Anon | Covad/Flashcom migration movement I've nervously been waiting for the opportunity to pull the plug on a very solid Flashcom one year relationship based on what I've been hearing and reading. This morning I went to the Covad safety net page and it indicated that I could not move at this time. Just for fun, I sent an e-mail to an address that had been listed for a person at Flashcom that was posted on an earlier forum message. I communicated my concern with the unknown situation and left my daytime phone number. To my amazement, I got a call at work today and talked to the nicest lady regarding the current situation at Flashcom and she informed me that things were wrapping up in the negotiations and that we should hear something soon. Again, just for curiosity I checked the Covad safety net when I got home and the situation was totally different. It said I could switch and I was asked if I understood that there may be contractual obligations remaining with Flashcom and I indicated that I did. At this point, I don't care. I continued on through the registration process and completed it with no issues. I was told that there may be a 48 hour lapse in service when they switch me over and they provided a dial up capability to bridge the gap.
If this is the sign that things are settled then hooray!! I have an IDSL connection and have no alternatives for other service but ISDN or the dreaded dialup. Based on the Covad financial reports in the news today I just hope they stay afloat. |
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Jacob
join:2000-11-28
San Jose, CA | Ok...
Now that really mind boggles me.
Let's see what their site says. Dum de dum (peeking around covad's page). I notice that they have changed their safety-net page! So I try to do it, when it says to read the faq. I have nothing else to do, so I read it, and discover:
What if my ISP has filed for federal bankruptcy protection?
If your ISP has filed for federal bankruptcy protection, Covad's current position is that it cannot authorize the transition of your DSL connection to Covad or any other Internet Service Provider without written consent of the ISP or bankruptcy court approval. You are welcome to re-check this site for updates.
Well, this is the usual excuse, but I continue... New window pops up with what looks like the old site (last name + zip).
WOW! Once I enter, instead of blabing the excuse, it wants me to agree to the self-release form. I clicked continue again, and yippie! Now I have to fill out speakeasy papers! 
Well it looks like covad is going against their own word, letting self releases work for Flashcom!
I'm gonna think about some things before I switch. I am getting free dsl, yet it is crappy... Hmmmmmmm |
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UberAres
join:2001-01-28
Clinton Township, MI | Amazingly here in michigan I never had a single lapse in service over 1 year. However their unholy evil billing intentions and decidedly lackluster approach to anything even remotely resembling customer support convinced me to switch to the ever speedier and less costly Ameritech. OH MY .... granted im twice as fast dl now, but my ul is steady in the 120's ( I hit over 300 up often on flashcom), and boy I find out Ameritech has some seriously neglected servers attempting to handle all their dsl subscribers. Since late january I have lost service around 10 times !!??? simply amazing. And with that I am not even mentioning the idiot techs who while trying to connect my dsl , managed to disconnect my fone for 5 days...
SOO the moral of this story, slower and always up might just be better than a ITlikestocrashalotbutcostsulessandrunsat768kdown service.
ps officially im 768/128 now, with flashcom I had 386/128 - |
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 n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
 ·Optimum Online
| reply to Anon
It is interesting to hear that there is some movement finally. Overall, I have been rather happy with my Flashcom service. The only problem has been the last 2 months where I have had some bad line sync problems and I have not been able to get service. However, the problem appears to be weather related and the problems go away when the temperature goes above 32ºF so things should improve as the weather gets warmer here on Long Island.
The big question I have at the moment is what ISP offers service comparable to Flashcom in terms of price, speed and static IP? I will not go with Covad.net (or Earthlink) because I want a static IP (I do consulting work for several companies and my Flashcom IP is programmed into several firewalls) and I DO NOT want to deal with PPP0E. Telocity seems to meet my requirements but reports seem to indicate they are no better than Verizoff in terms of support or performance. |
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Anon | speakeasy seems like the best solution. staying with covad, i'll be able to keep the dedicated line. how could flashcom keep to a contract when i have 48+ hours of 22kbps downloading...slower than a 33.6 modem...shame shame...and not one word from flashcom tech support...and we have to make a long distance call to get the support?! i think flashcom blew it... |
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Anon | indeed covad will let you do a self-release now... |
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Anon | reply to Anon
> indeed covad will let you do a self-release now...
Covad will NOT let you do a "self release" at this time. This morning after reading the announcement, I called Covad to try to set up a switch to Speakeasy. I got the old "You have to have a release from Flashcom" runnaround. Covad customer service doesn't seem to understand the concept that all of Flashcom's customers are Covads customers now that Covad 'owns' the customer base.
Covads "Safety Net" transition plan is to DHCP with only
around a 56K speed gurantee. Not Acceptable at all. I guess it's going to be awhile until they get their act together.
Waiting for a callback after the CS rep 'researches' things. |
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Jacob
join:2000-11-28
San Jose, CA | Their act was not together earlier.... it was as if they were confused. After talking with a supervisor, the guy gave me the ok to call speakeasy for the rest. But as of right now, their act IS together!
Even look at speakeasy's switch page:
Dear Current Flashcom Subscribers,
We will not need any form of release to process your switch. Speakeasy is working with Covad and the Safety Net program to make the switch as painless as possible for you.
While you will not need a release form to switch to SPEAKEASY.net service, you will still need to provide us some basic information on your circuit, so that our ISP Switch department can process your switch accordingly. Again, no release form is needed from Flashcom or Covad! Thanks again for your interest in SPEAKEASY.net!
Please click here to go back to the ISP Switch order form.
Good luck!  |
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n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY | reply to Anon
Well according to Covad's Safety.net page I am being transitioned to Speakeasy. Now the question is; how will their service offering compare? I hope they are not a DHCP, PPPoe operation. |
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Anon | reply to Anon
I'm laughing today because we finally got our notice that covad is picking up service in our area. The only ISP that they offer however is only saying 56k. I'd go back to dial up before I'll pay $65 a month for 56k. Bellsouth here we come! Sure glad we signed up so we get it connected before the plug is pulled on 3/16. |
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| reply to Anon
Flashcrap has gotten what they deserve. The *worst* customer service and tech support I have EVER SEEN from any company, anywhere. No wonder they went bankrupt. The only thing that was positive was the speed, which was consistently in the 500s kbps. |
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| reply to Anon
I never go notice - Covad disconnected my Flashcom service last friday. I have contacted Speakeasy - but
I am currently without service. There was no safety net or notification for me! |
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