I was a customer of Qwest for years. Not by choice, but because they were the only option. They knew it, and hand no problem treating their customers like dirt because they knew it.
I’ve had to put up with countless service problems, mis-billings, delays in line or DSL hookups, and the utter inability to actually talk with a service technician rather than an underpaid phone rep who doesn’t know the first thing what is really happening behind the scenes. Plus, if you’ve ever called Qwest to get a problem fixed, have you ever gotten the feeling that the reps are on commission for up selling packages? That could be because they are.
In my experience, it is common to have to hold for up to 45 minutes before finally getting to someone to correct a billing error made by Qwest – and then it will usually take three or four phone calls of holding for 45 minutes at a time and an additional 45 minutes of discussion each time to get the problem resolved.
Add to all of that ridiculously high prices in a day and age when prices should be falling. All of this was extremely fruterating to me for the longest time, as Qwest held a monopoly in the area for what seemed like forever. Even if you changed local carriers you were still dealing with Qwest’s technicians and Qwest’s phone lines.
My monthly bill with Qwest was sitting at right around $55.00 per month, when I found out Voice Over IP (VOIP) was available in Idaho Falls a few months ago. A company called Packet 8 has opened up service here – and you don’t need a telephone line, only a broadband internet connection which you can get through cable or wireless. Then you can sign up for Packet 8 VOIP for about $25 per month – and that includes unlimited long distance throughout the continental United States.
I Fired Qwest right away and I am so glad I did!
Since I fired Qwest, I’ve noticed a wealth of other features with Packet 8 and other VOIP services that I didn’t have with my Qwest package – for example, for FREE I was able to set up simultaneous ring so that when someone calls my home phone, it rings my cell phone at the same time – whichever between my VOIP line or cell line picks up the call gets the call. It can also be changed to forward the call after x number of rings if I were to prefer that.
I also now get copies of my voice messages forwarded to my emails, so I can be notified of a missed call and access the message wherever I am. I can even forward that message to someone else if needs be. I can also see a detailed inbound and outbound call log at any time by logging online. Plus a ton of other services.
I have learned there are some quirks with VOIP that someone should probably be aware of before making the switch. #1 – make sure you have a good broadband connection. Too slow of a connection might create a slight echo. I experienced this when I was downloading some large files wile on the phone at the same time, but I was able to fix that problem with tech support (where I only had to wait about 2 minutes to get an agent). Also, in my opinion it is best if the person also has a cell line as a backup because if internet service goes down you lose VOIP line (obviously). The service is set up to automatically ring a backup number if your internet goes down. I have never had a problem with this though.
For reference, Packet8 is found at www.packet8.net
There may be other VOIP services available in the area, and if anyone knows of any, please let us all know.
I can tell you from personal experience there is a feeling of great JOY in finally firing Qwest. Today I am Qwest Free, and it feels SO GOOD! I only wish VOIP would have come sooner.
I’m interested to know if anyone else has FIRED QWEST and moved to VOIP. Or maybe you fired them by simply signing up with a cell phone and abandoned the land line option all together. Either way, please share your problem experiences with Qwest, and why you finally said goodbye to them.
If you have other ideas or options, or experience with other phone services or providers, please feel free to add.
Popularity: 19%
Related posts:
:@:)
Loading ...
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Rocky, thanks for the info. I have one question though. When you switch does your phone number change? Thanks again…
Bravo for your switch off of the land lines and Qwest. It is impressive that you got through with them and actually resolved the billing problems that you had at all. Many people receive bad bills from them and after a couple of calls give up and just foot the bad billing. Perhaps Qwest counts on this.
With the other local company (that does use Qwest’s lines) there are less billing problems and better assistance but who needs a land line?
Great article – Ditto! Fire Qwest today!
Thank you for providing one company that provides service for VOIP here, as only some do, at this point. Another option for readers may be the Magic Jack. Twenty dollars for the jack, $20/ YR unlimited long distance, ID, etc. They may not have dual ring and some other features more advanced users may need though. But that’s inexpensive phone.
There are several good websites who do comparisons of VOIP carriers, and there are many.
There is an interesting side to this issue. Our country, our state, etc. have spent billions of dollars on Fiber Optics. Some of it here is still fresh in the ground. There are currently 3 options that the author knows of to needing a land line at all. And there’s cable. The bigger picture may be that it’s time to stop laying cable and building phone lines. Technological foresight has never been so important.
Hi, Zamfir…
I’ve seen lots of that cable being laid. Do you know if it’s capable of high speed internet connection?
I’m hoping to drop qwest soon. If they will not provide a naked dsl line. i’m tired of paying 25-30 $ for a land line that they require to have dsl, only my in-laws and folks from the church call. hopefully my two year contract for the dsl is up soon….
Qwest does NOT require one to have a landline for DSL first off. It is called ’standalone dsl’ – look into your facts before saying libel that is incorrect. 2nd – DSL at $14.99? Unbeatable! In an age where the cable companies are THROTTLING your speed, sharing your bandwidth with everyone else on the block, blocking visiting certain sites, and bowing to big brother to say what you can and can’t download and will even shut your internet connection down for file sharing which is legal btw, and did I mention throttling your speed yet (?). Remind me again why one would want cable? Vonage etc – yeah, good look with that if ya ever need to call 9-11. Don’t get mad at Qwest because GW Bush has made everything so unaffordable or because the Federal gov. regulates phone companies so half of your bill is in taxes. Blame them, not your phone company. I could care less who people go to for phone service, but facts and honesty in reporting is essential.
First off I want to a mention something and make this record scraight. My name is Laquarius and I hope y’all don’t get some laughta out of my name. Ok, now on wit the discussion. Is this discussion about a Tribe called Quest. It better not be about them cuz they is a cool rap group. I know it isn’t I wuz just a testin everybody. Yeah man I be hating on that company. I tried to get some help and they just look the other way when I spoke wit them. I mean come on I’m a trying to get my complaint on there and they wuz ignorin me and I was sad like a small puppy. My landmine or landline lost connection from my compuuuter and I was angered. Why did that happened to this compuuter? Man I have no idea what to do anymore. Can you give this man some advice? So I don’t need to be sad or angered anymore? Thanks for giving a brotha some help folks.
Wow, Joe your comments made me do a little research. 3 years ago when i signed up for DSL it was REQUIRED to have a phone line as well. I called back a year later when the 1.5mbs reached my neighborhood and got a “price for life” of $31.99. this required a 2 year commitment. I have been somewhat satisfied, I only have to reboot my modem a few times a week and they have been reliable. But with two cell phones, I don’t need a lan line. So I just called qwest and to get naked/stand alone DSL the best they can do is 39.99 for 1.5mbs. meh, I’m probably going to find a alternative when my contract is up. BTW the $14.99 is a promotional offer for new customer and only that low rate for 12 months…. not sure your sharing all the facts on the one. My other gripe with qwest poor planning I work in land development / new neighborhoods and qwest is always the worst to deal with, and always has poor service pedestal locations. also 50% of my bill is not taxes and I’m glad the government breaks up monoplies that hold you over a barrel and that technology is advancing so I have alternatives to choose from for internet service.
Bridgemaxx is now offering their own VOIP. That’s another option. Fire Qwest.
Qwest is about the worst company (and probably employer) in the area. I canceled with qwest a while ago, and have been so glad I did!
Joe Anon, You seem to be a bit protective of Qwest. I don’t know if you work there or not, but if you do, maybe you could help them fix some of the problems.
Hayduke stating that Qwest required him to have a landline for DSL may have been true at the time. Even if it were no longer true, that wouldn’t qualify his claim as libel.
You said, “Vonage etc – yeah, good look with that if ya ever need to call 9-11.” When I set up for VOIP I had to give them my physical address for 911 address pass-along. And it’s very easy to test that it’s working.
The government is not to blame for Qwest’s problems. Qwest’s management is to blame for Qwest’s problems. Overpricing is a minor factor. Awful customer service – including rude phone reps, long hold times, are much worse.
The fact is, Qwest has had a monopoly for a long time and they treated their customers like $!@%. Now there’s an opportunity for people to switch services it will be interesting to see if they change strategies.
I also heard that there are some real questions of ethics when it comes to their hiring practices.
I’ve had a few friends leave good jobs to go apply at Qwest because they were promoting high hourly wages and incredible bonuses. What I was told is Qwest would lure people away from their jobs with the anticipation of good money. Tons would apply and get hired, then over the next several weeks they would cherry pick the top few percent and the majority were left without a job!
A few months would pass, and they’d go through another round of hiring. I can only imagine the number of people’s lives who would be impacted by something like this.
My response to this is whatever you do DON’T apply for a job at Qwest unless you’re ok being unemployed 3 months later.
What’s more, Joseph Nacchio who was the CEO of Qwest got 6 years in prison for stuff he did while he was running the company.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/58550.html?wlc=1221125368
“[Joseph] Nacchio, who headed Qwest from 1997 to 2002, is one of several former executives who have been blamed in connection with the multibillion-dollar accounting scandal that nearly bankrupted the firm.”
What more evidence does someone need to see this is a sleazy outfit and to stear clear.
MINI POLL:
Give this a thumbs up if you think Qwest Rocks,
Thumbs down if you think they.. don’t rock.
everyone knows qwest stinks, we don’t need a poll to figure that out. (although it will be interesting to see how many people like qwest) cant imagine itll be that many though.
How about rude customers that call in only to tell you every swear word they have ever heard and pass them all along to you? Serious…Can you imagine sitting on the phones getting yelled at for ones DSL or DTV or whatever being shut off because you hadn’t paid the bill in a couple months? It happens, and daily! On the other hand, there are customers that are awesome as could be and really help you deal with the 95% of customers that just call in to make you feel like crap and yell and scream at something which is often times their own mistake like not paying owns bill as mentioned.
Then the issue of being paid a commission – like that is a horrible thing? I don’t hear anyone yelling at JCPennys or SEARS employees for being paid a commission on every washer they sell. In I.F., where else can a guy go and support a family of 5 on his income alone?
Yeah, the $14.99 is for 12 mos. But the $29.99 price for life is the 2nd year which as far as I recall when I had cable internet is not a bad price at all.
As for the outsourcing of jobs – ya think we like that? If we have a problem with someones dsl and we have to call Malysia or wherever just to get an answer? It sucks for us too! The new CEO though has put in motions to fire them as soon as the contract with them expires.
I guess that’s all for now, yes – admittedly from a Qwest employee.
Well, it sounds as though even working for Qwest sucks.
If I went to Sears or Penny’s, it would be to buy something, and a salesperson deserves a commission. If I call a company for tech support or customer relations, I don’t need a sales pitch included in my day’s affairs. That is the difference.
I don’t believe it matters much what motions the CEO is making, at this point. The aftermath of years of mistreatment of customers is apon them. The icebers (inside tradingcough) has been hit and he can mess with the rudder all he wants but sinking is sinking. I would suggest that Joe get a job with AT&T or Verizon, the other two Bell spin-offs who were smart enough to invest in wireless instead of milking the country to lay outmoded fiber-optic.
I’m not throwing up links, but check the stocks for yourselves – T, VZ, and Q in the stocks. Look at the Market Capital for a quick comparison.
You nailed it Stockman….good post!
Qwest is a monopoly minded, greed infested, careless, good for nothing bunch of pigs. I can’t get another service because they have blocked other providers in my area. They do what they want with my account without my approval. Always looking for a way to make an extra buck off of everyone. We should have choices of local home phone providers but it seems some of these politicians are getting contributions to shut up and do nothing. It’s more than obvious. All of them are pieces of crap. The baby brat has grown up now and we must pay for the way he was raised.
I just switched my broadband from Qwest to Cable One and I’m so happy with it. Qwest was scamming me our of bandwidth for 2 years.
all the bad things about qwest. anytime you deal with corporate america there will be bad stories, thats a givin. in regards to qwest hiring and firing, thats probably because they cant sell. when you applyfor a sales job there comes a quota and if you can meet that than thats on you. I do work for qwest and have been very succesfull, winnig trips oversees, harley davidson, and oh yeah did i mention 140k a year. I do stand by qwest 100% and the service i provide to a customer. my recomendation next time you call is call early in the morning when all the employees with the highest senority are working and you will be suprised what kind of service you receive
anyone who supports qwest is on crack. They are charging me $49.99 for standalone broadband, and now they want me to pay $4 to pay my bill by phone, or $1 to pay by net?
THese republican ID and CO can go straight out of business as far as I’m concerned. LAter, Qwest, I found some competition for you scumbags. Hope your business model works forever, but it wont because making the customer hate your republican guts doesnt work too well.
I recently upgraded to 1.5 internet through Qwest. It was a total nightmare. Took 2 weeks of problem after problem. They canceled my ISP without letting me know and signed me up to MSN. That was done so I could get some kind of package deal of choosing 3 of 10 different phone additions like caller ID…etc. But I was never told I had to use MSN. So, I got that fixed, but still no 1.5 on the day it was supposed to begin. They sent out a tech to my house and tested the lines and wanted to charge me for all that. The lines were fine. Took 3 different phone calls and 3 different people to figure out that nobody at my original ISP had flipped the switch. The Qwest phone people are nice but are clueless. All three had different stories and programs and packages to sell me. Everytime I’ve called Qwest for information, each and every one tells me a totally different version of what is available and its pricing scheme. NOBODY has ever said the same thing about any of my questions for the past two years. I know someone who works in the phone center here in Idaho Falls, and he says they just joke around all day waiting for the next loser to call so they can play around with them. They’re just immature kids working there. They don’t know any better.