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Review by norman4 
UPDATED: 54 days ago
member for 3.9 years, 50 visits, last login: 54 days ago
 Grosse Pointe,Wayne,MI
 $399 per month (12 month contract)
 about 65 days
 AT&T
 "Good, reliable, solid T1 connection, low latency"
 "If you're looking for warm and fuzzy, look elsewhere; install sloooww"
 "they do their job so I can do mine"
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I'm a telecommuting attorney; office in Chicago, I live & mostly work in Michigan. After suffering for years under comcast as a provider - extraordinary latency issues, lost connections, you name it, and always at the worst possible time (mid- afternoon to early evenings particularly bad- my heaviest work hours)... Eventually it went bad at the right time for my firm to believe I need real connectivity. Imaging trying to have a conference call ... but your VIOP is suffering under bad latency and packet loss- and finally losing it halfway through- it was time to get real connectivity when the managing partner got cut off mid-sentence 
So I looked around for a T1 provider, got a local MI company- LB DSL (covad reseller), and it's been mostly good.
It took a long time till install, over 2 months, and they said that this did not qualify for refunded time (they promise 45) because it was the telco's fault, not theirs- equipment needed replacement, apparently.
I had a period of lost packets and connectivity, and little sympathy from LB. They wouldn't accept DSLR smokepings as proof of service issues and they did not/would not actively monitor the line. I had to call if/when it sporadically died- if THEY could ping me at that very instant, it must all be OK, so call-us-when-it-dies. It wasn't OK. This went on for like a month. Like I said, not warm and fuzzy. Mostly worked, occasionally lost connectivity, and had to use a backup connection (home comcast acct). But- when it finally died for real, the trucks rolled right out- a very welcome change from comcast. I was back up in less than 8 hours after the telco replaced some lines and/or switches. Smooth ever since as long as we pay. A commercial connection for a commercial price.
Going to look into UVerse as an alternative... but till then, I get the speed I pay for (1.5 up AND down) and 50-100 ms latencies- plenty good for what I do.
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Review by jofallon
UPDATED: 173 days ago
member for 7.8 years, 2713 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Oak Park,Cook,IL
$79 per month (24 month contract)
about 14 days
AT&T
"Excellent speed and reliability; at least at first."
"Tech support maybe assumes too much in the way of knowledge. Not very interested in diagnosing line problems."
"got Comcast"
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My line needs to be in safe mode to be stable. A week or so ago, it went into fast mode. LB put it back in safe mode, but since then the line has been disconnecting and reconnecting every hour or two.
A final note - the connection got totally unstable; disconnects 10-12 times a day. It always reconnected at the usual speed, and oddly, the router log never showed any error messages. LB said a problem with the inside line; which worked fine with the phone and with Speakeasy before, and had nothing else on it. Rather than muck with LB, Covad and ATT, I just got the Comcast package. More expensive, but enormously faster and more reliable. We have lots of old copper in Oak Park, and I'm not interested in persuading ATT to test all the lines between me and the CO.
Followup comments:  Leicafl
Premium
join:2004-10-18
Miami, FL | Good luck... Good luck...I expect you'll need it, eventually! | |
| hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | Cable I'd pick cable over DSL anyday! Generally is always faster, especially if you have DSL through a 3rd party reseller, especially if they're using COVAD for residential access. | |
| jofallon
Premium
join:2002-01-05
Oak Park, IL
 ·Lightning Bolt DSL
1 edit | Cable vs DSL I was always one of those preferring (unmetered) DSL. Even at the $140 level, Comcast has the 250 gig cap. I wouldn't think it would matter; but I use CrashPlan for offsite backup, and something they do eats up bandwidth. Of course, half the benefit of 50 megabit download speeds falls apart with the cap. If I actually did video streaming from Netflix or whatever, my quota would disappear pretty quickly. | |
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Review by firepoet
UPDATED: 327 days ago
member for 327 days, 1 visits, last login: 323 days ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
Contract price not specified.
"Looks cheap on paper"
"BEWARE!! Terms of Service include huge cancellation fees"
"Don't cancel your order or you're out $400"
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I ordered DSL service through lightning bolt, but when I got my first appointment it was for an entire day window. Evidently Covad doesn't like its customers that much. So, I couldn't be home due to work issues, and had to cancel my order.
Received an invoice today for $400. Guess I didn't read the fine print.
I will never recommend these guys. And, to avoid screwing with my credit rating, I guess I have to pay them some cash.
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Review by KSC519
UPDATED: 336 days ago
member for 7.6 years, 1036 visits, last login: 156 days ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
$220 per month (12 month contract)
"Stable, reliable connection"
"A few connection glitches, line unable to support desired speed."
"Good company to work with. Understands the needs of a small business"
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I currently have 2 6.0m/768k ADSL connections through Lightning Bolt. Each with an 8-address ip subnet each line is 109.95 per month
The first was installed in October 2007, and the second was added in October 2008. Initially, I had a few issues with the connection dropping randomly, but tech support was able to correct that in short order. I never have any issue reaching someone via phone or email (no matter what day or time I call). There was a slight problem during the installation of the second line, creating a 24-hour delay in my service going live, but this was due to a mistake by the Covad installer not properly plugging in a cable in the phone closet, not due to any mistake by the LBDSL team. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the service
Modems are both Netopia 2247
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Review by Markypu
UPDATED: 1 year ago
member for 4.1 years, 7 visits, last login: 321 days ago
Arlington,Arlington,VA
$65 per month (12 month contract)
about 5 days
Verizon
"Always able to contact Brent quickly."
"Inconsistent connection as of late."
"The fios package deals are starting to look tempting."
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Started having some consistency issues about a year and a half ago. Sometimes when I'd try to open the browser I'd get a web page unavailable message. It started happening more and more and I ended up getting a new modem from Lightning Bolt. That worked fine for about six months but the last couple months when I try to open the web browser or click on a link within the browser, sometimes (now several times a day) it reroutes me to the url of the web browser itself and won't allow access to the internet. I've called Brent about it but he said that he needs for the problem to be occuring when I call him otherwise he can't troubleshoot it (this is logical and I don't have a complaint about this). But this is also our second consistency issue within the past 12 months. And these Verizon Fios bundle deals we keep getting in the mail will save us over $1000 a year ... they're starting to look really tempting ...
Followup comments: 
waffleburger
join:2008-08-22
Blairstown, NJ | WHAT your sticking with some no-name company and VERIZON FIOS IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA??!?! AND ITS CHEAPER????? WTF | |
| unknownone
join:2007-07-21
Elmhurst, NY
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Fios is avail and you still haven't jumped on it?!? I agree with waffleburger, I've been with Lightening Bolt for slightly over a year now, I have adsl2+ which cost me $129/month (+5 ips). If I had a FIOS choice, I would jump on FIOS in a heartbeat. Sure Lightening bolt connection has given me no problems and is solid but FIOS 20/20 @69.95/month!!! I could almost get 2 FIOS 20/20 packages for the same price I pay for my adsl2+.
If FIOS is available in your area, wh not try them out; keep lightening Bolt and try FIOS for a few months if FIOS is reliable enough for you then drop DSL. | |
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Review by Leicafl
UPDATED: 1.1 years ago
member for 5 years, 1931 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Miami,Miami-Dade,FL
$49 per month (12 month contract)
about 3 days
BellSouth
"I'M GONE!"
"Awful Service!!!"
"Will never look back!!!!!"
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8/23/08: I needed help in re-establishing service after all my DSL went dead - ZERO!!! Forgot how to get on-line through Dial-up - needed guidance on how to do so - ZERO!!! Refused to coach me through the Dial-up procedure so that I could retrieve email communication...even though a tutorial is provided for through PDF at the LBDSL website (but not accessible to me). Only got holier-than-thou high-brow toned geek-speak excuses about how it was impossible to help me get back on-line. It was suggested to me that I buy a new modem from Lightning Bolt, although my existing modem wasn't yet proved to be faulty (albeit in service for about 3 years). I requested a brief trouble-shoot review of my computer connection/configuration settings, but was told that that would be impossible also. Admittedly, I was extremely pissed off after a totally sh-t day, and became even more-so at having to deal with this unhelpful recalcitrant snob. It was all-too-obvious that B---t was intent on exercising absolutely ZERO initiative into providing any problem resolution - ever-so-slick in his resolve to avoid cooperation. Somewhere in the discourse of my frustratingly futile plea to be helped, I was told that "that's the way the world works". In the past, I received mostly good service, albeit insensitively/unduly techno-geeky and out of my lay-brain's reach. Too often I had to bite my tongue while frustratingly trying to lead the Lightning Bolt god out of the Land of Techno-Denial and back onto the river of Help Thy Client. Always hesitated before calling with a problem because all-too-often it felt like squeezing blood from a turnip (frustration & aggravation...life's too short and I'm damned busy!). Mostly good service until something goes wrong (and it will eventually for others IMO). I really tried to tolerate the problems when they occurred and the poor customer handling, but no more...I'm finally out, and it feels good! "That's the way the world works!" CAVEAT EMPTOR!!!!!
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Review by adsl2rocks
Posted: 1.7 years ago
member for 1.8 years, 7 visits, last login: 1.6 years ago
New York,New York,NY
$99 per month (12 month contract)
about 13 days
"great personal service"
"none"
"highly recomended"
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fast service. Great customer service and support! Speed is as advertised as is the price, no hidden fees or taxes
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Review by lght
Posted: 1.8 years ago
member for 5.7 years, 6 visits, last login: 77 days ago
Costa Mesa,Orange,CA
$99 per month (12 month contract)
about 20 days
"None"
"Customer service is horrible!!"
"WORSE ISP ON EARTH! DON'T BOTHER OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!"
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Signed up for service several months back and outside of the initial sales call everything has been a nightmare! Brent confirmed and promised speeds of up to 6mb down and 3mb up on their top plan. He did the pre qualification test and new the distance from the CO and said worse possible speed would be 4mb down and 1.5mb up. I signed the contract and the problems started soon after. I received the promise date and had a question on something so decided to send an e-mail from my blackberry for an answer. Well "The answer can be found online in our FAQ section" is what I got back from Tech support. The tech took the time to tell me where to find the answer, but wasn't willing to just answer the question. I guess they don't realize that sometimes people use blackberries to ask questions and just want a answer. I had to send 3 more e-mails to finally got an answer out of the rude minimum wage tech.
The second questions via e-mail was to ask them to contact Covad the local service provider and ask them to call me before arriving at my home to setup my line. The tech didn't even bother to see if it was possible before he insisted that the installer wouldn't call me or contact me and wrote back "Again, I have already answered that question for you: The phone techs are not able to call ahead for access, Access MUST be provided upon arrival of the Phone Tech, per their rules, We have no control over how they operate. The Tech will NOT call anyone if there is no access, they will simply report no access, and we would have to re-dispatch them out another day and you will be charged $225.00!!"
Oddly enough I called Covad directly gave them my account info and they said "Not a problem' we understand that people have to work during the week and shouldn't have to wait 6 hours for a tech" in fact here is the cell phone number for your tech and here is his name. The Covad tech called me 30 min prior and was more than happy to accommodate my request. Again another lazy minimum wage tech that could care less about the customer because they already got your money and your under a year contract.
The problems just keep getting worse. I used the online form to send a message about how to pay for my bill online and how much I owe. I got a reply saying I shouldn't use the online help form and instead that I should be sending the e-mail to the billing department. Instead of the useless person just forwarding my request on to the right person they just blew me off. I send the same request to the billing dept and get a reply back showing my balance along with yet another smug remark "As I have pointed out previously" you need to access the online billing link. Apparently an e-mail was sent, but was caught in my spam filter. So I click on the link and it takes me back to the sign up page, but the page doesn't work! 2 hours and 4 e-mails later and I still can't just pay for my bill!! I have a international flight to catch and need to leave fairly soon so I reply back VERY frustrated at this point and typed in the word smart ass to express my frustration. Instead of getting a call from Brent offering to resolve the issue I get a call saying from him saying I have violated the TOS and that my account can be suspended!! Am I missing something here? You have an obvious upset and flustered customer and instead of attending to that customers needs you call him and threaten to suspend his account because he used the term smart-ass? Now I can see why the customer service reps are so cocky, arrogant, and such smart asses to begin with. This guy is suppose to be an owner and he is just a fast talking scam artist that could care less about it's customers and just wants to show the world he's a big boy by making threats. I guess that's how you act when your the owner of a company and your also the janitor. I guess they haven't learned the concept of customer service and haven't realized that customer just want to be helped and just want a quick answer. It doesn't matter if the answer is in a FAQ online or not. If a customer is asking for help just help them! What's the big deal?
On to the next problem. My install didn't work the first time and they had to do more "testing". Well after a week and more "testing" they had to send out another tech to try and fix the problem. This is now going on 2 weeks. The tech couldn't get the line working so more "testing" had to be done. Well after the 3 visit and 3 weeks later the DSL was finally on however the line wouldn't stay connected. I wanted to cancel, but because it had already been 3 weeks I couldn't cancel without paying the $500 early termination fee so I'm stuck with these losers. After several calls and complaints they finally admitted that my line couldn't support the 6mb / 3mb line I had been paying for and said they would have to bump my speed down to 3mb / 768!! They said I could change my plan, but I would have to pay the early termination fee and sign up for the lower plan that also cost $99.95!! Basically they will promise you whatever they need to in order to get the sell and once your sold they screw you every chance they get!
The problems continue as I received a $10.00 late fee for October service on Sept 30th! These con artists actually charge you a late fee for service you have NEVER received! I complained and Brent wrote back saying I can do whatever I want and I'm not going to remove the late fee. Ironically that Monday my service was cut off and when I called to find out why Brent said it will take a few days, but they will get back to me. 1 week later my service finally came back on!! So I called billing and asked for a credit for the week of service that my line was down and the rude billing rep said we don't give refunds sorry. Completely upset I filled a BBB complaint about the company and realized they already had several complaints against them! Not surprised they still refused to work with me so my complaint is now in arbitration.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND HAVE NOT SIGNED UP WITH LBDSL YET DON'T DO IT YOU WILL REGRET IT!!! I PROMISE YOU!!!
Followup comments: 
LBDSL
Lightning Bolt
VIP
join:2002-01-07
Auburn Hills, MI
| How many times do we need to replay this? Mr. Tirre,
We have discussed your concern in length via email, phone, and through the BBB. You continue to post incorrect information about myself, my company, and the facts of your situation.
As you have requested the BBB will be having a hearing to determine the outcome of your claims.
At this point, it is clear no matter what myself, or my company does for you, you will not be happy, I'm sorry for that, but I will not keep going down this road.
Your review further shows your need to be verbally abusive to our company and staff, and we will again, not tolerate that.
I will state one fact, your "outage" was due to your phone call with me, which you ranted, and screamed, and demanded your service be disconnected. At which point we did. when you called back a few hours later, to apologize to myself, the wheels were already moving to disconnect your service, and that process had to be stopped, and reversed.
In short, I would ask you to find a new ISP, as it is clear we are not the ISP for you.
I ask anyone who reads this review to question the facts of the info posted by this user.
He claims, he ordered a 6.0/3.0 package for $99/month, we do not have any package near that price point with that type of upload speed.
He claims he paid for service, and was under a contract prior to installation. Users are not under any form of contract until service is installed, nor do we bill users until we know service is working
I could go on with all the false info in this review, but I'll stop right there, anyone is more then welcome to contact me via our web site, or here @ DSLR LBDSL to ask any question you may have.
Brent
--
Lightning Bolt Technologies | |
| lght
join:2004-02-11
Costa Mesa, CA
·Lightning Bolt DSL
| Why can't you just admit your wrong and do right??? Brent you are an con artist and have lied several times not just to me, but to others as it's clearly posted in other reviews. You will do and say anything on the phone to get the sell and deny it after the fact because it's not in writing! The outage was not caused by me. I called upset ranting and screaming because my service was down for 2 days and no one would help me nor do anything about it! This is why I wanted to cancel my service. You can post your lies here, but why would several customers make up the same story?
If anyone wants to see several others that have the EXACT same complaints simply click here and read the horror stories that are all pretty much the same!
»User reviews - Lightning Bolt DSL
Here is the comment by a guy who you also ripped off by charging for a week of service he didn't receive.
"Brent insists that my service does not come with an SLA, and I in turn am SOL as far as credit. I explained to him that I wasn't looking for a free ride, just a little credit as a show of good faith and understanding that I have a service that's basically unusable.
Brent refused to offer any assistance, so I exercised my 21 day cancellation right."
Here is another complaint from a guy who you also charged fee's for and provided nothing.
"I guess my complaint with LBDSL is that their policies are carved in stone, and making things right for the customer doesn't seem to be one of them.
This is the second location at which I've used their service, and both times I've been charged money for service that wasn't provided or needed because it was "in the contract."
Here is a complaint that shows you lied about what speed a customer would get and then tried to get the customer arrested for stealing your $50 modem after charging him $200!!!
"Ordered 6.0/768 package which they told me I was able to receive which was the beginning on my horror story.I noted that I was only held to the contract for the package 6.0/768 and if I couldnt get that I didnt agree to the contract or service agreement which they did accept and start the install process.Once they have the circuit installed tech came out and finished install and upon completion ran a speed test of 2.2/500 which is a joke.I informed the tech he could jhust take the equipment with him seeing how I had no intrest in 2.2/500 for a 89.00 a month.Well he didnt take the modem so I called brent to cancel he told me the only way to do that is email the support department which to me is poor customer service but anyway I went ahead and eamiled them and I got a email back notifiying me the service was cancelled.I emailed them again for a adress to ship the router back which I didnt receive a email back and now they say after 14 days they want mne to pay 200.00 for a modem thats worth about 50.00. Well brent could have told me all this info when I first talked to him but he didnt so I called him back in which he was absoulate rude and told me that there is noway they would take the modem back. Then he proceed to state that im lucky I wasnt charged with criminal theft for me having there property"
You can't go on with the info in the review because it's true and your to arrogant to admit it's true and deal with your problems.
IF ANYONE WANTS THE TRUTH AND FACTS I'LL BE GLAD TO SEND COPIES OF THE BILLING THAT SHOWS THE COST! | |
| ClintJCL
join:2001-09-19
Alexandria, VA
·Speakeasy
1 edit | well In my experience, Brent lied to me too. 30 day money back guarantee, but I had to pay $30 to stop a $400 check. Then he sent a collection agency after me to try to collect $200 for the modem "I broke" -- BUT HE HAD THE MODEM.
Now Brent, why am I suppose to pay for a piece of hardware that YOU have?
And the ***hole sent it to my credit report.
Fortunately, my credit rating is 823, and I have a positive net worth of over a quarter million. When I buy my next car, it will be cash. Brent: You can't touch me.
--
-Clint
clint@acm.vt.edu | |
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Review by bradleyjay
UPDATED: 1.9 years ago
member for 1.9 years, 1 visits, last login: 1.9 years ago
Fort Lauderdale,Broward,FL
$49 per month (12 month contract)
"Terrible customer service, unprofessional"
"Seems to be hit or miss...if you get lucky and everything works, great, but it didn't for me."
| Pre Sales information:
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Where to begin...
I purchased dry-line residential ADSL service. This requires a new copper pair to be run to my house. After being assured that the technician would only need access to the NID outside my house and not the interior, I was surprised to find that the technician needed access to the interior. Luckily, the technician happened to still be there when my wife returned home, so the appointment didn't have to be rescheduled. He installed the new circuit without any problems.
The next appointment was for the Covad tech to "professionally install" the DSL modem. This consisted of him plugging the modem into power and the new DSL line. He was supposed to test connectivity with my modem, but he was unable to because he didn't have my PPPOE login information. So he configured my modem, and then tested connectivity using his own modem, and his own PPPOE login information. He then gave my wife some hand written instructions for me to enter the PPPOE info in to the modem. Quite professional.
This all would have been fine, except for the fact that the modem was defective. It will not maintain a connection for more than an hour or so, and intermittently refuses to serve DHCP addresses on the LAN side. Also, it intermittently refuses to serve up its web interface, so no configuration changes can be made. Also, rebooting the modem causes it to lose it's PPPOE info, so that has to be re-entered on every reboot, if you're lucky enough to be able to get the web interface.
OK, fair enough. I can understand that the modem is defective, so I called Lightning Bolt to ask for a new modem. Brent refused to send me a new modem on the grounds that it may be trouble with the line itself. He had me perform some tests like unplugging my computer from the modem. For some reason, even with my computer turned off, there was still traffic thru the modem according to Brent. He still had doubts that this could be caused by the modem, and insisted that it could be trouble in the line. I may be naive, but I don't know how the line itself could cause traffic to flow. I guess Brent can answer that one.
Against my better judgement, I agreed to yet another appointment for another smelly Covad technician to come to my house to troubleshoot and if necessary provide a new modem. Brent would not simply send me a new modem.
Then, I get a bill in the mail for a lot more than I was expecting to see. Brent started billing me on the date that my service was activated, regardless of the fact that I have not been able to use it. I politely asked Brent to prorate the charge, since I have not been able to use the service.
Brent insists that my service does not come with an SLA, and I in turn am SOL as far as credit. I explained to him that I wasn't looking for a free ride, just a little credit as a show of good faith and understanding that I have a service that's basically unusable.
Brent refused to offer any assistance, so I exercised my 21 day cancellation right.
Another thing to note is that this appears to be a one-man operation. Every phone conversation I've had has either been Brent calling me, or Brent answering when i call. early in the morning, afternoon, or 10:00 at night, the only person I've ever spoken to at Lightning Bolt is Brent. Emails also either are signed by Brent, or someone else with a conspicuously similar writing style as Brent, and regardless of weather the email comes from Brent or "Heather" or "Frank" they are sent from the same workstation.
While there's nothing really wrong with a one-man operation as it should be less overhead that's passed on to customers, you have to remember that if Brent doesn't give you the answer you're looking for, there's no recourse. There is no supervisor, or manager. You cannot speak to the owner because you already have, and he isn't listening.
So, if Brent would rather lose me as a customer than give me a paltry week's credit, then so be it. I can certainly get service form someone else.
Followup comments:
LBDSL
Lightning Bolt
VIP
join:2002-01-07
Auburn Hills, MI
4 edits | wow, I'm very surprised to read all this Brad,
First I must say, I'm shocked at some of your comments.
1) You have NEVER spoken to me about any billing issues. looking at your account, I do see you have spoken to our billing department, however not me personally, so I would appreciate you being honest about your interaction with our company. In fact the last time we spoke, was a VM I left for you, about getting you a sooner tech dispatch, which I left you on Sat.
2), I also never stated the issue wasn't the modem, what I did ask, was we perform a few test, to rule out other issues, which we did, in about 5 minutes, and aggreed the modem was not functioning correctly. with a dry line product, a tech visit is always performed, verses shipping equipment, this is the standard process.
3) how, and when did you cancel under the 21 day satisfaction clause, because I see no record of it with us, in fact we still have a Tech visit scheduled today to take care of your modem issue.
4) your account has a bridge, not a router, The Bridge, will pass along the Public IP address you are assigned when you connect via PPPoE. If you are expecting a bridge to hand out multple LAN IP's via DHCP, then you have been mis-informed. You are probably thinking of a router.
5) You are right you have spoken to me on the phone many times of the day. I am in the office 7 days a week on average 16 hours a day. I do this for many reasons, the main one, because I'm here for our users, and as the owner want to know what our users are dealing with. However I assure you, we have many people working here, a National ISP can not be run by a single person, TRUST ME!
6) I'm sorry you are not happy with our service, to properly cancel your service, please follow the step outlined in the Terms of service, posting a notice on a 3rd party web site, will NOT close your account.
In closing, I'm sorry you are unhappy with our service, and what appears to be a company as a whole. Contacting myself to discuss your concerns before posting this review, may have been able to resolve some things, however you are free to cancel under the 21 day satisfaction period we give all our ADSL users. We would much rather have you happy with another ISP, then unhappy and locked into a contract with us.
Brent
--
Lightning Bolt Technologies | |
| | bored_in_nh
join:2003-01-04
Stamping Ground, KY | Re: wow, I'm very surprised to read all this pwnt | |
| bradleyjay
join:2007-11-27
Fort Lauderdale, FL
·Lightning Bolt DSL
| I told "Heather" that I wanted to cancel In order to cancel, I replied to the last email I received from "Heather".
I asked "Heather" to be understanding in the regard that the service is basically unsuable and that I should not be billed for a service that I have been unable to use to date.
Heather was unwilling to budge or offer any consolation, credit or otherwise accept any responsibility for my unusable service.
I then replied to Heather that I wished to cancel my service, and that i would not be waiting around for the smelly Covad tech for a third time. If this is not acceptable notice of my intent to cancel, then I will seek other means to do so.
The bottom line is that the service has been unusable since it was "activated", and I'm not going to pay for a service that I can't use.
I was certainly willing to pay for the service from the date that the installation is verified to be working, but not sooner. And sorry, but having the smelly Covad tech test the connection with his own modem and his own PPPOE info doesn't count.
It seems to be yet another case of your company being unwilling to budge from its "written-in-stone" policies, and it's costing you customers. But hey, if that $12.50 credit that I asked for is more valuable than my $49.95 a month for the next year (or the $64.95 SOHO that I planning to upgrade to) then I guess you're doing pretty well. | |
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LBDSL
Lightning Bolt
VIP
join:2002-01-07
Auburn Hills, MI
| Re: I told "Heather" that I wanted to cancel Sir,
I do now see your request to disconnect service, which needed to be sent to the support team, which you have now done. To address a few of your recent concerns. If you planned to upgrade to a business package, right away, it would have been better to order that from the beginning. we could have certainly upgraded your service, but it would have cost you more to upgrade, verses starting with a SOHO option to begin with. Business/SOHO service has higher rebates on the installation, you would have gotten a router, verses a bridge, which you would need to upgrade if you moved from a residential to a SOHO package, and you would have had an SLA, and would have received a credit for any extended outage per the SLA.
As far as your service being non usable. I see a lot of PPPoE authentications, and a lot of use on your line, so it must have been usable to some extant.
We also spoke on the phone when you had a question about your PPPoE username, and password, and while on the phone I verified with you that you could access the web, and surf. So at that point it was "verified".
Again, I'm sorry we are not the right ISP for you.
Brent
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Lightning Bolt Technologies | |
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Review by Wyvn
UPDATED: 2 years ago
member for 4.9 years, 376 visits, last login: 1.1 years ago
Chicago,Cook,IL
$65 per month (12 month contract)
about 16 days
AT&T
"Customer Service, No hidden charges, Dry line"
"Competitive pricing, but I guess you get what you pay for"
"Inexpensive Dry Line provider (Covad reseller)"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
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I exchanged many emails with lbdsl before making my decision on what to go with. All emails were responded to within minutes. (The other 2 companies which I was also emailed didn't bother to respond to my followup questions).
I ended up on the dry adsl 1.5/384K to start with @ 64.95 with 1 static IP. There is even a Service Level Agreement!
Everything went smoothly (even Ameritech dropped by a day earlier to install the dry line), emails were sent at the various stages.
The service was turned on the day they said (Dec 23rd), and my line speed tests showed ~1300/300 which I consider acceptable. I've not had any troubles within the week. Ping times are low 30-50ms as well.
Update: 1/24/05 - Newsgroup access (for the limited amount I use it) is great. It uses the maximum bandwidth on my 1.5/384.
On billing, my first payment was considered "late" (but fee was waived) which I consider odd since I set up the payment the day after I received the invoice. Anyhow I've set up the reoccuring payment in my online banking, so I'll see how it goes next month.
Update: 4/6/05 - No complaints.
Update: 11/01/05 - Almost one year now. Had some line issues during a bad t-storm and Bret set my modem into safe mode to get me through it, checked back a few days later and it was put back to normal. Great Customer Service.
Update: 10/21/07 - Almost 3 years. I canceled because I am moving to where I do not have DSL. LBDSL had ADSL2+ trials but I was too far to participate. I had my dsl modem start to die earlier this year and customer service was helpful in diagnosing the problem. Will use them again in the future if I have the chance.
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