SteveWords

Qworst wants to save you money!

I got yet another letter in the mail yesterday from Qworst (Otherwise known as Qwest-your not so friendly local communications monoply). The letter was offering me special savings if I signed up for a yearly agreement with them. I called the number and a clueless girl answered the phone who was trying to get me to switch to Qwest with MSN (YUCK!!!). I now use a local service that I like very much, thank you.

The even more interesting part of this whole thing is the scam behind the deal. Qworst sells a 1.5mb DSL connection for $28.00 a month at the regular price.  They wanted to sell me a 2 year agreement for only $22.00 a month-a savings of $6.00 a month. Here is the deal:

Save $6.00 a month = $72.00 a year or $144.00 for two years.

Here’s where it gets sticky! If you should decide to disconnect early interesting things happen! There is a fee of $200.00 for an early disconnect. So you could conceivably pay $200.00 to save $144.00. Sound like a good deal to you? Not to me! It’s just a marketing scam to trick you into locking yourself into their service! Either way they get to rip you off!

Some things to think about:

1. What will the technology be in two years? Most likely faster and cheaper. You lose!

2. Will the costs go down in two years and leave you holding the (expensive) bag? Most likely! You lose again!

3. Will getting the special rate actually save you money? This sometimes happens as the special rate requires “bundling” of services, some of which you will never use, but have to pay for to get the special rate. You lose again!

4. What happens if something happens? You lose your job and can’t pay the bill and have to turn off the phone. Congratulations! You owe Qworst an extra $200.00 (do not pass go!) and get nothing for it. ...and again!

Kinda makes you not want to do it doesn’t it?

Leave a comment or two!

Qwest never seems to amaze me anymore!  Their tactics are becoming more and more like a regime rather than a “Spirit of Service” oriented company.  There is no question in my mind that they are in bed with yet another monopolistic group: Microsoft.

One other thing to note:  even if a customer moves, this is considered a violation of the contract, considered a change, and the customer will have to pay the termination fee!  This is confirmed via Qwest’s User Agreement in Megaorder.  So, in theory, even if you are using the service, and want to keep the same thing at a new location, you owe STILL them money.  I guess they think that they can now dictate where you live and what you do.

I would love to say this whole problem is limited to Qwest, but from watching and working in the industry these last couple of years, I can see a major war between the communication giants in Arizona: Qwest and Cox.  Hopefully people will become fed up enough with being pawns in the ongoing battle that is theirs. 

Spread the word… contrary to what Qwest will tell you, you DO have a choice.  Choose wisely!

Actually, if you move you don’t have to pay anything extra, if the place you move too has Qwest you can get it and if the place you move too does not have Qwest, they will cancel the agreement and you dont have to pay anything because they are in violation of the contract because they cannot provide you service. 
Im not saying any of these companies are angels, but you have some rights.  Anyway where I live Qwest is the only service available :(