MickinMD ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #1 Posted December 19, 2019 Everything is working - DSL thru my phone's landline, etc., but no dial tone: my phone line is out. Thank God I have a separate cell phone account. I disconnected all house wires that run to the outside junction box, plugged in a phone line directly into the junction box, and no dial tone. So it's an outside-the-house problem. Verizon charges around $100 if they come out and find the problem is inside the house. This biggest problem, is trying to report the problem to Verizon. I did a Google search for Verizon Customer Service and kept getting Wireless. Then when I didn't get a residential page, checking phone took me to an Internet page. Finally, I googled "Verizon residential customer service and finally found a customer service number. It -while connected with my Tracfone mobile phone - asked me if the problem as about landline number, which it stated. Then it asked me questions where it wanted a voice answer, it send me a "temporary pin" by text and email but didn't give me enough time to find it before moving on. I finally was able to say "phone outage" and it said it would connect me to a person. That was before I began typing this - my spartphone says the call in now 20 minutes long: I'm waiting on hold and hope the speakerphone won't kill my battery. I'll wait another 10 minutes and then call back and use the have-them-call-back option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted December 19, 2019 Share #2 Posted December 19, 2019 Land what? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #3 Posted December 19, 2019 2 minutes ago, MickinMD said: Everything is working - DSL thru my phone's landline, etc., but no dial tone: my phone line is out. Thank God I have a separate cell phone account. I disconnected all house wires that run to the outside junction box, plugged in a phone line directly into the junction box, and no dial tone. So it's an outside-the-house problem. Verizon charges around $100 if they come out and find the problem is inside the house. This biggest problem, is trying to report the problem to Verizon. I did a Google search for Verizon Customer Service and kept getting Wireless. Then when I didn't get a residential page, checking phone took me to an Internet page. Finally, I googled "Verizon residential customer service and finally found a customer service number. It -while connected with my Tracfone mobile phone - asked me if the problem as about landline number, which it stated. Then it asked me questions where it wanted a voice answer, it send me a "temporary pin" by text and email but didn't give me enough time to find it before moving on. I finally was able to say "phone outage" and it said it would connect me to a person. That was before I began typing this - my spartphone says the call in now 20 minutes long: I'm waiting on hold and hope the speakerphone won't kill my battery. I'll wait another 10 minutes and then call back and use the have-them-call-back option. Landline? seriously? why? How often do you use the phone? I think I've had 3 phone calls this month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted December 19, 2019 Share #4 Posted December 19, 2019 Does this have anything do do with the ‘old country’ @Wilbur was babbling about? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #5 Posted December 19, 2019 2 minutes ago, Kzoo said: Does this have anything do do with the ‘old country’ @Wilbur was babbling about? I think it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted December 19, 2019 Share #6 Posted December 19, 2019 There are 'secret' phone numbers to get through to your service providers. Emergency services people have the numbers as do most of your public service entities. Service technicians also have the numbers. Flag down one of their trucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #7 Posted December 19, 2019 6 minutes ago, Kzoo said: Land what? Landshark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted December 19, 2019 Share #8 Posted December 19, 2019 6 minutes ago, Kzoo said: the ‘old country’ It was much better when the phone company was in charge of the country. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #9 Posted December 19, 2019 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #10 Posted December 19, 2019 Candlestick or go home 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted December 19, 2019 Share #11 Posted December 19, 2019 3 minutes ago, dennis said: Classic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #12 Posted December 19, 2019 15 minutes ago, dennis said: Landline? seriously? why? How often do you use the phone? I think I've had 3 phone calls this month. I was thinking the same thing about the radio thread, but figured maybe some folks just like things the way they were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #13 Posted December 19, 2019 2 minutes ago, Kzoo said: Classic You old country guys are classic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prophet Zacharia Posted December 19, 2019 Share #14 Posted December 19, 2019 I haven’t had a landline at home for over 15 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #15 Posted December 19, 2019 10 minutes ago, Razors Edge said: I was thinking the same thing about the radio thread, but figured maybe some folks just like things the way they were. I listen to the radio every morning. Trivia, local news, ski report, weather, avalanche report, good music, all while I have breakfast. He'll even tell you what beer, wine and booze is on sale at the local grocery store. This is stuff you need to know. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtyhip Posted December 19, 2019 Share #16 Posted December 19, 2019 I sat next to a gal at lunch that has a land line and a very old flip phone, only used for emergencies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #17 Posted December 19, 2019 34 minutes ago, MickinMD said: Everything is working - DSL thru my phone's landline, etc., but no dial tone: my phone line is out. Thank God I have a separate cell phone account. I disconnected all house wires that run to the outside junction box, plugged in a phone line directly into the junction box, and no dial tone. So it's an outside-the-house problem. Verizon charges around $100 if they come out and find the problem is inside the house. This biggest problem, is trying to report the problem to Verizon. I did a Google search for Verizon Customer Service and kept getting Wireless. Then when I didn't get a residential page, checking phone took me to an Internet page. Finally, I googled "Verizon residential customer service and finally found a customer service number. It -while connected with my Tracfone mobile phone - asked me if the problem as about landline number, which it stated. Then it asked me questions where it wanted a voice answer, it send me a "temporary pin" by text and email but didn't give me enough time to find it before moving on. I finally was able to say "phone outage" and it said it would connect me to a person. That was before I began typing this - my spartphone says the call in now 20 minutes long: I'm waiting on hold and hope the speakerphone won't kill my battery. I'll wait another 10 minutes and then call back and use the have-them-call-back option. This is a hint that it’s time to pull the plug. They probably don’t want to look for the problem since you are their last customer anyway. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Share #18 Posted December 19, 2019 I still have a land line as well as a cell phone. All the cool kids think that their cell phones are great but you can't understand what they are saying through all the mush and compression. I used to think this was one of those old country problems, but when I couldn't understand a caller at the hobby shoppe I'd give the phone to one of the young workers. The first thing I'd hear from them was "wut?" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share #19 Posted December 19, 2019 Most people I know don't have a landline phone. I've been thinking about getting rid of it, though I speak to relatives in other states at least a couple times a week, often for at least an hour at a time, and I like the sound much better with a landline phone. It's also more comfortable to hold. In my area there have been times of power outages where the cell towers are also dead but the landline phones work - assuming you have one that doesn't need to be plugged into 110 VAC power. There are some other reasons: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/04/5-reasons-to-keep-a-landline-phone/index.htm http://ne-tel.com/keep-landline-phone/ I seldom use my smartphone, though I have an excellent one (Samsung Galaxy S7), and I buy 1500 talk mins/year (leftover time rolls-over each year) plus 1500 texts and 1500 MB 4G Internet for $125 per year. I don't know if going through Verizon for a smartphone would be cheaper than landline service plus excellent Tracfone service through a near-state-of-the-art smartphone that does all I need. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share #20 Posted December 19, 2019 Final repair solution: Verizon will have someone fix everything on Dec. 31. Thank God my DSL is still working and I have a couple thousand unused Tracfone talk minutes left. BUT, I'll lose DSL capability so I'm finally getting FIOS Internet. It turns out that my area is undergoing conversion to fiber optic cable and the DSL I have now only runs on copper lines which we now have. Verizon will NOT replace the problem line with copper lines and I'll get a fiber optic line, so my DSL Internet service will end. I ordered fast FIOS Internet and unlimited (long distance, etc.) landline phone service for an estimated total (after fees, taxes, etc. for $78.54/month. If, at some future point I want the triple option with FIOS TV added, I can do that at any time. Right now, the FIOS Internet means I'll have even sharper Amazon Instant Video pictures - more reason not to pay to TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted December 20, 2019 Share #21 Posted December 20, 2019 If I update and up speed my internet (Hey @Randomguy) I will have to give up my internet and /or have ,y "landline" off my computer...which would mean no phone when electricity is out the present phone is plugged in to an electrical outlet so WTF...and I do have the cell...Have yet to take the plunge...might need a new modem and or would need to take the day off to get the work done.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted December 20, 2019 Share #22 Posted December 20, 2019 14 minutes ago, petitepedal said: If I update and up speed my internet (Hey @Randomguy) I will have to give up my internet and /or have ,y "landline" off my computer...which would mean no phone when electricity is out the present phone is plugged in to an electrical outlet so WTF...and I do have the cell...Have yet to take the plunge...might need a new modem and or would need to take the day off to get the work done.... How would increasing your internet speed make you give up your internet? How often does the electricity go out? How often do you need to make a call on a landline when the electricity is out? Are you trying to order Dominoes when the power goes out? A router costs about $15. Take the day off work? Is this your set up? You're over thinking this. It's internet service not rocket surgery. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randomguy Posted December 20, 2019 Share #23 Posted December 20, 2019 6 hours ago, Kzoo said: Land what? Yeah, I chuckle when people still have landlines. A doctor like Mickin should have ditched landlines ages ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted December 20, 2019 Share #24 Posted December 20, 2019 7 minutes ago, Randomguy said: Yeah, I chuckle when people still have landlines. A doctor like Mickin should have ditched landlines ages ago. But he doesn’t like those touch pads, he prefers the feel of the rotary dial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted December 20, 2019 Share #25 Posted December 20, 2019 Oops..cell phone typing..for faster internet I give up the landline and go to a computer based phone..and I do have my cell... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted December 20, 2019 Share #26 Posted December 20, 2019 18 minutes ago, petitepedal said: Oops..cell phone typing..for faster internet I give up the landline and go to a computer based phone..and I do have my cell... Do they charge you for a computer based phone or it just is included with your internet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder ★ Posted December 20, 2019 Share #27 Posted December 20, 2019 Doubt we'll ever drop the land line, so carry on with your slamming. To each their own. BFD!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinneR ★ Posted December 20, 2019 Share #28 Posted December 20, 2019 34 minutes ago, sheep_herder said: Doubt we'll ever drop the land line, so carry on with your slamming. To each their own. BFD!!! I think we all need more sheep in our lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted December 20, 2019 Share #29 Posted December 20, 2019 My favorite was when I had AT&T Uverse. They had a sticker on everything directing you to a website if you had an issue, if you were having an issue, the internet wasn't working either. So you had to hunt for a phone number. I pointed that out to one of techs when them came out to fix it once and they laughed pretty good about that. Yeah, just a tad short sighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted December 20, 2019 Share #30 Posted December 20, 2019 16 hours ago, MickinMD said: I ordered fast FIOS Internet and unlimited (long distance, etc.) landline phone service for an estimated total (after fees, taxes, etc. for $78.54/month. So, long story short, you pay the same or less for equal or BETTER service? Huzzah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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