Question for DUers: Anyone out there having sudden troubles with

[cantstandbush]

their telephone lines like a lot of static and fluctuating sound levels? Verizon is the pits when it comes to trying to get an issue resolved and I am wondering if this problem is from wiretapping or just Verizon trying to get a service charge out of me?

[ninkasi]

1. Yes

I've had trouble several mornings connecting to the internet...I'm on dial-up service. Sometimes, there's just static, sometimes just nothing...a dead line. It's not Verizon, though, it's Consolidated Communications.

[Sammy Pepys]

2. Yes

Mostly static. I've also gotten a lot of cross interference lately.

[purji]

3. yes

I had the same problem with At&t. I switched to comcast digital voice and no problems with the line now.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Depends where you are...

with Verizon. Where I am now, the service historically sucks because it's fairly rural and they never got the return on investing in upgrades. Everyone's been complaining for years.

But, I suspect now they're "saving money" on the entire system and just not maintaining it properly.

[Carni]

5. YES!

I don't have Verizon I have talk america and I hear constant echoes, clicks, static etc -- I don't know if it is an NSA thing or a general crappy service thing...God knows there is no oversight on quality anymore!

Who knows!

[Merlot]

6. Yes! I dial numbers and get strange messages

like "Your service has been disconnected, please check with your provider." Which of course makes no sense because my service is fine and the next call goes through. I also get a lot of random rings.

Haven't had much problems with static...yet...my serivce is now AT&T and I can not wait until I can disconnect them.

When I call them, their automated phone service askes me to put in my number, and then reads back a totally random number not even close to mine, and informes me that I don't have service with them, and would I like to start serivice?

[lpbk2713]

7. Hell yes. The telcos are working hand-in-hand with NSA.

It's a sweetheart deal for both of them.

[Contrary1]

8. Lately, when my friend calls from Australia

she said it will ring 2 or 3 times, and then it sounds like someone picks up the phone, but doesn't say anything. This only happens when I'm not home to pick up, as I usually answer quickly. About 2 years ago, we both noticed "clicks" and static on most, but not all of the calls.

I figure we're "suspicious" enough to tapped. She thinks Bush is an asswipe too, and talks about him frequently. And I always pepper the conversation with words like Allah, Osama, Islam, infidels, etc... The NSA is spending enough money on this, I may as well give them some bang for our bucks. No black sedans have parked in front of my house, yet...

[thatgemguy]

9. Here too!!!

Our Verizon phone service has been plagued with static and noise for the four years we've been customers. At times the noise is so bad you can barely hear the party you're talking too. My internet dial up connection is very slow (16 -19 Kbps at times), and unreliable with lots of dropped connections, it's very frustrating.

I've complained and had the service techs come out to check the line, but they never seem to find any problem.

We live in a rural area that was originally served by General Telephone.

Verizon does not seem to be interested in making any improvements to their system around here. Two years ago, I talked with a Verizon customer service rep who told me that we would be getting DSL soon, of course the promise has never materialized. Now, Verizon will not give me any information on their plans for improving service in our area.

Despite their national advertising campaigns for their DSL and broadband services, from my experience, Verizon is not at all interested in serving rural areas with these products. Isn't that why we're all paying the Federal Universal Service Fee to help these companies?

I'm considering going to satellite for internet, even a commercial type system where I would be able to use VoIP. It may be a bit more expensive, but in the long run I'd benefit with better with a more reliable service.

As bad as Verizon service is, at least I'm glad I don't have to deal with SBC - Ameritech any more. Those guys really suck!

[cantstandbush]

10. Is there any organized action we can take. We are not getting the service

we are paying for. Should we seek or can we get Congressional help with this? I pay too much money to Verizon for the shitty service and I am getting but I don't know what else to do. Don't they control the lines?