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Phone Service

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:10 am
by Harold R
I know several posters on here either worked or are working for the phone company. (Bell South). My phone has been out of service for over a month. We have called and talked to a computer to schedule a repair several times......no good. I have e-mailed requesting a repair, gotten a favorable response...but no follow through. We have come to the point where we are asking ourselves, do we really need this copper wire service? We have cell phones and broadband ISP. I'm frustrated about the poor service, but then wondering should I just cancel it. VoIP is right around the corner, should I go for it? Or just keep calling, e-mailing and hoping, someday to talk to a living person at the phone company and get my cooper line phone restored? Anyone have similar experiences, maybe using the new VoIP? Perhaps a "special" telephone number to call Bell South?

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:36 am
by Bigdog
Contact your state public utilities commission and tell them what is going on. You must be a patient man because I would have blown my stack by now. There is no excuse for such poor service. I'll bet they didn't forget to send the bill!

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 11:13 am
by John *.?-!.* cub owner
Try calling again, but when you start getting the menus hit a 0. Many systems are set up so that will take you to a person. when you get them be polite, but let them know you are very unhappy. Also remind them you have paid for a service you are not receiving and expect credit for it. If you can't accomplish anything that way, do as BD said and contact your state public service commision. also many phone companies publish a number for a customer advocate for problems you are having trouble getting resolved. It is usually in the front of the phone book, or in the contact us section. Unfortunately phone companies, power companies, etc. are letting computers do more and more dispatching with no human monitoring, and if there is a glitch regarding your number it can drop out.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 11:28 am
by Carm
I think by now I would have had to cancel service all together. I hardly use my house phone anymore. I have pretty good cell coverage, and with how much the cost of landline service is, my cell phone bill probably not increase that much. I had my phine shut off once due to a billing dispute that was their problem Almost cut it off then, but the wife nixed the idea, and I am usually more patient than her!

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 1:13 pm
by beaconlight
In NY I tell people to ask for the office of the president. Ask information for the number or if you use Bell south for your Long distance just dial . It works here. If that doesn't work then your public utilities commission.

Bill

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 1:40 pm
by rleggitt
Hi HR,

I tried to sent you a persoal message, don't know if it went though.

The others have all given you suggestions. I too would recomment that
you call one more time and do as John said, immediately dial "O" when
you get the menu. And demand to talk with a supervisor and let that
person know that you are going to report the situation to the PSC.

I also mentioned in my PM that I would be happy to intervene if you
trust me with your tel no. my e-mail is rrleggitt@dixie-net.com. I still
know a few people in high enough places that could help.

I am sorry that it has gone on this long and that you have gotten the
run-around such as you have.

Russ L.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:09 pm
by Harold R
Thanks for the advice. I'm patient because we're really not missing anything. Those that need to contact us know our cell numbers, so there's been no break in communication. Russ, I'll e-mail you. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks all,

I'll let you know how it turns out. Nobody using the voice over internet yet?

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 9:31 pm
by Jim Becker
hr's49cub wrote:Nobody using the voice over internet yet?


I have no experience with it either. I understand that 911 service generally doesn't work with it. The failure mode is that it usually rings somebody's desk in an admin area of some police department.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:33 pm
by Jim Hudson
Don't know what you are talking about but I talk to Poland with this
http://www.skype.com/ Both ends need broadband.

Call ordinary phones from
Skype with SkypeOut.
Top up on SkypeOut credit and use the Skype programme to call ordinary phones all over the world. Not free, but pretty cheap.

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 11:11 pm
by beaconlight
That righ Jim I forgot. You were the one with all those european tractor pictures weren't you?

Bill

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 11:59 pm
by Harold R
Strange! I got this e-mail just this afternoon.
http://www.jamdigitalphone.com/

I understand that 911 service generally doesn't work with it. The failure mode is that it usually rings somebody's desk in an admin area of some police department.


Yeah, that could present a problem. I suppose you could have the individual authority on speed dial, but then I would think this is such a big issue, it would get ironed out.

Skype, I believe, is PC to PC. It works great on pre-arranged calls, but If I want to order pizza, probably wouldn't be useful. :cry:

I think this is coming, whether we want it or not. Data will pour into our homes like water from a fire hose. We'll be watching TV, and be notified via the screen of an incoming call with ID. We will pick up the remote, and on the backside, talk into it as it is also the cordless phone. Of course incoming video phone will be available for a few $$$$$$$'s more, as a "picture in picture" on the TV screen! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 8:45 am
by Bigdog
Sooner than you think HR. Our satellite TV receiver has caller I.D. built in. When the phone rings, the name and number appear on the TV screen.

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:44 am
by Harold R
I'm buying a lottery ticket today!! :shock: :shock:

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 10:03 am
by John *.?-!.* cub owner
It's going to take some serious technology improvements to make the voice/ip work on my 30k dialup.

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:17 am
by Harold R
some serious technology improvements


A coax cable. 8) ISP won't provide it, and I don't think I want to provide 5 miles of coax. Figure the loss would be kind of high.