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Google Fiber Shut Off Customer's Service Because She Owed 12 Cents

posted by Fnord666 on Sunday September 17 2017, @01:39PM   Printer-friendly
from the cutting-off-the-nose dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1937

One day last month, Kansas City resident Victoria Tane's Google Fiber Internet service stopped working.

It turned out that Google Fiber cut off her Internet access because she owed 12 cents after an odd series of events involving an unused e-mail address, automated customer account systems, and a sales tax increase. Google Fiber quickly restored her connection and forgave the 12-cent balance after she called customer service, but the incident highlights a problem that Google Fiber may need to fix in order to prevent other customers from losing service over similarly trivial amounts.

The Kansas City Star of Missouri detailed what happened in a story yesterday. Tane has Google Fiber's basic 5Mbps Internet service which has no monthly payment and required only a $300 construction fee. Google Fiber no longer offers that package to new customers, but those who signed up for it and paid the construction fee can use the service with no further payments for a total of seven years.

Tane "paid the total upfront" a year ago, the Star wrote. "$300 to connect, plus $25.08 for taxes and fees. Transaction done. Free for seven years."

Source: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/09/google-fiber-shut-off-customers-service-because-she-owed-12-cents/

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  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 17 2017, @03:48PM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 17 2017, @03:48PM (#569404)

    Soon billing reminders will follow you everywhere as all your voice activated AI assistants will scream and shout, "Owe a penny! You pay! You pay now!"

    Sadly, the late Iain M Banks predicted it would come to this. A certain ordinary Culture citizen was forgetful enough to possess multiple terminal devices, all of which he would forget at home when he went out. Finally he asked Hub to tell his terminals to make a fuss if he ever left the house without them again.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 17 2017, @04:40PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 17 2017, @04:40PM (#569421)

    Look to Windward

    A gleaming, empty serving tray floated up to the young man, dipped its front in a sort of bow and said, "Hi. Hub again. What you have there, Mr. Olsule, is a piece of jet in the shape of a ceerevell, explosively inlaid with platinum and summitium. From the studio of Ms. Xossin Nabbard, of Sintrier, after the Quarafyd school. A finely wrought work of substantial artistry. But unfortunately not a terminal."

    "Damn. Where is my terminal then?"

    "You left all your terminal devices at home."

    "Why didn't you tell me?"

    "You asked me not to."

    "When?"

    "One hundred and -- "

    "Oh, never mind. Well, replace that, umm...change that instruction. Next time I leave home without a terminal...get them to make a fuss or something."

    "Very well. It will be done."

    Mr. Olsule scratched his head. "Maybe I should get a lace. One of those implant things."

    "Undeniably, forgetting your head would pose considerable difficulties. In the meantime, I'll second one of the barge's remotes to accompany you for the rest of the evening, if you'd like."

    "Yeah, okay." The young man put the brooch back on and turned to the laden buffet table. "So, anyway; can I eat this...? Oh. It's gone."

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 17 2017, @09:09PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 17 2017, @09:09PM (#569490)

      In the year 2000, that must have sounded futuristic.

      • (Score: 2) by deimtee on Monday September 18 2017, @02:53AM

        by deimtee (3272) on Monday September 18 2017, @02:53AM (#569607) Journal

        The AI was polite, respectful, efficient and error-free. It's still futuristic.

        --
        If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.