Reader David’s FiOS DVR really sucks. Since it’s his 5th one — he’s starting to suspect that they all suck.
verizon
Sprint Opens Mobile-to-Mobile To All Providers
By 9.10.09
If you’re a Sprint customer using the company’s Everything Data Plan, you can now call any mobile phone on any network without using up any of your plan minutes. Good news? If you’re on the carrier’s $70 a month plan, which has 450 included minutes along with unlimited data service, it could be — if you don’t roam into areas where there’s no Sprint coverage (where the meter will start running) and if you have a lot of regular contacts on other cell networks.
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.
Is Verizon Randomly Charging You $1.99 Per Line For "Data Usage"?
By 8.27.09
On August 14, the Cleveland Plain Dealer printed a column by a business writer who described her 6-month-long ordeal with Verizon concerning a mysterious $1.99 charge for “data usage.” The paper says that over 400 Plain Dealer readers responded with complaints similar to the one in the column. Now the paper says they have a promise from Verizon to refund these mysterious and erroneous charges.
Verizon Customer Says She's Bombarded By Robo-Texts
By 8.26.09
It’s bad enough when friends and acquaintances bombard you with text messages, but at least most humans can be reasoned with. Monica, on the other hand, says she’s being hassled by a robot who sends here 20 texts a day, and that Verizon has been slow to jump to her aid.
Verizon And Nokia Announce "Constant Reboot" Feature
By 8.24.09
Ryan’s new Nokia Intrigue 7205, which Verizon gave him, doesn’t work with the Verizon network: “48 hours ago, the phone began cycling on and off continuously.” He’s not the only Intrigue owner experiencing this problem on Verizon, although Verizon is following that tired old “it couldn’t possibly be our fault so let’s make you jump through a dozen useless hoops” protocol. Sadly, a single Google search would give them the quick fix for Ryan and other Intrigue owners.
Verizon Sued After Tech Punches Customer In The Face
By 8.17.09
According to a lawsuit filed by a Verizon customer in Queens, NY — the tech the company sent out wasn’t quite as affable as the ones in the commercials. Instead of fixing the customer’s problem — the tech allegedly punched him in the face.
Congratulations Americans, We Pay The Most For Cellphone Service
By 8.12.09
A new survey from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) compared annual costs around the world for consumers who have cellphones, and the U.S. is in the top three for most expensive. How expensive? DSLReports notes that “on average, the OECD found that Americans pay $635.85 on cell phone service, compared to $131.44 per year in the Netherlands or $137.94 per year in Sweden.”
Verizon Offering $20 Naked DSL
By 8.3.09
Verizon is sad that so many of you are jumping ship, so they’re hauling out the bargain naked DSL offer again. (“Naked” means no home phone line is required to take advantage of it.) The deal is $20/mo with a 1 year commitment, and they’re throwing in a free router—although DSLReports says a Verizon rep told them the router freebie will go away at some point. Also, it’s available online only.
Help Friends Conserve Cell Minutes By Changing Your Voicemail Greeting
By 8.2.09
David Pogue’s continuing crusade against useless voicemail instructions knocked loose an excellent suggestion for anyone willing to re-record their voicemail greeting. Too often the standard voicemail greeting is: “Hi, you’ve reached so-and-so. Leave a message, and I’ll get back to you.” Why not make it more useful, something like: “Hi, you’ve reached so-and-so. Please press star (or whichever command applies to your carrier) to leave a message.”
Alltel Customers Nervous About Verizon Switchover
By 7.31.09
Julia and her husband are former unhappy Verizon customers who thought they had escaped by signing on with Alltel, only to be sucked back in when Verizon’s took over the company.
Reach Verizon Wireless Northeast Executive Customer Service
By 7.29.09
Got a Verizon Wireless problem that regular customer service won’t fix? Try escalating it to this guy. Just remember to be PP2P: polite, professional, and to the point.
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.
By 7.27.09
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Verizon is having a bad day as business customers cut down on phone lines. They’re planning to cut 8,000 jobs in the second half of the year. [Bloomberg]
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.
Customer Visits Verizon CEO's Home, Gives Him A Taste Of No Privacy
By 7.22.09
John Hargrave of comedy site Zug.com tracked down the personal info of Verizon’s CEO, then showed up with a bullhorn to illustrate what a lack of privacy feels like. “Ivan Seidenberg! I’m here on behalf of Verizon customers. PLEASE DO A BETTER JOB PROTECTING YOUR CUSTOMERS’ CELL PHONE RECORDS! Everyone has the right to privacy, including you Ivan! When we don’t have privacy, then freaks with bullhorns start showing up on our front lawn.”
