The Dynamic Duo

Okay, landmark day. I am writing my first blog from my new home in Carlin, NV. So, obviously I have the computer set up and everything is working. AND I have…...............DSL! For the first time ever, and I gotta tell you, I’m loving it. Yep, just like a McDonald’s commercial.

We had some interesting experiences getting our phone, DSL, DISH Network. Perhaps you have needed at some time to call a company’s toll free number? If you have been living in a cave, let me enlighten you on the experience. First, there is the inevitable “wading thru the menu” “Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish”, “To hear about our new promotions…......, To pay your bill online (this option is always very prominent).........Please enter your 20 digit account number now, followe by the pound sign….............” and FINALLY after only 5 entries (if you are lucky), you will hear..”To speak to a Customer Service Representative (i.e. REAL PERSON) press 62590.” “We’re sorry, all of our representatives are currently assisting other customers. Please hold for the next available customer service representative.”....bad elevator music, punctuated by “Your call is very important to us. Please continue holding for an estimated wait time of from 10-69 minutes. We are experiencing a higher than normal call volume because we are such a popular and awesome company.”
“For quality assurance, this call may be recorded in part or in full. Hello, my name is Trent. Would you please give my your 20 digit account number? That is an invalid number. What is your phone number? Are you Carlos Mendez? Philip Constellation? Uh, who are you then? And what is your 20 digit account number….......ah…......there you are. And what is your address? That is an invalid address.” Etc. etc.
I was on with the phone people for upwards to 2 hours (after the wait time of from 10-69 minutes) going thru all my options. I could get local phone, long distance in a variety of plans, dial up internet, DSL, and I could bundle my services with DISH network. Install extra phone jacks? $70 for 2. $40 just for hooking up the phone, $20 for DSL installation. I had a headache.
Finally, dates were set for installation.
DISH installed without a hitch, except after the tech left, we realized that Idaho time was still displayed and we had no local channels, which in this area, as strange as it may seem, come out of Salt Lake City in Utah. Several of the above mentioned phone calls were made to get this fixed. How can each rep tell you something different? One night I had a real winner. I am NOT making this up, Dave Barry. She informed me that all of the DISHES displayed Eastern Standard Time. “Mine does not,” I informed her right back. “It is displaying Mountain Time, as in Idaho from whence I have moved.” We argued a bit back and forth, but she finally had to condede due to my salient wit and the fact that I was right. “As for your local channels, I show that you live on the very edge of the area where you will be able to get those channels with your tiny little dish. For a mere $59, we can upgrade you to a bigger dish.” “So, with the bigger dish, I will, for sure, be able to get those local channels?” “No, Ma’am. But it will be more likely.” I came within a hair’s breath of cancelling my DISH acct that very night. The next day, I tried again, and lo and behold, got someone who actually knew what he was talking about. The incorrect time indicated that my dish was not updated to my new location. It took awhile, but he fixed the problem, and now the local SLC channels come in like a charm, even with my tiny little dish.
The phone guy was supposed to be here the next day between 1 and 5 P.M. He showed up at 10 A.M. My computer was still in the packing box. I hadn’t even decided for sure where I wanted it set up. He did a few phone things, and left for a bit to do an “easy install”, I’m sure compared to ours. When he came back I had the computer nearly set up except for a few dangling cords that simply had NOWHERE to plug into! Don’t you hate it when that happens? “Ma’am, those look like cords to plug into your digital camera.” Of course! Mystery solved, and idiot labeling complete.
I think I will save further aspects of the “Moving-In” for further posts. Please leave comments; I’m feeling a bit isolated for now. Maybe I’ll just go give those nice DISH network people a call….................

UltraMom