Trying to Keep my Internet

 UPDATE:  All good.  Got the ACP!

I am trying to keep an internet connection.  My brother was helping with the bill but can't anymore.  He gave me a link to the ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program).  

I applied and was approved.  This is a federal program that reimburses internet providers with $30 a month towards internet, to help keep people connected.   So it should be simple then, right?  To give the approved application number to my internet provider (Xfinity) and get the discount?  

Ha!   You'd be wrong.  

It's been a nightmare.  I've talked to four different customer service reps from Xfinity.  None of these folks can speak or understand English very well.  It's very hard to understand what they're saying.   I assume they have trouble understanding what I say also.   I got a response last week from Xfinity that I didn't qualify since there was an application error.  So what would that be.  I sent their application again, although I have no idea why you have to qualify with Xfinity when I already qualified with the feds.   Wouldn't the approved fed application number, which I supplied, be enough?

Wait a week, try again, which I did, to no avail.  Again I try customer service.  Again its so sketchy trying to understand the person who answers, with their severe accent, and inability at English, it was useless.  Again they try to push me to change phone service to Xfinity also.  WTF.  What do they not understand?  I tell them again I'm not interested in a phone, that I can't even afford internet unless I get this ACP discount.   I get the royal once over again, where you are on the phone, transferred to someone else, say it all again, and finally hang up knowing full well you're just getting pissed on.

I can hear speeches in the background then clapping behind the customer service call and can envision a manager hovering over their service reps, urging them on to make deals, and someone makes some sale, and the clapping.   Oh shit, I think, I'm screwed when this is their customer service environment.  I can imagine when they "transfer" me to like their "retention" department, that they really hand it off, suppressing laughter, to the person next to them.

It's hopeless at this point I think to myself.  I may end up without internet.  It's far too expensive without at least the discount (only a discount to me, Xfinity still gets the full amount) but its hopeless to get beyond their customer service that exists only on paper somewhere.  These internet providers seem so sketchy to me, trying to conceal prices, push services you don't want, like sleazy used car lot salesmen.

Verizon, who touts $25 a month internet, but only for those who also have their mobiles, has no service in my zip.   Wish me luck.  I found out there's an Xfinity store in another town and next week I'll head there.