There is a reason that cable is kicking DSL's butt, and that reason is the local telco's. I am moving, but only about a mile or so. I called up the cable company to switch cable and cable modem service. Took about 5 minutes, no problems.
On to Verizon to transfer telephones, which took about 30 minutes of hold time and detailed questions for some reason, then shudder, to another rep to transfer DSL. I get disconnected. Original rep calls back, pretty amazing but fun is just beginning. Finally get DSL rep who obviously knows nothing. She says it will take 5 days AFTER phones are installed in new house to install DSL. Why? I want it up and running first day, after all this is a transfer not a new connection and there are already phone lines to the house. No matter, it will take 5 days, for some unknown reason, take it or leave it, believe me they could care less. . OK, I say, I'll give you details. Oh, you'll have to call another number for that she informs me. Well why the @!xy&%## did I just waste 30 minutes arguing with you if you can't even schedule the installation? No answer. I call the installation number to see if maybe the original DSL rep actually knew what she was talking about. I mean, it didn't make sense. I was one of the original DSL customers, got it the first week it was available, they hooked it right up, there was none of this wait a week business. WELL, it turns out rep #1 was wrong. It doesn't take 5 days, it takes 7 business days, but that is for them to get around to testing the circuit, and if but only if it tests out, then it takes another 7 or 8 days to get it installed, even though they send a self-install kit. By this point I am sputtering incoherently. Why does it take ANOTHER 7 or 8 days? They have to do some central office wiring and the business office has to do the paperwork. HELLO, this is 2002. It could all be done the day they install the phone line and we all know it. I like having a redundant line but the cable is more reliable anyway, so maybe I just put a router on the cable line and to hell with dsl.
On to Verizon to transfer telephones, which took about 30 minutes of hold time and detailed questions for some reason, then shudder, to another rep to transfer DSL. I get disconnected. Original rep calls back, pretty amazing but fun is just beginning. Finally get DSL rep who obviously knows nothing. She says it will take 5 days AFTER phones are installed in new house to install DSL. Why? I want it up and running first day, after all this is a transfer not a new connection and there are already phone lines to the house. No matter, it will take 5 days, for some unknown reason, take it or leave it, believe me they could care less. . OK, I say, I'll give you details. Oh, you'll have to call another number for that she informs me. Well why the @!xy&%## did I just waste 30 minutes arguing with you if you can't even schedule the installation? No answer. I call the installation number to see if maybe the original DSL rep actually knew what she was talking about. I mean, it didn't make sense. I was one of the original DSL customers, got it the first week it was available, they hooked it right up, there was none of this wait a week business. WELL, it turns out rep #1 was wrong. It doesn't take 5 days, it takes 7 business days, but that is for them to get around to testing the circuit, and if but only if it tests out, then it takes another 7 or 8 days to get it installed, even though they send a self-install kit. By this point I am sputtering incoherently. Why does it take ANOTHER 7 or 8 days? They have to do some central office wiring and the business office has to do the paperwork. HELLO, this is 2002. It could all be done the day they install the phone line and we all know it. I like having a redundant line but the cable is more reliable anyway, so maybe I just put a router on the cable line and to hell with dsl.
