Dodged a bullet!

[markj99]

After carefully reviewing Vz fios bundles, I swallowed hard and decided to sign up for all three.  So off I went to sign up online.   But every time I tried, and after answering the same questions again and again, the final screen would always read:

"Sorry, we are unable to continue your order at this time. Please try again later or contact your local Verizon business office for assistance. "

Huh.  How odd.

So then I instead tried the old fashioned way, which was by telephoning the number the error message gave for the California Vz office.  Again I answered a bunch of triage questions, this time with my telephone (you know, press 1 if by land, 2 if by sea...), which eventually leads to the 'combination of products' terminus.  And at that point, every time, I get a fast busy signal, and then

 "doo wee dwoop ... if you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again".

 Got to admit, I did chuckle at that one.  🙂

But then came the cold realization that if Verizon is this screwed up just trying to ORDER from them, imagine how badly they'd screw things up trying to implement my order!    Rip out my copper (oh, they aren't supposed to do that.  yeah, I've heard that), install the fiber and all the sundry equipment, and then "seamlessly" switch me to fios internet and phone service?     Yeah, right.

So I'm gonna take their hint.  I've got good dsl internet service, and the phone works fine.  Think I'll leave it that way.  But oh gosh, I hope Time Warner cable will take me back!   What do ya think, should I send some flowers first?

[TimSykes]

You will see the forums littered with post on how bad the phone support it even a few by me, but I have to say that's the funniest one I have seen yet. But I personally would not go back to time Warner after I have fios. Even without TV or phone, having the speeds of the internet blows me away, and I have had it for a year now. I top out around 2.5mb a sec. Not mbit, but megabytes. If you do end up getting fios, and you need help come here first. Someone here can help you better then over the phone, hell even the Verizon guys know what they are doing on here.

[Carl]

I had no problems ordering FiOS online back in October.

I had no issues with the hardware installation in November. 

I did have a minor STB activation issue since the installers STB Activation Network was down when he was here. He told to wait 2 hours, and if I didn't have TV to call. I called, and they did get the boxes active when I grabbed some dinner. However, I wasn't getting the HD. One more phone call, and it was done. I was able to watch MNF. 

I also had some issues with the Verizon TV Central site not letting me in, and then no Remote DVR. No phone call, as I was able to get updates here. Those issues seems to have been resolved.

So far, since the 11th of November I have had no issues to report (knock on wood). Heck, even my bill was accurate. I checked.

So my experiencs with phone support have been positive. During that first night, I called into VZ and somehow ended up with one guy on hold and talking to another guy. The guy on hold (I forgot about him) stayed on until my phone rang indicating that I was a moron. So, for me, they have been good. 

oh yeah.. I wouldn't go back to TWC. When they deployed the new 12 channels or so back in the July/August timeframe (Huntington Beach), the PQ was horrible, and I was experience many audio dropout on my wife's favorite channels. I have had a few audio drops, but no where near as bad as TWC. 

Message Edited by Carl on 12-05-2008 05:33 PM

[markj99]

>If you do end up getting fios, and you need help come here first.

Absolutely, here first!  I know, because I've already tried the "official" Vz fios web site, and Vz reps and got a few laughs but no answers.   It seems that Verizon wants us all to just take Fios on faith.

For example, I thought I had a simple question.  I just wanted to get a definitive answer (you know, like the 'truth'?) as to how many 'clear QAM' channels Verizon fios provided in Manhattan Beach, CA.   For those of you playing along at home, 'clear QAM' channels are unencrypted digital cable channels which can be received by any digital cable-ready television.   If you plug the TV cable into any (digital cable-ready) TV, you can watch those channels without having to rent a cable box.

But though I searched high and low, I could find nothing posted on the verizon.com website, and calling Verizon was eqaully futile:  I called three different VZ phone number, talked to three different sales reps, and got -- you guessed it -- three different answers!  And that's only after I had spent 40 minutes on hold each time, and only after I explained what "clear QAM" channels were!   Never a good sign.

At one point, I THOUGHT I'd finally gotten a definitive answer, when the guy's supervisor gave me an absolute, iron-clad, "official" answer from 'the web site'.  But when I asked for the link, she admitted that it was actually from 'avsforum.com', by way of 'google'!    Good to know I'm not the only one in the dark.  

Wait, is that good?

Message Edited by markj99 on 12-05-2008 10:46 PM

[MIB]

The same thing happened to me. I could not go through as an existing customer. So I just when through as a new customer. Then I called them and told them that I was an existing customer. They moved the order under my old account and let me keep my phone number (they won't let you keep it if you go as a new customer, you have to call them).

[Socomwiz]

I'll agree ordering and calling is a pain in the butt, however installation was seamless and the tech was awesome and did a very clean professional job at my house. (CA) Fios Internet is awesome with a very strong uptime, kills cable, and I believe is even more reliable than DSL. The TV service seems to be in it's infancy but it's coming along. As far as the telephone well to me it's a huge rip off as there are many other alternatives to getting phone service for cheap. I do highly recommend the Internets.

[jpf33]

I've had FIOS phone and Internet service since July 2007 and with one exception have had no problems with either service. FIOS TV became available in January 2008 and I ordered online January 4th. Service was installed February 29th. A few problems with the order, but product has been wonderful. The only issue I have with Verizon is that since I added the TV service my bill has been wrong every month. To Verizon's credit they make a change and issue the necessary credit when I call, but you would think that after ten months they would get it right. My advice to all, review your bill.

[Joe01880]

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@markj99 wrote:
So I'm gonna take their hint.  .  I hope Time Warner cable will take me back!   What do ya think, ?

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I think its your loss!