Raydr
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-19
Carrollton, TX
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Hmm...
This was obviously written by someone who is new at writing customer communications - and then not properly reviewed.
An unclear memo - a long link to a 3rd party website....
Ooops. At least we know they're probably a member of DSLR...  |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·DSL EXTREME
| I would tend to agree.. Regardless of if this was written by a rookie, communications (especially those that would go to customers) typically have to go through some sort of management approval process.
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Canada = Hollywood North |
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KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
·Speakeasy
| Only real weakspot?
I dunno...maybe in regards to the net access portion...but bring TV into 'the picture' and there are a whole lot of weakspots.
Its great to have some additional competition and the picture quality of FiOS is very nice, but they are obviously not experienced TV folks. Comcast's TV services blow VZ away...
I am currently a FiOS TV subscriber for at least 9 more months and, while I appreciate the lower price, I miss some Comcast features and may well go back. Will see...
KM
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Don't Lie - Be Kind - Realize your Potential |
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Ream0
@rr.com | More Verizon Hype
I look forward to seeing three or four VeriZon bullshit Reports here at BBR!
I can't see why a small crap company is getting all the ballyhoo. |
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wishera
join:2000-12-12
Everett, WA
·Comcast
| What is the hubub?
They just buried fios down our street a couple months ago and now we are getting the ads in the mail. The internet is $5 more than Comcast, and they are already overpriced. They always want to bundle it with landline telephone, which we don't have or want. It doesn't look like the tv part is any cheaper either. Why should I switch?
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Douglas Adams: "Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." |
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S_engineer
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL
·Comcast
| reply to Ream0
Re: More Verizon Hype
Small company???...."Verizon currently has 140.3 million land lines in service" plus "Verizon, with MCI, was the largest telecommunications company in the United States based on sales of $75.11 billion, profits of $7.4 billion and assets of $168.13 billion"
you're kidding, right?
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Burn a tire, but make sure you buy that carbon offset! |
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S_engineer
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL | sorry, this was just before the ATT & bellsouth merger...so they're a little smaller than ATT
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Burn a tire, but make sure you buy that carbon offset! |
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Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA | reply to S_engineer
The FTTH technology deserves the hype. After purchasing BellSouth, AT&T (previously SBC) is now the largest telecommunications company in the United States, but billing/customer service isn't exactly their strong suit either. |
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SD6
join:2005-03-26
| It's the bottom line that counts
Even if Verizon is merely "discontinuing a bundle discount" for month-to-month accounts, as far as I am concerned that is raising rates because the bottom line price that customers pay will increase if they do nothing.
To say that it's not a price increase because you can convert to an annual contract is not correct IMHO. Annual service contracts are different than going month-to-month.
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batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
|  reply to wishera
Re: What is the hubub?
said by wishera  :They just buried fios down our street a couple months ago and now we are getting the ads in the mail. The internet is $5 more than Comcast, and they are already overpriced. They always want to bundle it with landline telephone, which we don't have or want. It doesn't look like the tv part is any cheaper either. Why should I switch? You shouldn't because you would lose your employee discount. |
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Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA
| reply to SD6
Re: It's the bottom line that counts
said by SD6 :Even if Verizon is merely "discontinuing a bundle discount" for month-to-month accounts, as far as I am concerned that is raising rates because the bottom line price that customers pay will increase if they do nothing. To say that it's not a price increase because you can convert to an annual contract is not correct IMHO. Annual service contracts are different than going month-to-month. You're right SD6, it's a price increase for month to month customers and the competition (cable companies) still doesn't require a contract! |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
3 edits | reply to SD6
said by SD6 :Even if Verizon is merely "discontinuing a bundle discount" for month-to-month accounts, as far as I am concerned that is raising rates because the bottom line price that customers pay will increase if they do nothing. To say that it's not a price increase because you can convert to an annual contract is not correct IMHO. Annual service contracts are different than going month-to-month. Keep in mind those bundle discounts for month-to-month (no commitment) subscribers were actually discontinued -- as an option in the Verizon system -- late last year. Customers who signed up for month-to-month (no commitment) in 2007 don't have those bundle discounts.
I'm not sure why Verizon allowed existing month-to-month (no commitment) customers to retain that bundle discount for the past eight months. Now all customers must commit to a year of service to retain those rates. |
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Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA
1 edit | Anyone whose had FiOS for over a year should get the bundle discount. Making customers sign a new contract every year or two is just being a pain in the butt! |
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GMFTECH
Premium
join:2007-08-24
Wesley Chapel, FL
2 edits |  Why contracts!!!
When did we let ourselves get bullied into signing a "contract" for everything. The only reason for contracts is to give them a warm and fuzzy feeling that no matter how long you listen to lame commercials or jazz music on hold waiting for customer service you will have to pay a penalty to go somewhere else. It is a win win! They don't have to try harder or even compete anymore. I am currently on hold as I write this waiting to figure out the renewal terms of my service. I don't have a phone service with Verizon so that will be the first battle I will wage and then we will go from there. But I am on hold now for 85 mins.
The shame is the product is rock solid in my opinion. Billing and customer service related to packages and sales are the weak point. Customer service regarding how the service works and fixing something is quite good. Still on hold over 105 mins now......
Ok after over 2 hours on hold. No kidding thank God for speakerphones.
What I was paying:
FiosTV $39.95
STB $ 3.95
HDDVR $12.95
STB (included in package) -$ 3.95
FiosInternet 15/2 $44.95
(one year contract w/TV disc) -$ 5.00
What I was offered because Florida offerings are changed.
FiosTV service is unchanged as far as I can tell
FiosInternet 15/2 no longer offered in FL
Please choose upgrade to 20/5 for $54.99
or
Downgrade to 10/2 for the same as b4 $44.99
Anyone from Verizon out there think this sounds right. I would love to engage someone at Verizon about their pricing and packages.
GMFTECH |
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littlebird
join:2004-01-25
Carlisle, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to Sammer
Re: It's the bottom line that counts
My 1-year FiOS anniversary is next month, so based on this Verizon letter, I called Verizon Billing. After a 23 minute wait on hold, I was told the best deal was the $69.99 Unlimited Calling/FiOS Internet with a 2-year commitment. I would lose my 3-way-calling, but gain voice mail, which I said to didn't want. The person I finally talked to was pleasant and seemed knowledgeable. So the whole process took approximately 35 minutes to change to this 2-year package.
I immediately get 2 emails from Verizon stating that if I don't sign on to verizon.net/acceptfiosterms and agree to the terms, I would be billed the month-to-month fee starting with the next bill. I tried with IE and FF and got server errors, page unavailable and/or page not found.
So I call Verizon again, since I thought that agreeing on the phone was all that was necessary. It wasn't like I was a new customer. Another 20 minute wait and this time I got a very ignorant, rude person who didn't want to be bothered. He said I should call billing (which is what I thought I had) and have them send me to paper work to get FiOS and then I was disconnected.
So I call back again and after 12 minutes on hold I get another "nice" person who listened to everything I had to say about this problem. She put me on hold for about 5 minutes and came back and said that, since I was already a Verizon FiOS customer and was just changing my package, I could ignore the email, my billing change was in place and I didn't need to do anything else. How do I know if this is true?
This process started at 12:10PM and I was finally finished at 3:25PM. This is totally inexcusable. And on top of that, I'm not even sure I am really getting what I want in so far as what is included in the bundle.
Yes, I agree that calling to renew anything is pure torture. Is there any way around all this hassle every time I try to deal with Verizon? For me, dealing with Verizon has always been the most unpleasant experience I ever have with any company I have to deal with.
Yes, this is a rant. And I deserve to rant after wasting a whole afternoon and not even knowing if I will have to go through all this again, when my next bill is wrong.
Bird  |
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tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY
| reply to KenAF
said by KenAF :said by SD6 :To say that it's not a price increase because you can convert to an annual contract is not correct IMHO. Annual service contracts are different than going month-to-month. Keep in mind those bundle discounts for month-to-month (no commitment) subscribers were actually discontinued -- as an option in the Verizon system -- late last year. Customers who signed up for month-to-month (no commitment) in 2007 don't have those bundle discounts. I'm not sure why Verizon allowed existing month-to-month (no commitment) customers to retain that bundle discount for the past eight months. Now all customers must commit to a year of service to retain those rates. Yes, a price increase in disguise.. which is to say, if a cable company is offering better terms of service.. such as cablevision's $29.95 triple play deal, it's quite possible customers would jump on that instead, even if FIOS is available.
Billing irregularities, long hold times, and other issues should give current or potential customers pause about considering Verizon as their choice. I haven't seen anything positive out of Verizon lately except new FIOS deployments-- if you see anything let me know..
The power of fiber, with the cholesterol of a cable company. |
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SD6
join:2005-03-26
| reply to KenAF
said by KenAF :I'm not sure why Verizon allowed existing month-to-month (no commitment) customers to retain that bundle discount for the past eight months. Now all customers must commit to a year of service to retain those rates. Why? Just a guess - maybe because removing the discount increases the bottom line that customers would have to pay, and you lose some customers when you increase prices. |
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wishera
join:2000-12-12
Everett, WA | reply to batterup
Re: What is the hubub?
What do you mean? You think I am a comcast lackey or something? I said Comcast was overpriced too. I have Dish for TV. |
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wishera
join:2000-12-12
Everett, WA | reply to batterup
what are you talking about? |
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dlr_graph
join:2002-02-03
Elizabeth, NJ | reply to littlebird
Re: It's the bottom line that counts
It appears that you enjoy this "high quality" customer service. There has to be other options in your areas aside from Verizon. Change your services to a better provider if this is an option. |
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