I just had to move to a new State. Apart from being paranoid about the secret presence of mold in my NYC apartment, I was also worried about ending up with an internet provider with terrible service. This was because I have previously remained under contract with one that was barely about to provide internet, let alone a high-speed one, in Old Town, Chicago.
So, in my recent search for good internet providers, I was able to sift out some red flags that everyone needs to avoid like the plague. I am sharing these with you so you can save yourself from straight-up terrible internet providers that hide in plain sight.
Internet Provider Red Flags to Avoid
There are roughly 3000 different internet providers in the US. So, finding the right one is like looking for a needle in a haystack. However, there are signs that you can look for to check how good or how bad an Internet provider is. Listed below are some warning signs that you should look out for on an internet provider’s official website. Ditch the provider right away if you come across any one of these.
- No Clear Mention of Speeds
This is the biggest red flag you should ignore. Internet speed is an important element in determining how good or bad your term with the provider will be. Plus, internet speed also helps you gauge how well-priced an internet plan is or isn’t.
If a provider only boasts about ‘blazing-fast’ speeds without any clear mention of speeds, you need to start walking in the opposite direction right away. This means terrible speeds overall, which is why you will face constant connectivity issues.
In other cases, some providers also just mention high download speeds without mentioning upload speeds. That is also a red flag and shows they don’t treat upload speeds as a priority. By signing up, you will be stuck with terrible upload speeds, which will hinder activities like video calling, multiplayer online gaming, live streaming, etc.
- Absence of a Service Level Agreement
A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is a contract or a promise from an Internet service provider to the user. An SLA clearly defines the terms and conditions of the internet service for the user. This essentially means that you as a user will get a reliable and high-quality service from the service provider. It also includes multiple factors like internet speed, packet loss, latency, etc. Basically, an SLA is meant to empower you as a user, by showing you what exactly was promised.
A good internet provider, who has nothing to hide, displays their SLA. Even if it is not visible on their official website, you can always ask their customer service or sales team. You might also find it inside the terms of service section.
- Too-Good-To-Be-True Pricing
The pricing of the internet plans is an important factor that influences the decision you make while shopping for a provider. It is natural for us to get lured in by attractive pricing. However, some internet provider are not transparent in how they display their pricing. Instead of stating clear pricing, they only display introductory prices and are not open about feats like equipment and installation fees.
This is meant to keep the customer in the dark about how much they will be spending every month because as soon as the introductory period ends, there is a price hike. However, some providers do display introductory prices, limitations, and terms and conditions. This is usually done through fine print at the end of the page, or right under the pricing.
- No Customer Reviews on Their Website
Customer reviews or testimonials are a direct insight into how good or bad a provider is. These are also an important factor that impacts your decision while buying any service. Most internet providers openly display their customer testimonials on their website. These give you an idea of the overall service and build trust and credibility. However, some providers do not have any customer reviews on their websites. This shows they have skeletons to hide and are unable to provide a reliable service that satisfies their customers.
So, if a provider does not have any good reviews on their websites, you need to ditch them right away. Many internet providers openly boast about their happy and satisfied customers. This shows they are committed to providing a high-quality internet service, and their customers enjoy consistently good internet performance.
- Improper Support Information
Customer support is a way for customers to connect with the providers. There are multiple channels through which customers can contact the business. This includes 24/7 live customer support, chat, AI chat, etc. Multi-channel customer support ensures timely and quick assistance to the customers.
A single customer support channel can result in long and frustrating wait times. When there are multiple ways for a customer to reach the support team, they are empowered enough to escalate their concerns quickly. Otherwise, it is a sign that customer satisfaction is not a priority for the internet provider. You don’t want to be hooked to a provider that does not value you as a customer.
Bonus: What to Look for Instead?
Considering all the red flags mentioned above, the feat of getting an internet connection for home might seem a bit scary. But the good news is that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made it compulsory for internet providers to declare the cost and performance information through broadband labels for every plan they have. You should look for broadband labels to see clearly about the internet plan you signing up for.
Here are key things you should be looking for while buying internet.
- Plans with no data limits
- Provider reviews on platforms like Reddit and Quora
- Term contracts
- Symmetrical speeds (equal download and upload speeds)
- Complimentary installation with their internet packages
Getting an internet connection requires thorough research. If you are short on time, you can keep these red and green flags in mind while looking for internet providers.
Read more: www gravityinternetnet: The Future of High-Speed Internet Solutions
