Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Phone madness

We lost phone service (Verizon) during Irene Saturday August 27th.  It's now 11 days on and still no phone service.  I've tried to work with Verizon but it's been an unbelievably bad experience.

  • 8/27 tried to call Verizon - all circuits busy
  • 8/27 tried again to call Verizon - all circuits busy
  • 8/27 tried for third time to call Verizon - all circuits busy
  • 9/1 Comcast back - tried 6 different Telephone numbers from Verizon phone book and Verizon web site.  Five had message "this number is not in service."  One had message "this mailbox is full."
  • 9/5 called 1-800 VERIZON.  After IVR was connected to a non-working number.
  • 9/5 called 1-800 VERIZON.  Spoke with repair service.  They said service would return by 8 PM.  Asked for credit.  Was told could only be issued from date service outage was reported!  Tried to reason with agent.  Didn't work.  Got routed to customer billing.  30 minutes later hung up.
  • 9/6 called 1-800 VERIZON.  After IVR was connected to a non-working number.
  • 9/6 called 1-800 VERIZON.  After IVR connected to billing.  System hung up.
  • 9/6 called 1-800 VERIZON.  After IVR connected to billing.  System hung up.
  • 9/6 called 1-800 VERIZON - all circuits busy
  • 9/6 called 1-800 VERIZON - all circuits busy
  • 9/6 called 1-800 VERIZON - all circuits busy
  • 9/6 called 1-800 VERIZON - all circuits busy
    Addenda
  • 9/6 phone service restored at 4 PM.  Message from Verizon says problem fixed last Sunday around 10 AM.  As of this AM I had no dial tone.  Given choice to speak to representative.  Dragged through IVR knothole and placed on hold at 4:06.  Decided to wait on hold with speaker phone to deal with bill.

    Got connected to agent at 4:35.  Adjusted bill ($90 in credits).  Explained my experience and cautioned that I and our neighbors were re-evaluating doing business with Verizon.
Have decided to switch phone companies.  Will try to work with Comcast, though it pains me greatly.  Sadly, trying to call Comcast has been a bit of a challenge.  Six attempts with NO success.  Get message "We are unable to process your call at this time."

I've decided to call the security company and see if they can work with with a cell connection.
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