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Topic: Does anyone out there have Optimum Triple Play?
| Author | Message |
| shanirfriedman | Posted – 9/21/2007 12:20:36 PM | show profile | email poster I'm wondering what kind of service they provide for telephone customers since I've only ever had Verizon (or whatever existed before) since coming to New York. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:14:37 PM | show profile I had Time Warner "telephone" service for exactly 12 minutes before I cancelled. They didn't give me the "212" number they promised in the promotion, and they didn't support my rotary-dial phones, which I refuse to part with (the larger issue here being that when telephone systems COMPLETELY phase out rotary-dial service, we ALL are PHUCKED as the whole world is relegated to electronic phone menu hell). Also, I frankly don't like the idea of my TV, Internet, AND phone service coming from ONE company. Yes, one monthly bill may be convenient, but I'm a big proponent of the axiom "let not the right hand know what the left hand is doing". It takes just one billing dispute for some low-level "customer service rep" with a 'tude to cut off ALL of your communications from the outside world with one keystroke. Plus ... consider this. While Time Warner has been the most reliable cable and Internet provider I've ever had, there are still occasional blackouts. However, in my entire LIFE (even during 9/11), I cannot remember my TELEPHONE SERVICE going down. EVER. Even in 2007, it's not unusual for the cable to be "out". But the only time I ever hear the phrase "the phones are out" is when I'm watching old black and white movies. |
| questoo1 | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:24:14 PM | show profile I've had it last 2 years and would consider myself pleased. Only 2 downsides to cable phone are 1) you can't use a fax machine & 2) if you loose power your phone wont work (neither of these are big issues for me). |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:33:24 PM | show profile Questoo ... ... let me add another downside to cable phones: they don't work with most monitored security systems. ADT told me flat-out they do NOT install systems without tying into a "real" telephone line. It has something to do with their switching systems not recognizing digital lines. |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:50:49 PM | show profile I wouldn't use ADT anyway, MMatt- most of those big companies are horrible with their service. YOu should avoid, if possible, anyone who makes you sign a multi-year contract for security service. SOme of the smaller-name cos out there are better anyway. We have comcast cable and internet but use Vonage for phone. Zero complaints here. |
| wineaux | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:56:28 PM | show profile I have Optimum and really have no complaints. I hadn't even thought of the phone thing, since we both have cellphones for a call needed when there is a power shortage. But, I have many friends who have Vonage and love it, once they got the kinks worked out last year. I'm lazy, though. I like having it all on one bill, and being able to buy movies as home rather than shlepping to the video store. |
| shanirfriedman | Posted – 9/21/2007 2:59:49 PM | show profile | email poster So you can't operate a fax with Optimum? because they've told me you can. Does it depend on what kind of speed you have? |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/21/2007 3:02:49 PM | show profile Mag Girl ... I've been quite happy with the service I've received from ADT. And I didn't sign any kind of contract. We go month to month. I can cancel at any time. But of course, why would I? |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 9/21/2007 3:07:59 PM | show profile Glad you've received good service. Most I know who have used them have not. ANd interesting about month to month- they wouldn't let us here. Maybe a different location makes a difference in their policies. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/21/2007 3:10:49 PM | show profile Where are you located, Mag Girl? I'm on the Upper West Side. |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 9/21/2007 3:12:24 PM | show profile Not even in NY state :) We had to look around to find a company that not only let us go month to month but also would hook up through our internet phone. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/21/2007 3:18:08 PM | show profile What do you pay per month with your service? |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 9/21/2007 3:30:02 PM | show profile I believe it's $29.95 if I remember correctly. |
| questoo1 | Posted – 9/21/2007 3:48:42 PM | show profile at the time I got the modem I was told you can't fax over the cable lines. Maybe things have changed in the past few years, and since I need a fax about as often as I need a typewriter I never really looked back into it |
| Cyrus | Posted – 9/24/2007 10:04:07 AM | show profile First off, to all those wondering whether you can do things over cable VOIP lines, it depends on your provider. The original question involved Cablevision's Optimum and in their case, they can directly tie in your security system, provide real, honest-to-goodness 911 and do a lot of things over VOIP providers don't. I've had it since moving to the NYC burbs and am generally very happy with it. They made a mistake about 18 months ago that resulted in people in my village being without services for a week, which I wasn't thrilled about in the least, but as a rule, it's been rock solid. And I would tell ANYONE who relies on this stuff as a course of their business that they need a backup plan, no matter who they select. I like the fact that Optimum gives you voice mail and other features for free that Time Warner didn't, although I had their service in NYC and was generally happy with it too. Bottom line is there's really no risk in trying it and seeing what your experience is because there are no contracts involved. I had such an awful experience with Verizon over the years that I'd almost rather string cans between houses than deal with them, but that's just me. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/24/2007 2:01:19 PM | show profile It's always so easy to beat up on the phone company ... ... but the fact remains that for traditional telephone service, one hasn't NEEDED a "back-up plan" for close to 100 years now. |
| Babe Ruth | Posted – 9/24/2007 7:10:58 PM | show profile I am in NJ... And have Cablevision and it is the worst. The bill is constantly wrong and they double-bill. It was supposed to be around $100 per month and my first month's bill was $189. Huh? Plus dealing with customer service reps was like talking to a really stupid person. No, actually, I WAS talking to a really stupid person... |
| Cyrus | Posted – 9/24/2007 9:09:32 PM | show profile beating up on phone co. If you have had many dealings with the former NYNEX, BellAtlantic and now Verizon, you might very well rethink that. They missed 3 appts to install my service when I first moved to NYC 11 years ago. They overpriced all their advanced services until cable started kicking their butts and generally have very surly people working in customer service. The marketplace has spoken and they're losing badly. And anyone these days that doesn't have backup plans and is in business is nuts. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| BurbGrrl | Posted – 9/24/2007 9:14:33 PM | show profile Speaking of phone companies Any suggestions for decent affordable local or local/regional plans in the NY metro area? AT&T is ridiculous (dropping long distance, which I rarely use, saves only a buck or two) and I've got issues with Verizon. I'm trying to avoid going the cable-phone route for lots of the reasons outlined above . . . plus I just like having my phone service come over the phone line in emergencies. I really wish Working Assets did more than just long distance . . . |
| Cyrus | Posted – 9/25/2007 1:54:33 PM | show profile Then you're pretty much out of luck. Because there's no money to be made in the residential long distance game, or even residential telephone service anymore, almost nobody competes on long distance. You might try getting a calling card or searching for a low-cost, independent provider. There are still some around that buy bulk time from major companies and resell it at a discount. There are some sites on the Web that allow you to comparison shop. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/25/2007 2:05:18 PM | show profile Verizon offers UNLIMITED local and long-distance ... ...for a flat fee of $29.99. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 9/25/2007 2:26:04 PM | show profile The original poster said they had issues with Verizon, as many of us do. There's no way I'd ever go back. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 9/25/2007 6:59:52 PM | show profile It's a UTILITY ... Having "issues" with Verizon is like having "issues" with ConEd. I've been a customer of that company since it was called Bell of Pennsylania. What are these "issues"? |
| Cyrus | Posted – 9/26/2007 3:51:46 PM | show profile They missed two installation appts to connect my service when I first moved to the city. When I needed a second line added, they did the bridge junction wiring wrong and had to come back. Their DSL was the pits when it was first rolled out. My adapter would never hold a CO connection. They supposedly did a lot to fix it, but never got it right. I dumped them for cable and have never been happier. See Mike, I know a lot about this stuff and how it's done technically. It's not rocket science; it just takes workers who give a darn and want to please their customers. Verizon has NEVER cared about that. Yes, they're treated like a utility in some ways, but generally have a poorer service record than other utilities. When you overpay people and don't hold them to service standards, that's what you get. If you love 'em, keep 'em. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| BurbGrrl | Posted – 9/26/2007 9:54:15 PM | show profile As for the issues I have Bell-Nynex-Verizon, they're thankfully not as awful as the problems Cyrus had. Basically, I got an offer in the mail to switch and called them up to do so. The switch took a lot longer than I planned and I had to leave, so I handed it over to my husband to finish up. When I still got my AT&T bill, I called Verizon back and they were acting like they suspected some shady identity theft (my maiden name was still on their records, so I guess I can understand that). They wanted me to basically fax them some information including a copy of the marriage license and my SS#, at which point I called "no way." They're just doing their job, I'm sure, but I didn't feel comfortable sending that stuff. |
