You might think that if only Verizon's
FiOS service was available in your area, then life would be nearly perfect. And although FiOS offers some of the fastest internet in the US as well as some of the highest quality HD and a fantastic selection, it isn't all rosy over there. In fact the service has been riddled with billing issues since its launch in 2005 and in order to take advantage of some of the great promotional offers, you're forced to sign a two year contract. Up until January 16th 2010, that ETF has been $179, and according to DSL Reports on the 17th, that fee is set to go up to $360. That's not it though, as
Verizon is expected to raise the price of services another $10 or $20 a month. You can of course avoid this by not signing a contract and going month to month, but of course this'll only work out saving you money if you end up canceling, and really if you had fiber to your home do you really think you'd cancel? Us either. Regardless, if you were thinking of switching to FiOS or taking advantage of a new promotion, we wouldn't waste any time getting it before the terms change next week. And as always be sure to read the fine print before signing anything.
posted January 12th 2010 2:40AM
Even if the U-Verse service from AT&T is sometimes flaky, there's still no ETF and when I call them they still bust their asses to get the service back up to speed.
@(Unverified)
I've been lucky my uverse has worked perfect for 5 months. Now i just wish we could something comparable to FIOS speeds!!
It's still less than Direct's ETF.
@jon Incorrect. Also, DirecTV's ETF is pro-rated, so it goes down every month until it hits $0 after two years.
@Unverified User So does Verizon's, the pricing for January 17th onwards was leaked on DSLreports back at the end of november/ beginning of December. (a website was found with an FTP look that had tons of internal documents)
@(Unverified)
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/support/agreements_overview
Second one down.
I love being corrected by people who have no fucking clue what they're talking about.
@10nisman94 Verizons ETF is not Pro rated, I spoke to a CSR yesterday regarding this.
I moved on December 31st, and my service could not be disconnected until jan 6th as i would pay a 175 ETF. even though Im physically moving to a location where FIOS doesnt exist, and that theres 6 days left out of 365. i would be forced to pay the whole fee.
How ridiculous is that. Prorating that fee would be (175/365 =0.479/day 6days *.479 )= $2.88
bullshit verizon.
@jon
Where is says they'll charge you a pro-rated fee of up to $480?
Just asking is all!
@Gas
Well don't fricking ask! /jk
Yeah, Direct's ETF is $20 per month remaining in your contract. that's how you get the up to $480.
@sabih786 The new ETF is pro rated, it doesn't go into effect until the 17th, and only for new bundles. (sorry I wasn't clear)
You gotta be shittin me
@Supraman
Meh go with Comcast I got docsis 3.0 dedicated 60 down and 10 up. No contracts...
@PlatinumSkeet I'm still waiting for that to hit my area...
Really Verizon?
Many readers will probably cringe, but Verizon installed our entire sub-division in Florida with FIOS about 18 months ago, but as good as the service and speed is, I simply won't pay such a high price for it.
I would even hazard a guess that very few homes in our community have switched too, so they probably are getting an awful return on the investment for running it into our community.
The recession obviously doesn't help either, but I personally find temporary deals to entice people are an insult to people's intelligence and I refuse to get sucked into such things.
@drh
I agree 100%... I find it very insulting when something is promoted with a temporary price. I'll avoid any provider that uses such tactics, as well; if it's at all practical to do so.
@drh Verizon is known for doing that,they'll run whole divisions just to outdo their competitor,in VA it's either them or comcast and I refuse to use comcast....but then again,I'm not living in VA,I'm in DC where we 3 options lol but thats only like pick ur poison
@drh so then what's your other option? I've had fios now for about 2 years, they also wired up our entire neighborhood. I only use it for internet though and even pay extra for the 25/15 plan. It's not much more than comcast in the area, but 3x faster (min). Plus they have real tech support that doesn't take 2 weeks to show up. An etf is no big deal, though I don't have one because there's nothing else even comparable in the neartime future of my development.
@drh
Why do you see it as an insult to their intelligence? Promotions will ALWAYS work out better than off-contract unless you need to break your contract. For MOST people - they don't break their contract.
The stupid move, IMO, is paying more for a service than you have to.
@jonyah
Hi, well the only reason I can afford to say no to Verizon FIOS is because this is not my primary residence. As others have stated, you have to choose your poison as would I if I lived there 24x7 because I would want the high speed and would have no other choice than to pay it.
I guess my points were two-fold:
(a) I would be happier to give Verizon more money for FIOS even without it being my main residence, if their prices were more reasonable.
(b) I dislike companies pretending to give you a great package (like offering a low fee for 3 months) only to re-coup it via much higher pricing under a contractual commitment. Just give us a great package at a reasonable cost without the gimmicks and people who can afford it will pay anyway.
@bjsguess
Those type of marketing tactics are gimmicks to lure customers in. Low prices for 3 months when they can more than recoup those benefits through the contractual commitment that entails is just shadow marketing.
You will be surprised how many people just see the low price and repent later!
If a company offers a great package for a reasonable price, people will pay it anyway without the gimmicks.
I'm getting really sick of all these damn contracts and ETFs.
- Cell phones.
- Cable/Satellite.
- Residential alarm systems.
Screw them. I'm done with contracts. Good luck talking them out of the ETF if you can't afford it anymore due to job loss, relocation, etc...
@Mister Actually I had no problem with Comcast getting out of my bundle when I moved to another area due to job lost. (my current town has Charter). Actually, the law states that they have to let you out with no ETF if you move into an area that they don't serve.
@(Unverified) It's the same with cell companies. If you move to BFE where they don't have signal at your primary residence, they have to let you out with no ETF. My girlfriend actually used this to argue her way out of her Sprint contract because there was no Sprint signal in her building at work. AT&T and Verizon had come in and installed cell signal repeaters in her building, but not Sprint. Sure it took about 4 days and 12 phone calls, but it eventually worked.
Ahh! Time for another round of letters from the FCC to Verizon about ETFs.
@nak they're [VZ] is just screwing themselves over with the FCC.. it's going to be another nail in the coffin
ethnic people can get free cable ... just saying u just dig a lil .. u feel me bro?
@ainsi10 Yeah... not this kind of cable. If you can afford fiber splicing equipment, you can afford FiOS.
I hope the FCC takes care of the thieves at verizon
FCC will probably ram another complaint at Verizon. Now for goodness sakes, can't we have public fiber and open the sector up to competition from the local providers?
Crazy cell phone ETFs, bandwidth caps, crazy FIOS ETFs... It's like somebody flipped the dickhead switch at Verizon this week.
@sonicyoof No bandwith cap on FiOS
@10nisman94
No, on wireless data.
Verizon does what they're best at, and whips out the Spiked Dildo of Doom +7. Fuck them, before they fuck you. n|n
So this is what the Droid does eh?
You could just turn off the idiot box.
I love the fatest internet.
I really don't look forward to the day when I move back to the U.S., as I'm completely spoiled by European style (Scandinavian style?) internet service/prices.
I've had fiber in my home for over 2 years now. My monthly cost? About 55 USD. I really hope the utility companies in the U.S. get their act together.
@Abe Froman
I've had FIOS for over two years too. The cost? About $55 USD a month too, just like you. So I'm not sure what you're getting at.
@John Thacker
That's great, I didn't know it was so affordable now. Last time I was comparing (about 9 months ago) my friends who were looking into FIOS were shocked when I told them what I was paying for my 100/10. I'm glad to be wrong though. =)
This is more like the Verizon I'm familiar with. For a while, they were making noises that started sounding like they had clue, but, as we're seeing, thar noise was more likely PR blabber against AT&T. The real Verizon still believes more in bait and switch lock-ups, worthless services, and purposely confounding billing, than it does in providing service that you might VOLUNTARILY want to keep.
As much ad I hate Cablevision right now (no food network), their phone and cable and tv have been Rock solid, and after the prelim offer have only gone up a tiny bit Year over year....
@Jojos circus I love cablevision! I hate fios, it's just bullcrap. at least my optimum works perfectly, i am never throttled and the net is 45 bucks after 1 year with no etf or none of that... long live optimum online!!!
Are they changing for current customers? If so can you now void your contract without an ETF?
@malimal not quite. They screwed up my transfer after I move and had to take a new contract, increase to the monthly DVR fee, and was informed that their contracts are not the same as cellular and it was not a material change of contract since "our contracts protect you from rate increases until the contract expires." I got the fee credited but a new two year contract since I was still in a service area and had to continue my service. I got tired of fighting it... Lots of problems with them and their HD DVR boxes. Do your research before you consider. QIP-6416 and QIP-7216 HDMI connections.
Verizon says they are better then the cable companies but they are doing everything in their power to make sure they arent.
Cable companies have no contracts. No hidden fees . No picking and chosing wich neighborhoods to serve. No picking wich houses to serve. No etfs.
@majortom1981
The contract is an option. You can go month to month, and have no early termination fee.
It doesn't entirely surprise me that their early termination fee is high-- the contracts are actually a pretty amazing deal if you stay for one or two years. One of the nice features is that the promotional rate is fixed for those years. Even if they raise their normal cable rates, you don't have your cable bill go up for two years, which is much better than cable competitors *if* you know you're going to stick around.
What else is new about the monopolized unregulated market in the States. When I went back home to Chicago for a few years I about had a heartattack when I had to sign(keyword had to because of line monopoly)with Comcast for triple play line that cost over a $100 what the hell screw those pay only this until then promotions yea they do it here in Europe and in Germany where I am at, but lets be for real the price difference from the special to the actual is not that great. €10 the most in many cases.
Comcast was a 60 buck difference what the hell for a 6mb line at that. I have currently a 16mb line, with international call flatrate to over 38 countries this only cost me €29.99 including taxes my Television is a separate company for only €10 more so we can say about $45 total for everything and 50meg line which I will be getting in about 2 months will cost me extra €15. So why are my fellow America's costantly allowing themselves to be a@@fuQ%ed.
@TheOne
lrn2english
@TheOne
Back home? You seem like you've never lived in the USA with the way you write.