Comments on: Alaska Communications Systems http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/ Sporadic and rambling by design. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:20:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Arlo http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/#comment-10469 Arlo Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:59:02 +0000 http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/#comment-10469 Hi, Cindy. I'm Arlo -- the guy that's been putting off writing an "About Me" page for far too long. Glad to hear that your experiences with ACS turned out well. Can't say I'm <strong>completely </strong>satisfied, myself, but the lingering annoyances I still have pertain more to the cell phone market in general than with ACS's business practices. Hi, Cindy. I’m Arlo — the guy that’s been putting off writing an “About Me” page for far too long.

Glad to hear that your experiences with ACS turned out well. Can’t say I’m completely satisfied, myself, but the lingering annoyances I still have pertain more to the cell phone market in general than with ACS’s business practices.

]]> By: Cindy Audet http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/#comment-10460 Cindy Audet Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:25:39 +0000 http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/#comment-10460 I didn't catch the writer's name, but have just read the two posts by Oksana's husband regarding their experience in switching over to ACS's new plan. I have to say, he does a great job (many of my thoughts, exactly) of expressing the confusion and suspicion that ACS created by the tone of their letters explaining that we were going to be forced to trash our old phones and sign a commitment contract. I was sure there would be some way to avoid the contract!!! But, NOOOOO - it was sign up or bail out. I, too, took the confusing brochure home to study, and spent hours comparing other plans. Alaska Digitel would have had me, if they could provide reliable service to North Douglas. Anyway, the rep that I dealt with was very sympathetic and straightforward (seemed to understand what they could and couldn't do), and advised me extensively throughout the decision process. Yeah, we paid $200 for 2 new phones, and the monthly charge is double what it used to be, BUT we have 2 good phones (LG camera phones) and a second phone number that functions well for our family. So, I just want to say I was frustrated, too, but am now a satisfied customer as well. I didn’t catch the writer’s name, but have just read the two posts by Oksana’s husband regarding their experience in switching over to ACS’s new plan. I have to say, he does a great job (many of my thoughts, exactly) of expressing the confusion and suspicion that ACS created by the tone of their letters explaining that we were going to be forced to trash our old phones and sign a commitment contract. I was sure there would be some way to avoid the contract!!! But, NOOOOO - it was sign up or bail out. I, too, took the confusing brochure home to study, and spent hours comparing other plans. Alaska Digitel would have had me, if they could provide reliable service to North Douglas. Anyway, the rep that I dealt with was very sympathetic and straightforward (seemed to understand what they could and couldn’t do), and advised me extensively throughout the decision process. Yeah, we paid $200 for 2 new phones, and the monthly charge is double what it used to be, BUT we have 2 good phones (LG camera phones) and a second phone number that functions well for our family. So, I just want to say I was frustrated, too, but am now a satisfied customer as well.

]]> By: A Midgett Blog » Alaska Communications Systems, Part II http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/#comment-7214 A Midgett Blog » Alaska Communications Systems, Part II Sat, 06 Jan 2007 00:52:49 +0000 http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/#comment-7214 [...] I got a call the other day that, frankly, surprised the hell out of me.  It was ACS, calling to tell me that they’d read my blog. [...] [...] I got a call the other day that, frankly, surprised the hell out of me.  It was ACS, calling to tell me that they’d read my blog. [...]

]]> By: Cody http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/#comment-5764 Cody Mon, 25 Dec 2006 00:05:29 +0000 http://blog.arlomidgett.com/2006/12/21/alaska-communications-systems/#comment-5764 Yikes, indeed. I've never had much pleasure with working with ACS's storefront here in Juneau. I'm glad for the fact that I can pay online, and that I only get phone, long distance, and internet access from them (even if it's nearly $90/mo). I have made the switch to Verizon, and I've been mostly pleased. As you might know, I got the Treo 700w (a very expensive option, mind you - I wouldn't suggest it to anyone unless they were looking for very specific features). The Plan is kinda spendy, but I'm liking the mostly-hassle-free approach to cell service. A couple things that I didn't know before moving to verizon, that would have been waay nice to know: * Verizon phone updates are done through calling *228, while on the verizon network (aka, not Juneau roaming). This means that though I could manually program my phone to work for calls, I wasn't able to get data (web) access for a couple months (when I travelled to Seattle). * Verizon coverage is pretty solid here, but when someone calls, my phone rings for a shorter amount of time to allow me to pick it up (presumably, it rings for the caller the normal amount, but all the "where is cody" trafficing behind the scenes means that it only rings on my phone a couple times, rather than the normal 4 before going to voicemail.) * Verizon data usage is SUPER expensive if you don't have a plan. (Remember that I racked up a thousand dollar bill one month when I inadvertantly used my data option while on a trip in Seattle). Though, to plug a Verizon benefit: you can debate a charge, and they can escalate it to a manager who will remove it the first time only as they want to keep your business. * When starting a plan with Verizon, they only offer a 2 week grace period before you're locked into your contract... In Juneau, it means that when they ship it out, that's when 2 weeks starts - if you decide you don't like the plan, phone, or service, remember you have to ship it back to them within those two weeks to not get stuck with their package. For 450 roam-anywhere minutes, unlimited data transfer (web) and a gob of txt messaging, I pay around $100 a month... I'm not sure what a two phone family option would look like, but I did my phone shopping through a partner store of my company (http://shop.codyjbennett.com, get a log-in, then go to Stores > Wireless Marketplace.) Good luck! -Cody Yikes, indeed.

I’ve never had much pleasure with working with ACS’s storefront here in Juneau. I’m glad for the fact that I can pay online, and that I only get phone, long distance, and internet access from them (even if it’s nearly $90/mo).

I have made the switch to Verizon, and I’ve been mostly pleased. As you might know, I got the Treo 700w (a very expensive option, mind you - I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone unless they were looking for very specific features). The Plan is kinda spendy, but I’m liking the mostly-hassle-free approach to cell service.

A couple things that I didn’t know before moving to verizon, that would have been waay nice to know:

* Verizon phone updates are done through calling *228, while on the verizon network (aka, not Juneau roaming). This means that though I could manually program my phone to work for calls, I wasn’t able to get data (web) access for a couple months (when I travelled to Seattle).

* Verizon coverage is pretty solid here, but when someone calls, my phone rings for a shorter amount of time to allow me to pick it up (presumably, it rings for the caller the normal amount, but all the “where is cody” trafficing behind the scenes means that it only rings on my phone a couple times, rather than the normal 4 before going to voicemail.)

* Verizon data usage is SUPER expensive if you don’t have a plan. (Remember that I racked up a thousand dollar bill one month when I inadvertantly used my data option while on a trip in Seattle). Though, to plug a Verizon benefit: you can debate a charge, and they can escalate it to a manager who will remove it the first time only as they want to keep your business.

* When starting a plan with Verizon, they only offer a 2 week grace period before you’re locked into your contract… In Juneau, it means that when they ship it out, that’s when 2 weeks starts - if you decide you don’t like the plan, phone, or service, remember you have to ship it back to them within those two weeks to not get stuck with their package.

For 450 roam-anywhere minutes, unlimited data transfer (web) and a gob of txt messaging, I pay around $100 a month… I’m not sure what a two phone family option would look like, but I did my phone shopping through a partner store of my company (http://shop.codyjbennett.com, get a log-in, then go to Stores > Wireless Marketplace.)

Good luck!
-Cody

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