Switching From Bellsouth

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 07, 2004 Posts: 1

BellSouth is the DEBIL!! Twisted Evil

The more that I read about Vonage, the more interested that I am. I have a problem that some of you may have had as well. I have both phone and internet service with Bellsouth (ATL). The internet is fiber (which is great) and my only option for service where I am. The connection is PPPOE (no modem needed). Any suggestions? I would really like to drop the phone service with them if I can and keep my fiber connection.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 08, 2004 Posts: 7

I switched from BellSouth to Vonage - began the process Sep 3, 2003 and finally got it switched (LNP and all) in late January 2004. I was also BellSouth DSL on IFITL (fiber based DSL). BellSouth will not give up your phone number for LNP if you have DSL (even thought it's not copper). I called countless times and spoke to greater levels of managers each time. I complained to the Georgia PSC and while BellSouth called back after that one, they still refused to release the phone number since DSL was on that line.

My end game was to switch to ComCast, resubmit my LNP request, wait for several weeks, then call Vonage LNP department and speak to a manager to finally get the LNP finalized. I ended up paying for Vonage and my BellSouth phone line for 5 months before finally getting it switched.

I do have to say that I get MUCH faster download speeds with Comcast than I got with BellSouth DSL. And I've also got all of my house working through Vonage with no problems. I'm pleased with the service, although frustrated it took so long to do. I will never do business with BellSouth again.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 6

I would much rather have my IFITL line back if possible. it was a full dedicated connection, and never had the problems that I now experience with my cable provider. My download speed with my Bellsouth IFITL line was 2.2 down and 384 up. Much better than my current Adelphia cable connection that ranges from 900K down to 128K up.

My cable Internet service is just down right terriable! But, I would rather have the VoIP service than Bellsouth Phone service.

My vonage quality has been Great! I had my Packet settings resized to 10k and my code "C" set to high, so I get better QOS service. So even if my upload speed is 16K, (which it has been before) I still get great phone service.

If only "Greedy" Bellsouth would provide "Naked DSL" service like Verizon and SBC, I would then switch back in a heartbeat to Bellsouth's IFITL DSL service.

Posts: 196 · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: Switching From Bellsouth

robbyr wrote:

BellSouth is the DEBIL!! Twisted Evil

The more that I read about Vonage, the more interested that I am. I have a problem that some of you may have had as well. I have both phone and internet service with Bellsouth (ATL). The internet is fiber (which is great) and my only option for service where I am. The connection is PPPOE (no modem needed). Any suggestions? I would really like to drop the phone service with them if I can and keep my fiber connection.

Well you have to keep your Bellsouth dialtone if you want to keep DSL. IFITL is limited at this point since you can't get the higher speeds you get with ADSL. Depending on your cable provider, you can do very well with a cable modem.

Bottom line, Bellsouth does not offer "naked DSL" so you'll have to keep their dialtone if you want their DSL.