I am on day 12 of no internet access thanks to Earthlink's continued inability/desire to fix the problem that is causing the outage. I have spent hours on the phone with them. Each time I am told that a senior level engineer will be calling me back. It hasn't happened yet.
Yesterday, I got this email from Earthlink which made me so mad I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Not once has Earthlink tried to contact me. They have my home number, cell number, address and email address. I've gotten nothing at all. So the fact that this is clearly a lie made me outraged. Not only are they not helping me in any way, fixing the problem or being customer service focused now they are just flat out lying. Why on earth would I continue with this company? That's exactly what the Verizon rep I spoke with today wanted to know.
You contacted us recently concerning your EarthLink High Speed Internet access.
We have been unable to reach you. If you are still experiencing issues with your
service please contact us toll-free at 1-866-XXX-XXXX and reference Trouble
Ticket # XXXXXX
Sincerely,
Ticketing Response Operations Network
Earthlink, Inc
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Earthlink Sucks
I have been a customer of Earthlink for seven years. Up until recently I have had no problems with them. I've recommended them to everyone under the sun. I will not be doing that anymore.
I am on day 8 without my DSL connection. It mysteriously went down last week and hasn't been back. During that time, I've spent many an hour making friends in India on the tech support line. They've told me some doozies that I've compiled. I will share my favorites with you here.
"I have upgraded your case to priority. Our engineers will work on this. You will receive a call tomorrow. This will be resolved within 24 hours." This was last Thursday. Obviously none of this happened.
"Give me a minute to read through the case notes." This man apparently suffered some sort of horrible cubicle accident since he left me on hold for over an hour, and then disconnected me. I have visions of a staple gone awry or a life threatening papercut.
"You have my personal guarantee that this will be resolved in 6-12 hours. Our line technicians will contact you." I tried hard to believe this one since he seemed so earnest, but just couldn't. As it turns none of this happened either.
"Your modem appears to be broken so I am recommending you order another one. It will $49." This was all a big lie. My modem was not broken so there was no need for me to order another one. As my friend pointed out, they just wanted to shut me up and buy themselves some time. So they came up with telling me my modem was broken. I refused to pay the $49.
"I will transfer you to a supervisor. You will receive a call in 15 minutes just checking to see that the call was successfully transferred." I think we can all see where this was going. I got disconnected and it's been four days and no one has called to check.
"The problem is with the brand of modem. You should go buy your own and then call us and tell us if it works." I did not realize I had been added to the Earthlink payroll to troubleshoot modem issues. Even better, they're willing to ship me a different brand of modem, but it won't get here until next week, which will be two weeks without my DSL.
"Technicians are working on this problem." Apparently they aren't because it's been over a week and nothing has been fixed.
"If we had more customers who had this problem we would not have sent you that modem." Well that's a relief. Unfortunately for me, I am one of the handful who does have this problem. So they sent me a modem that had know issues with Verizon. Thanks so much.
"We appreciate your patience." Oh that's funny but I have no patience. I lost it last week while I was waiting by my phone for someone to call me.
As of this moment, I am done with Earthlink. I will be switching carriers on Monday.
I am on day 8 without my DSL connection. It mysteriously went down last week and hasn't been back. During that time, I've spent many an hour making friends in India on the tech support line. They've told me some doozies that I've compiled. I will share my favorites with you here.
"I have upgraded your case to priority. Our engineers will work on this. You will receive a call tomorrow. This will be resolved within 24 hours." This was last Thursday. Obviously none of this happened.
"Give me a minute to read through the case notes." This man apparently suffered some sort of horrible cubicle accident since he left me on hold for over an hour, and then disconnected me. I have visions of a staple gone awry or a life threatening papercut.
"You have my personal guarantee that this will be resolved in 6-12 hours. Our line technicians will contact you." I tried hard to believe this one since he seemed so earnest, but just couldn't. As it turns none of this happened either.
"Your modem appears to be broken so I am recommending you order another one. It will $49." This was all a big lie. My modem was not broken so there was no need for me to order another one. As my friend pointed out, they just wanted to shut me up and buy themselves some time. So they came up with telling me my modem was broken. I refused to pay the $49.
"I will transfer you to a supervisor. You will receive a call in 15 minutes just checking to see that the call was successfully transferred." I think we can all see where this was going. I got disconnected and it's been four days and no one has called to check.
"The problem is with the brand of modem. You should go buy your own and then call us and tell us if it works." I did not realize I had been added to the Earthlink payroll to troubleshoot modem issues. Even better, they're willing to ship me a different brand of modem, but it won't get here until next week, which will be two weeks without my DSL.
"Technicians are working on this problem." Apparently they aren't because it's been over a week and nothing has been fixed.
"If we had more customers who had this problem we would not have sent you that modem." Well that's a relief. Unfortunately for me, I am one of the handful who does have this problem. So they sent me a modem that had know issues with Verizon. Thanks so much.
"We appreciate your patience." Oh that's funny but I have no patience. I lost it last week while I was waiting by my phone for someone to call me.
As of this moment, I am done with Earthlink. I will be switching carriers on Monday.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Whalom Park – For a Whale of a Time!
This slogan has been embedded into my head since childhood. I remember nothing else about the commercials, just the slogan. Whalom Park was a great part of my childhood. We used to go every year right before school started. August would roll around and the excitement would start to build until, at last, it was time to go! You would enter the park and that mixture of grease and popcorn would hit your nose and you knew you were there. The wooden rollercoaster was my first rollercoaster. I will never forget the tchunk, tchunk, of the chain catching the cars and starting the slow climb up that first great hill. The Scrambler, The Whip, the Ferris wheel were all must rides as well.
I like to think that my love of roller coasters started there, though I suspect I am genetically predisposed. My grandfather worked on the rollercoaster back when he was a young man. He would tell me tales of walking the tracks to check the coaster, the people who would ride it and how many times in a row he had ridden it. There was nothing better that than fear/excitement/anticipation of cresting that first hill and whoosh down you would go. At the end, the last dip would take you down back to the ground and you could look over and see the lake. Then you got in line to do it all over again. Safety? Of course. There was a bar that was approximately above your lap and it was covered with foam rubber and duct tape. None of us ever fell out! It makes the constraints on Six Flag coasters look like overkill.
The picture in the paper this week of a backhoe tearing down the old wooden coaster brought me to tears. I do not post it here because, even writing this now, it brings me to tears. I think this is compounded by the fact that I lost my grandfather earlier this summer. I know that nothing ever stays the same, but still tearing the park down to make way for condos seems particularly tragic.
I like to think that my love of roller coasters started there, though I suspect I am genetically predisposed. My grandfather worked on the rollercoaster back when he was a young man. He would tell me tales of walking the tracks to check the coaster, the people who would ride it and how many times in a row he had ridden it. There was nothing better that than fear/excitement/anticipation of cresting that first hill and whoosh down you would go. At the end, the last dip would take you down back to the ground and you could look over and see the lake. Then you got in line to do it all over again. Safety? Of course. There was a bar that was approximately above your lap and it was covered with foam rubber and duct tape. None of us ever fell out! It makes the constraints on Six Flag coasters look like overkill.
The picture in the paper this week of a backhoe tearing down the old wooden coaster brought me to tears. I do not post it here because, even writing this now, it brings me to tears. I think this is compounded by the fact that I lost my grandfather earlier this summer. I know that nothing ever stays the same, but still tearing the park down to make way for condos seems particularly tragic.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Everyone to the left
Being a southpaw, I often wonder why it's so hard to find left handed items. My friends will not let me massacre another bottle of wine with my difficulties trying to get the cork out! It was only recently that I got a left handed serrated knife. Let me tell you, I have never before been able to cut a slice of bread so straight until now. The left handed soup ladle has saved me from making such a complete mess of my self, the floor and the stove when dealing with soup. It's always a surprise to me that such simple items bring such joy!
The puzzle I have is why there is not more places that cater to us leftys (where's a Leftorium when you need one?). I've had great luck with a store in London, http://www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/acatalog/. In fact, if you search for left handed items, the stores that come up all seem to be in Europe. I wonder why this is.
The puzzle I have is why there is not more places that cater to us leftys (where's a Leftorium when you need one?). I've had great luck with a store in London, http://www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/acatalog/. In fact, if you search for left handed items, the stores that come up all seem to be in Europe. I wonder why this is.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Painting is silent poetry
I am truly luck to be surrounded by art. Working in a city, you tend to be exposed to all sorts. I am acquainted with a truly amazing artist who came into work today to give many of use a gift. She had made paintings for all of us. My coworker who is a bright, sunny, beautiful person got a cheery painting of a country lane in spring time. I got a gorgeous coastal scene in the fading light. The greens, browns, blues, grays and purples are just stunning and very much me. All day long I stared at the painting propped on my shelf. While it brightens my cube I think I would rather have it at home.
It was the best present I've gotten in awhile.
To see more of her amazing work here's her website.
http://www.tatianafinearts.com/
It was the best present I've gotten in awhile.
To see more of her amazing work here's her website.
http://www.tatianafinearts.com/
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Heartbreak of the T
I've been involved in a bad relationship for about three years now. I've been treated bad and disrespected. Left out in the cold. And yet, still I show up every morning and every night. I even pay for this treatment. A bad boyfriend? Nope, the MBTA.
I try to be a good citizen. I'm not sitting alone in my car clogging up the highway. I've taken the commuter rail and subway in other cities. Three years ago I thought how bad could the MBTA be?
I've alternately sweltered and been frozen. I've been squished like a sardine on a sadly regular basis. I've been late. Five minutes, twenty minutes, twice even three hours due to engine problems so we had to be pushed into the city. If the commuter rail isn't late, then the subway is. Communication is sketchy. I've been late due to mechanical problems, signal problems, excessive cold, excessive heat, traffic (It's a train track. There's a schedule. How can there be traffic?), lack of an available platform, medical emergencies (those I have no problem with), and for all the other times just because.
So the talk of rate hikes really puzzles me. I don't mind paying but for goodness sake could you get me to work and home on time?
I try to be a good citizen. I'm not sitting alone in my car clogging up the highway. I've taken the commuter rail and subway in other cities. Three years ago I thought how bad could the MBTA be?
I've alternately sweltered and been frozen. I've been squished like a sardine on a sadly regular basis. I've been late. Five minutes, twenty minutes, twice even three hours due to engine problems so we had to be pushed into the city. If the commuter rail isn't late, then the subway is. Communication is sketchy. I've been late due to mechanical problems, signal problems, excessive cold, excessive heat, traffic (It's a train track. There's a schedule. How can there be traffic?), lack of an available platform, medical emergencies (those I have no problem with), and for all the other times just because.
So the talk of rate hikes really puzzles me. I don't mind paying but for goodness sake could you get me to work and home on time?
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Seasonally Challenged
I know that when one thinks of fashion Milan, Paris, New York are cities that come to mind. Boston isn't quite on that list. After observing people in the city today I think I can understand why.
It's flip flops. They are still everywhere. While I can understand wearing them when it's really hot out, I don't get the whole bare leg and flip flop look now. If you're wearing a jacket that's zipped up why are you still wearing flip flops? I know the quirks of New England weather might add to the confusion - 80 degrees yesterday, 60 today. But it's October. Fall. Time for boots and tights. Wool. Scarves. Not flip flops. Let it go people. Put them away until next year. Summer is over.
It's flip flops. They are still everywhere. While I can understand wearing them when it's really hot out, I don't get the whole bare leg and flip flop look now. If you're wearing a jacket that's zipped up why are you still wearing flip flops? I know the quirks of New England weather might add to the confusion - 80 degrees yesterday, 60 today. But it's October. Fall. Time for boots and tights. Wool. Scarves. Not flip flops. Let it go people. Put them away until next year. Summer is over.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Women for Women
I have had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the amazing Women for Women International organization www.womenforwomen.org . They had a great gift of being the recipient of the 2006 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the world’s largest humanitarian prize of $1.5 million. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation presents the annual award to an organization that “significantly alleviates human suffering.” “Women and children bear the major burdens of the unprecedented number of wars and civil conflicts raging worldwide and are often left to rebuild their lives without the basic necessities for survival or a viable means to earn a living and take care of their families,” said Steven M. Hilton, chairman and CEO of the Hilton Foundation. “Women for Women International has demonstrated that it can create change and stability within a society by providing women survivors with the tools and resources to rebuild their lives. The organization also gives women the training and confidence to engage in their communities’, and ultimately their nation’s economic, political and social structures,” he added.
I am so happy that this amazing organization was recognized for its work. If you can, donate or sign up to be a sponsor. It costs so little but means so much. I sponsored a woman in Rwanda. It really puts your life into perspective when you are writing about your life to someone who survived the Rwanda genocide. It makes everything else seem really insignificant.
I am so happy that this amazing organization was recognized for its work. If you can, donate or sign up to be a sponsor. It costs so little but means so much. I sponsored a woman in Rwanda. It really puts your life into perspective when you are writing about your life to someone who survived the Rwanda genocide. It makes everything else seem really insignificant.
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