Fed Up with CABLE...just ordered FIOS.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey folks,

Just wanted to post/vent about how I've been a loyal Cable internet and TV, phone service customer for 10+ years. But when the SWMBO showed me the recent BILL, with a bunch of ridiculous extra fees for all sorts of crap, along with Now charging me for Long Distance when it USED to be included, that was IT!

They (Verizon) had installed the fiber optic system thru my neighborhood last year, and kept sending me these FIOS signup applications that I routinely threw away. But I decided to look into it, and reviewed their bundled services, the same HD channels plus HBO, Starz, and internet access of 15/5 mbps speeds...same as what I have now with cable, and also UNLIMITED Local and USA long distance, and it looks like it will cost me HALF of what we're paying now!

However, they are currently on STRIKE in my city, so my installation will be delayed for a little while!

Anyways, just curious how many of you fine folks have and use FIOS for your TV, Internet, or Phone services, and how do you like it??

I've ordered a 2 year contract, but can cancel it within 30 days if I don't like how it works!

T.C.

[XS1100 Newbie]

We switched back to cable a while back. Worst mistake we have made. What started as $130.00 for cable, internet, and phone, is now at $152.00 and seems to be growing. You are right about the phone charges though. They even charge you for some 1-800 numbers. Have quite a while till i can cancel it, but it can't come soon enough. If i had enough money to spare, i would quit, and pay the charges.

[cywelchjr]

The only reason we don't have FIOS right now is it's not in our area. We had it like 6 years ago when it was pretty new, and has 10/10 back then, before the TV part was really very good, but the internet back then was pretty awesome. I'm waiting for it to be available in our area, but for now have to be satisfied with DSL because I REFUSE to do the cable thing again, I have directv and DLS and even if FIOS comes through I'll just get the phone and internet part as I prefer the satellite service anyways, it's the best TV I've had.

[crazy steve]

TC, it's all smoke-and-mirrors, pretty much whomever you get service from...

Living at the end of nowhere (I had a party telephone line from the mid-70s when I moved here until the late 80s! ), I've never had that many choices. To their credit, the local podunk phone co has continually improved service over the years without excessively raising prices. They do have a monopoly in most of their service area, but have resisted the opportunity to screw their customers. I've got a typical 'bundle' (local phone, long distance, DSL, and cable TV) that's not as cheap as I would like (about $140), but still cheaper than the alternatives I see friends have in nearby 'non-monopoly' areas, so the drivel about how 'free-market' forces will lower prices is just that; drivel.

Want an example? I used a big C-band sat TV dish to the bitter end, and due to the way the system worked, it was much harder for them to force 'bundles' on you. A typical 'basic' programming package (TBS, TNT, USA, CNN, ESPN, Discovery, some other stuff amounting to about 20 channels, but no locals) cost under $20 per year and actually did save you money, but you could buy most of this 'ala carte' if you wanted. I added in the premium movie channels only (no forced bundling here, so I didn't have to eat crap like the game show channel and other stuff I'd never watch) including HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, TMC, Flix, Sundance (and this included all their feeds, east/west coast and 'alternates', not just the 'local' ones, nearly 50 feeds) and my total programming costs were under $40 per month. This would cost at least $100 per month through the 'small dish' providers due to forced bundling and probably wouldn't include all the premium feeds. I know it won't through a cable provider, and costs will be nearly as high if not higher.

What happened to the big dish? As the cable networks consolidated, the big boys forced 'exclusive' contracts onto the providers (or in many cases, the network provider is owned by one of them) and they started refusing to sell content (sometimes unless bundled, but it usually just became 'unavailable') to big dish resellers. Short-term lowball programming offers from the cable/small dishes lured away some suscribers, missing content drove a few more away, until the market was 'too small to bother with'.... Choices went down while costs went up until there were no choices... bastiches...

Everybody better wake up; the big boys are currently trying to get rules that will allow them to limit content across your 'net connections to keep out rivals' content, limiting your choices yet again (and no, this isn't a paranoid fantasy, do some checking), so before you stampede to some 'newer, better' net/TV service, find out what they're up to....

Sorry, this is a bee in my bonnet...

[BA80]

TC, it's all smoke-and-mirrors, pretty much whomever you get service from...

I certainly agree with that.

My cable/internet service started out at $69 a month and is now up to $130.

It's the frog and boiling water theory everywhere. Throw the frog in boiling water and he'll jump right out but if you put him in when it's cool and slowly bring it to a boil he'll stay in there and slowly boil himself to death.

I haven't got any other options I know of here in Tulsa.

[motoman]

Interesting read at the least. Have had a land line for 20+yrs. here and got rid of it some time after having several cell phones. Could'nt see paying for both. Have done the dish thing for tv several yrs. also. No longer have that service either. Use cable TV, cell phones, laptop along with WiFi through Verizon. Dumped the house PC and solely use laptop for all internet. Plus, it can go with you when traveling and be a helpful information source.

[MrOzz]

I had FIOS put in when it was 1st available here. I did not care for their service. lots of promises with them that they never delivered on. I ended up going back to my cable company. I am lucky though, I dont have to have comcast or any other big cable company. The cable company here is a municipality. I save alot with them and quite a bit compared to comcast which is also available here.

[CatatonicBug]

I just switched to AT&T's UVerse a few months ago, after waiting for a couple of years for it to be available in my area. We can't get satellite at my place because of all the trees in the neighborhood, and the cable company is a rip-off, and has horrid customer service.

I kept my standard land line for safety's sake. If the power goes out, at least I know I can still call out in an emergency. Yes, it's an extra $30/mo, and I'm not sure I will keep it forever, but I'm keeping it for now. The internet/TV service through Uverse has been extraordinary. The DVR features have changed how SWMBO and I watch TV, and the channel selection is much better than what we had through the cable company, for less money. Not a huge amount less, but any amount helps, as long as we're not sacrificing service.

[barrelguy]

service

Most of you are probably familiar with the phrase, "the bull serviced the cow".
Now you know what the utility company means when they say they have been, "...happilly servicing our customers for 25 years..."