California doesn't have Qwest...

[huskerlaw]

and I'm stuck in a 2-year contract with Verizon, but I'd be willing to break it if I could switch to a decent company.

So...is Qwest the only company that told the NSA to fuck off? Or are there any other decent phone companies?

[Robbie Michaels]

1. Cox Communications

I found a post on AMERICAblog on Saturday. If they're your cable provider, check out their digital home telephone service.

[huskerlaw]

2. Sadly, they're not...

I have, of all things, Adelphia for cable. UUUUGH.

Gotta love it when your cable and phone companies belong in the same sentence as Enron during corporate ethics discussions. x(

[LeftyMom]

3. Comcast did too, so if you can get cable internet through them and do VOIP

with Vonage or Skype or something that would work. Apparently Working Assets did too, but since they go through Sprint who didn't I don't know that that's entirely reassuring.

[huskerlaw]

4. I wish I could!

This is soooo frustrating. The only cable company in my neighborhood is Adelphia (soon to be Time Warner).

:grr:

[951-Riverside]

5. I don't know about Comcast but to answer your question it is Qwest

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/15/technology/15link.html?ex=1305345600&en=bc97d6acbf0429f7&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[huskerlaw]

6. I know about Qwest...

that wasn't my question. My problem is that Qwest isn't available in California, so I was asking for other options.

Thanks though! :hi:

[NV Whino]

7. Working for change

I have the long distance. They also have wireless. (Sprint based).

http://www.workingassets.com/

On edit: added link.

[huskerlaw]

8. Thanks...

I need to do some research on their connection to Sprint though. I like the theory, but if Sprint's selling out, it doesn't help that much.

[NV Whino]

10. According to the President of Working for Change

Sprint has refused. Check out his letter.

[huskerlaw]

12. Thanks,

will do. :hi:

[no name no slogan]

9. Count yourself lucky, then. QWEST SUCKS.

Qwest is THE WORST company to deal with. Their service sucks, and it's damn near impossible to get ANYTHING fixed with them. The Feds made them set up a "settlement" fund a few years back to compensate their customers for their abyssmal service.

Why is this? Because the former management put the company together through a hostile takeover of USWest-- who also had bad service. The takeover eliminated many good-paying jobs, and forced employees to work mandatory overtime to make up the slack. The employees are demoralized, the retirees have seen their benefits slashed, and its former corporate officers have been found guilty by the SEC of cooking the books.

The less you have to deal with Qwest, the better. DON'T choose them simply because of the NSA thing. They're as bad as all the other companies, if not worse.

[huskerlaw]

11. Well hmm...

bad service or my phone company selling/giving full access to my phone calls? Let me think...

...and it's not like Verizon's service is stellar. Not even close.

I'd gladly give up a bit of customer service if I gained the freedom to rant about my government on my own private phone line without worrying about Agent Mike recording it.

Unfortunately, I don't have that option.

[no name no slogan]

13. No, not "just" bad-- HORRENDOUS

As in, I've had a friend whose been in a billing dispute for them for YEARS (over a very simple issue) and they STILL cannot resolve it. It's a simple entry on a computer system, and they CANNOT handle it.

As in, I wanted to switch off one of my phone lines to my house, and it took A YEAR to do it. A year for which I was STILL BILLED for service I had CANCELLED.

As in, they promise a service tech to show up on a certain day and time. When the tech does not arrive, you call and ask them about it. Not only do they not have the appointment scheduled, but they have NO RECORD of your previous phone call to order the tech.

QWEST also had horrific labor practices. They treat their employees like shit and have repeatedly denied benefits to retirees-- benefits they EARNED and were promised.

Qwest is not "just" bad. Their suckitude is almost indescribable.