Clear

I couldn’t even bring myself to click on one star, but I had to in order to post this. After being a CLEAR customer for over two years now, we have a very good base of knowledge and experience with this company. The connection has always been spotty and slow during high use times even though our tower is only a block away in a suburban area. That meant slow Netflix loads and possible interruptions during a movie, but overall, it was better than having to deal with Comcast, or pay the prices.
Over the past three days, our service has just dropped. We sit at the local Brew Ha Ha mooching off their wifi today. Why? We called CLEAR and it was explained to us that the tower we were/​are connected to has been «decommissioned» and will no longer be in service as of July 27^th. The representative informed us that this was the reason for our lack of service currently and that there were no other options to correct this since other towers are .4 miles away and would likely have no connection capability.
Being reasonable, we replied that we would like a refund for the money we paid for the days we have not had service. We were told there was no opportunity for a refund. The representative said that notices had «gone out» to consumers using this tower and as a result, they are not refunding customers. WTH??? So CLEAR, knowing that this tower was going out of commission continued to collect monthly fees from customers even though they would not be able to use the services they were paying for?
We politely clarified CLEAR’s position.
«So you mean you refuse to give us money we spent for services that were supposed to be provided, that we didn’t receive?»
«Yes.»
Hello, Verizon? I’d like your 29.99 per month internet… I hope all of CLEAR’S towers are decommissioned and that Sprint enjoys trying to dig their new acquisition out of the swamp. Ridiculous and terrible.

Someone called Clear posing as me put charges on my account!!! Just like that.
I did not even know about this until I saw my bill online. Of course I called and spoke to several people who didn’t speak fluent English until I FINALLY (after over an hour!) spoke with a manager. This wasn’t even the most frustrating part. The manager informed me that I, myself had called and requested these changes because it was «a woman’s voice». Not even kidding… I was already enraged at these totally incompetent morons and the total idiot who changed my account (and the loser posing as me) and wanted to take the charges off my account and now he was accusing me of calling?! He finally took the charges off and returned the account to the original state. I could not believe it was so damn difficult. I was going out of my mind with this guy. I ended up being on the phone with this butt hole for over 5 hours on a Saturday. There goes my ENTIRE day, thanks!
The real creepy part was when I asked him to e-​mail me a transcript of the call the person had made who changed my account: I could not believe what I was reading. In order to get into someone’s account, all you need is their full name, address, and birthday. I work and go to school. I travel quite a bit. Any number of people have this information and it’s probably available online if you look hard enough.
This day in age when internet security and private information is just «out there» HOW can they not put in measures to ensure the person they are speaking with is the person on the account???
SHAME ON YOU, CLEAR!!!
Oh, and the service in my area of Philadelphia sucked. I wasn’t home that much to notice so it wasn’t a big deal. THIS is a big deal, goodbye and good riddance.

I have been using clear for a little over six months. Have rarely ever had a problem with it. Sometimes service gets slower during peak hours and the netflix takes a few seconds longer to buffer but overall its had acceptable speed rates. I also live only a block or two away from a tower. Check the map to see how close you are.
In terms of customer service, its an ok. The receiver broke after a month and after some semi-​frustrating technical service help it was decided that they would send me a new receiver free of charge. It did mean I was out of internet for a few days but they refunded those days back to my account.
Overall its been the cheapest option if you just want internet that is fast enough to stream movies, I wouldn’t recommend it for serious gamers though.
The reason I am writing a review now, and one that is only so-​so, is that I just received an email that my rate is being increased by 5 dollars so I am looking to see what other deals I may get with internet that also bundles cable. I’m not thrilled to get an email telling me the rates are increasing.
Addendum. After hearing how everyone complains about Comcast and in lite of the net neutrality/​monopoly issue, clear has been painless and works actually really well. I live in a big place and have had really good signal for over a year.

I pay for 4mbps — my internet is nowhere near that fast. The technician I called had me run a speedtest online, turns out I was geting 0.15mbps!!! Yes, that started with a 0. For 40 a month? Comical.
Turns out their service in my area is overused. They cut my bill in half and asked me to wait it out until they can get the service improved. I hated Comcast enough to just stick it out. It’s now been 6 months and it hasn’t gotten better. It’s time to move on…

Well been with Clear for a few months now and nothing but problems. First off the constant service interruptions, one moment calmly watching netflix the next my modem is flashing saying it lost signal. I then call clear and get a run around, move your modem, turn your modem off???, reboot your modem, oh signal is bad on that antenna move it to the north east point 9 degrees (exaggeration there but if you have it you know what I mean). Then lets speak of the speeds, I have gotten speed records on
from .06 mbps to 9 mbps on downloading. Unfortunately the speeds tend to be around the .06 mbps area rather than 9 mbps, like as I write this reveiw I am at .51 mbps.

As other have stated, Clear deserves 0 stars (1 is too good). This internet is so despicably slow that calling it «internet» is actually generous. I live in Baltimore, and judging by other’s reviews on here, my dissatisfaction with Clear is hardly unique. I’m no stranger to the fact that most internet providers are shady, expensive, inefficient, and inconsistent, but Clear really takes the cake. I decided to get Clear because it Verizon was on strike when I moved to Baltimore and I didn’t want to wait two months for internet. Clear just sends you a modem, you plug it in, and it works – awesome, right? Right, it would be, if it actually worked. And in the beginning, it did. It wasn’t super fast but it was serviceable.
The speed and quality of Clear rapidly declined after the first month to the point where it couldn’t load more than one webpage at a time. Facebook chat didn’t work, YouTube didn’t work, forget something like Hulu or Netflix, hah! Light internet usage was impossible… and heavy internet usage? I never even tried to download anything, not even a 1 page Word document, because there was no point. I called and complained. They had me move my modem to the other side of my row house. It made no difference. My best speeds were download speed 0.68 mbps, upload speed 0.22 mbps and ping 364 ms. That is FAST for Clear. Also, it’s not that much cheaper than regular internet. I paid $ 52 a month for lower than dial up service. Why?
So I just canceled it. They tried to tell me there would be a cancellation fee and I said there absolutely would not be a cancellation fee and they can try but I’m not going to pay it so they might as well not try. There is not supposed to be a cancellation fee. You don’t sign a contract with Clear. So the guy – I actually felt sorry for him – said he would get it waived for me and after trying to sell me more service (yeah right, I already got Comcast and am writing with much better speeds right now) cancelled it. We’ll see if they still try to charge me or try to charge the cancellation fee. I wouldn’t put it past them.
Weird note? I am 100% POSITIVE that the guy who just took my cancellation call is the same guy who I spoke to when I called to complain about my service a month ago. He had a really distinctive voice. I am sure of it. Which tells me that Clear doesn’t even have any technicians or technical support. It is a complete and total scam and farce and an absolute wonder why Clear is still in business.
TLDR STAY AWAY, FAR FAR AWAY. I have never heard a positive story about Clear and I’m pretty sure the positive reviews on here (few and far between) are fake.

I never even thought to review Clear on Unilocal.I haven’t used their service in about 1.5 years, but when I did it was a nightmare. I had a bajillion problems that were always impossible to fix. The connection was terrible, and customer service kept telling me I had to upgrade my Internet to a more expensive option for a better connection. And this is all to just browse the Internet and watch occasional YouTube videos! Argh so glad my Clear days are over

If I could give 0 stars I would. This company is awful. I wasted so much time on the phone with them. The service was always down and they would promise to adjust my bill to reflect when the internet wasn’t working, but then they wouldn’t follow through. I always got the run-​around with customer service. Also, the device is flimsy and would always break. It’s NOT worth it. Get Comcast or Verizon.
Don’t use CLEAR!

I am honestly surprised that there are not more terribly negative reviews, and by more I mean like 5,000.
I signed up for this service thinking they were the new game in town and would have their shit together. 100% could not. Be further from the truth. I won’t repeat what everyone’s clearly stated, that the customer service is a joke, but the fact that they charge $ 40/​mo for this is abosolute shit. I think my AOL dial up from 8^th grade had a more reliable connection.
Moving to FIOS and couldn’t be happier. If you have any affiliation with this company I would highly recommend severing all ties because this is a classic example of a terribly run company with a below average product. A matter of time before they’re old news and out of business, or at least the wireless Internet business.
My vote = Zero stars if possible.

Clear is a scam! Your money is better spent on a dial up service. Service is intermittent if at all. Starbucks would be a step up! Save your money and peace of mind

CLEAR is TERRIBLE!
I had Clear for 3 months. I think a dial up connection would have had a quicker speed. I called several times for them to fix the problem (which they agreed my internet was way too slow). They could not fix the problem. I paid $ 96 to cancel the service (in addition to the 3 months I got terrible service). Then I got called 2 months later (after I cancelled it) to pay a $ 45 dollar restocking fee. Thanks Clear for not only being a terrible experience but doing a great job at it… I had to switch back Comcast (And I hate Comcast too aka the evil empire). Hopefully FIOS gets to this part of Philadelphia soon!

Update — also doesn’t work in San Diego or DC.

Run away from this company as fast as you can! They’ve been sued several times in class-​action suits for deceptive advertising. I signed up two months ago and am still trying to extricate myself from this mess. Customer service is worse than non-​existent; it’s damaging to the psyche. When trying to cancel service, their retail end is purposefully detached from customer service so you must fight with call centers half a world away. They will not allow you to speak with a supervisor (always «busy with other customers») and do not keep a record of your calls so you need to start at the beginning every time. I receive several calls a day saying I owe them money. It’s a nightmare. Do not go near this company at all costs. Go back in time and sign up for AOL dial-​up. It would serve you better.

Okay, here’s the deal about this BUSINESS… not the internet service… and why it probably won’t matter which store you go to.
Don’t come in here if you have a problem. No matter what it is, they’re going to tell you to call the «number.» All they do is sell the service and related products. I was told explicitly that once the product is out the door, it’s out of their hands. That’s Clear’s business model in case you haven’t noticed. I know the people are just doing their jobs.
Every time I’ve been in (several) there has been a completely different team of people working here. Clear obviously has a high turnover rate. Also, every time I come in they contradict what was said last time, but the reason remains the same. They say «oh that person didn’t know the company policy.» Does the policy have a high turnover too?
And from my understanding given the recent call center layoffs, when you call the «NUMBER» you WILL be getting someone outsourced who doesn’t understand you and you certainly won’t understand them. I would be absolutely delighted if I could walk into this store and cancel the service, but I know what they’re going to say.
As soon as the Verizon strike is over I’m off to FIOS.
Lastly, this corner is prime real estate, when Clear crumbles nationwide (and it WILL) look forward to a great business going here.

To be fair, I can use the internet. It’s not painfully slow and generally works. But when you can choose to get internet from another provider, hopefully you stick with one because they… make you feel like a valued customer? (no) they… treat like you a person when you contact customer service? (no) they have fair terms and admit when they make a mistake? (nope).
If you want to get your internet from a monster company that will try to bend you over at every opportunity, sell you stuff that you don’t need and didn’t ask for, repeatedly disregard requests to not receive sale emails, outsources all customer service, makes it impossible to get in contact (except when you want to buy something), and then has the nerve to try to con you out of canceling service by promising a whole other load of BS you don’t need and didn’t ask for, then CLEAR is for you.
I know the internet provider options aren’t many… but something about a company that promises to do things differently and better, and tries to come off all hip, when they’re really just the same old wolf… particularly rubs me the wrong way.
CLEAR is the popular mean girl with no soul. At least with other ones you know what you’re getting. This company sucks.

We got CLEAR after huge hassles with our high-​speed service. and couldn’t be happier. It’s now our only main internet line and it’s been FAB! Our only regret is why not sooner? After reading bad reviews, we were wary for a long time.
But from the start-​go, everything worked superb. First their customer service is first-​class. Everything delivered overnight, all questions explained…
2^nd– we are close to the towers. and got speeds similar to our Comcast line. Fast. Yes, Verizon-​lite has come up with their 4G, which is supposed to eclipse them all– but so far, their prices are waayy to much to be usable. For for, we’re happy with CLEAR.
With the bundle plans, each of us have a to-​go hotspot, which is fab. ((They now have personal hotspot modems– where upto 8 users can connect on one modem. making you verrrryyyyy popular in parks and places with no connections)).
The best part is in South Jersey, we can go nearly anywhere and ALWAYS be connected. We went upto New York and North Jersey and were connected as fab speeds too. as we were in Philly. It is fabulous to be connected to go in a store and do instant online checks for prices… go to a park and work outdoors on a sunny day. and just be connected all the time.
At speeds this good and price bundles so low, it’s puzzling why CLEAR is not more popular, but it should be.

I signed up for Clear back in May after ditching Comcast and couldn’t be happier. For the same price I paid for Cable internet, I get a USB modem that’s just as fast, and I get to take it with me everywhere. Service at the location on Chestnut was friendly and speedy.

This service SUCKS! They promised fast speed internet and did not deliver. They promised a FREE 7 day trial, they did not hold on to that promise. I was charge over 50 dollars and was only returned 20 of it when I should have received all of it. They are a bunch of scammers and their service is AWFUL.

If I could give this service zero stars, I would.
I live half a block from one of the towers, but couldn’t get a solid connection. It would sit at 5 bars for a minute or two, then disconnect, then reconnect, etc. They couldn’t explain why I could get a better wifi signal from the starbucks at the end of the
So they sent out a technician. Technician didn’t show up. Called tech support 3 times. They had no idea where the technician was, or why he didn’t show up. They were very apologetic. However, apologies won’t get the 3 hrs of my life back, plus all my cell phone minutes.
Any cable, phone, internet company I’ve ever dealt with was able to get my service at least working, and could at least find out where the technician was, or if the technician was even coming. I have no idea whether or not the guy was really sent out in the first place.
Stay away from this service. Far, far away. Verizon FiOS is only $ 10 more a month.

Clear was great at first, but their service declined RAPIDLY after they started advertising the service on TV. Here’s a ping to their gateway:
Pinging 71.23.192.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=596ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=521ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=543ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=1346ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=450ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=1316ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=410ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=312ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=1096ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=955ms TTL=13
Reply from 71.23.192.1: bytes=32 time=477ms TTL=13
You can’t use any VOIP services with this awful response time. In a nutshell: stay away.