Yes, Some Users Apparently Complain About Being Upgraded to FiOS Verizon's FiOS expansion is ended, and the company has switched its current focus toward getting DSL users in upgraded FiOS markets to upgrade to FiOS -- as fiber is more reliable and costs less to maintain. After Sandy one FiOS install tech told us interestingly that many customers resist these DSL upgrades, instead preferring the reliability of copper POTS (FiOS only has an 8 hour battery backup during power outages). According to Washington DC's NBC 4, those complaints aren't all that uncommon. The outlet breaks down complaints from around the country, with a particular focus on Maryland users who say Verizon's pitch isn't entirely honest: quote: ...Some customers who were happy with that traditional, copper-cable-based phone service are complaining that Verizon is pushing them to get fiber-optic lines they don’t want so the company can sell consumers features they didn’t ask for. "This is just outrageous," said Elisabeth Waugaman of Potomac, Md. Waugaman is upset with Verizon because she says the phone company called her and said her neighborhood was experiencing phone service problems. Waugaman's argument is effectively that Verizon misled her into believing that her neighborhood was having technical problems when they weren't, the end result being she was pushed to a FiOS service that she has to pay more for, when she was happy with DSL and POTS.Some of this is just people not understanding what's happening, and not wanting to shift from something they're comfortable with. But Verizon might have fewer such complaints if users being switched to FiOS weren't often having to pay much more for the honor. Verizon's been raising rates on most FiOS services and cutting back on promotions pretty consistently, as executives look to milk past FiOS investment for all it's worth. In a duopoly there's frequently no price competition, so there's no incentive to offer these users better rates. Waugaman's argument is effectively that Verizon misled her into believing that her neighborhood was having technical problems when they weren't, the end result being she was pushed to a FiOS service that she has to pay more for, when she was happy with DSL and POTS.Some of this is just people not understanding what's happening, and not wanting to shift from something they're comfortable with. But Verizon might have fewer such complaints if users being switched to FiOS weren't often having to pay much more for the honor. Verizon's been raising rates on most FiOS services and cutting back on promotions pretty consistently, as executives look to milk past FiOS investment for all it's worth. In a duopoly there's frequently no price competition, so there's no incentive to offer these users better rates.







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Most recommended from 107 comments



Nightfall

My Goal Is To Deny Yours

MVM

join:2001-08-03

Grand Rapids, MI 4 recommendations Nightfall MVM The reality is that not everyone wants it My aunt and uncle live in Dallas, TX and they had to be upgraded to FIOS when the DSL in their area had issues. They say the service is nice, but the cost of FIOS when compared to what they had before, DSL with POTS and TV through Dish, its a lot more. My uncle says its $40 a month more than they were paying, and they don't see the benefits.



Obviously, I love the speed when I visit their place, so I know FIOS is working as intended. Still, not everyone needs FIOS, and the only reason Verizon moved my aunt and uncle to FIOS was to get more money from them.