Here’s a story about customer service and how to choose between two companies for the best deal.

After moving into my apartment, I researched an internet service provider (ISP) I had the chance to try while staying elsewhere. The speed I could afford was higher than I’d had in South Carolina and not only cheaper than its competitor, but cheaper than my old, slower service.

I signed up through its website and received an email saying a technician would be out Friday before 5 p.m. They never showed up. I called. They said they were behind on installations and would be out before 1 p.m. the next day. They didn’t arrive. I called again and was told they didn’t even do those particular installations in our area on Saturdays.

Really? Why would one customer service representative tell you they can do something only to be told by another one they can’t?

I asked when I could expect my service to be hooked up. Two weeks. Two weeks?!

I called the other company, even though I’d be paying almost one-and-a-half times as much each month as the competitor and with extra charges tacked on. They said they could come out on a Tuesday, before 5 p.m. (I wasn’t holding my breath.)

Now, here’s where the twist in the story comes. By the time I’d done this, it was after the other ISP’s business hours and I couldn’t call to cancel the first order.

Lo and behold on Monday, I received a call from a technician with the first ISP. They were at the apartment and could hook up my faster, cheaper service right then. The technician was great and I’m enjoying the service.

While I stuck with the better deal, I do expect better customer service from the start.

Martin L. Cahn is managing editor of The Farmville Herald. His email address is martin.cahn@farmvilleherald.com.