My phone line went down around 8:00 last night. I have been calling my "provider", USA Telephone, since then, only to learn at 4:pm today that "no one will be in the office until tomorrow" - which includes service. A few years ago I "switched" my provider from Verizon to USA Telephone to save money. Same lines, they rent the lines from Verizon, but Verizon can't provide service until USA Telephone contacts them, and USA Telephone won't contact them until tomorrow at the earliest. Which means, except for my dear son's generosity, no internet.

Interestingly, my son's line was not affected (Verizon). He did some testing with a meter device, and the problem is, he believes, outside the house. He generously cross connected our lines a little while ago so I can get on the internet for a little while.

You can believe I am going back to Verizon. It is not worth the small savings to have this kind of hassle. And I'm going to find out if they have finally gotten DSL service to my area.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, October 9, 2005 - 07:55 pm:

Ginny, I completely understand!!!! The Sprint network has barely worked at all for us in over a month. We cannot contact our employees most of the time.

I have Bellsouth at home and more often than not, we cannot call out or get calls in. I know our problems are due to the hurricane, but it's been over a month, and it's extremely frustrating.

I hate being expected to pay for a service you don't get!

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 07:52 am:

AND, they are closed "in observance of Columbus Day".

By Karen~moderator on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 07:59 am:

GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! I was up during the night, could not sleep, and my cable and internet was working fine. I had a *nap* between 4:30 and 6:00 when I got up for work, and when I tried to go online, both were out - AGAIN! Now they are working.

Yesterday Sprint did not work at ALL. Apparently it is working this morning, because DH just called from AL. But now the landline is not working.

Do we live in a 3rd world nation?!? LOL

By Karen~moderator on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 08:00 am:

Is there not a tech line or *report outtage* line you can call???

By Amecmom on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 09:12 am:

Ginny, I am sorry you are going through this. I've heard from so many people that once your phone service is no longer with Verizon, it takes forever to get your phone lines fixed. That's why I won't get any to the internet phone services or go with any other company.
It isn't fair, but that's the way it works - or doesn't work.
Anyway, I hope you're up and running soon!

Karen, I hope your tech troubles are solved soon, too.
Ame

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 02:54 pm:

Well, I think my phone is working. At any rate, I dialed my number and got my answering machine. But I am certainly peeved that at no time did anyone communicate with me. Heaven knows I left them enough phone numbers (other than the one that wasn't working).

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 06:22 pm:

Phone is back, internet is back, and I upgraded my memory so that things are working much faster, thank you.

I must say, I never heard from USA Telephone. But the ladies at the answering service were very nice and sympathetic and explained fully as much as they knew about how things worked when they passed on my messages. I called them to let them know I have my phone back and to thank them for their kindness.