Review by thisrhythm - Location: Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Cost: $50 per month (month by month)
- Install: about 14 days
They weren't Comcast Unstable connection, bad pings, bad upload rate (less than 100kbps), HORRIBLE customer service, bizarre charges on bill DON'T use foreThought.net
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If you do ANYTHING that isn't just browsing plain html web pages (games, Youtube, music streaming, downloading files, remote desktop, etc.) then foreThought.net is a bad choice. Their upload rate is almost zero, and their download rate is less than half of what they advertise. Expect ping times greater than 100ms to servers in the same block as you and fluctuations of up to 400ms regularly to everywhere on the net. I know Comcast and Qwest (the only other options in Denver) may seem bad sometimes, but they are saints compared to foreThought.net. I am now paying a total of about $275 for one week of service! I had to file fraud charges against them just to get some of my money back! Seriously, these guys are barley better than con-men. Don't give them your money. You will wish you had the forethought to not choose foreThought.net. Detailed Problems: It took weeks for my service to get setup. I called nearly every day trying to get them to come install it, and they always had some problem doing so. Finally they did set it up, but all the guy did was put his password in the modem and plug it into the wall. Then they charged me for the time when my service wasn't set up plus $60 for their cheap modem (which you can't return for even a slight refund if you cancel). After many problems with speeds and ping time (and many, many phone calls), I cancelled. I called them and they told me I had to email them in order to cancel. "It isn't possible to cancel over the phone" (which makes this a huge hassle). So, I emailed them. It took days for them to respond, and they then made me confirm that I wanted to cancel, which took even more time. They charged me another $50 for only 8 days of service in June (that's also counting the time it took them to respond to my emails, as well). Then, a month later they charged me another $50 for July (a month after cancellation). When I called to tell them they were still billing me they told me the $50 couldn't be refunded and demanded I pay another $100 for cancelling! I'm not making this story up. I wish I was. STAY AWAY FROM FORETHOUGHT. Geez. member for 12.7 years, 3 visits, last login: 12.3 years ago updated 12.7 years ago
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was this Forethought's "Mach" or "Mach-Q" seit makes a big difference; please tell us which service you have to clarify the report
it sure sounds like "Mach-Q", which piggy-backs on Qwest's (CenturyLink's) wires all the way, but then connects to the Internet via ForeThought's routers; i have that service at home, and it was rock solid for 11 years until Qwest started installing fiber in my neighborhood last year; now i am ready to give up on it because Qwest reps have told me that the fiber will stomp on the non-fiber signals like mine, and there is no way to fix it; this is 100% a Qwest problem -- Forethought knows about it but can't fix it
however, the "Mach" service uses Forethought's fiber optic lines to the CO ("central office" -- there are several of these in Denver and i think Forethought serves two or three), then uses Qwest/Centurylink's wires just from the CO to the drop (the "last mile" or so); i've used that service at another location in Denver and was very happy with it; you can only get this service in certain central Denver locations; i would use it at home if i could, because in my experience Forethought has great customer service (real people, and real follow-up) and supports Network Neutrality, whereas Qwest/Centurlink and Comcast definitely do not have either | |
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Re: was this Forethought's "Mach" or "Mach-Q"My service was "Residential MACH." So no, that had nothing to do with this. I'm glad they support Net Neutrality, but that doesn't change my experience with them. [See my other comment.] | |
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alsohard to see how canceling via email is a huge hassle, and you should have been aware of Forethought's cancelation policy: » forethought.net/cancel.html | |
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Re: alsoLike I said, communication was lagged and disorganized. Canceling over the phone is something a consumer comes to almost expect after a while. Having to send special requests through email, and having problems after doing so, is NOT good customer service.
Just now, I am STILL receiving false bills and all sorts of nonsense from them. They have now billed me AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR MONTHS. Almost every time I have had to call them, no one was available to take my call and my messages are rarely returned. Maybe you work for forethought. Maybe you are just a fan. I however, have had a VERY poor experience with them. They treated me like crap. | |
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Re: alsono, i do not work for ForeThought, nor am i friends with anyone at ForeThought or anything like that, i have just had good service from them for years so your experience is quite surprising; i get right through on the support line around 90% of the time to a local human who will talk to me at my level and not run me through idiot scripts; when i email or leave a phone message they also get back to me promptly
after spending at least eight hours on the phone with Qwest over the last six months, plus several emails and robot chats and tech visits, and being charged by Qwest for services not rendered (which took an hour on the phone to reverse) i am very aware how much worse it can be
think i would prefer email or a web interface for canceling, but i agree it should work either way; i will soon have to see what it is like canceling ForeThought service because Qwest/CenturyLink has finally thrown in the towel and affirmed that they cannot/will not be able to give me good service on the copper DSL line that is the connection between me and ForeThought | |
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Review by v700jd - Location: Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Cost: $50 per month
- Install: about 1 days
Quick install, high quality service Not well advertised Better alternative to Qwest
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Lower cost than Comcast, or Qwest, though they use Qwest central office to access the internet. Ordered 3.5 Mps, getting 3.7+ Mps. Uses Comtrend modem. Includes better phone service (lower rates than Qwest), also comes with lower long distance charges (unlimited long distance if you go with 5Mps for about $10 more per month). No throttling, or other nonsense with this service. Constant updates and frequent emails that contain info on system status, to include any problems that might arise. Few service problems (multiple back up systems). member for 15.9 years, 5 visits, last login: 14.5 years ago lodged 14.5 years ago
Review by mojo_qize - Location: Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Cost: $55 per month
- Install: about 7 days
- Qwest
- CLEC party: Covad
Good service, great price best deal in town
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Very helpful support and reps. Great speed and cost. No setup fees, no contract, the only caveat is you have to either have your own modem or buy one (not necessarily from them, though they will sell you one). $55 gets me 3mb down/1mb up and a phone line (local calls free, long distance 5 cents a minute; for $20 extra you can get unlimited long distance). member for 21.1 years, 79 visits, last login: 1.9 years ago lodged 16.9 years ago
Review by dwanders - Location: Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Cost: $25 per month (6 month contract)
- Qwest
Great individual service
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I've been with them for a few years now and I'm very happy with their service. I joined when they were Dimensional Communications. It's great to talk to the people that are near the equipment instead of a large call center. I always worry about the small business not giving good service or going under. But that hasn't happened here and I would not hesitate to recommend them!!! Go for it! The DSL service has been reliable and tech support has always been helpful. member for 22.7 years, 10 visits, last login: 10.2 years ago lodged 18.1 years ago
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MikeKR
Anon
2006-Apr-14 6:39 pm
PleaseDowntime is unreasonable. Tech support is capable of basic password reset/mundane requests, though, god forbid you ever have a real issue. The service Dimensional has provided has gone down over the past few years. | |
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