Office Depot through Prodigy Internet ..a Contract RIP-OFF

Prodigy Internet Contract RIPOFF

I bought my computer at Office Depot as part of an agreement between Office Depot and Prodigy Internet service. The deal is basically this: You buy a computer (for about $400). At the same time, in the store, you contract with Prodigy Internet for three years (at the going rate, about $20.) Prodigy will then give you an INSTANT REBATE of $400 (to apply to the purchase of the computer).

I was *thrilled* to walk out of Office Depot with a brand new computer having only paid tax. I should point out that these items (the Prodigy service and the computer) were in the exact same advertisement box in the newspaper. It would be most consumers guess, then, that they were meant to be sold together.

Reality soon set in. I kept getting disconnected with server errors, etc. when using Prodigy Internet. I soon consulted with their (for-fee) tech support. After many excuses, I still get bumped at least four times daily. The following is what they finally told me. (Their words, their e-mail)... (quote)Yes, many of the modems that come in the computers sold at Office Depot (and other vendors who we have this agreement with) are incompatable with us.(unquote) IN OTHER WORDS...Prodigy is selling contracts for internet service that they KNOW is INCOMPATIBLE with items directly marketed with their service (the modems in many computers...not just mine). I have the contract and the advertisement clearly showing the two items were meant to be sold together.

I cant even decide if Office Depot is to blame at all for this. I dont think the 16 year old clerk would have known. Neither did I, and I do know a bit about Internet software. Prodigy? Well...Id bet on it. Wonder whose computers their software DOES go with, if not IBM compatible PCs? Wonder when they are going to offer more than one access line for a medium-size city (which they SHARE with JUNO!!!)?

Wonder if Ill ever stop getting Error Code 718 (which is the Remote computer-THEIRS!-not responding)? Wonder if Ill ever stop getting kicked out of their chatrooms due to Socket Errors? (That is...WHEN I can GET and stay online long enough to use them.)

Still they claim its my modems fault and that I should contact the computer manufacturer. Yeah right! This is the lousiest customer service Ive ever seen, not to mention their techs are relative morons.