Verizon Fios

[ebmac1]

I just signed on with the Verizon Fios service. IT's their new fiber internet and voice line they're slowly rolling out across the country. The internet service is great very fast and no hiccups yet. The big problem is the voice. The phone reception was terible. When they swap your home over to fiber they will also do your phones whether you want to or not. This is where my problems began and the atrocious verizon customer service reared it's ugly head once again (I used to have Verizon DSl a year ago and cancelled because they we're so terrible). After having two different techs and severals hours invested in diagnosing the voice quality problems, they finally determined that the service was fine, it was my $200.00 3 month old phone causing the problem. I hooked up my other phone and it was a little better but far from the crystal clear sound they tell you you'll get when you sign up. They told me that they're starting to find issues with certain phones on FIOS and that I would have to go buy another phone. I said this was BS and told them to just change it back to the old copper line but they said once they switch over to fiber they can't swicth back. BUYER BEWARE! They don't tell this is a possibilty when you sign on. In fact they tell you that if your not satisfied you can cancel within 30 days. I now have to go out buy another business line phone for $200.00 now. Unbelievable!

[digger]

Interesting. Seeing as how you have such fast internet access now, is it possible to cancel the phone part of the service and do VIOP? That might teach them a lesson (even though they are still getting money from you for the fiber ISP). One of the other VOIP services might work better with your phone.

I thought there were legal mandates about the availability of copper phone lines. You might have to push harder.

[Paracelsus]

Thanks for your input, embac1.
I've had Verizon DSL for a little over two years now and really like it. Also eagerly awaiting FIOS in my area.
Not heard anything about phone quality problems until now. But I bet the system works great with the phones Verizon sells.

As Digger mentioned...
VoIP might be a good alternative. I've been using  Skype  for a while now and really like it. Nothing to buy... Calls to other Skype users are free... Calls to land lines within the US are ~3¢/min. I use it most of the time now for long distance calls.
If you have a good PC with a good sound card, the quality of calls is fantastic. I talk regularly with a couple of friends in Australia... and it's just like talking with someone across town.

[PACOBELL]

We've been having a problem with being able to hear the other line but they cant hear us, or the otherway around. we were about to buy new phones but verizon told us the same thing about some phones not working, i have used a uniden 2.4 ghz and 5.8 ghz i havent tried a hard line, i havent noticed it on the old sony 900 mhz

[cableguy]

I just had the Fios installed last sunday ... I ordered all three services. after a sales rep came to my door. the deal sounded great! although we were not getting all the same channels we had with our cable provider we we getting some additional plus alot more. Only thing I didnt like was we had HBO and movies pakages which with Verizon were broke out into individual packages (AT ADDITIONAL CHARGE) so we comprimised and just took the HBO. After all the number crunching we figured we were saving about $20.00 a month ... all on one bill (by the way the guy said he never heard about the $99.95 deal with verizon) Which was funny becuase I had just watched the commercial about 20 minutes before he showed up.
Regardless I figured 20 bucks is 20 bucks. I asked several times I get 1 box with the install and all my Tv's will still work? Which he agreed ... so this sunday the Verizon Tech calls our house at 8:30am stating he is leaving the garage and will be at our house shortly but wanted to confirm some things. So he made sure he had all the correct supplies. First thing he mentions ..."How many Tv's do you have?" I state 5 ... He explains I only see one Box/dvr on your install. Do you realize none of your other Tv's will work after I cut you over? So I calmly explain that it was discussed and I was assured that all my Tv's would work by the sales rep... to which the tech replied ... "well they will work but you are only going to have the analog channels " which in our area is about 15-20 channels...
So now I am stuck in the middle of a rock and a hard place. Being I am looking at having one working tv and 2 kids on a weekend he explains I will need a STB (set top Box) per tv and will have to upgrade to the multi room dvr. All of which is additional monthly charges
I am trying to find out what my cost will be. But too some it up I am paying $5.99 a month per STB and I think the multi room is going to be another $20.00 So instead of saving $20.00 I am actually paying $20 more then i was with my old set up (probbibly more) ... Now... I haven't called and talked with Verizon yet. However I need to explain that I feel I was hit with a bait and switch ploy. WOW!!!![/b] the TV signal made my standard Tv's look like HD. I mean clear and crisp. The Tv is great ... I also love the multi room DVR... The internet is lightening fast ... They are not lying when they say how fast it is (20/5)... I never ever got the speed promised from my cable provider. Although it wasn't snail slow compared to this it was standing still. And as I stated earlier I had no issues with my phone. only problem is the extra money and I really dont like that I can't have (what I was use to have) basic cable channels on my extra Tv's. I really feel like I got stroked... I think there is something wrong here and I cant put my finger on the facts. But the way I feel is I am paying about $140.00 a month on phone/tv/and internet. I should be able to have that on any tv in my house if I want it. I would understand no HOB or other premium channels but I should be able to do that in my own house... Oh one more thing ... After giving them basically all my business ... The fine print says they are going to charge me a $19.99 activation fee... So any one who is reading this... [b]Read everything and get it in clear cut writing.

I have everything free for the first month. I would really hate to cancel because it really is a great product But I really feel like I got ripped off in the process. Now like I said I havent talked to verizon yet and I may get a break on something for the "misunderstanding" if I cancle however I am locked into the phone for a year. I can walk away from everything else and I still have my old cable tv and internet sittng waiting to be cancled. OH! by the way last thing the tech HAD to do just before he left was cut my copper lines back to the pole. So I now have NO COPPER voice lines coming into my house. I am sorry about the rambling but I really am hot about this ... I deal with Verizon at work all the time and always have problems with them but have never had issues on the home front.
I went verizon becuase I thought the were more reliable and dependable. however I NOW FEEL like they are just another SLEEZY BIG BUSINESS!!!. I am even to the point where I think I am going to call our local news channels (all 6) and see if they want to take on BIG Ol MA BELL in one of those shame on you topics... Again sorry about the rambling. I will post again to let you know what THEY have to say about my problem.

Thanks for listening

Mike in N.J.

[OG1]

I live in NJ and you are right about Verizon. I think I will keep the copper line.

[pete]

Be careful dealing with Verizon salespeople (or any salesperson for that matter).

A local small businesswoman had four phone lines. When she decided to cut costs by getting rid of two lines, the sales rep explained how she could save even more by getting a "package".

The "package" included DSL.
She doesn't own a computer.....

Months later, when she asked me what she was supposed to do with the filters, I explained what DSL was. To their credit, Verison customer service gave her a full refund on the DSL charges....
BUT
It took a second phone call to get them to stop billing her for DSL.

[paulb3d]

I signed up for FIOS 3 months ago. the first 2 months bills were $125 per month as quoted. The 3rd month's bill came in at $350. I changed nothing in service or amount of usage so it should have stayed the same. I called 5 different 800 numbers and constantly got automated messages or got put on hold and disconnected while being transferred. Anyone else have a billing problem like this?

[blsJason]

Hello paulb3d, welcome to Freedomlist! Sorry that we're making an online acquaintance when you have a $225 bill discrepancy.
I don't personally have Fios (not even allowed to be a Verizon customer, and they won't expand into Qwest's territory), but others here on Freedomlist do.
One thought that immediately comes to mind: is there any itemization on your phone bill? Or does it actually say the service for the month was $350? Was your quote based on printed promotional material? If so, it might've included fine print about '$x/mo. for however many months, after which regular price applies.'
_________________
Don't buy Clearwire!

[dyao]

Hi all,
I'm a reporter for the Associated Press and I'm doing a story on Verizon cutting the copper to your house after you order FIOS. I'm looking for any feedback. Could you email me at removed or give me a call at removed? Thank you.

Deborah Yao, AP

[blsJason]

If people want to give you feedback, they'll post it after your post, rather than send e-mail to an unfamiliar address and/or call an unfamiliar phone number. Additionally, plenty of spammers and fly-by-night telemarketers that ignore the Federal Do Not Call List would love to add your contact information to their lists.
Thank you.
_________________
Don't buy Clearwire!

[EasyriderFL]

For what its worth, and taking into consideration that this is fri-uh Saturday morning "and right now I'm about a drunk as I get during a one week period" I've really been satisfied with FIOS... In fact, I just upgraded yesterday to Windows Vista Home Premium and since then I've really been amazed with how it improved the speed at which pages have been downloading... I haven't noticed any unusual charges ( but that may be because they know that I'll take it personally and go gunning for their asses(yes I do ride with a motorcyle club considered to be a part of organized crime by the FBI and various other law enforcement agencies))... Other than a few intial gliches, (I've had it since it first became available in my area) I've had no problems... Is it more expensive than the $9.95 dial-up I had before, yes... Is it worth it, I think so...
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Will work for beer!!!

[Artimid]

For other buyer beware stuff.
I cancelled my $99 a month contract within two weeks. Since then, they charged me $300 for the two weeks, the installer took $100+ from me for an installation fee I was told I had to provide, and they took $1300 from my bank account that I have been fighting for three months to get back, and it doesn't look hopeful. I have spoken to 20-40 people, no manager has EVER called me back, and I keep getting lied to left and right.

BEWARE VERIZON!! For everything! Their FIOS is great, but if you get the rest of their services, burn your house and fake your death.. then maybe you can escape.