# Wow...............just wow **URL:** \ **Category:** Chatting over the Back Fence\ **Created:** [September 17, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089 "2014-09-17T00:59:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![System1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@System1](https://forums.suse.com/u/System1)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/1 "2014-09-17T00:59:20Z")
So we have centurylink (qwest) for our phone service and long distance. Things have been fine for years, but they’re slowly slipping. In the last month, they’ve made a change to how long distance codes are assigned / unassigned. Of course, they did this without informing anyone of the change, so I’ve had between 15 - 20 code changes in the last month that never got done. It used to be I would send an email to a monitored address with our long distance account number and the code changes I needed done. Took less than five minutes for even several code changes. Their new way of handling this is for me to make a phone call, having to tell them the account number, code number, person’s name and department. Then wait 5 minutes on the phone for a confirmation number that the change has been made. Just did one this way a little bit ago, spent _20_ @#%^in minutes on the phone…sigh. Oh, this was also after spending around an hour getting the runaround as far as what number to even call to make these changes. First one disconnected me if I did not know the person’s 7 digit extension. Second one was for residential, not business, and this guy had no idea what a long distance code even was. The way people are abandoning them for different carriers, etc, you think they’d make things easier to accomplish and not give so much of a runaround… just my two cents. I’ll get off my high horse now. – Stevo ---
**Author:** ![kgroneman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f1d935/32.png) [@kgroneman](https://forums.suse.com/u/kgroneman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/2 "2014-09-17T17:42:03Z")
Hey Stevo: [color=blue] > I’ll get off my high horse now.[/color] Don’t fall. I think I’m thick in more ways than one. I’m not understanding what “Code changes” you would need as a telephone customer (??) – Kim - 9/17/2014 8:40:46 AM ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/3 "2014-09-17T19:28:19Z")
kgroneman sounds like they ‘said’: [color=blue] > Don’t fall. I think I’m thick in more ways than one. I’m not > understanding what “Code changes” you would need as a telephone > customer (??)[/color] So my response to kgroneman’s comment is… When a new person starts here, we have to get a long distance code activated and assigned to them. When a person leaves, their code must be deactivated. These type “code changes”…make sense? – Stevo ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/4 "2014-09-17T20:10:48Z")
On Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:28:19 GMT, “Stevo” [steveSPAM@LESSccgov.net](mailto:steveSPAM@LESSccgov.net) wrote: [color=blue] > kgroneman sounds like they ‘said’: > [color=green] > > > Don’t fall. I think I’m thick in more ways than one. I’m not > > understanding what “Code changes” you would need as a telephone > > customer (??)[/color] > > So my response to kgroneman’s comment is… > > When a new person starts here, we have to get a long distance code > activated and assigned to them. When a person leaves, their code must > be deactivated. > > These type “code changes”…make sense?[/color] That would be a pain. Back when we had long distance codes, our PBX handled the codes automatically. Not sure how because I didn’t set that up. But under our current phone service, long distance is included just like local calls. So we don’t worry about codes anymore. May be time to consider a different phone company. Ken ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/5 "2014-09-17T20:29:43Z")
KeN Etter sounds like they ‘said’: [color=blue] > That would be a pain. Back when we had long distance codes, our PBX > handled the codes automatically. Not sure how because I didn’t set > that up. But under our current phone service, long distance is > included just like local calls. So we don’t worry about codes > anymore. May be time to consider a different phone company.[/color] So my response to KeN’s comment is… I mentioned to my boss about getting rid of the codes, don’t think that’s an option. Other dept heads like getting the breakdown of who in their dept is ‘costing’ how much in long distance. – Stevo ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/6 "2014-09-17T21:00:42Z")
On Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:59:20 +0000, Stevo wrote: [color=blue] > So we have centurylink (qwest) for our phone service and long distance. > > Things have been fine for years, but they’re slowly slipping.[/color] I recently switched from Verizon to T-Mobile. Generally, I’ve been happy with the service (OK, the service is _great_), but I had a weird interaction with them a month after I opened the account. We got two Galaxy S5 phones on an installment plan through CostCo. The phones didn’t actually show up on our bill (the EIP did, but we weren’t getting billed for it). Since I actually wanted to pay it off, I e- mailed them for help. They said “sure thing - just verify who you are by replying with your social security number”. Um, not only no, but \*\*\*\* no. “OK, well, we understand your concerns” (OK, so why did you even ask for that? You do have customers who are not as smart as me and who don’t realize that e-mail is unencrypted and this is a great way to get your identity stolen) “You don’t have a PIN on your account, so you’ll need to call in to set up a PIN before we continue.” Well, OK, but if I call in to set up a PIN, then I presumably can get the EIP problem fixed then too, right? Answer: Well, yes. Except I don’t want to call in, because I’m e-mailing so I can do other things between answers. I don’t want to be tied to the phone while you sort out why you’re not asking me to send you the full monthly amount I should be paying on my bill. Ultimately, I asked if I could go into their local store (we’ve got one walking distance from the apartment) and get both set up, and they said yes - but the charges started showing up on the bill, so I haven’t bothered to set up a PIN yet. But how stupid is it that I want to be billed the proper amount on my bill, and they need me to verify my identity before they make that change? OK, maybe I shouldn’t have contacted them to tell them about their error, after all. Jim – Jim Henderson, CNA6, CDE, CNI, LPIC-1, CLA10, CLP10 Novell/SUSE/NetIQ Knowledge Partner ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/7 "2014-09-17T22:05:10Z")
Jim Henderson sounds like they ‘said’: [color=blue] > But how stupid is it that I want to be billed the proper amount on my > bill, and they need me to verify my identity before they make that > change? OK, maybe I shouldn’t have contacted them to tell them about > their error, after all.[/color] So my response to Jim’s comment is… I might have tried that last option first. 😉 Of course, then a few months later service gets turned off, or your account goes to collection or some garbage like that. World is going to \*\*\*\* quickly. – Stevo ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/8 "2014-09-18T00:23:47Z")
On Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:05:10 +0000, Stevo wrote: [color=blue] > Jim Henderson sounds like they ‘said’: > [color=green] > > > But how stupid is it that I want to be billed the proper amount on my > > bill, and they need me to verify my identity before they make that > > change? OK, maybe I shouldn’t have contacted them to tell them about > > their error, after all.[/color] > > So my response to Jim’s comment is… > > I might have tried that last option first. 😉 > > Of course, then a few months later service gets turned off, or your > account goes to collection or some garbage like that.[/color] That was my thought - that eventually someone would notice and they’d bill me for back payments. I was really surprised they wanted to make it that difficult to fix it, when I was saying ‘hey, you’re not billing me enough’. Crazy. But I’m extremely happy with the service. I occasionally go to Vancouver for business meetings and training, and the data plan and text plan cover Canada. With Verizon, you get a message (well, actually, with T-Mobile, you do as well) when you cross the border, but Verizon will _soak_ you for international data. It worked out to something like $2000 per GB or something ridiculous like that. [color=blue] > World is going to \*\*\*\* quickly.[/color] In some regards, it certainly is. Jim – Jim Henderson, CNA6, CDE, CNI, LPIC-1, CLA10, CLP10 Novell/SUSE/NetIQ Knowledge Partner ---
**Author:** ![kgroneman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f1d935/32.png) [@kgroneman](https://forums.suse.com/u/kgroneman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/9 "2014-09-18T00:28:27Z")
Hey Stevo: [color=blue] > These type “code changes”…make sense?[/color] Got it. Makes sense. – Kim - 9/17/2014 3:28:18 PM ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/10 "2014-09-18T01:38:49Z")
Jim Henderson sounds like they ‘said’: [color=blue] > It worked out to something like $2000 per GB or something ridiculous > like that.[/color] So my response to Jim’s comment is… $2000 / GB… – Stevo ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/11 "2014-09-18T05:32:06Z")
On Wed, 17 Sep 2014 22:38:49 +0000, Stevo wrote: [color=blue] > Jim Henderson sounds like they ‘said’: > [color=green] > > > It worked out to something like $2000 per GB or something ridiculous > > like that.[/color] > > So my response to Jim’s comment is… > > $2000 / GB… [/color] Yeah, that was my reaction, too. The show it as $2.05/MB on the text message you receive, so it doesn’t sound quite as bad. Then you do the math…And scream “ouch!” (or worse) ## Jim Jim Henderson, CNA6, CDE, CNI, LPIC-1, CLA10, CLP10 Novell/SUSE/NetIQ Knowledge Partner ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/12 "2014-09-18T15:39:48Z")
On Wed, 17 Sep 2014 17:29:43 GMT, “Stevo” [steveSPAM@LESSccgov.net](mailto:steveSPAM@LESSccgov.net) wrote: [color=blue] > KeN Etter sounds like they ‘said’: > [color=green] > > > That would be a pain. Back when we had long distance codes, our PBX > > handled the codes automatically. Not sure how because I didn’t set > > that up. But under our current phone service, long distance is > > included just like local calls. So we don’t worry about codes > > anymore. May be time to consider a different phone company.[/color] > > So my response to KeN’s comment is… > > I mentioned to my boss about getting rid of the codes, don’t think > that’s an option. Other dept heads like getting the breakdown of who > in their dept is ‘costing’ how much in long distance.[/color] But if there is no charge for long distance calls, then there is no cost to the dept…which is why your company should switch phone providers to one that does not charge per minute for long distance service. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/wow-just-wow/26089/13 "2014-09-18T16:47:04Z")
KeN Etter sounds like they ‘said’: [color=blue] > But if there is no charge for long distance calls, then there is no > cost to the dept…which is why your company should switch phone > providers to one that does not charge per minute for long distance > service.[/color] So my response to KeN’s comment is… We are looking at replacing a couple PRIs at our bigger locations with SIP trunks, we just don’t feel comfortable enough yet with what all will be involved, so we’re going to get our WAN connections upgraded first. All the SIP providers here still have a charge for long distance, we would just get X minutes per month and then 2 cents / minute over that or something along those lines. – Stevo