[cybermuda]

I used to run my own company and I always tried very hard to keep my customers happy. It is very hard to win new customers but very easy to lose them, especially when there is a lot of competition.

Why, then, do the internet and TV companies make life such a pain?

My monthly bill for basic internet from CenturyLink was $17 a year ago, went up to $25 and has just doubled to $54.

I e-mailed them asking to check it and they came back and said that $17 had been a mistake, $25 was an introductory offer and $54 was now correct.

I "chatted" on-line with them to see if they could offer me a cheaper plan. They could not.

So I called them, asking where I should return their modem as I was switching to Comcast. I got transferred and magically the person found a $27 plan for me, although after twelve months it will double and I will have to call again to renegotiate it downwards.

Nothing like rewarding customer loyalty, eh?

I expect that most people just pay up - maybe don't even notice that their bill has doubled - and CenturyLink makes more money.

I had the same experience with DirecTV last year. It took me forty minutes on the phone, threatening to tear up my two-year contract with them as they hadn't installed as promised, before they agreed to come round and fix it.

Surely with the huge purchasing leverage we have at The Villages we can strike a good, fair, consistent deal with an internet provider and a TV company, and switch en masse if they try to mess us about?

[mulligan]

except for the fact that comcast owns the cable in the ground

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by cybermuda

I used to run my own company and I always tried very hard to keep my customers happy. It is very hard to win new customers but very easy to lose them, especially when there is a lot of competition.

Why, then, do the internet and TV companies make life such a pain?

My monthly bill for basic internet from CenturyLink was $17 a year ago, went up to $25 and has just doubled to $54.

I e-mailed them asking to check it and they came back and said that $17 had been a mistake, $25 was an introductory offer and $54 was now correct.

I "chatted" on-line with them to see if they could offer me a cheaper plan. They could not.

So I called them, asking where I should return their modem as I was switching to Comcast. I got transferred and magically the person found a $27 plan for me, although after twelve months it will double and I will have to call again to renegotiate it downwards.

Nothing like rewarding customer loyalty, eh?

I expect that most people just pay up - maybe don't even notice that their bill has doubled - and CenturyLink makes more money.

I had the same experience with DirecTV last year. It took me forty minutes on the phone, threatening to tear up my two-year contract with them as they hadn't installed as promised, before they agreed to come round and fix it.

Surely with the huge purchasing leverage we have at The Villages we can strike a good, fair, consistent deal with an internet provider and a TV company, and switch en masse if they try to mess us about?

What speed did they give you for $54.00? Was it increased? Just wondering.

[cybermuda]

Originally Posted by Posh 08

What speed did they give you for $54.00? Was it increased? Just wondering.

I have had the slowest speed (783k) throughout

[rhredd1654]

Originally Posted by cybermuda

I have had the slowest speed (783k) throughout

If you go thru The Villages, Comcast (1.5mb) is only $35.95, assuming you provide your own modem (about 50 bucks).

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by cybermuda

I have had the slowest speed (783k) throughout

Wow, I have CL here in VA for $54 at 3.0

[cybermuda]

Thanks, Dick

Any more nonsense from CenturyLink and I shall certainly switch to Comcast

They currently have a $14.99 introductory price for 12 months, but adding in the installation fee and modem and sticking with the newly-negotiated CenturyLink price is best for me for now

[Posh 08]

P.S. Always buy your own modem. Do the math, they rent it to you for how much a month?

I have had CL for several years and pay $29.95 for 3m/640K + $4.95 for the modem. This being my 1st computer, I didn't know you could buy your own modem. Would I get this at RadioShack?

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by KittyKat

I have had CL for several years and pay $29.95 for 3m/640K + $4.95 for the modem. This being my 1st computer, I didn't know you could buy your own modem. Would I get this at RadioShack?

The service provider will sell it to you if you request. They would rather rent but once you ask, they will sell.

[captain1202]

Having put up with Comcast's crappy service and huge speed slowdowns at inopportune times, I recently decided to try Century Link. I was told I would be hooked up in 7 days. After 2 months they finally got it working at the slowest data rate (advertised up to 12mbps). No good for streaming video, VOIP phones, etc... Barely a dial-up connection. After a call to tech service I was told that the "basic" connection was all that was available in my area. So, I returned it after ten days. If you're thinking Century Link, check with there tech department about the service available to your SPECIFIC address.

Never disconnected Comcast so I'm still putting up with them. Where's Verizon FIOS?

Maybe you'll have a better experience.