Cell phone service, a point of major consumer gripes...
Today, I notice an item that they will not be giving $100 rebates as they have in the past for phone upgrades when contract time comes--what they called "new every two". Link here for the story. (Hat tip to the Star's business blog.)
My contract is up in June or so, and I was already in evaluation mode as the environment for telecommunications has changed quite a bit since June 2009 and I figured both phones and packages had the potential to be quite different in 2011, what with the liberation of the band width from analog TV and the development of new technologies. Now I have more to consider.
I have not had much of any trouble with Verizon, and the store at 89th and State Line on the Missouri side has excellent customer service, but developments will have to be watched carefully. There may be some changes coming.
8 comments:
Maybe they are preparing for the multitudes of ATT customers who will be jumping ship in February when Verizon gets the I-phone.
Out here, people will put up with the lack of rebates, the "no early upgrade policy" and some of the other changes just to get rid of ATT. They are hated, people are tired of dropped calls.
I don't know who has the best service in KC, but in the "Land of the Dirt People", Verizon is king.
Capt Schmoe:
AT&T has the reputation for the poorest customer service. I haven't heard that much on dropped calls here on their service.
The dubious most-dropped-calls in KC award belongs to...Sprint, HQs in the metro.
Verizon is good in the east too, generally speaking.
I haven't made up my mind--no point in getting all exercised since I can't change anything til that magic contract date.
Thanks for coming by and stay safe out there!
The Observer
Automatic policy doesn't necessarily match what they'll give you if you just ask. No reason for them to automatically give away money, but they might do it to keep a customer. Good luck choosing a new carrier :)
T.O.:
I'm still miffed that VERIZON sold off their (FiOS) CABLE TV service (last year) to some outfit named FRONTIER...
And now FRONTIER is raising service about $30 (a month) beginning in February 2011.
Verizon looks to be "on the ropes" these days...
Darn shame, they ran things a lot better than other service providers we had in the past, including COMCAST.
Yet, I can't help feeling that all of this (and perhaps more) is part of a "grander scheme" designed to herd us ALL into TOTAL Internet dependence (with TV and T-COMM).
Got the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, that's for sure.
Good post.
Bob G:
Verizon sold off their land lines also--my mom was affected. Her service is now provided by Frontier.
I don't know what is up--my main fear is with regard to the government looking in to get information. I don't want the government to be able to get an internet provider to give up the identifying info that is conveyed every time I get on line that can be tracked back to this laptop...too easy to make that information serve the government!
Have to watch it all, find the good, throw out the bad.
The Observer
Socks
I may or may not change--as I said it's not til spring/summer that I can without incurring a charge. I've been pleased with Verizon--I just noted these recent communication changes...
Going in with my eyes open, however!
Thanks for stopping by.
The Observer
Dear The Observer,
Give them hell and get what you want!
Best of luck!
Ann T.
Ann T:
Watching and waiting, watching and waiting.
If I could have exactly what I wanted, it would be a fairly plain phone, that talked and texted a reasonable amount for a reasonable price, and a mobile WiFi hotspot that I could use anywhere.
Ideally all this would cost maybe $80 a month...
A person can dream.
The Observer
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