I’m writing this from the quiet confines of my old college house in West Virginia. Thanks to not needing to be in the Emerald city next week, I moved my travel plans and came into WV early.
Consulting, for all of its ills, does provide a lot of flexibility when it comes to work location. Assuming you’re not onsite, it really doesn’t matter where the work gets done. Dallas. Morgantown. Antarctica. It just doesn’t matter as long as there is broadband.
A couple months ago I bought a Verizon Mobile Broadband card so I could have access to the Internet in airports and at my hotel without the need to get hammered on access fees. What I didn’t bother to check was if Verizon had any service in West Virginia. And, in a few words – it doesn’t.
I arrived on Friday. After unpacking, I decided to try out the Verizon card. I figured the speed would be less than Dallas or Seattle but didn’t expect a popup that read – warning – you could be charged up to $20 per Meg.
This popup was new so I decided to call the nice folks at Verizon and investigate.
Here’s my call:
Verizon: How can we help you?
Me: I have a Verizon Mobile Card but it reads something something Global Access and gives me a popup saying I may need to pay $20 per meg.
Verizon: Well sir, you know that your current account is only for the US and doesn’t work internationally.
Me: But, I’m located in West Virginia.
Verizon: Oh, is that near the Canadian border?
Me: If you consider 700 miles near the Canadian Border – yes. For the record, we’re not near Cuba or Mexico either.
Verizon: That’s all I needed – I don’t know these things – I’m from Arizona.
Me: [slack-jawed silence]
Verizon: Let me transfer you to technical support.
Me: uh, sure
