Consumer Blog

Q: I Just had a disturbing call from a company called Cavalier. The salesperson told me that Verizon didn't own their own phone lines and that I could cut out the middleman and get cheaper phone rates. Is this a scam? Is this on the up and up? It just sounded very strange to me.

Carol from Pittsburgh

A: It's not a scam, but not entirely on the "up and up" either.

Here's the deal. I received the same call. Cavalier is a competitor of Verizon's...It's located in Richmond, Virginia. The telemarketing call you received offered phone service and hi-speed internet service for $50 a month.

I talked to a representative who said that the company just started offering service in our area about two months ago. In January, it will be competing with Comcast and Verizon with a bundling package of its own. Cavalier says it will be offering TV, internet and phone service for $95.95 a month.

"That is not an introductory short term price," the rep said.

"That's a set price."

So far so good. Verizon verified that Cavalier is a competitor. Is it a deal worth considering. I checked my area and found out that since I have fiber optics, I couldn't get hi-speed internet. I could, however, get dial-up service.

It might be a good idea to wait to see how this new competitor stacks up. Let's see if there are many complaints before jumping our local ships.

One more thing. Why are Cavalier's telemarketers calling my house? I don't know about you, but I am on the "Do Not Call" list. I have not done business with Cavalier before. I did not give this company permission to call my house. I suspect Cavalier's telemarketers are in violation of state and national laws governing telemarketers. Keep track of when the telemarketers call and get their telephone number if possible. Report the telephone call to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection at attorneygeneral.gov. If Cavalier is convicted, there could be money in your future.