INTERNET: Check providers closely

Since someone recently reported having trouble with Magic Jack, I would like to relate my poor experiences with my Internet provider, Hughesnet.

In July 2011, I subscribed to Wild Blue which cost $49.95 a month, and it worked OK. Last July a Hughesnet phone solicitor talked me into switching, saying that their service was newer, faster and their price was the same.

Wild Blue only wanted their modem back and sent me a box to mail it back to them in. They did not want their dish back.

I was not aware, but my first Hughesnet bill was put on my credit card. I contacted them on the phone and said I wanted a monthly invoice mailed to me, not on my credit card. I was told to do that it would cost $5 a month. There was also a $9.99 a month charge for equipment rental on top of their basic $49.99 charge. My bills have varied from $71.37 to $66.37, $61.37 and $52.70.

I have tried to reach Hughesnet with no luck, using a fair number of their different email addresses, and they all popped up as “invalid email address.” I have a one-page letter I want to get to them.

I don’t want to deal with someone over the phone, as I had a hard time understanding the last one with a thick accent. I did call though to ask for a valid email address or a snail mail address. Neither one was given to me, but I did get a fax number.

I sent a fax on Feb. 11 with no response. On Feb. 18 I sent a second fax; again no response. A couple other fax attempts came back as “other fax not responding.” I was hoping to somehow get around their equipment rental fee and then I might stay with them. If not, come July 2015 I will certainly be looking for a new I.S.P.

I am not very experienced on my P.C. and only email and Google, and to tell the truth, I saw no difference between Wild Blue and Hughesnet.

DAVE MINICH

Rathdrum