Topic 'Re: The end of Freedom Essentials' in forum 'Verizon Fiber Optics' - dslreports.com

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:47:38 EDT

Smith6612 posted : I've heard of some issues with some alarm systems with Digital Voice that apparently required the Alarm Company to come out to the home and fix the issue to make it work with Digital Voice, but that's about it. Just check with your Alarm Company should you happen to switch over to DV.

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:05:43 EDT

tf51d posted : Actually if you already have FIOS with CE (Not Copper), moving to Digital Voice gives you more protection in case of a power outage. It comes with extra features than CE, one of which is called "Backup Number" That allows you to setup call forwarding to a number of your choice (say your cell phone) which will automatically direct your calls to in case of a power outage.

My issue with moving to DV, is will it affect my Home Security system monitoring? I was going to renew my Bundle to Quantum when I saw a disclaimer that said it would, so I had to cancel. Has anyone else with a security system, who upgraded to DV had this issue, and if so what needed to be done if anything to resolve it?

Thanks!
Tom

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:52:26 EDT

hemigod posted : If you're in PA and have FE with a distinctive ring number and upgrade to DV, even if you check it on the online order form, you will lose it. When you call to get it activated again, chances are they will be unable to give you the same distinctive ring number that you had on FE. DV uses what they call a virtual number, although when you call and try to get you distinctive ring back, they try hard to upsell you on another DV line. Bottom line, I had to settle for a new virtual number to use for my distinctive ring. Not a huge deal, but annoying.

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:14:26 EDT

buckweet1980 posted : Seconded!

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:33:31 EDT

HardwareGeek posted : blah blah power outage I need my phone blah blah blah. During the Black out in 2002 you know the one where most of the east coast was with out power.

No Fios in NYC then but guess what my freaken Verizon land line didn't work after about 12 hours, power was out..
--
Email/MSN: Michael at hardwaregeeks.com AIM: MikeR35292

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:28:11 EDT

gadgetboyj posted :

said by BlackSheep :

If we had wanted telephone service that relies on a battery backup, there are numerous competitors that offer a cheaper alternative.

The copper POTS is a battery backup, just not a small battery, and not at the house.

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:57:52 EDT

McBane posted : Hey, maybe this means business accounts will finally be able to get DV!

Now if they only had plans (especially international) to actually compete with Vonage and company... :)

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:15:08 EDT

anon posted : I have recently learned that even though I signed up for Freedom Essentials on a copper line, my phone service has been through my FiOS connection all along. I have also learned that I am not the only person this has happened to.

My area of the country has seen blizzards in the winter and hurricanes in the summer that have knocked out power for over a week to some customers.

My wife and I specifically asked for the copper line because it will work during an extended power outage. Luckily, we did not suffer such an outage. However, had we known that we were exposed to that risk with the telephone service we had, we never would have signed up for it. If we had wanted telephone service that relies on a battery backup, there are numerous competitors that offer a cheaper alternative.

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:42:50 EDT

guppy_fish posted : No changes.

The plus is you can't get jacked/crammed with bogus third party charges on FDV were FE you can. Verizon will never allow any third party billing on FDV.

And once on FDV, you can never ever get POT's service at that location, the number has nothing to do with it.

If you want a bundle, your only choice is FDV, no exceptions. You can keep your FE, but its going to cost allot, and for what?. I don't even have a phone plugged into mine, I only have the phone service as the phone is basically free on a triple play compared to double play.

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:32:01 EDT

tomd514 posted : I am at the point of renewing my FIOS triple play bundle and again got pressure from the phone agent to switch from Freedom Essentials to Digital Voice. Her insistence regarded saving the FE taxes as well as the option for other Internet speed selections.

I have stayed with FE because a year ago my research turned up that Digital Voice had no provisions for third party billing (i.e. international calling like 10-10-228 which I use) as well as the issue that once you switch your number from FE to DV and you want to switch back, you lose your FE number for good.

does anyone know if these two obstacles are reality or was my information incorrect?

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:43:06 EDT

Kirin posted : I have the same "Issue". Talking with a rep yesterday, the best I could get was keeping the FE and moving to a double-play package. All triples are now with Digital Voice. In addition, I have 2 lines and one is still on copper. DV would snag that line to fiber and I don't want that. We were without power for 5 days over the winter and having that line was a godsend.

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:58:41 EDT

tennisman94 posted :

said by rtfm:

... and since in FL, the VZ was ex-GTE, didn't it go to Frontier?

Florida is still Verizon territory

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:13:09 EDT

rtfm posted :

said by guppy_fish:

If there isn't copper at the premise, Verizon doesn't have to provide regulated services

No, they'd need to {re}install the copper, AFAIK.

Part of the original Kingsbury Commitment was Universal Service... Outside of FL, I don't think any Verizontal state has abolished all PSC regulation/must serve; and since in FL, the VZ was ex-GTE, didn't it go to Frontier?

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:35:56 EDT

guppy_fish posted : If there isn't copper at the premise, Verizon doesn't have to provide regulated services

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:35:09 EDT

knarf829 posted :

said by lijacobs:

said by OwlSaver:

Is there a reason to keep FE over DV?

FE is a regulated service in most states. If you have a problem that can't be resolved directly, you have recourse to your public utilities commission. FE is tariffed. VZ has to apply to your state commission for a rate increase. VZ can charge anything they like for DV; if you have a problem that you can't resolve with DV your only recourse is to switch to another provider.

And yet, there it is, sitting right there, cheaper and with a more rich feature set.

I hope that Verizon continues shifting the burdensome costs of anti-growth regulation to the users of regulated services and letting customers on non-regulated services enjoy the cost benefits of the free market.

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:06:13 EDT

lijacobs posted :

said by OwlSaver:

Is there a reason to keep FE over DV?

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:44:14 EDT

OwlSaver posted : Is there a reason to keep FE over DV? I recently extended my package and was upgraded to DV at the time. Everything seems to be the same. Since I am no longer on copper, the fact that copper may work in a power outage is no longer a benefit of POTS. So, I really see no difference between DV and FE. I know that DV has more features, but I never use them. the tax savings is a nice feature of DV. Am I missing something?

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:38:34 EDT

More Fiber posted : I wonder what an inquiry to your state's PUC would do?
Is VZ obligated by tariff in your state to provide regulated phone service? If they are, then they can't deny you FE.
--
There are 10 kinds of people in the world; those who understand binary and those who don't.

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:04:56 EDT

dmine45 posted : I ordered FIOS services today (moving to a location with FIOS already installed by the former home owner). I was told that it was NOT possible to get FE. Period. End of story. I tried, very very hard.

I CALLED Verizon, hoping that I could get an override so I wouldn't get DV. Even asked the CS rep to contact someone else. They told him DV was the only way. Even if I had to get a non bundle, that was fine by me. But was told there was NOT a way to get FE. Otherwise I would have. FE is grandfathered and not available for new customers.

Not very happy either. Yes, overall it is cheaper, but too bad I'll be losing the "good" of the POTS services. (I'm currently being served by analog copper.. never upgraded/changed... sometimes I'm old school in that way..)

Re: The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 07:56:02 EDT

rollinraver posted : If this is a chat session from the VZ website, yes, THEY will FORCE you to DV. If you call into the call center, the reps ARE able to let you stay on FE, generally with LITTLE arm twisting. Be sure you are speaking to a rep IN YOUR STATE, and not one of the dreaded Z reps as they are known (contractors).

The end of Freedom Essentials

Mon, 21 May 2012 06:28:30 EDT

birdfeedr posted : According to this chat session, I'm being forced to Digital Voice no matter what I do, either now or in future. Indication of VZ long-term strategy: get out of regulated services ASAP. VZ Online wants to be a CableCo, and take customers away from the telephone-only TelCo. (Or get rid of the piggyback billing mess.)

I'm not convinced DV is in my best interests. It certainly is in VZ's best interest.

Maybe I need to talk to a real person, not a chat-bot.

quote:
Chat Subject:Renew Existing Services
Your Question: Verizon is pushing digital voice as the only online option for phone service. how do i keep freedom essentials?

A Verizon Service Representative will be with you shortly. Thank you.
Agent Diana has joined.
Diana(05:41:08): Thank you for choosing Verizon and visiting our chat service. I would be happy to assist you with your question.
May I have permission to review your account?

Birdfeedr: Yes, but i am only asking for info, not authorizing any account change at this time.

Diana(05:42:26): Yes, since Digital Voice is available at your location, you will only get Digital voice as the part of the FiOS bundle, it is not possible to keep the Freedom Essential plan if you renew or change the package.
Diana(05:42:36): Just to confirm, are you looking to renew your package?

Birdfeedr: not planning on any change. I currently have 5 months in existing contract.
Birdfeedr: Someone said there's a speed upgrade coming.

Diana(05:44:09): Could you please tell me, what speed plan you have?

Birdfeedr: If I renewed now to keep my 25/25, would it automatically get bumped up when the new speed takes place?

Diana(05:45:17): You require to upgrade to the new speed when it gets available to you.

Birdfeedr: I currently have triple play bundle. If I wanted to keep POTS and not switch to digital voice, do I have to drop to double-play internet/tv, then keep phone as separate service?

Diana(05:48:15): If you upgrade your speed or package, the Phone plan will be changed to the Digital Voice as the freedom essential is not available for for you. It is not possible to make any changes to your service without going with the Digital Voice plan.
Diana(05:48:30): The major difference is that the Verizon Freedom Essentials package only includes Verizon's 5 most popular calling features whereas the Verizon FiOS Digital Voice includes 15 additional exciting features which you can use per your convenience.

Birdfeedr: Thanks for the info. I will keep service the same for now.

Diana(05:52:04): I can certainly understand your concern regarding that; however, it will not be possible to make changes without going with the DV plan.
Diana(05:52:04): Can you think of any additional questions or information you might need on our Verizon services? I'd be glad to assist you with it.
Diana(05:52:14): I hope I assisted you in best way and answered all your questions.

Birdfeedr: yes. thank you. goodbye.