Comcast Digital Voice Vs. Verizon Phone Service
Comparing a Fairly New Broadband Phone Service with the Old Reliable Classic Telephone Company
Comcast Digital Voice, on the other hand, is part of the new school. Using next generation technology, Comcast Digital Voice allows the customer to bypass many of the usual aspects of phone service, including toll calling and other fees. Due to the fact that the service is administered through the Internet, it potentially allows Comcast to offer more features for less.
The keyword is potentially. Unfortunately, Comcast Digital Voice is not nearly the price break it should be, especially when you considered that Comcast offers their own high-speed Internet service product. Unlike some of their broadband phone competition, they can keep everything "in house," which would theoretically allow for some discounts. To be fair, Comcast does offer some introductory specials for Comcast Digital Voice, but they always come with a time limit, at which point the service then jumps back up to its usual $39.95, which is the same price that Verizon charges for their free long distance phone service. Granted, Comcast Digital Voice has more features than Verizon offers at that same price, but Verizon has an edge in service that more than makes up for any additional cost.
As far as the product was concerned, Verizon was always fairly reliable. One would always know what to expect. By contrast, Comcast Digital Voice was discouragingly inconsistent. Often, calls were either dropped or flat out missed completely. And at times when the connection actually help up, sometimes we had to deal with a loud crackling sound, as if you could hear something being electrocuted. A particularly frustrating experience was often exacerbated by the inferior service Comcast offered.
Now, to be fair, at the time Comcast Digital Voice was a new service for both them and us. More than a few times I was asked to be patient as they continued to try working out whatever issues and problems popped up. The first couple times, I was willing to be nice. However, when the same issue keeps coming up and coming up repeatedly within the span of a few months, patience can easily be exhausted. What made matters worse is that any tech they sent out seemed either unsure of the issue or would provide simply a band-aid solution for that particular problem, which never really resolved anything. Of course, it was only a matter of time before whatever issue I had contacted them about would rear its ugly head again.
Of course, none of the above issues actually deals with the one dilemma when using a broadband Internet phone service. Namely, if you lose your Internet connection in any way, whether via power outage, a modem problem, or any type of issue that causes you to lose service, you will unfortunately lose your phone service as well. Now, this is not an issue that is unique in any way to Comcast Digital Voice. Indeed, each broadband phone service provider I have had has dealt with that issue. However, when you combine that fact with the various issues listed above, one can easily say that Verizon offers better value for slightly more cost.
The only issues I have had with Verizon is in dealing with their customer service representatives. Sometimes, I get lucky and get someone knowledgeable, fast and effective. But at other times, I get someone who is chomping at the bit to get off the phone for whatever reason, whether that is lunch or break or end of day, whatever. I have worked in customer service before, so I do have some sympathy, but that only stretches so much. It was one of the reasons I am constantly looking to upgrade my phone service. I would be willing to say that Comcast Digital Voice service representatives were more service-oriented than Verizon's, yet the effectiveness of the Comcast Digital Voice reps was limited by their lack of knowledge of their product.
All that being said, I would still prefer Verizon's phone service to Comcast Digital Voice. When Comcast's only advantage is Verizon's relatively poor customer service, well, that is not enough to make up the difference in quality. I would much rather deal with bad customer service with reliable phone service then constantly need to speak with friendly representatives on a cell phone because the Digital Voice service is hiccupping again. Sometimes, the old way is the best way.
Published by Sean Watts
I love great storytelling in all forms and mediums, no matter if it is truth or fiction. I look forward to practicing my craft on Associated Content while also meeting fellow writers in the community. View profile
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17 Comments
Post a CommentI was also duped by Comcast into switching from AT&T with the "triple play" offer. The savings is not worth it! We switched about 3 weeks ago and ever since then on a DAILY basis, our phone line and our internet goes out. I personally have called Comast not less than 7 times to complain and have them restore the service and my husband has called at least 3 times. I work from home and my daughter takes online college classes so this has been a complete nightmare. Comcast is guilty of false advertising. I was told by the Comcast rep that Comcast is aware there is a problem and that they have b een working on it for a while. I asked her why they aren't proactive and notify their customers and why don't they offer a refund since the service is not what they "sold" it to be but she just said she didn't know and was "sorry for my inconvenience." I actually felt bad for her because she said she gets these calls all day long. I am going to write to the CEO of Comcast and copy the FCC,
I will concur with your assessment. We switched from Vonage to comcast because of their "bundle" and supposedly better connection for the phone service. Well, here's what i have to say about this:
1) the phone service quality was no different than vonage
2) Vonage offered many more features as part of their service at lower prices
3) If you make international calls...forget about using comcast because they are WAAAAYYY more expensive than Vonage
4) When i tried to cancel the phone service with Comcast today they informed me that I had to pay 75% of the list price (meaning the non-bundled price) of the internet phone which came to $650!!
5) customer service for business customers was a joke. We had a hard time finding the right number to even call and then get routed all over the place once you actually get a voice on the other end...
I feel like I have been thoroughly screwed. I will take every chance I can to not deal with Comcast again...i already cancelled cabl
Comcast has to be the WORST phone service EVER!! I use to have Verizon, but switched to Comcast because at the time, they offered me a bundle plan, but I must say that their phone service is HORRID! Every time I make a call, when I first get a dial tone - I hear a crackling noise (and this happens every time I make a call) and then when I am talking with the person, I hear an echo and sometimes even hear myself - it's like as if I were in the background of the conversation, I don't know any other way of explaining it, but I am thinking now of going back to Verizon or just using my cell phone altogether. If they had Fios tv in my area then I would go with that and drop Comcast completely....word of advice ..... DO NOT get Comcast phone service. Oh, and one more thing ... every time I call their technical support department when I do have "phone" issues - I always seem to get routed to Texas and I live in the New England area .... Good luck to anyone who has Comcast!!!
Agree 100% - My advice: If your phone and internet are both working now, DON'T CHANGE 'EM! I switched from Verizon to comcast for digital voice. Up until then my internet with comcast had been reliable and I was happy. But once they installed the phones, both phone and internet go out all the time. I've had visit after visit. As one other commenter said, they come out, patch a few things and then it breaks down again. Last guy said the cable that was used was not comcast cable so they weren't responsible. Well I WATCHED the guy install the cable in if he wasn't from comcast, then he and his were awfully cleverly disguised! I will definitely switch back to Verizon but I don't know how to get my internet back to the way it was. And I don't want to change my e-mail address otherwise I'd switch providers.
Being a very frustrated Comcast Digital Voice customer, I decided to Google "Comcast Digital Voice Problems" and saw this thread. Since I noticed the last posting was fairly recent (December 2008), I am relieved to know I am not the only one having problems with it. I didn't much care for the Comcast letters stating I had to change to "Digital Voice" or else, with each letter enticing me to enroll (at the time being a Comcast standard home phone service customer). They stated that under a new Washington State law (one I have never heard of) that I had to switch since the law was forcing Comcast out of the analog phone service. When I didn't comply, they started sending people out to my house, clipboard in hand, again enticing me to sign up. Where I live Comcast, they refer it as the "hot zone" or something along those lines, and want to keep as many Comcast customers as possible because Verizon's FIOS plan is about to be rolled out here. Also, Comcast's "Speed Booster" technology for t
Same here. We got business class digital voice, and it is like a cheap chinese product...works when it wants to, much static, dropped calls, unable to call out or in.etc etc. As I sit here my phones are dead, people cannot call to make appointments, I cannot call out to get parts or communicate with my customers. My repair shop is literally at a standstill cause of comcasts substandard service.
I switched a week back from Verizon to Comcast. I think I was trying to save a few bucks. But what a fool I was.... I wish I had never switched. I am going back to Verizon Fios. I guess it is the best and I never had any problem in the past.
I have the Comcast triple play and I must tell you their service is absolutely the worst. The only thing worst than their service is their Customer service, or lack thereof. I moved into a new apartment and my phone has only worked 1 day in the last 4 months. Numerous techs have come out and the phone would work for 20min - 1hr each time. It would die after they left. I have spoken to them so much that I just can't say any more to those rude bastards. I am switching to Verizon and Dish - they are just terrible. I would like to see their hold on Jersey City broken, we deserve better service.
The prior comments tell a true story. I left AT&T for Comcast digital voice in August 2007 - what a mistake. The dial tone was here today, gone tomorrow, here again two days after that. Comcast would NOT send a tech out when the line was dead - it required me to make an appointment for 2 or 3 days later and by that time, the phone service would be back on line so there was nothing for the tech to troubleshoot. Finally in December the phone was dead for 4 days solid. I called Comcast for tech help and after being put on hold multiple times, the service rep finally, painfully admitted that Comcast's own phone lines were so fouled up she could not transfer my call within the company.
The service is not ready for prime time. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR IT.
I agree...Comcast sucks! I started off with MediaOne back in 2000 for phone, internet & cable TV. They were great! Then AT&T bought out MediaOne a few years later...and they were OK. My problems really started when AT&T sold out to Comcast. My service was no better...but all 3 of my bills increased and have since. Now, Comcast has been sending me letters and badgering me to upgrade to their "digital voice" (VoIP) product since they're discontinuing their traditional (reliable) "digital phone" service product. (Pending regulatory approval.) NO THANKS Comcast! I'm switching my service over to good ol' reliable Verizon. Screw Comcast! ...and as soon as Verizon FiOS is availble in my town I'm dumping my Comcast Intrernet and Cable TV service in favor of Verizon. Comcast is too big, to greedy and too bloated to care about their customers.