Learn about Direcway before they find out some things the hard way like I did.  I signed up for Direcway Satellite Internet.  I know that the major print stated that I had 30 days to cancel with no obligation and that I could expect broadband-type service with some minor limitations.  I thought I read the fine print as well and what happened to me was still a surprise.

So either it wasn't in the fine print or it was well hidden.

To make a long story short, the service with Direcway was poor from the beginning.  The installer could not get the initial service set up at all, and he had to leave me with instructions for how to do it myself later on since their whole system was down.  I was able to set it up correctly later on and I did experience broadband speeds when I was able to use the Internet.

Our satellite Internet connection was down more than 40% of the time however, and we usually had to surf between midnight and 6 am to get reasonable service.  When I called to cancel the service well within the 30 days, a whole new problem began.

They did allow me to cancel with some argument and they did turn off my service.  They then told me that I would have to ship their modems back to them at my cost and I accepted this.  They also told me that I would have to ship them with their packaging and that if I did not ship them shortly, they would charge me $400.00, refundable upon their receipt of the modems.

They did not tell me that their packaging would not arrive for more than 30 days allowing them to go ahead and charge me the $400.00 since I didn't send the modems "shortly."

They did not tell me that I would not only have to send the modems, but I would also have to climb up and detach a radio device from my DirecTV dish, thereby disconnecting my DirecTV service (which I am very happy with.)

Until I send them the modems AND this radio device, which requires some expertise to do, I will not get a refund of my money.  It appears to me that their hope is to make it so difficult for you to cancel and return the equipment that you will give up.  I still intend to go through with it however, I just have to come up with the tools and manpower to do this.

So, please be warned, I strongly recommend that you do not use Direcway Satellite Internet at all.  If you do, ask lots of questions about cancellation and how it works.  Also, many of the companies that advertise satellite internet under other names are really just re-sellers for Direcway and you will have the same problems, so be careful about that too.

Cindy Hawkins, bookseller1@blackpinebooks.com