I was sucked in by claims of 'lightning fast internet connections, ' 'fast broadband internet access, ' etc. I did not understand that their service is only faster than dial-up internet; they cannot match DSL, or cable broadband speed. I did not know the meaning of their descriptions such as 512kbps, 10Mbps, and 1.5Mkbps.

Once it was installed, I was dismayed that the service seemed as slow as dial-up. Their customer service reps are calloused and hardened toward customer complaints. They say you are committed for 24 month contract with no cancellation, or refund policy. If you want out of the deal, you must pay $700 for early cancellation.

Please avoid falling for Wildblue's enticing claims!

I signed up for the top level of service from WildBlue Communications in June of 2004. Since May of this year (2005) my service has been spotty at best, and for long stretches of time has been completely non-existent.

I called to cancel my account in August, and was asked to give them a chance to correct the problem. They scheduled a service call and the technician was dispatched within 2 weeks -- with the wrong part. I was told it would take 2 days for the correct part to arrive. It is now November, and the technician still has not received the correct part.

For 4 months now, I have been shuttled back and forth between technician, dsi, and WildBlue technical support and customer service. Everyone points fingers at everyone else.

At one point, I was offered a terrific deal of paying only $39.95 a month instead of the $79.95 I pay until they resolve the situation. What a deal! $40 for no service instead of $80 for no service!

December 8th, I contacted WildBlue to demand a refund and cancel my service. I was transferred to a customer service specialist in the corporate office, K. Gregory, who assured me he would take care of the problem by 12/12/08. He further assured me that I would receive a phone call from him no later than first thing in the morning of 12/9/08 with a status update. I have received no call. I have called the number he gave me DAILY, but get his voice mail, and he does NOT return my phone calls.

Further, you can't reach any of the executives at WildBlue. There are no phone numbers or email addresses available for anyone except their call center employees who, obviously, do not have the authority or ability to address customer service issues of this magnitude. To make matters worse, they can't even give you contact information for anyone who might be able to help, but simply send you back to the website that provides only the phone number to the call center.

If you, or anyone you know is considering WildBlue for your internet service, RUN don't walk to a different service provider.

This is one of those multi-corporation screw-ups but I contribute the blame on Wildblue in the end.

Background:
I live in a 'mobile' home that has been professionally installed (4 years ago) on a concrete foundation with multiple tie-downs. Along side and attached to the house is an antenna tower (professionally installed) embedded in cement also. On this tower are multiple antennas including a Direct TV Television Dish along with a Hughes Satellite Internet Dish.

I entered into a contract with Direct TV for them to supply Satellite Internet service on/or about August 7, 2008. Direct TV gave me the phone number of WildBlue to call when I received the equipment, which I was to call for an installation date. I received the equipment and made the appointment on/or about August 13, 2008 for August 21, 2008.

During the conservations with the various contacts (DirectTV, Wildblue) I specifically made the point that I wanted the new dish installed on my existing tower.

Complaint:
On August 21, 2008 2 men showed up in a car with a magnetic sign on the side that stated they represented DirectTV. They looked at my house and tower and immediately stated that Wildblue "...did not allow them to attach the dish to a 'mobile' home nor install it on any 'existing customer mast or tower'...". They "...only were allowed to install it on their own installed pole which they were going to have to install in my yard at an additional charge to me." The location they picked for their pole was 5 feet from my antenna tower (a triangular arrangements of wielded steel pipes that can be climbed).

I refused the additional charges and, after connecting me to a lady on the phone that knew nothing of the situation, they left.

Since then I have informed DirectTV that I was canceling this installation and related how upset I am over this situation as I feel this is a 'bait and switch' or at least a scam to 'collect additional money from the mark' game that is being run against rural people like me.

On Dec 7, 2007 we discontinued our service with WildBlue Communications. We were told that their would be no additional charges to our account. Shortly after we were charged $49.95 to our account.

On Jan 16, 2008, WildBlue charged $214.62 to our account (debit card)

In doing so, it caused a overdraft at our bank. In turn, our bank charged us fees in the amt of $50.00.

Being on disability, that really hurt us. We were eventually re inversed for the $214.46 less the bank

fees. We've made numerous calls to their billing department. Each time we were told that there was a mistake in billing and our account would be credited. They have yet to do so! WildBlue has shown deplorable treatment toward this issue and a deep lack of respect for the problems and stress that this has caused us. It is my hope this in bringing all this to light, it will help prevent others from having to be subject to what we went through. Thanks for any help with this matter.

Wildblue is the most customer unfriendly company I have ever encountered. I subscribed in response to their ad for fast internet service to "rural" America. My service was only up for five months. When it went down, Instead of resolving the problem, they referred me to another company called DSI. DSI told me they did not have any service technicians in my area. I did not have a contract with DSI so I could not hold them responsible. Wildblue would put me on hold for hours before I could talk to a representative and then they would refer me over and over to DSI where I would get nowhere. This went on for seven months until my end of the contract was paid up. They totally ignored my request for a refund.

They need to get their act together before advertising internet service to rural America because they cannot uphold their service or contract. I would not recommend this company to anyone and I think they need to be investigated for fraudulent business practices!