sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Telecom Service & Providers Verizon vs US LEC

Hey folks, I am wondering if I can solicit some opinions on switching from Verizon to US LEC. My company uses Verizon for service in most locations, though we have a couple that get service through US LEC.

I was thinking about making a change in our headquarters location as I pretty well tired of dealing with Verizon here. I have had good experience delaing with US LEC folks, though I dreally haven't had to talk to them much.

A large part of my problems are with the old cabling in a couple of sites (static, poor call quality). I have been through the ringer trying to get all of the copper issues taken care of. Frankly, I've just about had it dealing with Verizon's customer service on these issues.

Any thoughts on this?

I like US LEC. We have worked with them many times and have rarely had a problem. They are very detail-oriented. They have never left us hanging and we don't even sell their services. I have had fewer problems with them than any other CLEC. I have noticed that they aren't as quick to "pass the buck" as many other carriers often do.

Steve, I mentioned earlier that we would be happy to assist you with the in-house wiring issues. The offer still stands at any time.

I agree, US LEC seems to be the best CLEC to work with. I took a tour of their CO recently and was very impressed.

Let them give you a quote and see how much money they can save you. Their customer service will certainly be a WHOLE lot better than Verizon.

Why not give Telesystems the job of doing the cutover? You couldn't go wrong with Ed's company!

-Larry

Thanks guys. Ed, I appreciate the offer and just may take you up on that. I'm trying to be forward thinking in my next move since at some point we're going to replace the ROLM 9751 that we currently use in HQ and tie in our other sites (we have 14 locations total, with a mix of different systems).

At our main location (Landover, MD - in your area Ed) we have a lot of individual trunks - COs, DIDs - but no T-1s or PRIs for these (though we do have a dedicated T-1 for LD and 1 for a point-to-point). I haven't moved to PRIs because I have been unsure if that's a good move since we have so many problems with the old copper infrastructure out here. We do have a fiber loop to the building, but would need a new mux to support any additional circuits, at least according to the Verizon engineers I've talked to.

I know I'm rambling a bit here, but I've been thinking about this for some time and have really been unsure of how to proceed. I am starting to form some ideas on the matter, thanks in large part to the folks on this board.

No problem. If you want, we can at least have someone stop by there and get a better handle on your situation from a technician's perspective. We don't charge for this service if you are interested.

Definitely give US LEC a shot at your business. I also like working with XO. Both have been very professional and proactive in helping customers assess their needs.

The 9751 has to go, or at least the current trunking configuration. That all depends upon how far foreward you are thinking but it sounds like you are on the right track. A lot has changed in 20 years and I see a huge potential in savings if you do your homework. You are obviously doing that already.

You're right about the savings. We are definitely overtrunked now, especially since we moved some folks to our Baltimore facility some months back. That's one of the reasons I'd prefer to move to PRIs.

I do have a support contract on that ROLM through a small company in Northern VA. They are a reliable couple of guys who know the 9751 inside and out. I haven't asked them about cutting over to a new provider, though I'd feel obligated to request their assistance since we have a good working relationship.

Ed and Larry, I do appreciate the advice you've given me on the board. Its obvious that you both are well-respected here. Ed, I would like to have opportunity to work with your company in the future. Right now I'm limited by the corporate budget (or lack thereof) so it looks like I'll be hanging onto the ROLM for at least another year or so.

I have actually had some bad experiences with USLEC and will not be using them again, nor would I recommend them to my worst enemy.

My circuits were delivered late- they say vzn wasn't cooperating, but I heard later that someone lost the order.
They goofed the port request by one day, taking my customer out on a thursday when we were sheduled for friday. (I know that it's the previous carrier's issue, but they told xo thursday and everyone else friday)

Additional orders take no less than one month.
I've had numerous costly delays on change orders.

their ani number rings on some gruff engineer's desk who then transfers you to nowhere.

I get nothing but attitude from the orders department.

They also have a huge turnover rate among employees from what I'm told.

Just be careful.

Ouch. I have never had those kinds of problems with them. I guess that I should count myself as one of the lucky ones. We don't market their services at all, but some of our customers have chosen them on their own. My experiences have always been professional and prompt.

I guess that these issues hold true with any CLEC or LEC for that matter. When there's a middle man, there's always room for error and finger-pointing. It goes with the territory. My canned speech to customers is to make sure that they are aware that Verizon is in no hurry to make their competitors look good, so if they drop the ball, that's it. I would think that most other LEC's maintain this same stance, despite the fact that they are "supposed" to treat CLEC circuits with the same priority that they treat their own.

Come to think of it, maybe that's the problem.

There's a lot of truth to your speech, Ed. I see funny things from Verizon all of the time. I once ordered 8 PRI's from another CLEC to be delivered the same day at the same time...
When I walked into the telco room, I found four verizon techs. Each had a ticket for two circuits to deliver.
The four of them got ONE working, went to lunch, blamed the CO's techs for wiring problems, and sat and smoked in my nice clean telco room. I kept hearing "These are not Verizon circuits, so...(enter excuse here)"
I had three ckts hot by end of wasted day.

I spent a lot of time taking heat from the customer and passing it on to the CLEC sales and engineering crews, but there's only so much that can be done.

I'm just glad that it's not like that every day. Sometimes you get a tech who really cares and does his job. Sometimes you don't.

Didn't I hear the Paetec is buying USLEC?

love vz new york, love 'em.

I think it would be more professional for me to refrain from commenting about what you encountered with Verizon technicians. I know what you are meaning to say ("know what I'm saying?"), but it is a losing battle.

As for Paetec and USLEC, I have no clue nor interest except to ask the question: Why don't these companies come up with names that are more easily identifiable by their core base; their customers?

How many old ladies know what a LEC is?

How about US Local Phone Service? Seems like it would appeal to a lot more customers. Hmmmm. Maybe that's it; these companies DON'T want business from anything other than businesses with telecommunications managers who can translate. Maybe that's how they throw the traditional end-user to the curb, by masking their name with something not even remotely associated with telephone service.

Seems that something might be on the Verizon.