>I guess that's called "customer service". I called Verizon (on my cell phone) with a dead line problem at the house a few months ago. They said it was probably in "my" equipment and it would be better if I resolved the problem but to call back if I couldn't find it and they would be glad to send a repairman at their normal hourly rate. No offer to run a line check, which they could do in a few seconds. Funny thing though, about 10 minutes after I called my phone started working all on its own.
>
>Go figure!

Bob;

PacBell, our local phone carrier figured out a real good way to make money. All was well with our telephone until one day it did not work. My wife went to the neighbors house to call PacBell. They told us we did not have a "service contract with them”. They were going to send a “repair person” at $150 an hour to find the problem and an unknown amount to repair the problem. This pissed me off!

We walked down the street where we saw a PacBell truck and two guys. They told us they had cut a number of phone lines by mistake. We had to call PacBell and tell them but they did not believe us and would not talk to the crew. Out came some stupid SOB from Pac Bell with an invoice we had to sign before he started work. We told him the story and he confirmed it with the “line cutters” down the street. He left and our service was restored a little while later.

Moral of the story: Never have a problem! Also, don't get sick, be a victim or die. If you die, you may not be able to pay all the taxes you owe for this quarter! That could upset the bean counters! :)

Tom