Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
Meaghan
Enthusiast - Level 1
I signed up for the verizon bundle last november and have had nothing but problems with them. At first we weren't getting two channels-Discover health and MSNBC. I called numerous time about this over the next few months, and even though they would reset the boxes, and even replaced the outside box, it was never fixed. I finally got very adamant with them that this has to get resolved in about February on 2009 and they came out once again and replaced the outside box and that did the trick. But even so, there are always issues with them. My remotes have an giant lag in response, service gets cut out-to which I was told "these things happen", and now it seems that fearnet isn't being updated. Every time I call i get a run around. They try resetting the boxes and then say that they will have to send someone out. I used the online chat help to figure out why the verizon version of fearnet wasn't getting updated while the comcast version is, and the guy told me that comcast doesn't carry fearnet anymore and that he didn't think that verizon ever did. This was after he conferred with his colleagues, because he had no idea what fearnet was. Its complete and utter **bleep**. You can never get any help. The cable service and customer service are a waste of time. I advise anyone reading this who is considering verizon to immediatley close the page and go to comcast!!
0 Likes
Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@Meaghan wrote:
I signed up for the verizon bundle last november and have had nothing but problems with them. At first we weren't getting two channels-Discover health and MSNBC. I called numerous time about this over the next few months, and even though they would reset the boxes, and even replaced the outside box, it was never fixed

Do you live in NY/NJ?  Verizon could not offer MSNBC in some areas, because Cablevision had an exclusive contract with that channel in parts of those states.   I do know that MSNBC wasn't available in some areas where it should have been, because the same video hub served those areas also served the area where Cablevision had an exclusive.  I don't know about Discovery Health.

 

Remote lag is a fairly common issue with all Motorola boxes, regardless of their provider.  You'll see that on Comcast too, if they use Motorola equipment.

 

As far as "fearnet," I'd never heard of that until I read your post.  It sounds like a VOD service.

0 Likes
Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
Meaghan
Enthusiast - Level 1

In response to your reply, I live in Pennsylvania. When we signed up, we got MSNBC and Discovery Health on 3 out of 4 boxes, so its not a problem with not getting the channels altogether.

The remote lag was different at different times. I would think that if I pressed channel up or down, I should get a response time of better than 30 seconds or not at all.

Fearnet is purely video on demand. But I would think that a verizon technical support agent would know that.

Honestly, nothing could assuage my anger right now. As  result of the lag, they had sent me a new box. After waiting an hour after plugging it in and getting no response, the online activation failed. Then I had to spend another hour on the phone getting this problem resolved. However, as a result, the other boxes cannot access DVR-ed programs. So, that is another call I will have to make.

BTW, I am on hold right now waiting to complain. This company is a complete and total joke.

0 Likes
Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
Reaper
Enthusiast - Level 3

I guess that FiOS TV isn't for everyone. For me though, FiOS is the best TV viewing experience that I have ever had. Their channels are crystal clear and their equipment is responsive.

All the programming that you mention is SD. For those of us who are HD enthusiasts, FiOS has the most HD channels and in the best quality.

As to Comcast, I would never go back to them. I would go with DirecTV or Dish Network (in that order).

I agree with you about one thing - Verizon's customer service sucks.

Good luck with cable.

0 Likes
Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
Meaghan
Enthusiast - Level 1
Well, I am glad that Verizon works for at least one person. However, my hatred rages on.....
0 Likes
Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
Barking_Pumpkin1
Enthusiast - Level 3
{No personal comments, please}
Message Edited by KaLin on 06-04-2009 10:55 AM
0 Likes
Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@Meaghan wrote:
 As  result of the lag, they had sent me a new box. After waiting an hour after plugging it in and getting no response, the online activation failed. Then I had to spend another hour on the phone getting this problem resolved. However, as a result, the other boxes cannot access DVR-ed programs. So, that is another call I will have to make.

Poor remote interference can also be caused by IR intereference from other devices.  Many newer LCD and plasma displays also have a light detection feature that works by emitting IR signals; this feature interferes with remote signals from many devices like the FiOS DVR.  If you own a LCD or plasma, you might check your TV menus for a setting called "light sensor," "day/night," or something similar.  Disabling that eliminates most of the FiOS remote response issues with those TVs.

 

No other provider currently offers multi-room viewing with their own STBs, so that's not a feature you would have if you left FiOS.  Hence, you would never have to call about that issue with another provider. 😉

0 Likes
Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
jmcohen231
Contributor - Level 3

well, here's your solution Meaghan... switch to comcast.

keep in mind that each person's experience with each provider is different.  and I'm sure there are plenty of dissatisfied comcast folks out there.  there are also plenty of dissatisfied verizon folks too.  so as long you understand that you are just as likely to get the same poor quality of customer service from any other provider, then you'll never be disappointed.

I too, had some poor customer service experience with verizon, but after I got through, I just stuck with them soley b/c I'm saving $40/month compared to comcast.  that savings of $480/year is worth it so long as I can get over the issue.

I agree that verizon should own up to their mistakes and correct them in a reasonable time for you (and that you should not have to be put though so much mental anguish), but name me one company that this has never happend to?

my point is that this expereince is the risk you take when subscribing to a service.  you can either get your free local channels over the air and have nobody to complain to, or subscribe to a service with the understanding that you run a 5% chance of getting poor customer service.

Message Edited by jmcohen23 on 06-04-2009 01:05 PM
0 Likes
Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
Reaper
Enthusiast - Level 3

@Meaghan wrote:
Well, I am glad that Verizon works for at least one person. However, my hatred rages on.....

Check out the FiOS reviews here. It looks to me like you're in the minority.

Re: Verizon is TERRIBLE!!!
jamieva
Contributor - Level 1
As much rage and anguish that Meaghan has with Fios, equates to the amount I had to Fios so we cancel each other out 🙂
0 Likes