Do You Really Know Your ISP?
Anyone can put up a website, pay for a radio or TV ad, or send you a flyer in the mail, but you cannot tell by face value if the company is legitimate or not. Don't be fooled by low prices and pretty websites or flyers. Check out ANY ISP BEFORE you sign up! Here's some tips to help you make the smart decision on your Internet Service or WebSite Hosting Provider.1) Does the company have a REAL brick and mortar office?
If so, they will have their office location posted on their website and all printed materials with office hours so that you can stop by and visit them. DO stop by and visit any ISP you are considering going with. This lets you know that the company is local, and gives you an idea of their operations.
2) Is the company registered with local, state and federal agencies as a legitimate business? Any reputable ISP will have their name and address listed and publicly viewable with the local county clerk's office, this information you can get from the county clerk and recorder, also you can search the US regulated ICANN ( Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) Whois database for Domain Names. This information should show the owner and administrator of the domain name, with the company's mailing address and contact information. If the Whois record for the company's website has different information then their website or marketing materials, or even worse is shown as Private with no details on who owns the website and domain name, you might want to reconsider your decision to go with that company. You don't know if the company is legitimate or even if it's located in the U.S.
you can check this information by searching the Whois database for any website
3.) How long has the wireless ISP been in business? Developing a wireless internet infrastructure is very expensive and requires constant investment, work and maintainance. For this reason many if not most small wireless ISP's go out of business within the first 2 years. If a Wireless company is less than 2 years in business, you might want to wait to see how their business grows for another year or two, or you could find yourself with NO Internet and NO refund for the service you've paid for when the company goes under.
4.) Is the ISP a reseller or do they own and maintain their own network? Building a quality wireless network is expensive and requires knowledge and skill, many entrepreneurs by-pass these requirements by reselling services under their private label for a Monopolistic corporation. Certainly entrepreneurialship is to be praised, and reseller programs make starting businesses possible for many entrepreneurs who would otherwise not have the capital and/or expertise to start such a business, however, when it comes to your wireless internet access there are a few concerns you must have with using a reseller ISP.
1.Since a reseller generally does not have the financial and labor investment which a local wireless network owner has will that reseller ISP have adequate finances, knowledge and skills to consistently provide quality service and support?
2. You are dependant on the services of the reseller's "behind the scenes" corporation, who is it and how financially stable are they? What happens to your internet should the actuall provider go out of business or terminate the reseller?
There are many entrepreneurs reselling internet services via the internet these days, sending flyers to residents homes, even calling or knocking on your doors with tales of faster service and lower prices, Don't be fooled by ISP's you've never heard of who popup overnight - they may very well pop out overnight as well.
Surfs Global is self financed, in 2005 we built our wireless internet network in Freeport Illinois from the ground up, and we continue to maintain and grow our network. When you decide to go with Surfs Global you know you are getting a reputable, financially solid, local company who owns and mantains their own network.
5.) What kind of technical support does the company provide, and do their technicians speak English? When you lose your internet connection at 2am and you have an important project to complete, can you call and get a LIVE, English speaking person?
6.) Is the company offering a special low price ? On specials always be sure you are aware, how long the low price will last and how much it will increase afterwards. If the special is limited in length or to a specific number of signups, this should raise a red flag immediately! You might find yourself paying more in the long run rather than saving. Watch out for specials given only to a limited number of signups, i.e. "Low Price available to the first 100 signups" This type of special generally indicates the company is brand new, and has NO users, therefore their network has not been thouroughly tested (you will be the guniea pig), Also you have no way of knowing if you are within the first x number of signups if the company isn't showing this information on their website or sales receipts, so you might be the first signup on a new network but end being told you are not within the first x number of signups and do not qualify for getting the special price
7.) What are the company's terms of service? READ the fine print! Many times low priced ISP's will require a 2-3 year contract, and the contract clause is the smallest print of the document you sign with them, so you may very well miss it. After signing up should you find the service is not what was promised you are stuck paying for that service (whether you use it or NOT) for your contract term. So ALWAYS be sure to ask what the company's terms of service are BEFORE you sign up.
We encourage you to research Surfs Global before you decide to contract our services.
Our pricing is prepay only, NO Contracts required, cancel anytime with a 30 day notice. Our prices are clearly shown on our websites. Special pricing is available to ALL new signups, not just a select few, and is never limited to a specific time period. The price you signup at is the price you are assured to keep for at least 1 year. IF we raise our prices we will only raise them once a year and a 30 day notice will be emailed to you BEFORE we raise the pricing, giving you the opportunity to cancel your account before the price increase should you so choose.
We have been in business since 1998, listed under Surfs Global with the Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Stephenson County Clerk's office, the State of Illinois, and the U.S. Federal Government .
We own and operate more than 80 corporate domain names and websites including www.freeportwireless.com www.surfsglobal.com, www.surfsupwireless.com , all of which are registered with ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and show our company and administrator name, address and phone. http://whois.domaintools.com
We have been providing internet service to Freeport IL. since 1999, and we've been at our current office location: 503 W. Galena Ave Freeport Illinois for more than 3 years, stop by any time during our normal business hours, or call our office to schedule a tour - 815.232.7598 (this number has been listed in all local phone directories since 1998)
We will be more than happy to sit down with you at our office to explain our services and answer any questions you may have.
We provide 24/7 LIVE help via our online help ticket system and if you cannot get online thru our service you can call 815.232.7598 ANY Time day or night, (even 2am ) and you'll get an English speaking person. Most likely you'll know to whom you're speaking personally, because Freeportwireles.com by Surfs Global is your Neighbor!, right here in Freeport Illinois.
