Land Line Alternatives?

[hamerhead]

My wife is in a heated dispute with Frontier. She called to cut our home phone back to just the very basic plan and 2 days later got a $200 bill for ending the contract early. Not only did they not tell her there were only 2 months left on the current contract, they never mentioned any fees for changing service. Mind you - we weren't quitting altogether, just scaling back (it would have saved us like $12 a month).

So she's spent a good deal of time and frustration on the phone with them only to get nowhere (so far. The feud continues tonight....). You married guys know how it is when she's just done with something, right? Well, that's where she's at. It ain't a pretty thing. But....

We've had the same phone number for over 25 years and I hate to give it up. Plus I NEVER use my stupid cell phone. I hate those things.

A guy at work has had Straight Talk for a year or so and is real happy with it. It doesn't require a modem, works if the power goes out, and we can keep our current number, which is pretty big.  And it's like $15 a month compared to the +$50 currently at Frontier.

Are there any other land line alternatives y'all are familiar with? Anything to look out for?

 

[Studio Custom]

Why not revert back for the two months?

Did either of you SIGN a contract?  If you did, you've got a problem, if not, they will place you for collection but ultimately it's uncollectible.   

[veatch]

I use Vonage for my main land line. It uses your internet service for connectivity. You can transfer your current number over in most cases. The only reason I still have a land line is for a backup line to the alarm system (it uses cellular as well). We have a minimal plan that is something like $10 a month or something. No LD carrier, which saves a lot, but also means if someone screws up and calls LD, it would be uber expensive. I think the line is set up to fail if you try LD...

Hope that helps. 

 

[hamerhead]

2 hours ago, Studio Custom said:

Why not revert back for the two months?

Did either of you SIGN a contract?  If you did, you've got a problem, if not, they will place you for collection but ultimately it's uncollectible.   

We've had Verizon/Frontier forever. Neither of us remember signing anything.

As far as reverting back, that was my wife's first response - just put it back and we'll change it in 2 months. Simple, right? Apparently not so. Frontier's 'customer service' is there only to piss you off and make sure you don't come back. They don't even feign an attempt at being helpful. It's just a constant barrage of barely intelligible 'English' until you give up. But my wife's no quitter. She'll "make them waste as much time as I can" while she putzes around the house or watches TV. She was a good hour with them again last night. I give her a lot of credit, though. She kept her cool. I woulda reached through the phone and strangled someone.

So instead of just doing the right thing and keeping a customer, they keep jackin' her around. We're done. We'll be with them just long enough to transfer the phone number, then they can GFT.

[cynic]

Ask for someone in customer retention.

Just do it.

Edited for elaboration: I've no first hand experience with VOIP alternatives, but my sister uses MagicJack and it's pure crap.

Re customer retention:  Current retention teams are very similar to customer service teams of 40 years ago.  They understand costs associated with acquisition and retention and are more empowered to make adjustments in billing and contract requirements and are in place to handle situations like this.

[mc2]

Verizon did the same thing to me when I left them after 20+ years...just trumped up a bunch of charges in a fnal bill.

I also had 8 business lines with them for five years and spent $50,000+ and they still felt they had to screw me.

They suck.

 

Aside from that.....you should be able to keep your old phone number and either transfer it to your cell phone or to a new landline carrier for a small fee or possibly free. Pretty sure a law was finally passed that forces that.

 

 

[murkat]

Another vote for Vonage. Problem free since 2008.

[DaveL]

I have Comcast but even that is creeping up.   it seems silly that I pay so much simply for a receptable for

telemarketing calls...   I'd like to find a company that has good prices and also, can send an electromagnetic

pulse thru the landline to fry the other person's phone...

[Carl.B]

Run from Verizon! The longer your with them the more they will cost you.

 

[scottcald]

We moved our home phone from Verizon and added it as a line on our cell plan for an extra $10/month.  they give you a device that is a cell receiver and it has a jack for the house phone to plug into.  

However, If you've signed up for the do not call list, porting your number puts it back in the available pool and you'll have to re-register that number.  

[jettster]

Used to use Vonage but had horrible experiences with their support whenever there were problems. (Overseas call center). Also had to battle with them replacing faulty hardware. Switched to these guys I don't know 5-6 years ago and they have been great. http://www.itpvoip.com/

Replaced the adapter at least once after lightning, no questions. last time I spoke to someone I could at least understand them.

Cost wise, I think the cheapest route might be to purchase a magic jack, then the cost is close to nothing for a year but I haven't been brave enough to try that yet,

 

[scottcald]

You could also port to Google Voice and use the app on your phones.