'We are the Crystal Gems, you've really made the grade, and the papers want to know whose shirt you wear.' by Kara
Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 3:51 PM

Congratulations to Cox customer service for convincing me to switch to Verizon.

So over the past couple weeks, I've had my connection drop out multiple times. Now, I'm a smart girl. I know my stuff. So I do the usual reset of the router and the modem, check to make sure stuff's straight/tight/etc.... to no avail. I end up having to call to get shit done. And I mean, normally I wouldn't mind that.

But bear in mind: I freelance. I work from home. I need internet to get money to pay rent. Even if it is possible to call tech support to get shit fixed, I'm losing time because it's down, then losing time sitting on the phone with tech support (even that automated one).

After three times, I aired my grievances on Twitter because apparently that works. I had a DM conversation with a rotating group of their customer service people, whose first job was apparently to insult my intelligence. Yes, I understand that you need to make absolutely sure all the dumb stuff is out of the way, but when I say up front 'I did this and this and this,' please at least pretend you believe I know what I'm talking about.

At this point, my connection dropped out a fourth time -- right before I was set to do a lineup of three conference calls. I went to my g'father's place because I did not have time to sit on the phone and try to fix things beforehand, then came back later. I informed Cox, as calmly as possible, that I was pretty well done and I would no longer be needing their help.

'No no no, let us at least send someone out there to check things out.' Okay, fine. They blocked me off for 8-10 AM this morning.

While I was asleep, they PMed me saying 'So, we'll call you at [number] when we're on our way.' The number in question is a number I haven't had for six years -- oh, by the way, I also get my phone service through them. By the time I'm awake and alert enough to answer, it's already 8:30. I tell them no, and wait why is that number even still on file with them when the number THEY GAVE ME when I moved is different. I also gave them my cell number, assuming I would hear nothing.

By 11 AM they answered again saying sorry, the technician cancelled because they couldn't get in touch with me and would I like to reschedule. At that point, I'd just finished signing up with Verizon.

So ... basically no.

Sadly I can't get FIOS where I am, but their customer service is already a dozen times better.

Bloody hell.

If you have been, whatever.