引っ越してから今まで、うちのインターネット、電話、テレビにはTime Warner Cableを使っていたけれど、Verizonに変えてみた。携帯電話もVerizon Wirelessに変えたばかり。でもすでにVerizonも大嫌い。大体、220もTVチャネル要らないよ。見るのは数チャネル。だけど220チャネル契約が最低レベルの契約。DVRに月々16ドルも払うのもばからしい。DVRなんてて技術的にはただのハードディスク。ビデオデッキやDVDレコーダーやパソコンと同じく単体で電気屋で売るべきものなのに、売っていない。月々の使用料を払ってレンタルしないとだめ。携帯だってひどいよ。息子の携帯にはデータ・サービスを契約したけど、月々10ドル払って25Mか、月々20ドル払って無制限かどっちにする？どうみても20ドルで無制限のほうがオトクだけど、それ契約したら、「はい、どれだけでもインターネットやりなさい！」っていうメッセージを親が送っているのと同じ。断固として10ドルで25Mで契約したわけだけど、初月から19Mオーバー。Verizonに、「25M以上は使えないようにブロックしてよ」と行ったら、「それはできません。」 技術的にできないわけはないのに。つまりはオーバーさせて20ドル払わせようという魂胆。オーバーした内容について明細を見ようとしたら、明細入り請求書は月５ドル！テクノロジーはどんどん進化して、コストは低下し、情報量は増えたはずなのに、できる限り消費者から金を巻き上げるための「販売戦略」がゆえに、消費者はちっとも恩恵をこうむることができない。私腹を肥やすのは一部のバカドモ。いいの、こういうの放っておいて！！！We switched from Time Warner Cable to Verizon for Internet, home phone and TV. We just switched to Verizon for cell phones too. I already hate Verizon, though. First of all there is no way I need all those 220 TV channels. It is irritating to see all those channels come up in the program guide. Even though what you need is only a few channels, you are required to subscribe all those 220 channels which is the minimum. I also feel like throwing up to think about DVR which we are renting from Verizon by paying $16 per month. DVR is simply a hard disk with recording function, so it is definitely a simple stuff you should be able to purchase at a store just like VCRs, DVD writers and PCs. But you cannot. You need to "rent" one from one of cable companies. Oh, I hate Verizon wireless too. We subscribed a data service for our son's cell. You have a choice; either $10 for 25M or $20 for unlimited use. It's is obvious to even a first grader that $20 for unlimited is the way to go. But once you get it for your kids, you are sending a message that they are free to use data anytime anywhere as long as they want. My husband and I fought hard and got him $10 for 25M (which he is paying himself). Already in the first month, he went over 25M to end up using 44M (which he will pay himself). I called Verizon to ask them to block the usage over 25M only to be told, "We cannot do that." Come on, they CAN do that, of course, but they wouldn't do that for you. I wanted to check the break down usage in the bill. It is another $5 per month. As the technology has been evolving rapidly, things you couldn't even conceive of years ago have become feasible, the cost has come down drastically, and the profuse amount of information has become available. However, creative marketing and politics made sure that we consumers do not benefit from the change. It only benefits greedy management in those companies. Can we afford to stay quiet?
