craigdailypress.com

Maggi Heskitt isn't bitter that her Internet service provider of three years, Quik Internet, left her without service abruptly late last week.

Because she's appreciated the friendly service offered by Quik's franchise owner, Dave Bray, Heskitt will stick with the service that now is being offered to local residents out of Houston.

"I just feel bad that (Dave) couldn't make it," Heskitt said. "I will miss that personal touch. He cared about his customers."

Quik Internet customers were met with a blank screen when they tried to boot up the dial-up Internet service last week. Because of failing payments on the use of phone lines, Bray said he was unaware that the Rangely phone company would disconnect the service. Bray said he didn't have a chance to warn his 1,200 customers across Northwest Colorado that the service would go offline July 21.

In an effort to salvage customers, the Houston-based Quik Internet franchise has stepped in, offering to switch over customers' accounts and promising little hassle. To reinstate service, customers can change their dial-up number to 329-0083 and their user name to user name@houston.quik.com or call 1-888-810-7845, according to a press release fromQuik Internet of Houston.

"We didn't know that the situation (with the local Quik Internet) was so severe," said Joel Langhoff manger of the Houston branch. "We were asked to take on customers."

Bray initially thought that he could hobble along, offering Internet service to his customers for 30 days, but he said Tuesday that he officially was out of business.

Bray said he couldn't guarantee that service would be the same with the Houston company "but that doesn't mean that I don't have confidence that they will do a good job."

Bray started dial-up service in 1999 in Rangely and spread the service to the Craig area. He also works in the oil industry in Rangely.

At the time, Bray provided the only Internet service in Rangely and to many of its outlying areas.

"Looking back I achieved my goal of providing decent dial-up in the area," he said. "I always tried to be there for everybody, but right now I can't be there for everybody."

Bray said increasing competition from high-speed Internet providers and the high cost of offering the service, slowly pushed him out of business. Even by charging more than the standard $19.95 a month, Bray said eventually, he still would go out of business.

National statistics show that about 50 percent of nation's Internet customers have switched to broadband, he said.

"I've taken a big loss," he said. "I didn't walk away with everybody's money."

Bray didn't have a solution for giving back money for pre-paid customers, nor did he say he'd collect on past due accounts.

Bray said he could manage customers e-mail accounts and Web pages for free for about 30 days, but after that time he may charge a nominal fee.

Mike Lausin, owner of Solutions Orientated Systems, said he was sad to see the local service leave. It could spark more business for national "impersonal" Internet companies.

One Craig Internet service, NC Telecom, has signed up about 80 people in a week, he said. Other local dial-up Internet providers include SpringsSips and Amigo.Net.

High-speed connections are available through Bresnan Communications, Qwest and NC Telecom. National Internet providers include MSN, AOL, Earthlink, Juno, First Global Network, AT&T, among others.

Despite the various Internet options, Heskitt said she would stick with Quik because of the excellent service Bray provided.

Heskitt said Bray always e-mailed notes in the past to warn when the server would go down and he once talked her through a problem that "wasn't even his fault."

Heskitt switched to Quik's Houston's company two days ago and "so far, I'm happy," she said. "If prices go up I might change."