Good Morning MA residents, I need advice please.

[yy4me]

We have Internet and Cable service provided by Comcast and are finding the service too expensive. By the same token, we know nothing about other options because everyone we know seems to use the same provider. Do any of you use Verizon DSL? I understand you have to have another "box" installed with the service. What is the speed like? Anyone use any of the enhanced dial-up services for Internet? Any good? How slow are they? We now pay $83.00 to Comcast and this is with the whopping $3.00 senior discount. I can't seem to find an alternative to our current situation. Comcast has a monopoly here on the North Shore. With just Social Security, its hard to stretch the dollars far enough. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[hyphenate]

1. Just go over to www.verizon.net

and they will tell you all you need to know. There is a special right now for new customers for $15 for DSL--yes, you heard that right. It's the lowest speed, and if you've been using cable, it won't be that fast, but it is definitely still worth investigating.

As far as a "box" the only box is provided by Verizon, and that's the modem. Once your telephone has been converted to DSL, you will need to put filters on all phone lines other than the DSL line, but all is provided, and it's a matter of pulling the cord from the jack, putting on the connecting filter, and plugging it right back in.

They give you completely directions, and it is not a braindrainer at all.

Of course, you need to check with Verizon anyhow to see if you can get the DSL--people in more rural communities are limited to access because you need to be within a certain distance from a Verizon station.

[jackster]

2. I have Verizon DSL

and I'm in Andover. I'm pretty happy with the service, actually happier than those I know with Comcast. Since Comcast IS cable, it can be slower if there are lots of other broadband customers near you I hear. Anyway, I don't know if the costs are going to be any different. I pay $30 a month for my verizon DSL and I think that is a discount because I package that with unlimited long-distance, with is $70 a month.

I've had pretty good luck with customer service any time I have a problem. I've learned that within the first couple of minutes, if you get the sense that the person you are dealing with doesn't know what they're doing or if you have trouble communicating (since some of the service is outsourced overseas), just call back.

The box is a modem they provide and the instructions on installation are easy. The speed is great, but I have a brand new PC and a powerful work laptop.

I have Comcast for my cable too and have no other choice for cable.

I hope this helps.

[unhappycamper]

4. Slightly off target - "I have Comcast for my cable too. . ."

Ever think of DirectTV? I've had it for a few years and am pleased with the service.

(Didn't mean to hijack this thread.)

[jackster]

5. would LOVE to, but no can do in

my condo complex! Thanks anyway

[welshTerrier2]

3. Verizon info

i've had Verizon DSL for about 2 years and i think they've been excellent ... they upgraded their service (higher speeds) twice with no increase in price ...

one thing you need to know is that you have to have your local phone service with Verizon to get their DSL service ...

i subscribe to their $29.95 a month service that gets me a 3000 kbps line ... they have a new deal for only $14.95 a month that gets you a 750 kbps line ... if you're trying to save money, that might be worth a try if that service is available where you live ... for bigger bucks and more speed, many areas now have their fiber optic service (FIOS) ... i think that costs something like $39.95 a month for about 5000 kbps ... if your area doesn't have that yet, they soon will ...

i can't see why anyone would choose a dial-up service instead of going with the $14.95 DSL service if it's available ...

one other thing that might be worth investigating is switching from Comcast cable to Direct TV ... Verizon offers some kind of package deal if you also sign-up for Direct TV through them ...

and one last thing - Verizon offers a discount if you buy several services from them or agree to have different services billed on a single invoice ... i think the discount is $5. a month ...

DSL plugs right into a phone jack ... the setup is very easy ... you can use your phone and your internet connection simultaneously ...

if you have multiple computers or wanted to go wireless, there are additional things you should be asking about but i won't go into them here ...

[Breeze54]

6. Screw Verizon!! I live in MA too.

I tried Verizon DSL on a 30 day trial last year or the year before.
Except I never installed the equipment nor did I log
into their website to my account.
I NEVER ACTIVATED MY ACCOUNT!
They hit me for a $90.00 disconnect fee anyways when I called
to tell them I wasn't going to take the service.
That I had changed my mind.
I had opened the box they sent with the modem etc...
But that's all. I just looked at it and it sat there.
I never took anything out of the box!

I was having $$ issue's and they combined my phone bill
with the DSL bill and with the $90 disconnect fee they added on,
I didn't have enough to pay the phone bill and the fee.
I paid the phone bill
but they disconnected my phone service as a NON-PAY
due to the added fee!!

I argued with them for quite awhile about it!!

I wanted separate bills.

They kept saying that wasn't possible.
WTF? Total BS imho!

They give you NO CHOICE!!

I sent my concerns to the a group who was investigating
these complaints.

I finally got it taken care of and I finally got my phone re-connected.

Seems when I didn't want the service they had "credited" my account
which "caused" the additional $90.00 fee??

I still don't quite understand what the F**K they did but
maybe you can tell I'm STILL pissed off about it!!

Now they are saying the price is $14.95 a month.
It's very tempting BUT I'm still concerned
about their billing practices!

Make sure if you use them that you get SEPARATE BILLS!!

That would be my advice!!

What a friggin' headache that was for me!!

Good Luck!!

PS. They also said they would send me a return shipping label
but I never got it!
I paid to send the equipment back.
Two weeks later, my label arrived.
Grrrrr!

[Breeze54]

7. PS. Rupert Murdoch OWNS Direct TV...BOYCOTT!

No way in HELL will I send my $$ to Murdoch!

No soup for him!
Next!!

:mad:

I built my computer about five years ago.
I have dial-up.
It's fast enough for me!
I guess high speed would be cool, but I am not running
a business off my computer.

I don't have problems with downloading.
It just takes a little longer.
Patience is a virtue!!
LOL!

And my service is pretty good!
I've been a customer for five years and no complaints!
Earthlink.
They have DSL too!
I'm not sure how much though.

Shop around !
If your home is DSL ready then you don't just have to go with
verizon.

There ARE other companies out there that can provide service to you!!

[Rockholm]

8. Where on the North Shore are you?

I have Adelphia. It's OK. I used to have Comcast where I lived prior to moving to the North Shore.

[yy4me]

9. m'head, you must be further north than we are.

No competition here for the fine folks at Comcast. No programming options on basic, must buy expanded service. Basic has about 20 channels, 3 are spanish, a couple are shopping, cartoon, 1 PBS but no real choices. We tried basic and were not happy. Felt we were left out of the loop. No CNN, MSNBC, weather or things like that.

[Breeze54]

10. There is competition if

you participate in your local cable board!!

CREATE COMPETITION!!

DEMAND IT!!

Your original post was about DSL.

Are you looking for better TV or DSL?

Just wondering.

I have 'rabbit ears' myself!

lol

I really do!