1 edit | So far so good I've been with DSLextreme for quite a while, probably since around 2000 (I think they started up in 1999). So far not too many problems (knock wood). A couple outages, but that's going to happen with any ADSL, cable, T1, OC1, satellite data, etc. service (seen it happen and have had to deal with it, even $20,000/month SONET data service can get stuck). Other than that the data moves, DSLextreme sends me a bill, I pay it, they don't bug me and I don't bug them. That reliability plus the fact the two (I think) times I had to call about a problem I didn't have to speak to someone in another country reading off a script asking if my monitor was plugged in and I got to speak directly to an actual network engineer who had r/w enable on the routers.
I think that method of dealing with contracts is pretty common. Similar strategies with mobile phones, certificates of deposit, satellite radio, etc. You sign up for a contract and when that contract ends depending on what the contract said if you don't contact them they either auto-renew a contract or switch to month-to-month. If the contracts ends and they aren't contacted or paid and can't contact you, then the service is disconnected, etc. I guess it would be nice if DSLextreme had one of those auto-dialer things like XM Radio has that calls you every day when the contract is up to bug remind you to call them.
I agree that type of arrangement can be a hassle sometimes but I think that's the just the way most businesses operate these days. When a contract is up it's best to contact which ever company even if you just want to cancel (and that might mean a chat with "customer retention" at some companies) or you might be dinged one way or another.
EDIT: Clarified who the "they" I was talking about, etc. is to minimize the confusion. |
