Reader David’s FiOS DVR really sucks. Since it’s his 5th one — he’s starting to suspect that they all suck.
FIOS
Verizon Should Really Stop Marketing FiOS To People Who Can't Sign Up For It
By 9.1.09
Want to know how to piss people off? Send them marketing crap for deals they can’t use. Take this individual. The title of the blog post should probably not be reproduced here, but the basic idea is that unless you can offer TV, Internet and phone from Verizon for $79.99 a month — don’t mail stuff to people saying you can.
Free Netbook From Verizon Not Quite Free
By 7.29.09
There is no such thing, dear readers, as a free computer. Particularly, Ray learned recently, in the case of Verizon’s “triple play” promotion for new FiOs users, where one of the options is a “free” netbook. Sure, you never expect “free” items to be completely free, but his situation is even more complicated than that.
Switch To FiOs An Unmitigated Disaster
By 7.24.09
Do you know that Comcast commercial where this homeowner gets FiOs installed against his will and then all these bulldozers tear up his lawn and bumbling contractors cause an electrical short? Lelah’s letter describes a process that’s very similar, except worse and much longer. And then this salesman just picks up her guitar and starts playing it and singing without even asking first. No wonder, by story’s end, she’s been driven to the brink of insanity, demanding compensation for 5 missed days of work. So far, they’re offering her $25.
Reader Gets Free HBO, Cinemax And Showtime For Suffering Internet Outage
By 7.13.09
We Consumerist bloggers just love those stories of reader complaints that are generously solved by customer service before we even get around to posting the gripes.
Verizon C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg Reveals The Telecom's Future
By 6.27.09
The future of Verizon lies in bundled apps and global domination, according to C.E.O. Ivan Seidenberg. Verizon’s head honcho appeared last week on Charlie Rose to chat about a range of things, including FiOs, the decision to build a CDMA network, and the future of your cellphone service. If nothing else, it’s nice to put a calm, seemingly rational face to the grotesque anti-consumer corporate monster that we all loathe. Hit the jump for the full interview.
Verizon's New Marketing Pitch: Squirrels Eat Old Phone Lines So Upgrade To FiOS For Guaranteed Service!
By 6.21.09
Verizon told Debbie that upgrading to FiOS was the only way to guarantee uninterrupted phone service because apparently, Verizon’s old copper lines are no match for the insatiable appetite of copper-munching squirrels. Never mind that FiOS doesn’t work during a blackout for more than a few hours, or that Debbie’s problem had nothing to do with hungry squirrels…
Comcast Credits Your Payment To The Wrong Account, Disconnects Your Cable
By 5.18.09
Reader Adam wrote in to let us know that he’s switching to FiOS after Comcast credited his payment to the wrong account number, accused him of not paying his bill, disconnected his cable, lied about it, then couldn’t get it back on for several days.
Time Warner Cable: You're Not Getting HD Because FOX Stopped Broadcasting It
By 5.12.09
Reader Dave has graciously shared with us a tragic series of emails he sent to Time Warner Cable, the highlight of which comes when he tells them about the time that he called in because the New York City FOX affiliate wasn’t working (he wanted to watch the NY Football Giants) and was told that FOX 5 had decided to stop broadcasting in HD.
FiOS Installer Drills Through Wife's Wedding Dress
By 4.17.09
A Verizon FiOS installer showed up yesterday to install the service in Sam’s house, but misjudged the location of the laundry room by 4 feet and drilled directly into the closet where his wife kept her wedding dress.
The Verizon Website Is Surprisingly Honest About "Upselling" You
By 4.3.09
Reader Beth is impressed with the honesty Verizon displays in the title of the webpage where they try to sell you bundled telecom packages.
Time Warner Cable Expands Metered Billing To Four More Cities
By 4.1.09
If you live in Rochester, NY, Austin or San Antonio, TX, or Greensboro, NC, your broadband access from TWC is about to be capped. The company is expanding its trial run from Beaumont, TX to these additional four cities, where TWC broadband customers will have to choose one of the company’s tiers of service—anywhere from 5GB to 40GB per month. DSL Reports notes that all five markets lack Verizon’s FiOS as an option, and TWC faces little to no competition from other providers.
New Jersey Sues Verizon Over "Free LCD TV" Disaster
By 3.20.09
The State of New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Verizon, alleging that its marketing, sales, billing and customer service practices for its FiOS television, telephone and internet services are deceptive and misleading. The lawsuit is partly in response to the now-infamous “Free LCD” disaster.
Comcast Using Free Wi-Fi To Keep You From Switching To FiOS
By 3.3.09
Comcast is testing WiFi service at about 120 NJ Transit rail stations in an effort to retain broadband customers who might otherwise be tempted to switch to FiOS. Will it work?
Comcast Says FiOS HD Is "Mundane," Verizon Says They Kick Comcast "In The Teeth"
By 12.8.08
The Philadelphia Inquirer says that Comcast is upset that more than 250 of Verizon’s HD “choices” are “mundane” and to count them is “misleading and irrelevant to consumers.”
Cablevision Wants You Back, Promises "Free 911"
By 11.20.08
Ever since switching to FIOS a few months back, reader GiteEmSteveDave has been pestered by his old provider, Cablevision. Like any other jaded ex, Cablevision is losing it’s mind in well-meaning promises – like, offering “411+911 FREE”. Gitem, you have to be firm – you had good times together, but you’re with FIOS now, and Cablevision needs to move on and accept it. If they don’t get the picture, then maybe a little tough love is in order.
"It's Been 35 Days, Can Someone PLEASE Properly Install FiOS?"
By 10.31.08
Reader David has been trying to get his Verizon FiOS installed and running for 35 days now. He’s escalated his complaint to the highest level and it seems that Verizon is simply powerless to fix the problem. We’d ordinarily suggest he cancel and use another company — but he’s locked into Verizon by his homeowner’s association. Even if he doesn’t use it (and currently, since it’s not working, he’s not using it) he has to pay for it.
When 9 Phone Calls Can't Get Your FiOS Installed, Email The CEO
By 10.17.08
Reader Bill was getting the run around from Verizon– but he wasn’t even a customer yet! His dramatic ordeal started on October 9th, and by the 16th he’d taken a full day off of work, called Verizon nine times and still he was without FiOS.
