Verizon FIOS? Anyone have it yet? (price, military, moving)

[Trevor92]

Originally Posted by Erma

Never ever had a problem with customer service. Verizon does not require a 2 year contract, otherwise I would still be under one.

I would bet that you signed a contract even if you did not know about it. They required a 2 yr contract when I signed up for it last May, I did check the website for the small print and it looks like they're now requiring one year contracts, so things have changed for the better, here's what it says under plan pricing:
1 yr. term with $179 early term charge. $34.99 activation charge. Set top box and other charges and terms apply. Rate may increase after term.
Link: Verizon | FiOS TV Packages and Plans

But to prove I didn't dream the 2 yr contracts, here's another site where somebody is talking about their plan who got it last July, with a 2 year contract: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=5582

As for FiOS customer service, the biggest problem is getting to the right department, and the huge wait times with each transfer, when a problem does arise. I ran into problems when the first bill came, and I was billed $139 for the modem/router which was suppose to be free, and the phone/internet/tv price was $140 rather than $99 because it was not entered into the system as the bundled price. But the big problem was that it seemed like forever on hold and being transferred from dept to dept to get it straightened out. Multiple calls with huge wait times was the result. But after that experience, I would pay more to avoid Verizon's Customer Service in the future if anything else ever happened. I can't spend half a day at work to fix a billing issue. And any google search will reveal numerous others who have had large problems dealing with Verizon's customer service as well. I know somebody mentioned before about Cox's support not being that good, and I would have agreed with that before needing support from Verizon.

Originally Posted by Erma

Here's a response to the Fios vs. Cox

[SIZE=3]James[/SIZE]
Oct 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I sell fios door to door and I rarely meet cox customers who are paying less. when they are it is because they have basic cable and no long distance. Dont sign a contract with cox. they are only doing that to make it harder for you to switch to fios. Their cancellation fee isn’t enough to stop people from switching anyway.
20mbpsdown 5mbpsup
up to 100HD channels
unlim long distance
$110 a month
free dvr 1 year

The door to door FiOS salesman that came to my house also sounded very surprised when he asked about my Cox bill and I said I pay under $70/month for standard cable (the 70 channel option) and economy internet. I don't have a landline, just a cell phone. But the bundle prices are about even, as well as for comparable services, as I said before, but it's nice being able to scale back your features on Cox and paying less down the road if that's what you want to do with slower internet, fewer tv channels, etc., which Verizon cannot do.

Another money saving feature with Cox is that if you want digital cable, you only have to get a digital receiver for the tv's that you want digital cable on at $5.50 per standard or HD receiver. If you don't want it on tv's in the bedroom, you can still directly connect the cable line into the tv for the 70 standard channels and not pay for another digital receiver. With FiOS, you must rent a digital receiver for every tv in your house to decode the FiOS signal at $5.99 for a standard receiver and $9.99 for a HD receiver which adds up with several tv sets. Another small thing is that if you wanted just fios tv service, they will still have to connect a modem/router because the data for the on screen guide and on demand is controlled through it.

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by Erma

I actually have my kitchen phone hooked into the wall, unlike the rest of the house phones that are cordless. I actually have a dial tone during power outages!

I have two non-cordless phones in my house. It's really recommended for everyone to have at least one, for power outages.

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by Trevor92

Another money saving feature with Cox is that if you want digital cable, you only have to get a digital receiver for the tv's that you want digital cable on at $5.50 per standard or HD receiver. If you don't want it on tv's in the bedroom, you can still directly connect the cable line into the tv for the 70 standard channels and not pay for another digital receiver. With FiOS, you must rent a digital receiver for every tv in your house to decode the FiOS signal at $5.99 for a standard receiver and $9.99 for a HD receiver which adds up with several tv sets.

Shoot. I get digital stations over the air and it doesn't cost me a cent.

[Erma]

Originally Posted by Trevor92

I would bet that you signed a contract even if you did not know about it. They required a 2 yr contract when I signed up for it last May, I did check the website for the small print and it looks like they're now requiring one year contracts, so things have changed for the better, here's what it says under plan pricing:
1 yr. term with $179 early term charge. $34.99 activation charge. Set top box and other charges and terms apply. Rate may increase after term.
Link: Verizon | FiOS TV Packages and Plans

But to prove I didn't dream the 2 yr contracts, here's another site where somebody is talking about their plan who got it last July, with a 2 year contract: My Verizon FiOS experience is about to begin | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

Another money saving feature with Cox is that if you want digital cable, you only have to get a digital receiver for the tv's that you want digital cable on at $5.50 per standard or HD receiver. If you don't want it on tv's in the bedroom, you can still directly connect the cable line into the tv for the 70 standard channels and not pay for another digital receiver. With FiOS, you must rent a digital receiver for every tv in your house to decode the FiOS signal at $5.99 for a standard receiver and $9.99 for a HD receiver which adds up with several tv sets. Another small thing is that if you wanted just fios tv service, they will still have to connect a modem/router because the data for the on screen guide and on demand is controlled through it.

I have two digital receivers with FIOS and pay the same price. So it seems to me, other than the beef with customer service, we have the same thing, only I have the whole kit and kaboodle with no contract for 99 a month.

[Trevor92]

Originally Posted by Erma

I have two digital receivers with FIOS and pay the same price. So it seems to me, other than the beef with customer service, we have the same thing, only I have the whole kit and kaboodle with no contract for 99 a month.

If they're not charging you extra for the receivers and didn't apply the contract, then it sounds like you got a great deal for all three services. I would probably be a huge fan of FiOS too if they offered me all that great stuff for the price because I would've never needed customer service!

[Dogsarecool]

Originally Posted by Trevor92

If they're not charging you extra for the receivers and didn't apply the contract, then it sounds like you got a great deal for all three services. I would probably be a huge fan of FiOS too if they offered me all that great stuff for the price because I would've never needed customer service!

I was paying 52 a month for basic cable with Cox, if for 47 dollars more I can have unlimited long distance, digital cable with 200 channels and high speed internet, that's a deal!

[Erma]

I am charged 5.49 a box, but like I said, it's not anymore than what Cox is charging you. I'm happy with the service, I like the "on demand" movies/programs and the free programs I can watch on lifetime and other channels where I've missed episodes of my favorite shows. I especially like the lifetime movies that on demand has when there is boring baseball or golf occupying the afternoon, but the Food Network Channel and the Iron Chef marathons are my favorites! During the Christmas Holidays, they had Cat Cora/Paula Dean as one team and that italian chick/Fay as the other team. What a hoot! But the outcome was totally awesome and Cat/Paula won the challenge.

[StayTuned]

I just checked and according to verizon FIOS is not available at the address we will be relocating to... Are there any other options besides... Verizon and Cox?? Because if there isnt that I will have to go with Cox.. I just like to have at least 2 to chose from.. get the best price yada yada... compare services and value.. things like that....

[Trevor92]

Originally Posted by StayTuned

I just checked and according to verizon FIOS is not available at the address we will be relocating to... Are there any other options besides... Verizon and Cox?? Because if there isnt that I will have to go with Cox.. I just like to have at least 2 to chose from.. get the best price yada yada... compare services and value.. things like that....

DirecTV, Dish Network, and maybe Cavalier telephone, but I'm not sure if Cavalier is offering tv service anymore to new customers. It seems like I remember somebody telling me they tried to get tv service from Cavalier but were told they weren't accepting anymore new customers until they upgraded their system further, so they may just offer DSL and phone right now.

[StayTuned]

Thanks Trevor... Never again will I do business with DirecTV so I guess Cox it is... Thanks again... Now I know who to call to get things moving.....Perfect!!