jpleakis
join:2009-07-02
Greenwood, SC
| Embarq DSL Pricing
I've had cable internet service from the local cable company for years now, and the service just keeps getting worse and worse.
I was checking out my options and saw that Embarq lists their DSL service starting at $29.95. I was interested in the 3.0MB for $39.95 so I called them up. They ask if I want internet and phone, I tell them just internet. They tell me it will be $54 a month.
I've never had DSL service before, so it may be well known to everyone else that you are required to pay for the telephone line, but it came as a shocker to me.
The website doesn't have any fine print, asterisks, footnotes, nothing that says DSL service requires local phone service. In my eyes, this is very decieving, almost like a bait-and-switch. Why advertise $39.99, knowing full well that it costs much more than that.
I argued with the customer service rep for about 20 minutes on two different occasions, and no avail. And of course there is no local office in greenwood, sc to talk to someone in person, i'd have to drive several hours to the closest town that has an office.
I was actually blown away, I was practically begging to become a customer, because i've heard many good things from friends and neighbors about their service. Most companies nowadays are practically giving away the cow to rope in new customers.
If they would honor the $39.99 price and not require an additional phone line, they could probably put the cable company out of business. I have two cell phones, why would I need a landline?
Does anyone else feel that the way the pricing is displayed on the website is more than a little misleading? I would expect maybe some taxes and regulatory fees, but to completely leave out the fact that you must have a phone line? |
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Syncognition
join:2008-01-12
Winter Park, FL
2 edits | Here is the general problem. The regular customer service number for Embarq leads to a general office that is unable to process stand-alone DSL requests, so the reps in that department offer POTS with DSL as they are in a commissioned sales position. What you need to do is ask for one of two different departments("Acquisitions" if you currently do not have Embarq service or "Save" if you do). Only representatives in those departments are able to fill requests for naked DSL.
There is no bait and switch going on, Embarq has the service available in all serviceable areas at the rates you see listed (unless your community has a bulk-billed contract with Embarq, but that obviously isn't the case for you). You just have to be firm in stating what you want so you are connected with someone who can provide you with what you are asking for. |
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prstriker04
join:2009-07-05
| reply to jpleakis
Unfortunately a few customers do go to the website and it "looks" like its only internet. One main reason is landlines costs are different in every state/cities. So unfortunately they cannot put a set price for customer to see with basic landline and bundle =/. |
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rabeatz
Premium
join:2009-03-21
Apopka, FL
 ·Embarq
2 edits | reply to jpleakis
I guess to those unfamiliar with DSL, it may seem that way. However when you go to the website to order services - the options are "Home Phone", "Double Bundles" (Home phone with Internet, choice of a bundle or access line only), and "Triple Bundles", which is Home phone, Internet, and Dish.
I think Embarq offers naked/dry DSL, but as Syncognition stated, only in specific cases or departments.
I believe there is an Embarq website for dry loop dsl, if you search google you might be able to find it.
After reading the post again, it sounds like you may have gotten what you wanted though - 3.0 Mbps but with a price of $54/mo.
The prices for dry dsl are going to be higher with almost any phone company than what you pay for dsl if you have a phone line. |
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jpleakis
join:2009-07-02
Greenwood, SC
| reply to jpleakis
Thanks. I'll call the number for pure, as I'm not currently, nor have I ever been an embarq customer.
Hopefully it's truly $29.99 and not just a hipster marketing piece to appeal to those twenty-something that have iPhone's and don't need a landline, but they're going to bury a bunch of fees in the fine print |
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Hazy Arc
join:2006-04-10
Greenwood, SC
·Embarq
 ·Verizon Wireless B..
 ·Northland Cable Te..
 ·Dish Network
| reply to rabeatz
DSL Pricing |
said by rabeatz  :I guess to those unfamiliar with DSL, it may seem that way. However when you go to the website to order services - the options are "Home Phone", "Double Bundles" (Home phone with Internet, choice of a bundle or access line only), and "Triple Bundles", which is Home phone, Internet, and Dish. Any normal person who visits Embarq's website (»www.embarq.com/Residential/Inter···Internet) and sees the attached image will make the assumption that Embarq offers dry loop DSL. Why else would they list an Internet-only price? If Embarq is going to make it this difficult to allow folks to drop the landline, perhaps the website needs to be modified. Jpleakis is right...it's nothing but a bait and switch. |
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rabeatz
Premium
join:2009-03-21
Apopka, FL | you're right - i didn't see that chart. I just went through the setup to order service and when i did it that way it didn't show that chart, it only showed options with home phone. |
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jpleakis
join:2009-07-02
Greenwood, SC
| reply to rabeatz
Big thanks to rabeatz!
I called the number they posted on iwantpure.com and the guy on the phone hooked me up with 10MB for $39.99/month
I was told that 3MB was $34.95 and 5MB was $39.99 and they were running a special that if you got 5MB, they would bump it up to 10MB for free.
I'm still a little worried I'm going to get a grossly overinflated bill later on, but I recorded the phone conversation with the rep, and had him clearly spell out what I was paying for, just in case. I Learned this from a friend of mine who upgraded to the iPhone 3G when it came out, and a phone rep told him that his old iPhone could be used just like an iPod Touch after the new phone was activated. That wasn't the case, and he called back and played the recording, and apple allowed him to send back his first gen iPhone and they sent him a shiny new iPod Touch to replace it!
I'll be sure to check back and let everyone know my thoughts on their 10MB service. I can't wait to call the cable company and cancel their service. |
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rabeatz
Premium
join:2009-03-21
Apopka, FL
·Embarq
1 edit | From the details of the promotion it looks like you will have that price for at least 12 months.
"After 12-month term commitment ends, the EMBARQ then-current monthly service fee applies." So if the pricing is different 12 months from now - you may see a change.
But hey you got 10mbps for month for $39.99 instead of the 3.0mbps for $39.99 you wanted  |
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jpleakis
join:2009-07-02
Greenwood, SC
| Yep. I'm stoked they have 10mbps around here. 
I've been with northland cable for years. Just a week or so ago, I got a flyer in the mail advertising their new "Turbo Power" 6mbps cable internet. They were letting you try it for 2 weeks free, and I don't recall how much more they wanted to charge for it after that. I already dumped their digital cable service in favor of DirecTV and haven't been happier, until now when I can finally get rid of their shotty cable internet. |
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rabeatz
Premium
join:2009-03-21
Apopka, FL | reply to jpleakis
Enjoy DSL's non shared bandwidth, with no throttling/blocks or caps |
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Greg215
@cox.net
| reply to jpleakis
Thank you,
I've been a customer of Cox Communications for 8 years and can't help but notice Embarq's DNS servers seem more responsive than Cox's. When I bring up a website at home on Cox there seems to be a lag but the same link comes up quick at my girlfriends home and she's on Embarq.
Embarq is now offering naked DSL in Las Vegas so I signed up because the service seems better and I'll save approximately $40.00 a month. |
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