Mahaska Communication Group (MCG) — Local services in Oskaloosa

I contacted these guys back in August, I believe, and asked about internet service. I was told they would have to do a survey to ensure I could get service where I am since it would be satellite, which was fine. What wasn't fine was being told to try back in several months because their techs "don't feel like" servicing my area. I live maybe 20 minutes from their main office!

Hoping that experience was not their typical standard, I decided to try again now that it's been several months. The customer service rep told me everything I had read online, they'd do a credit check and it was decided I had to pay a deposit. I specifically told her I do not want anything installed on my house and asked if that would cause the installation to be "nonstandard" and cost an extra $100. She said only if where they installed it required them to bring a bucket truck here/if the installation place couldn't be reached with a ladder. I told her I already have two poles in my yard from old satellites and she said if they're in a good place for signal they would be fine.

So she puts me into the system to pay the deposit, I pay it and get to the end and to my shock there's no way to get back to the rep and we hadn't even scheduled my appointment.

I hang up, call back, get someone else, set the appointment, try to confirm what the last rep said and this one tells me something completely different. She says she can see the note that I don't want a satellite on my house and declares ANY installation not on the house is an extra $100.

This all seems incredibly shady to me and very much like that isn't actually their policy, that they're just told to grab extra money wherever they can. So I called and canceled my installation.

I would recommend going basically anywhere else. This place just seems...

Update! : It has been 12 days and I have not lost connection one time. Speed is faster than any of my devices can keep up with. Great product!

Original review: New install for Ottumwa. Technicians were professional, knowledgeable, and very polite. Complete install of fiber and new 2Gbit service and router, no charge for the install or the router. Flat monthly rate with no hidden fees. So far, so good. I switched as soon as MCG became available in my area. Mediacom 1Gbit has always dropped 3-5 times per week minimum, requiring resets and sometimes 3-5 drops per day. I had tech support here from Mediacom once per year and they never could make my connection stable. Hoping MCG will be fast and stable, I like knowing the network isn't...

They have fallen behind on their installation of the cable that's been strung across my yard since March. The told me the cable would be buried in April. Well, it's May 13th. I called their customer support and a person cut me off mid-sentence and stated that they're really busy, blah . blah. Nothing but excuses, no action. Said she'll open a ticket for whatever that's worth. She did not seem to care, as I'm sure she gets these calls daily. When I initially signed up for service, they did not tell me that the cable would be exposed for months! Sneaky and deceiving. If I were you, I'd go find an established company...