Monday, October 29, 2012

Verizon FIOS Battery Backup: for what?

Two days ago I received an e-mail message from Verizon which said in part:

If you have fiber-based voice service or FiOS® Digital Voice, the Battery Backup Unit (BBU) installed with your service supplies up to eight (8) hours of phone service.  Please note that your FiOS® TV and/or Internet service will not be available until your power is restored.
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I replied:

I do not have voice service.

1. Why do I have a battery backup?

2. Why not design the battery backup so that the modem/router can be powered by it?  Better yet, so that a power strip can be attached to also power my Home Monitoring gateway and some small computers: smartphone, tablet, laptop.
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Note: The only phones that will work with no electric power are those old types that plug directly into a phone jack and do not require electric power themselves.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Verizon returns: always aggravating.

Verizon sent me two Home Monitoring kits.  I've been trying for two weeks to return one.  Twice I was verbally told that an e-mail with a return label was being sent.  Never got it.

I just sent this to Verizon in response an e-mail message informing me that Verizon has an account with UPS and all I need to do is bring the package to UPS.  That's it.  No other information.  Here is my message:

1. Increase font size in your e-mail messages unless you do not want them read.

2.
Bad request
Your browser sent a query this server could not understand.

I got that when I clicked your stores link in the Chrome browser.  In IE I did a nationwide search and found no store near me.  Didn't you know that?

3. I'll try UPS Monday.  I recently returned stuff to Verizon with a shipping label, got confirmation of delivery from UPS, then a paper letter from Verizon demanding that same equipment or else I would be charged an exorbitant amount.