Verizon FiOS Internet Service Review

My experience with Verizon has been negative from the time we purchased DSL.  As an example, we kept getting notified that it wasn't available in our area yet, (why didn't they tell us that when we first signed up?), and they kept changing the start date.  That went on for months, and when we finally did get connected, not only was DSL not that fast, but they tried to charge us from the original date we signed up for.  It would't be so bad if you could call them, speak to one or two people within 10 minutes, and get it resolved, but it can be hours of wasted time trying to get to speak to a customer service rep.  So when they knocked on our door after two years of unsatisfactory DSL service, and offered the FIOS connection plan, I was ready to try it.  The gentleman promised excellent, super-fast service, and for the computer hook-up, phone plan and T.V, it would be only a little more than I was paying for just the phone and DSL.  Only one thing....the T.V. service wouldn't be available until the end of 2008.  But...they offered an alternative T.V. hookup until it was available that he really didn't know too much about.  I told him my son had one of those online game systems that had to be hooked up to the network.  He said, "Oh, this will be the best hookup he'd be able to get.  He'll be amazed at how fast the game will work and how clearly and smoothly the system will run.  There's no extra charge, and he'll be so happy with it!"   I was leary of the T.V., part, so with assurance I'd be paying so much less, I opted for the phone and Internet plan.

Well, jump to three months later.  My bills are higher, my computer not only freezes sometimes, (I've run scans, and there appears to be no problems with my computer), but sometimes it takes forever for windows to open up, even though all the bars have appeared.  A little message wil come up in the browser "trying to connect to_______".  So many times my son has been in the middle of playing his game and the service just stops, and he's kicked right off the connection.  If I could have a nickle for every minute I've wasted trying to get a real person on the phone at Verizon, or even trying to go the way of the animated voice and get out of the circle from menu back to menu, it would probably have paid for most of the three months we've had the service.  I urge people to ask around before they sign up to see if people in their area have had success.  It may be a location problem, but we're unfortunately locked into two years.