> They had a good price, but they're fucking Verizon. They make a lot
> of phones work. I know that's a regulated business, but you'd think
> they'd have a techie who could find a crossed wire. Isn't that
> Telephony 101?
Unfortunately the support for the Internet "stuff" and the support for the traditional phone "stuff" are not really related, at least based on my experience with Verizon. The support organizations are not connected and do not seem to share information. Since probably 80-90% of users' Internet problems are due to a bad password, a problem with MS Windows, or a DSL modem or cable failure, the support staff do not receive a lot of training in the skills of true technical problem solving. VZ could not afford to keep people with those skills on a helpdesk, because as Jordan rightly points out - people don't really want to pay for it.
There is a saying in the IT Industry: "Good, Fast, Cheap - Pick Two". You are getting the fast, cheap service. :)
Anyway, I had a similar problem years ago with my DSL, back when it was still Bell Atlantic, and Darth Vader greeted a login. Once we had exhausted all the support through the Internet unit the only thing left was a problem in my local loop (the twisted pair between me and the Central Office) so I called the other support number and made up some bullshit about static on my line. In a week or so the support guy had found that there was a crossed-wire in the box where the copper landed on the apartment complex premises.
Sometimes for that kind of work you can request a Verizon person instead of a subcontractor, but that will tend to delay how quickly someone will be out to look at your problem.
If you are just using Residential DSL, you could consider paying more for Business, which would alledgedly get you more sophisticated support.
Matt
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