Ok, I got tired of the rates the phone monopoly is charging for DSL, so I cancelled when they would not reduce my rates to the current promo.
I have AOL, and they no longer have a “value” product line in the $10 range, so the bill was for DSL and AOL access.
Any suggestions on where to get the best service at the best price?
So far, copper.net looks like a good product to me. Anyone else use them? I notice they don’t outsource like some of the other providers do.
The other alternative is to wait for my cancellation to take effect and try to get in on the DSL promo deal.
Oh, I don’t have or want cable TV, so that route is out of the question.
Edited 4/1/2006 1:47 pm ET by danski0224
Replies
I know this is not what you were wanting to hear but I wonder how you would feel if one of your clients called and told you to drop your price of forget the work you quoted? I use cable DSL. Expensive but reliable. My priority it reliable. Yours I assume is price. DanT
Not quite the same argument.
The company has an ongoing $12.95 promo, and I simply asked them to give an existing customer the same deal.
Why should I continue to pay more than double the promo rate for the exact same service? Sure seems stupid to me. So, instead of continuing to pay the higher bill, I cancelled the service.
I can either sign back up on the "promo" rate after the cancellation takes effect, or shop elsewhere.
I suspect their reasons have to do with getting rid of the old "ameritech.net" on my DSL service address and their desire for me to have "att.net" on the end instead.
I have received requests to "drop the price" on some jobs. I believe I charge a fair price for the services offered, I see no reason to lower the quoted amount. I always ask what the customer wants to give up to meet their price target if they balk. There is always someone out there that will do it for less. I don't play that game.
I could be wrong, but usually the "promo" rate is only for 3-6 months, and then the new subscriber pays the higher rate. If that's the case, why would they allow you to get the lower rate? You probably had it when you first signed up too.
If it's a fixed $12.95/month, then cancel and re-subscribe.
Bob
Hey man don't feel bad, I thought bigger better cheaper was a consumers mantra. I know it's mine.
Let's us get more goodies.
Can't help you on which way to head. I'm kinda spoiled cause of partner with a web site and it includes her Internet SP. DSL and I'm just tagging on wireless with no $ pain.
"Oh, I don't have or want cable TV, so that route is out of the question."
Depending on the provider in your area, you can probably get cable internet without cable TV. That's what we have.
We had DSL and it wasn't bad, but cable is definitely better (IMHO) for speed, and our customer service is better.
Cable is the most expensive option in our area, but I do webdesign, so it's worth it to me to pay a bit more for the additional speed and reliability...
PeoplePC gets good reviews.
What where you paying for AOL?
AOL used to have a BYOA package and I think that it was in the $7-10 range.
But I read recently that they are going with hispeed only (unless you don't have access to broadband) and are charging according. IIRC the news article was for $26-30. That included BOTH AOL and the DSL or cable acess with with AOL as the ISP and not SBC or Cable company.
So that total cost.
There are other DSL ISP that you can get that work over SBC lines.
Here is one. But you need to read the fine print.
https://secure.dslextreme.com/Medusa/Prequal/
The also offer $9.95 dailup.
Now last Nov my year was up and at that time they there where no re-rates and unless I wanted a telelphone "package" the best that they would do was to keep the current rates ($26.99 Express), if I signed up for another 6 months (it was only 6 months at the time).
Then I saw this and was able to upgrade to PRO at $17.99
https://swot.sbc.com/swot/DSLRenewalQual.do?DCMP=att_upgrade
And according this this there are no more rerates and that there won't be any extensions at the promo rates after the year.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,15789024
Also commented that there have been people that canceled and then can't get a line again because of lack of access cards. But that is not too common.
Also in the SBC forum there was a comment about new pricing starting monday.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,15792778
BTW, they aren't trying to convert everyone over to att.net
At the present time they support
ameritech.net
flash.net
nvbell.net
pacball.net
prodigy.net
sbcglobal.net
snet.net
swbell.net
wans.net
Don't know how many more that they will get when merged with Bell South.
No way in the world can they roll all of those into one without series name problems.
And att.net and attgobal.net is either managed as a SBC isp yet.
I do not know where you live, but Verizon DSL has been advertising a lower speed less expensive DSL service that is still 11 times faster than dialup, but not as fast as their premium DSL.
Dialup modem is 56K max (really 52K). The low tier Verizon DSL is 768K, costs $14.95 month. Premium is 1.5MBPS (kinda like saying 1,500K) or 3.0MBPS (3,000K) if you live close enough to some central node in their network. Premium DSL is $29.95 month. Sometimes they offer an intro rate of $19.95 month for first 3 months.
Part of some people's high cost is that they still want to use AOL as a front end to the internet. You really do not *need* AOL. AOL puts a very easy simple interface to the internet. Most of what AOL offers can be had with any browser and any email program. Or just use the browser interface for you email.
Give up AOL and your options can be much cheaper.
You could always just go wireless and leech off of whatever network router hotspots there are out there.
View Image
Move to Oakland County, Michigan (northern metro Detroit). Currently implementing the first county-wide free wireless Internet access. Yes, free.
DG/Builder
Get wireless and depending where you are, you can probably pick up a signal. Can't get much cheaper.
Correct, I live in Genesee county, just north of Oakland county, we are using Oakland as a model plan for free wireless. The free service with be a bit faster that dial-up but you will be able to puchase a faster plan from the provider. All the muncipality is to provide is locations for the attenna and a 18/24 volt power source. The org. that is spearheading this is contracting with a service provider or providers. This will not eliminate the present service providers or the new service could be one of the service providers in the area. This could be very interesting to see the outcome.
Be real careful with your plan to cancel and then sign up at the promo rate... this may not apply, and I'm speaking off the top of my noggin... when I threatened to do that for my satellite service with Dish Network the customer dis-service person pointed out the fine print: promos only available to new customers and ex-customers who had not had service for 12 months.
I was wondering if they brought their lawyer with them when I signed.
See that little squiggle next to my signature. If you read it real carefully it says that I can't read anything without my glasses, and noting I sign is binding without my handicapped assistance tool.
Oh and see the smudge at the end of the squiggle, if you look real close you'll see it says that Clzwld is a different person then Clzwld2 for purposes of this contract.
All I can say is FIOS. Verizon just started its fiber optics line laying in our area. They bring it into your home for free ( the physical line and process equipment ). FIOS speed is nothing you ever experienced before. FIOS is decades away from being fully utilized so if Verizon offers it in your area, accept the free upgrade ( You can also rent movies streaming over your phone line with it.
If you don't care about "high-speed," the cheapest dial-up option I have found is INTERGATE. $10 a month and you get a few e-mail addresses and some other goodies. It's pretty bare-bones. No spam filters, etc.
Go to http://www.intergate.com.
TF