My Vonage 9/11 escape plan…AT and T calls…Some light bulb jokes?

Remember my BBB complaint against AT&T?

Well, guess what?  I got a call from an AT&T representative.  She mentioned I shouldn’t have been charged, since nobody ever came out to install anything.

That folks, was also a big mix-up.   I was supposed to have service on a Monday.  But I got a call on my AT&T land line the prior week.  It’s a person trying to contact a certain business – not mine.

I called the folks at AT&T and explained what happened.  They mentioned this business hadn’t used this number in years.  I added that no technician needed to come out…nor was any remote work needed…since I already had the number.

No problem.  Or so I thought.

I got a call the next Monday.  A technician was on his way and needed directions.  I explained that the number has been working for a week…there’s no need for any remote application…nor any technician to come out.

Did he get the message?  I guess not.  Fast forward: I asked the technician just to verify again, that my $90 fee has been waved.  Confirmed!  Great!~now just let me know how inter department communication got messed up.

Which departments did I talk with?  Just trace the toll free numbers on my AT&T line

New Vonage Alternative Experiment

Remember my grief with Vonage?  My problems were twofold:

1. Their Vonage router is faulty – unless you configure it behind a heavy duty router.
2. .They have questionable business practices, as the NPR radio article eluded to (from a previous blog post).

My Vonage anniversary is September 11.   I ordered an Ipevo Solo S0-10 Skype phone, as reviewed at zimbio.com/skyp….  The price and reviews are good at amazon.com/IPEV… (Amazon).  Can this be my residential phone out and AT&T land line my residential phone in?  Remember that Google Voice + Gizmo5 + Grandstream phone is my official business line.

Why test Vonage alternatives?  It’s not because of technical issues – it’s business practices I have philosophical and theological objections to.  Besides!  If these alternatives work, they’re much cheaper than Vonage.

Know what else bothers me about them?  I asked them to discontinue my Vonage 911 service.  After all, I have 911 service with AT&T.  They couldn’t do it.  Even though a land line 911 service is more accurate and reliable than a VOIP alternative.

Come again?  From my perspective, I can shave off $5 per month from the Vonage bill.

Christian Light Bulb Jokes

Hey!  These come from a fundamentalist Christian friend.  They are in good taste – I think.

Charismatic: Only 1…“Hands are already in the air.”

Roman Catholic: “None – Candles only.”

Baptists : At least 15.
“One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.”

Episcopalians: 3
“One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was.”

Mormons: 5…“One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.”

Unitarians:
“We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.”

Methodists: Undetermined
“Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.”

Nazarene: 6…“One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.”

Lutherans: None…“Lutherans don’t believe in change.”

Amish: “What’s a light bulb?”