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Yesterday we had to change the credit card number on our Verizon DSL account. When we called, the lady read us our account information, and said we were paying $39/month for 768kb of service. It seemed like we had seen a better price advertised on television, so we asked if that was the best deal they offered. Turns out it's not-- you can get 3000kb of connection bandwidth for $29/month! So for the last year or so, we've been paying an extra $10 for a quarter of the service offered to new customers. They also offer 768kb service for $17.99-- that's less than half the price of what we've been paying.
Nice going, Verizon! Shouldn't these service improvements be rolled out automatically to existing customers? Is it really good for the brand to rip someone off for a year or two? [Fine print: you have to sign up for a year of service to qualify for the deal, but still-- that's $240 the company took from our pockets and we're never getting back! They didn't even offer a credit. Bah!]
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They may still have been holding out on you. They've been advertising the 768k service for $14.99.
you need to threaten them. say you are going to switch services, they'll probably reconsider crediting you.
I finally got rid of Verizon DSL two months ago because I called back in September to change to the 14.99/month rate that I saw advertised (I was paying $24.99 up until then). I finally had enough because of the slow speed and Cablevision was offering Optimum Online for $29.99/month for 1 year. With phone charges and DSL, my bill was $40 a month. Faster service and cheaper than what I was paying--a no brainer. I never used my landline for phone calls and those charges would always be at least 65% of my bill.
When I called to cancel DSL, Verizon let me know they offer DSL only service without phone service. How on earth would anyone know this without them saying something? So if anyone finds themselves in the same situation (only using their landline for internet), call up Verizon and tell them you want DSL only.
I finally got rid of verizon and use my cable for vonage -- it is fan-tas-tique -- verizon is just plain unnecessary.
Naked DSL (no local service) will cost you an extra $5.
DSL without phone service is also relatively new.
So, did you re-up the contract?
Cable internet (TWC) is still 39.99, isn't it?
Still sounds like a better deal.
Some people value a good (or service) more than others and are willing to pay a higher price for it. I think economists call it "price discrimination." It's the same concept as clipping coupons and variations in gas prices across neighborhoods. Price discrimination increases profits. It's a good thing.
this isn't an example of price discrimination. this is an example of information asymmetry. verizon makes it difficult to find out what their lowest rate is, and they profit from it.
Ok, I just called Verizon to change my plan- the woman I spoke to on the phone said the $29.95 plan was provisioned up to 1.5 MB, so going down to the $17.99 plan halves your speed. I signed up (it is a year contract). I'm not sure I'll like the "slower" speed (who knows, I might not even notice, or it might drive me crazy), but she also said you can change your plan at any time, so if it totally sucks, I'll just go back to the $29.95 plan.
I was just in a hours-long argument w/ TWC about their service and fees. Turns out they are required (which makes me wonder that Verizon probably is, too) to inform you of new services/ pricing plans available.
Not sure if this is by mail or just if you ever call customer service they have to announce it. But it's something worth asking Verizon, and if they are required and haven't been telling you, then they should definitely credit you.
i use online/paperless billing with TWC, but every few months i still get a statement in the mail...accompanied with some info saying they are required to formally notify me that my rates are going up yet another $5/mo! i usually grumble and then throw it away, so have never noticed if this info includes cheaper options as well.
i wonder if this is the same requirement that JPB mentions
Eh, same shit happened with the long distance wars a decade ago - the new, lower prices were not offered to passive, existing customers. I overpaid for a few years and also ended up resenting it, but whattayagonnado.
Like somebody said, you just say you are going to cancel and they give you the new rate.
I just had TWC/Earthlink installed- their current highest speed cable modem access (nothing else, no cable or phone) for 19.99 a month for the first 4 months, 40 there after. Just three months ago this service was offered for 60 bucks a month. Sure, they may unload a faster service soon as a result, but this is pretty darn fast.
And of course most New Yorkers won't be offered Verizon's FiOS for a while, if ever. 5mbps for $35 isn't anything to write home about, but you don't even get that option in speed with DSL, not to mention the 15mbps/$45 option. You can't really blame them, though. Pulling fiber through underground conduits to all the apartment buildings is well nigh impossible and people would scream bloody murder if Verizon started digging up all the streets to lay new fiber. Damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Then again, I dumped Verizon as my cell provider because they didn't want to give a longtime customer a break, so I don't really care what they do. And then there's the fact that Verizon ties you in with yearly contracts. Pity any service so bad that they need you to sign contracts. Roadrunner does no such thing. Cable modem's looking better and better, isn't it?
Just had a Verizon tech over yesterday for a DSL problem and he ran line tests and told us to call 800-567-6789 (I got lost the first try on the menu, but I think it's service you want, not billing) and request "3 meg download" for DSL if you have the current 1.5. It's the same 29.95 price and double the download speed. Of course they NEVER tell you this! Your line has to support it tho. He also suggested line speed tests for free at www.dslreports.com. Kewl...
And ditto on the stupid re-up every year. I caught it just in time and got it instead of the higher price. It's worked well for me up near Hudson, NY and being a software designer and graphic designer and bi-platform Mac and PC (don't tell anyone!!!!) it has been a good deal and reliable for the boonies. And the wireless has us both coding on the veranda with a cocktail.
I almost switched to DSL but didn't because they wouldn't let me do it without a phone line, so even signing up for their cheapest package, it was still gonna cost me $50/mo after reactivating my phone line and taxes and fees and everything, so it worked out to the same as I'm paying for TWC/RR, which is faster anyway. Whatever, Verizon.
AT&T used to pull crap like that all the time when I lived in Massachusetts. I plan to never do business with them again if I can help it.
i thought that time warner cable has a deal including unlimited domestic telephone calls, standard (or is it premium?) cable and road runner internet for like $99 a month. i'm not sure about free installation but it sounds good to me.
BTW, did I mention that even at $14.95, you are overpaying, at least compared to the rest of the world? In Japan and South Korea, you can get 100mbps for $20 a month, if I recall correctly.
my parent works for verizon and we have comcast ...what does that tell you..
what made me laugh was when they sent the modem..i hooked everything up..then they proceeded to tell us over the phone that service might not be available in the area 2 weeks later...well gee thanks for telling us!
..oh and the funniest was when they said it wouldn't work on a MAC..i love when they use that fake-me-out excuse..its hilarious!
so a big f-u to verizon...
We just called and changed the service, thanx to Gothamist! I just tested it with speakeasy and it's 1.5 and 384 (give or take). When we asked why are we getting 1.5 instead of 3 for 29.99, she said that at the time they were offering only 1.5 and not everybody is eligible (if u too far from da box, SOL)...but we were! In 24 hours I'll make sure with speakeasy.net. And we made sure by asking if we had to sign up for any contract..nope, we didn't have any and we still won't... I love not to have somebody's hand in my pocket on constant basis, doesn't happen too often these days though.
Thank you so much Gothamist, You people rock. I give you guys 2 thumbs up for helping people. I love you guys. Thanks again
Hi there, read about the unfortunate xperience of the user with Verizon. Most ISP's do some tricks or the other and cheat their customers. Most ISP's generally advertise as 'Hi Speed Connection' and then they rip 'em off. If u have an 'Extreme' version of their connection, they generally put a cap on your bandwidth! Unsuspecting customers do not know about it. (I know that cause I used to work for an ISP previosly!).
Try and install a small prog called 'Bandwidth Monitor Pro' or keep checking your Speeds so that no one cheats u of your hard earned monies...
Hope this helps! Thanks.