Bait and Switch...

I've been waiting for Verizon's FiOS to be available in my area. They installed the fiber optic cable 3 summers ago. Comcast has been fighting them tooth and nail to try to prevent them from offering video (TV) service. Little by little, Verizon is gaining ground here in MD and Comcast's monopoly is coming to an end. I got a call this week from Verizon offering me service for Video, Internet and phone. I was very specific with my questions as to exactly what I would be getting; I like to be an informed consumer. I asked for the total price including all the taxes, surcharges, and endless fees. I had an installation date. I was told that the special price I was getting was different from any Internet offers. Hmmm. I had to check that out. I've also been curious about changing my phone service over to SunRocket, a VoIP company. I called Verizon today to find out the cost of Video and Internet only. Come to find out, the price I was quoted had been totally wrong. I was told that it's 'resellers' who make the 'cold calls' and that there is no way they would know the taxes for my area and give me a specific price. The Internet speed on the work order was 5 Mbps, not the 15 Mbps I agreed to. I was told I'd get 2 set top boxes for my TVs for free; they told me one is free and the other is $4.99 a month. I was so mad. I guess some people don't really check and go along with whatever. I told them I wanted to cancel my order, and I was switched to the Retention office. The person there was nice, and offered me all kinds of incentives to get their service. So, I still have my install date of July 23, but I'm going to do my homework before I go through with this. And that's my little rant for the night.

Otherwise, it's been a busy 2 days at work. Good and busy, the way I like it. Tonight is Emily's last night at home before she leaves for vacation with her father and step-mother. They're going to Canada, including Niagara Falls, for a week. She's pretty lucky when it comes to vacations. Last year they went out West. It'll be a relaxing week for me.

I returned my Squirrel Buster Plus bird feeder today. True, the squirrels couldn't get into it, but the big black birds were emptying the feeder at an alarming rate, and they were pooping all over my deck. So, it wasn't any better. I exchanged it for a feeder that has a cage around it that supposedly keeps out the nuisance birds and squirrels. I hope this one does the trick.