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 Review by ecwilson 
UPDATED: 11 days ago
member for 7.4 years, 139 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 Chicago,Cook,IL
 Business customer
 $120 per month (12 month contract)
 about 6 days
 "Rock Solid Speed all Day"
 "None thus far"
 "Better than Sprint Broadband Direct so far"
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WOW was installed on 07/05/2007.
11/23/2007 WOW has had one service outage sence it was installed & that was
from 2:AM to 8:AM which was a pain. Our voip service was out for that time too.
05/06/2008 WOW has been down sence 5:AM today. VoIP on backup system
Sprint. WOW was down for 13 hours today first outage for this year. Everything
is now back to normal now.
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Review by CrimsonChaos
Posted: 21 days ago
member for 5.8 years, 70 visits, last login: 1 days ago
North Royalton,Cuyahoga,OH
$99 per month
"Well, they installed quickly..."
"The Internet was slow, the DVR didn't work, and the phone wouldn't accept incoming calls..."
"DO NOT GET WOW if you are in the NE Ohio Region"
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Frankly, I'd rather NO ONE get WOW, due to their false advertising practices. But I realize some regions may have fared better than I have with this company. Plus, I guess everyone falsely advertises these days.
I was going to switch to WOW (from Time Warner) because of the $99/month deal they were offering for Cable, Phone, and Internet with free DVR - NO RISK, MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. At the time I was paying Time Warner about $110/month for just Cable and Internet.
They came out and installed the equipment without a hitch. They said the phone would be activated the next day, and something about letting the Internet run a day if it seems slow at first.
Well a few days went by, and while I was able to place outgoing calls on my phone, but I was not able to receive incoming calls. Fortunately, I discovered this only because we bought a new phone and I wanted to hear how loud the ringer was. So I called myself from my cellphone, just to find it was not working.
Additionally, the Internet speeds were VERY inconsistent. It could range anywhere between LESS THAN 1 Mbps to about 5Mbps. Now, I realizes that when a company advertises "up to 6Mbps" that you might not expect it to always be 6Mbps. But many times, especially in the evenings, the speed fell drastically and even under 1 Mbps. My wife could even tell how slow the Internet was compared to Time Warner.
And lastly, the DVR would lock up quite often. I had to reboot it (and sometimes call WOW to have them reset something), which was a major inconvenience. Other than that the DVR was fine. The PIP worked nicely, and the recording features were great.
So I called Tech Support. Their message said "due to increased volume from the $99/mo promotion, wait times may be longer than normal". So in other words you launched a promotion but didn't hire enough support to accomodate? Brilliant. Of course, as they predicted, my wait was rather lengthy - over 1/2 hour! The good news is when someone answered, they spoke English and were helpful. They said they would have the phone fixed by tomorrow, and that they would send out a technician to check my Internet.
Well the phone never did work, but a Technician did come out two days later. He told me that the reason the Internet was slow was because WOW's "taps" are not as large as Time Warner's. He then proceeded to tell me that I would likely never have the speed that Time Warner gave me because of their smaller "taps". Ok, I admit I have no idea what a "tap" is, but is this really what you tell a paying customer? Like, do you have any plans on increasing the size of your "taps" (if this is really even the problem)? Do you think something might be done so you can deliver speeds that are competitive with Time Warner?? The good thing is at least he got my phone working.
So after some e-mails back and forth with WOW's tech support about the Internet speed, basically they said nothing could be done about it. So I cancelled the service, after just about 1.5 weeks of having it. Do you know they sent me a bill for $99? And do you know I've sent letters to them explaining their advertisement said NO RISK, MONEY BACK GUARANTEE? Basically they are trying to charge me $99 for 1.5 weeks of service that never worked properly. And get this, THEY WILL NOT CREDIT MY ACCOUNT.
So I called Time Warner, who was able to offer me something called "Triple Play", which was also $99/month for Cable, Internet, and Phone (though no DVR). And hey, guess what - everything worked perfectly as soon as it was installed! Seriously, when Time Warner is beating you in every facet of providing service and customer support, you have some MAJOR ISSUES. Not that I think any WOW people are reading this as they're too busy sending out false advertisements, but GET A CLUE, WOW. I will be telling every single person I know NOT to get your service, or to switch off if they already have it.
Followup comments:  
jmr
@wideopenwest.com | I disagree I have WOW and pretty much the exact opposite thing happened to me. I was getting inconsistent speeds with Time Warner and now I have higher than advertised speeds with WOW. | |
| | CrimsonChaos
join:2002-07-28
North Royalton, OH
 ·RoadRunner Cable
·WOW Internet and C..
edit:
April 28th, @05:12AM
| Re: I disagree That's fine. If you read the 1st paragraph I said other people may have fared better.
I guess I just have a bitter taste in my mouth about the whole experience because they are trying to charge me $99 for what amounted to crappy service for 1.5 weeks.
Like I said - if you're going to make a money-back guarantee, stick to it. The customer shouldn't have to fight you to keep your word. | |
| | |
jmr
@wideopenwest.com | Re: I disagree I agree that they should honor the money back guarantee. It just surprises me that their service quality varies by so much... I am in the Cleveland area, too. Not disagreeing with you. | |
| |
Ispeedster
| I disagree as well. WOW has been a wonderful service provider with the best service of any cable/ internet/ phone provider I have experienced in the last 24 years.
Obviously, the person registering the complaint is an isolated case, which I am sure WOW would be happy to have the opportunity to make amends. WOW has ranked number one in the annual JD Powers Survey for customer satisfaction among all cable providers for the last three years. | |
| doncaruana
join:2008-05-01
Northville, MI
edit:
May 5th, @11:15PM
| Not so isolated WOW has been abysmal (metro Detroit). Their network can't handle VOIP, the DVR frequently - and inexplicably - just skips recording shows. This evening, I specifically deleted some shows so the stuff I had set for recording would have room. I come back later - it skipped 3 shows. Of the other 3, one only recorded 6 minutes of a half hour show (no clue why) and one wouldn't actually play back. So I got to watch one hour of four and a half.
Why wouldn't one playback? Because the cable signal is so bad here (it's up and down - works fine for a week, sucks for a week, etc).
Customer service? Yeah, right. Haven't done jack so far... | |
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 Review by Jwobot
UPDATED: 27 days ago
member for 5.7 years, 2579 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Utica,Macomb,MI
$110 per month (12 month contract)
"Great download Speeds"
"On Demand and Upload speeds"
"Still cheaper than Comcast"
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Wideopenwest is the best Cable isp ever. Service is great and they hardly have any downtimes. if they do have a problem or they gonna work on the network they announce it in a network status news post on there website or you can call them and they have a recording on there phone system.
Cheap prices too.
*UPDATE*
Still going strong with WOW and still loving them. Use to have 2 Mbps but they bumped me up to 4Mbps internet when they got newer speeds. If they are in your area I would suggest checking them out.
****Update* April 4th, 2008****
I still have WOW Cable & Internet.
* Cable review - WOW still does not have NHL Network channel but they kept the NFL network channel we're all the football games are blacked out. They took away the Fox College Channels from digital subscribers and put them in sports package but kept the Big Ten Network on the Basic service instead of putting it in with the rest of the college channels in the sports package. WOW got ride of NHL Center Ice for the 2007-08 season and it looks like they do not have this years MLB extra innings also. It would be nice to have those back.
Got an HD Box 5 months ago (SA 8300 HDC.) The HD selection is decent but I would like to see more HD channels added (Versus HD, USA HD, Sci-fi HD, More Starz HD channels, WGN HD, NHL Network HD, TBS HD.) The On Demand needs HD channels and as well more content channels. The best way to describe WOW’s On Demand is with a D+ grade.
* Internet review – hardly any down times and speeds seem to be as advertised. Still on the 4Mbp but I would like to see the upload speed get faster. It’s a pain uploading pictures that are over 1MB.
2 DVR boxes (1 HD & 1 Digital)
Digital cable
4 Mbps internet
for $110
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Review by TopKat
UPDATED: 28 days ago
member for 55 days, 10 visits, last login: 8 days ago
Clinton Township,Macomb,MI
Contract price not specified.
"I can get to the internet occasionally"
"Every weekend for the last 2 months, the connection goes down without fail. Also intermittently during the week."
"I'm dumping this soon."
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I have called WOW 3 times to fix the slow and/or non-existent internet connection. I realize networks go down, but this is ridiculous. I previously had comcast and I think the internet went down 3 times in 2 years.
Update: This internet service that is shakier than an 80 year old with Alzheimer's is GONE this Friday. I cannot take the completely unreliable connection so it's back to Comcast even though I have issues with them, at least the internet stays on.
Update: This is why (in addition to the above) I am dropping them:
2.3m/591 Wide Open West
I pay for 6 and this is what I consistently get.
Update: Now with comcast I get:
11.5m/1.1m
I will NEVER subscribe to WOW ever again.
Followup comments: | | TopKat
join:2008-03-23
Clinton Township, MI
·Comcast
·WOW Internet and C..
edit:
April 23rd, @06:14AM
| Re: Good thing you aren't a doctor. said by imrf : quote:
This internet service that is shakier than an 80 year old with Alzheimer's is GONE this Friday.
As the title says, good thing you aren't a doctor because you would have killed a lot of people. Alzheimer's does not cause people to shake, that's Parkinson's disease.  Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia, causing memory lapses, inability to speak properly, confusion and loss of mental ability. As for your Comcast speeds, big deal, that's just PowerBoost fooling you. PowerBoost doubles your internet speeds for the first 20megabytes of the download, then slows back down to Comcast's standard 6Mbps/384Kbps. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are not mutually exclusive Dr. Kildare
Regardless, WOW service blows. | |
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 Review by Goober
UPDATED: 29 days ago
member for 7.4 years, 3061 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Naperville,Dupage,IL
Contract price not specified.
"Reliable"
"No Video on Demand, unhelpful CSRs, No speed Increase as promised, won't match Comcast pricing"
"Comcast may be better now. Don't automatically board the WOW bandwagon."
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Fantastic service. I never was one that suffered from the broadband drought in Naperville. I started with Flashcom, when DSL first became available, then moved to Telocity and then to Earthlink. Finally, after waiting for so long, I got WOW cable literally the day it was available to the general public in Naperville. Also, I got the higher 1.5 Mb tier the day it was available as well. Other than for minor glitches in the beginning, my connects have been rock solid at fantastic speeds.
Install went with a little bit of a hitch, because he main installer was a jerk. He ended up getting fired over our situation, but his helper was stellar and ended up coming to our house the next day on his own to fix up everything.
WOW cable modem service is so good, that I can't imagine any cable provider in this area could be better. Particularly not at this price. I have cable TV and Internet, so the pricing is very good.
Anyway, WOW is really great.
UPDATE:
Switched to the Ultra service. The extra speed is very nice. Is it worth the extra $15.00? I'm not convinced that it is, particularly in light of Comcast possibly upping their standard tier.
Customer service also was average to below average in their handling of my particular issue regarding modem rental fees. I was told they wouldn't charge me one, but when I got the bill, there it was. Had a HELL of a time getting it taken off. And, even then, it was done grudgingly. I have one of their highest level/cost services (digital +2 pay channels + Ultra HSD) and have been an original subscriber since the Americast days and they treat me like crap--as if I'm stealing from them by asking them to waive the modem rental fee.
All in all, they are fine. Just a few disappointments. I will consider Comcast in the future depending on price/features/etc. that each company offers in the near future.
UPDATE 2
Have not seen the much vaunted speed increase, although a few others in the area have. Maybe by March? Regardless, even the reported WOW speed increase is dissapointing. WOW increased the download, but did not change the upload. So, as of this writing, we have become also-rans to Comcast's 6mb/768kb tier.
Unlike Comcast, WOW does not offer Video-On-Demand either.
Comcast has been running many promotions in the area. I presently have a discount with WOW for my service, which includes Ultra Internet and Digital Cable with two premiums. Comcast is running a special that beats WOW's pricing by a little in addition to the faster uploads and VOD. I was willing to add WOW Phone to the mix even if they would drop the price to meet Comcast. Not beat it--just meet it (even though WOW is less featured). No go. In fact, the CSR and his supervisor were pretty adamant about NOT doing it. Maybe once my discount expires I'll give it another shot. Otherwise I'll switch to Comcast.
I think the CSRs and WOW in general are becoming quite what one had always thought of Comcast. Certainly no better and somewhat worse. WOW keeps raising prices, does not provide the same featuires as Comcast, and has the arrogant attitude to go with it all. I am not happy.
Once my discount expires with WOW (June-July), I plan on leaving the service for Comcast. Who would have ever thought it. If my reviews feel like a downward spiral, that's what they are, just simply reflecting WOW's downward spiral in my books.
If you are considering a cable provider, take a long hard look at Comcast. They may very well be the better deal.
UPDATE - 4/19/2008
I switched back to WOW again after leaving Comcast about a month ago. Not for any other reason other than for the fact that the Scietific Atlanta boxes can take an external drive for their DVR storage. Comcast's Moto boxes will not.
VOD for WOW sucks basically. Not even close to Comcast's in terms of content. Reliable service though and better pricing.
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Review by gzphreak
UPDATED: 39 days ago
member for 39 days, 5 visits, last login: 23 days ago
Sterling Heights,Macomb,MI
$95 per month
about 1 days
"Amazing Customer Service, Fair speed, Low Downtimes"
"Corporate policy on port blocking, Poor excuses for port blocking"
"Great if you're the average joe! Bad if you're a computer geek!"
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Note: My package includes basic cable.
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Review by malucas72
UPDATED: 49 days ago
member for 49 days, 1 visits, last login: 46 days ago
Clinton Township,Macomb,MI
$60 per month
about 3 days
"Reliable service with little downtime."
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After nightmares with Comcast, WOW was the only other option.
Comcast took 3 weeks to install/setup, yet they took less than 24 hours (guy was climbing the pole the next morning) to disconnect when I switched to WOW.
I have had WOW now since 2004 and could not be happier.
Everytime I have had to switch my cable modem out ( 2 power spikes and a bad motorola) they reprovision within minutes and customer service is extremely helpful.
I have the 6 Meg/1 Meg service.
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Review by quinten
UPDATED: 67 days ago
member for 6.4 years, 251 visits, last login: 67 days ago
Schaumburg,Cook,IL
$142 per month
about 3 days
"Small company that wants your business!"
"Sometimes CS people are very uptight and read from scripts!"
"Excellent service, less expensive than Comcast and very reliable!"
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I've been with WOW! for five (5) years this month. The cable outages can be barely counted on one hand. (Meaning=less than five!) The Internet connection has had some issues but they have always been resolved in a reasonable amount of time. Believe it or not, the management team is listed on their website and they DO respond when an e-mail is sent from a subscriber.
The Internet speeds are better than advertised. I pay for 6MB down and 500K up and get about 6.2MB down and 600+ up. I don't have telephony with them so I'm not able to comment on that aspect of their service. A couple of months ago I upgraded to digital cable and HDTV and the service is absolutely excellent.
Considering how expensive Comcast is in the Chicago area, and how LITTLE they care about their subscribers, WOW! is a true value that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling! Sure, I'd like to pay $30 for all of their services! But knowing that they are a smaller company that really works for the business makes me feel OK about paying their monthly bill. My recommendation: If you have a choice, go for WOW!
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 Review by detfan
UPDATED: 72 days ago
member for 5.3 years, 2437 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Garden City,Wayne,MI
$67 per month
about 4 days
"Internet (all I use) consistent speeds always at or above advertised Speeds"
"Need to speed up."
"Very good Internet Provider as far as consistancy, never down."
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Would recoomend to anyone for internet service, I only wish they would puch up the dload speed. I am at 1100 up on a consistant basis, but pay for it.
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Review by dsmndcrsn
UPDATED: 101 days ago
member for 3.4 years, 777 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Columbus,Franklin,OH
$165 per month (60 month contract)
about 5 days
"works 99% of the time"
"none for a long time"
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when i did had issues with wow cable the tech or customer service stayed on the phone until i was very satisfied. only problem i have with is their choice of new channels sometimes.
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Good thing you aren't a doctor.
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WOW