New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
P_fud
Newbie

Greetings forum,

I just moved to Verizon FIOS from Comcast.  While the download speed at 10mbs is more consistent and I've had virtually no connectivity issues, I would like to ask the user community for your thoughts on the webmail client and support pages.  

My opinion:  This is the worst organized site I've ever seen!  The webmail page consistently times me out and requires me to log back in after 2-3 minutes - sometimes I get logged off before I finish reading even ONE email.  There are at least 3 ways to access the webmail page, and the timeout period seems to vary depending on which link I clicked to get there.  I've been booted off while typing a new email (hit the SEND button and was taken back to the login prompt - and lost my data entry in the process).  I've literally been logged off within 10 seconds of logging in (just once, but still . . . ).  This is driving me nuts - I leave my email up all day and access it several times every hour - and this is almost unusable!  

I attempted to contact email support, and after sifting through hundreds of beginner level knowledge base articles and generic 'canned' help topics, I finally found a link to send an email to their support.  When I opened that page, I noticed that the email form allows just 70 characters to explain your problem.  What can you do in 70 characters?  Again, this is nuts. Anyway, I went ahead and typed something like "your support & webmail sites suck, fix 'em", which is about all I had room for.  Verizon then auto-replied to my email address with more canned generic tips, but did at least include the option to reply to their email if I had more questions.  At that point I typed up a detailed description of the problems with the webmail site.  That was a week ago and I've to receive a reply.  Let's hear it for professional tech support . . .  right . . . . 

So to be fair, I'd be interested to know if anyone else has experienced the same issues or knows a way to change the default timeout on the webmail page.  Or knows how to get their support to be even a little responsive.  Or has an alternative front end for their site.  My only alternative is to start using Outlook or OE for my email, which is hardly an altermative. 

Meanwhile, my previous provider Comcast has a very organized webmail page which has about a 12 hour default timeout period.  That makes a whole lot more sense to me and was much easier to use.  I'm a computer security engineer and know what the heck I'm doing on the net.  In my opinion, Verizon's webmail and support sites are just unacceptably confusing to navigate and time out waaaayyyy to quickly.  Do they have a 'customer enhancement request' link anywhere?  Are they looking for useability engineers?    

Thanks for hearing my my rant.  Comments appreciated.  

P_FUD 

Seattle, WA

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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
Justin46
Legend

Hi P_fud (interesting name, kinda makes me wonder what it stands for   Smiley Very Happy   ),

Welcome to the forum.

I use the web email function pretty much only to take a look at the SPAM folder and then delete all of the crap. But I do use it most every day, and I have never, ever been logged off via a timeout. I don't know why, but I haven't. Now, I use the Flash version of the webmail, mqaybe that makes a difference. I have the Preferences set to check my mail only manually, not automatically, and I still don't get logged out.

They way I get to the webmail is this link: http://webmail.verizon.net/signin/.

The Flash version of the webmail client offers a Feedback button which, when clicked, generates an email, so I guess I could send them 10,000 characters if I want to, although I have not actually used it.

If you are not using the Flash version of webmail, maybe if you tried that it would make your experience better.

Hope maybe this helps a little bit....

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX

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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
impossible
Newbie

P fud, I feel your frustration. I alerted tech support two years ago regarding the logout issue and they claim its a security measure. Perhaps it is too secure. Verizon webmail is my only complaint with the service, Comcast webmail was much better.

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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
Techman28
Master - Level 1

P_fud, 

I know its annoying and I'm all but sure we'll raise it because well I for one can't type 2k wpm but I'm actually curious  "My only alternative is to start using Outlook or OE for my email, which is hardly an altermative." Why would you say its hardly and alternative?

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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
marilynd
Newbie
I agree re: the web mail problems and have called several times to ask why it is such a lousy system. I had various responses ranging from "that shouldn't be happening" to "well, we don't care if you switch to another free email system." I run a business and can't keep changing my email address. Comcast WAS much better and Verizon had better get its act together if it doesn't want to lose a lot of customers who switched not knowing the frustration we would encounter.
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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2
I only use webmail for fios, due to the lack of IMAP (Techman28 fix that). Well my g1 phone, but that does not count for this issue. And my time out is around every 20 to 30 minutes. I have never had to timeout on me in 10 seconds. I doubt its a browser thing, but I use Google's chrome. Give that a try and see if that helps out any.
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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
prisaz
Legend
I have never been kicked off. But I do not try to stay connected to webmail for extended periods. I use Webmail mostly when I am away from the computer and need to check my mail. I would sugest you do the same. Use Outlook Express in XP or Microsoft Mail in Vista. I use Mozilla Thuderbird and have for years. Never had a problem. You can leave your mail in the inbox when using webmail and then when you connect with your mail client you can also download it to your pc so you have a local record. This way you can type and format your messages on your local computer and take your time. Even save a draft locally and continue later. If I were running a business I would never rely on a third party web site to store my mail. Not a good idea. I clear my Verizon box with my mail client on a regular basis. I could understand if you need to keep all your mail on the web for access at multiple locations, but other then that I just can't see it. All webmail stinks and is very limited. I use Lotus Notes secure webmail for work and it is purposly limited.
Message Edited by prisaz on 02-26-2009 02:04 PM
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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
CharlesH
Specialist - Level 1

Personally...I get my verizon messages through gmail! Gmail's interface has been the only webmail I've personally ever liked. If I had to pay for GMail, I would aswell.  I've used outlook, thunderbird, and some other one but I'm pretty happy with GMail. They yahoo interface has improved a lot I've noticed...but that's my personal take.

Naturally, we use IBM lotus here at the office use lotus aswell...wish we didnt =/

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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2

@CharlesH wrote:

Naturally, we use IBM lotus here at the office use lotus aswell...wish we didn't =/


 Yeah I noticed you all use lotus notes. God I hate that program, I don't know why companies still use it. 
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Re: New FIOS customer, verizon.net webmail comments
prisaz
Legend

@TimSykes wrote:

@CharlesH wrote:

Naturally, we use IBM lotus here at the office use lotus aswell...wish we didn't =/


 Yeah I noticed you all use lotus notes. God I hate that program, I don't know why companies still use it. 

Yea I hate Lotus Notes. Server  is run on non Windows platform. Left overs from IBM mainframe computing days. I believe ist's now running on Sun.
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