laurushka.org/blog

After seeing how much I was being charged for having a home phone that we hardly ever use, I decided to shop around for other options. We have a Verizon land line and Verizon DSL. I also have a Verizon cell phone, but even though everything is on one bill, I was told a few years ago by the Verizon DSL customer service that the cell phone didn’t help prove that I was a dedicated Verizon customer.

I inquired about other options on Facebook, and I looked at some websites (geez, Comcast– I could not easily find out how to get the simplest cheapest cable internet on your website). I finally called Verizon to see if I was obligated to remain on their DSL for any set period of time– I’ve had it since 2002, but to get lower prices, you have to sign up for x amount of years.   I shouldn’t admit this, but my bill records are a bit sloppy, and I wasn’t sure. However, when the customer service rep told me that I signed up for “Price for Life” on September 1, 2009 (which obligated me to two more years at $29.99 (September 2011!) and then after that I would ALWAYS have that rate– a “PRICE FOR LIFE”) I was confused. That’s only a few months ago, and I didn’t recall signing up for it then– but I did remember signing up for a Price for Life a while ago. She said they have only had the “Price for Life” a few months, so that wasn’t possible. After dropping a bunch of things on my land line (which reduces my phone bill by more than $15 a month), I hung up and wondered about this “Price for Life” business. If I signed up for it in 2007, then maybe I had fulfilled my obligation on September 1, 2009. I called back and spoke to a DSL rep, and found out that this was the case– I signed up 9/1/07 and as of 9/1/09, am no longer obligated to Verizon, but will have $29.99/ month DSL for life. A PRICE FOR LIFE. Even with Clear Internet or Dry Loop DSL options, I decided that sticking with our land line and the $29.99/month DSL was a decent deal.

And then yesterday, a manager from Verizon called me to explain that PRICE FOR LIFE does not mean FOR LIFE. It means “until Verizon decides to raise the price.” I didn’t realize “Price for Life” had an asterisk behind it.

HUH???

I asked for this in writing. She said she had no way of mailing or emailing me anything. The manager understood how ridiculous calling something “Price for Life” when it is not for LIFE is… she said every customer she explains this too has the same disbelief.

If they do raise the price, I will supposedly get an email to my verizon email, that I do not use. I requested it be sent to the account I do use, but she couldn’t guarantee that it would be delivered there. I will have to keep an eye on it.

I let her know that I had researched other options. I do not need a land line. I have other options. I am not obligated to Verizon in any way. And that if they raise the price, I will leave. I am not the one that called it “Price for Life”. Verizon did. And if they can’t stand behind it, I will leave. And I’m free to leave even if they don’t raise the price. So, if you have any recommendations for Internet service, let me know!

I found it slightly ironic that she called on the day I decided to be my Computer-Free day. I think I need to spend one day a week not looking at the computer at all. I did that yesterday, and hope to do one next week too. And I hope to decrease my overall time spent on the computer. So, it’s time to sign off now.