[Argie's Wife]

Union Tel is no picnic to work with....They have some anti-competition clause in their contract for my area that makes it impossible for us to get Metrocast's digital phone server or switch our phone number to a VOIP option. Just their basic bill - no frills and no long distance - runs about $30 a month. We use our landline ONLY for incoming calls and local calls. We'd save a significant amount each month if we could get Metrocast's 3-in-1 tel/cable/internet deal.

Then there's their shut-off policy - learned this one the hard way - had a brain fart one month and forgot to pay the bill... the next month, we had a $63 bill. Time to pay it came around and hubby thought I'd paid it and I thought he'd paid it. No notice at all - our phone was shut off. I'll take my knocks when I have them coming - yes, we should have paid on time - but a shut off on a $63 bill? And no notice? C'mon! Found out their policy is that anything late 2x months over $25 results in a shut-off. (Edited to add this: we'd been customers of theirs for 9 years before this happened - you'd think someone would have called or mailed a reminder? It's not like we've ever stiffed 'em before...)

Office hours for Union are 9-4:30, Monday-Friday... calls for assistance when there's been computer wiring problems (not my home - business related) have waited two days (48 hours) for a response...

Hoping the new company is better... a lot better.