Beware of making account changes if you have Verizon essentials TV package

[skistowe]

On Feb 8th or 9th 2010, I tried to add 2 channels, the Outdoor channel (307) and the Sportsman Channel (308) to my fios lineup.  I was told for an upgrade fee of roughly 15 dollars I would receive the two channels and would also increase my internet speed, going from 15/5 to 25/25, what I bonus I thought....  Initially, nothing happened and I had to make calls on Wednesday 2/10/2010 and Thursday 2/11/2010 to find out what the delay was.  I finally on Thursday I was getting the 25/25 speed as promised, however I was  still not getting the two additional channels that prompted the change.  I called on Friday 2/12/10, and was informed that the package  FiOS TV Extreme HD(2009 Edition) had been discontinued, and I was not eligible to get my two channels, I needed to have FiOS TV Ultimate HD (2010 edition). The rep on the phone explained that several people had been calling in and were mad about changes to the fios TV plans, after they had make modifications like myself.   The rep asked me if I wanted to  switch to the FiOS TV Ultimate HD 2010 package, which then I could now get my two channels, the Outdoor channel (307) and the Sportsman Channel (308) .  I explained that I do not have an HD TV and was not interested in another upgrade and wished to revert back to what I had seeing that I don't have an HD TV, and was completely frustrated at this point.  Here is where bad goes to worse, first I was told that now I am locked in with a two year plan having nothing to show for my change, I say fine and get put on hold and go through a series of phone transfers to hopefully revert to my old plan.   I find out tonight 2/14/2010 that my TV package has dramatically changed, costing me a loss of roughly 40 channels and one year extension on my contract and my new 30 some odd HD channels are of no value to me, since I have no HD TV.

Look at the difference and tell me if you would be happy.....

  
Plans Summary

FiOS TV Plan               FiOS TV Essentials (old plan)            FiOS TV Prime HD (new plan I am stuck with)
Total # of Channels    272                                                          235
Total # HD Channels  8                                                              46

I try to add 2 channels, and now am strong armed into an additional one year contract with 40 fewer channels and had no warning this was happening....lol

[skistowe]

I should have added that I just signed up for Fios TV January 2010, so I was not up for renewal...

[skistowe]

Well on all of the channels I used to watch I now get.......... "You are not subscribed to"....Completely frustrating...wish I had never signed up for this service....Verizon has done a bait and switch, there is no warning that your service is changing, just the duration of that service..if you have to renew this year you will soon see what I am talking about....I am seriously at the point of biting the bullet on the early termination fees, it is not about the money but more about the point....no different than when credit card companies decided to raise rates without warning...

[skistowe]

I went and filed a complaint with the FCC here is a link if you need it

https://esupport.fcc.gov/sform2000/new_complaints.action?request_locale=en

and selected Form 2000A - Deceptive or Unlawful Advertising or Marketing Complaint

[Keyboards]

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@skistowe wrote:

I went and filed a complaint with the FCC here is a link if you need it

https://esupport.fcc.gov/sform2000/new_complaints.action?request_locale=en

and selected Form 2000A - Deceptive or Unlawful Advertising or Marketing Complaint

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Sorry to hear about your package issues.  The FCC really has little to no control or say over cable companies.  The real place to complain is your local franchise authority.

[ekem015]

The new January 2010 plan structure has so far been a terrible idea. People are getting screwed, paying more for less channels.

I'm not touching any of my plan for a long, long time.

[skistowe]

To see the difference try this....

http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/FiOSTV/ChannelLineUp/ChannelLineUp.htm?Channels=Essentials
Put in your zip
city or region and click compare plan....

then the current plans pop up select a new one and also expand the

expandable link

and click on the link See other fios tv plans...find your old plan and see the actual difference....

[prisaz]

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@skistowe wrote:

To see the difference try this....

http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/FiOSTV/ChannelLineUp/ChannelLineUp.htm?Channels=Essentials
Put in your zip
city or region and click compare plan....

then the current plans pop up select a new one and also expand the

expandable link

and click on the link See other fios tv plans...find your old plan and see the actual difference....

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My zipcode still does not work. I think perhaps they are running into franchise issues with Montgomery County Maryland, and the recent changes? Why else would it not be fixed in a four week time period. Perhaps because I can't compare if it's broke. Postings, calls to techsupport, website feedback, and it is still broken. Tech support gave me a zipcode in Southern Maryland and told me it was the same. I don't think it is. The PDF for DC Metro is available, but it does not allow you to line up the different plans for a side by side comparison. Yes I too will sit on the sidelines before I think about changing anything. 20/5 works for me.

[Caps09]

I don't know what can be done about it, but I always tell everyone not to make any changes to an old package because they can never go back to what they had. That being said, these sports channels really should also be available in some sort of little add on instead of requiring the purchase of an HD package. I know a couple people without HDTV's who have no way of getting NHL Network, NBA TV, Fox College Sports, Tennis, Golf, etc, without ordering an entire HD package they cannot use. It's nice for most of us to have these channels included in our Extreme package or whatever, but it would be even better for the non-HD customers to have some way of getting these channels too!