Never Order Utilities Over the Internet
Even if your utility/telephone/cable company offers you the option to place an order for new services via their website, forego it. Trust me. It won't get processed properly. Even if you get a confirming e-mail telling you that the order has been placed and can find the order status on their website. Let's run down the list:
PSE&G - Couldn't process the order because they couldn't locate the address in their systems.
Verizon - Got e-mail confirming the order, got order tracking number, could locate order status on their website. However, service was not turned on when the e-mail said it would be, and when I called to check on the status, they couldn't locate it in their system.
Cablevision - Got e-mail confirming the order, but when I called to add a service, they couldn't locate the order in their system.
I got the electricity turned on fine. The phone will now be turned on Wednesday afternoon. I'm rescheduling the cable installation.
Oh, and the movers didn't show up on Thursday, because they didn't have a move order for me despite my having told the salesman the date and time. Had to reschedule for Saturday. At least they showed up then.
Comments
Zoicks! The only things I tend to do online are a bit of shopping and making hotel/flight reservations for my boss. Everything else, particularly utility stuff, is via phone or US mail. I'm one of those holdouts who refuses to pay bills via online methods, I want the statement in front of me as I make out the check. :)
Posted by: Elayne Riggs | July 7, 2003 03:26 PM
I love online bill payment, but I will never again order anything other than non-essential items on the internet. Okay, I suppose technically cable is non-essential, but still. On the plus side, I have been catching up on my reading.
Posted by: Lesley | July 8, 2003 12:40 PM
Bite your tongue, cable is nonessential. :)
Posted by: Elayne Riggs | July 10, 2003 12:48 PM