosting changes to make or would like new email accounts to be created please call or email BritSys support. Contact Support: 1-800-459-5996 x3 or email Support@britsys.com
BritSys Background:
BritSys.net has been providing DSL service since 1999 and is highly rated by DSLreports.com for service and support. You can visit our website htp://www.BritSys.net or call 1-800-459-5996.
Thank You,
BritSys Management
If all this is true, all I can say is that Dalton and his accomplices are getting their just deserts. I hope BritSys tackles them for their past due accounts as aggressively as Bean.net has tackled its own customers in the past.
I've adjusted my category ratings above to reflect the fact that Bean.net is apparently defunct. My original ratings were considerably higher.
JG Balius
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Review by techgoddess
Posted: 6.5 years ago
member for 6.5 years, 3 visits, last login: 6.3 years ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
Contract price not specified.
"NONE"
"everything about them!!!"
"DO NOT USE BEAN.NET.....EVER!!!!!!"
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I tried to set up a DSL line with Bean.net and they totally screwed me over!!! They lied and misled me. They told me that my existing equipment would work, which was my condition for agreeing to get their service. Then when Covad told me that my equipment didn't work, Bean.net told me that it was my problem and that I had to pay for equipment. I tried to cancel my service before it was even installed they still charged my credit card and told me that I was responsible for the cancellation charge. Any decent company would make accept their mistake.
I am anxiously awaiting the fall of Bean.net and Matthew Dalton. Dalton has no ethics and no business sense, and from what I can neither does the rest of the company. Karma will take care of Bean.net!
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Review by (hidden by request)
Posted: 6.6 years ago
(review was emailed from domain bean.net)
Oak Park,Cook,IL
$69 per month (24 month contract)
Ameritech
CLEC party: WorldCom
"Friendly...courteous and cheeful"
"Only wish had support on weekends"
"Good value for the money"
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I took on Bean.net after finding that DTV decided it was going to quit it's
DSL service and devote itself wholly to satellite. I've got to say that
Bean.net sales people, tech support and billing have been great for me. They
worked with me to massage out the kinks in the SBC/Ameritech lines and got
me up and running. When a problem does arise they are more than willing to
work with me to get it resolved quickly.
One...and only one suggestion I have is they keep a tech staff on the phones
for evening and weekend calls. Another suggestion is having an outage or
known status message option so a caller can check out that before calling
tech support directly. If they keep it updated on a regular basis...hourly,
then people like me will be overjoyed.
Again...my thanks to Calvin Naylor, the tech rep, the worked patiently with
me during the setup phase to Bean.net. I could use people like him on my
tech support staff...
Sincerely,
Pete Bradshaw
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Review by seano1985
Posted: 6.9 years ago
member for 6.9 years, 2 visits, last login: 6.9 years ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
$99 per month (12 month contract)
 about 8 days
Ameritech
CLEC party: WorldCom
"The Modem Got Here Quick,They Got Me Setup at 4am!"
"I am happy"
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I got the modem today in the mail, and didn't get a chance to play with it until late this evening (after bar hopping  I called their support at 4am and a real person actually answered!!! They got me up and running and now I am gaming while drunk! This is awesome, so much better than dial up.
Oh, I got the 1.54Mbps Download / 768K Upload for 99 per month. I have a 3com router. Static Ip because I am going to put up my own gaming server. Pretty Cool that they have a cybercafe up the block from me and I can see the company I give my money too.
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Review by trade450
Posted: 7 years ago
member for 7 years, 17 visits, last login: 5.3 years ago
Hinsdale,Dupage,IL
Contract price not specified.
"Great help at storefront."
"Billing will screw you."
"Don't sign anything without writing what you think you are getting on contract and how long you want the contract for."
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Update,
The president of Beannet responded to me with this after I asked about my CASH in the situation below.
"tell it to the collections agency"
Doesn't sound very customer friendly to me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
I signed up for a month of storefront internet usage and got more than I asked for.
Here is a response from them. After they gave me a copy of my payments showing that they received TWO payments and applied them to the same month.
They double billed me.
"Mr. Foley,
Actually, my understanding of this matter is that the issue is over the cancellation policy set out in the our terms of service, listed in the contract that you signed.
As I understand it, there is no dispute about the first month, the question is whether you cancelled in a manner and within the time frames agreed in the contract to prevent being charged for a 2nd month on service. I have been advised that you did not.
This e-mail is being sent in connection with collection of debt and any information received will be used for that purpose.
Jim Berry"
Yes there is a dispute about the first month. That is what this is about.
Here is what I had sent to him.
"Mr. Berry,
I just want to make sure you are aware as CEO and General Counsel of Bean.net that Matthew Dalton
will be sending me to collections for a debt which according to emails sent by him
has been paid twice for the same month (with the second payment taken back by my credit card company).
This message is issued in connection with efforts to prevent Beannet from illegally sending me to collections and any information obtained will be used for that purpose."
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Review by anonuser28
Posted: 7 years ago
member for 7 years, 0 visits, last login: 7 years ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
$99 per month (12 month contract)
about 6 days
Ameritech
CLEC party: Rhythms
"way fast connection, low ping times, great support"
"i wish it were cheaper, but i guess the static ips make it worth it"
"anything is better than ameritech, this is much much better"
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i couldnt' believe that i got my self-install kit after only 6 business days! i plugged it in and everything worked great. the ip addresses weren't in the box, so i had to call support, but there was somebody there even in the middle of the night!
now that i got kazaa installed, the world is my oyster 
gaming is awesome too with the low ping times they promised me (and delivered)
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Review by lkberry2010
Posted: 7.1 years ago
member for 7.1 years, 2 visits, last login: 7.1 years ago
Roselle,Dupage,IL
$69 per month (12 month contract)
about 15 days
Ameritech
CLEC party: Rhythms
"Good service, Great Speed"
"very happy"
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After Bean.net completed its new Chicago POP and returned to the dsl market, I signed up for adsl. I signed up through an agent giving me a person to talk with. The self installation was painless [except for sbc having to physically repair my phone lines and that took 5 days!]. Bean.net 24/7 tech support was very helpful in finding and resolving a problem I had in configuring my IP addresses. [even at 5 am] The speeds are great. They are a little higher than SBC, but they include static IP's at no extra charge and the service is a hundred times better.
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Review by stex2
Posted: 7.2 years ago
member for 7.2 years, 3 visits, last login: 4.3 years ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
Contract price not specified.
CLEC party: @link
"great"
"awsome"
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"slick local provider....
Pros: Fast, reliable
>Good tech support. Good uptime.
>Customer Service people are friendly.
>SPEEDY!!!!! Reliable connection.
>High quality connections, speed, and customer service
>Quick delivery of components.
>Had a flawless install, no wait time or problem, glad I decided to go
>locally and support a small business that I can get through with out long
>wait times that I was experiencing
>with my dial up...sprynet. The speed is blistering......I would
recommending
>this provider over a national
>chain.
>cons......none so far...!!!!!!!!!"
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Review by bpmark11
Posted: 7.4 years ago
member for 7.4 years, 1 visits, last login: 7.4 years ago
Anaheim,Orange,CA
 Business customer
Contract price not specified.
SBC
CLEC party: Covad
"Unknown"
"Dishonorable Business Practice"
"Run Away!"
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I was investigating an ISP switch for the company I work for, and sent BeanNet an e-mail requesting a sales call. Received the call promptly, and inquired what in install schedule that BeanNet could commit to as we were speaking with 5 ISPs looking for a speady installation.
Was told that they'd check and get back to me. It never happened. Even after a follow-up call to the "salesperson", we never got a response. Until, without warning an installer appears at our door, 2 weeks after we're already up and running with another ISP who DID respond. We informed the installer that we had no agreement with BeanNet and he went away.
But somehow BeanNet decided that my request for sales call was a contract and sends a bill for "early termination". Threats of collection, etc... all with the only "contract" being my "please call me" e-mail. Be warned!! Merely contacting them will get you a bill and threats of collection agencies!
Bottom Line: Unscupulous, unreasonable, and they want YOU to pay for their mistakes. Do yourself a favor and move on.
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Review by bigapplefan1
UPDATED: 7.5 years ago
member for 8.4 years, 254 visits, last login: 93 days ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
$69 per month (12 month contract)
about 21 days
Ameritech
CLEC party: Covad
"Relatively hassle-free install; You can visit customer service in person."
"NO AFTER HOURS SUPPORT; no newsgroup access (?)"
"Come back after June 1st"
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UPDATED 5/10/02
The service is not just 'down' now, it's *gone*. Apparently they were just reselling A+Net's DSL service but that relationship didn't work out.
BEANnet says they will be up by June 1st. We'll see how good they are by how they treat their current customers right now. If they are flexible about contract terms, and if they reward those who wait for the new service to get up and debugged, this could turn out OK. If not they will completely suck.
UPDATED 3/10/02:
Arrgh! My connection went down on Friday, and now I have to wait until Monday to even tell someone at BEANnet, since they have no after-hours support AT ALL. I thought having a customer service rep. in the Loop store would be nice, but now this is the second time I've had a problem over the weekend while the store is closed. Points off also for ignoring my emails about my dialup account not working.
ORIGINAL:
I walked into one of several BEANnet's Internet cafe's on November 25 to sign up, and I was up and running in three weeks with 608/128 static-IP adsl for $69/mo. Billing was simple, easy and accurate. I have been up and running for a few days now and it is sweet and stable. Gaming pings could be a bit faster but are better than my old cable modem.
The only problems were/are minor. They are: (1) the free dial-up account that was included would only work for one session, then I would have to call tech support, and they would fix it for one session. I'm not sure but this may have just been the case while I was waiting for dsl service, since I wasn't being billed for that time; (2) I was sent a Self-Install Kit without being given the IP address by BEANnet, and it took a couple of days with tech support to get the information I needed, (3) my dialtone was 'inadvertently knocked out' by Ameritech after they shared my line with Covad, but Ameritech fixed it in one day; (4) they told me 'we have a plan' if Covad goes bankrupt, but they won't say what it is.
One major, major plus about BEANnet: It turns out that the person at their storefront who sold dsl to me is also my customer service rep. As long as he is working at BEANnet I can go and wring his neck in person, if I have too many problems. He was a big help with the dial-up issue.
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BEANnet Interactive
