We are excited to announce that our offices are re-opening to the public on Monday, May 18. Safety measures will be in place for our employees and our customers. We have installed sneeze guards at all of our Customer Centers, placed stickers on the floors to mark proper social distancing and will limit the number of customers in each office.
April 9, 2020
FAQs:
Q: What if I need a service technician to come to my home?
A: The only thing greater than our commitment to customer service is our commitment to the safety and well-being of our customers, employees and community at large. As our nation fights the COVID-19 pandemic, we are doing our part by putting new policies in place to support this commitment.
- Before dispatching an employee to a customer’s home for a service call, we will ask the customer a series of questions to determine the risk of exposure to our employee.
- If our team believes that a risk exists, the service call will be rescheduled if possible.
- If the service call is an emergency, special precautions must be taken by our employees and our customers before a visit can be made.
- Our employees will use their best judgment before scheduling a service call and after arriving at a customer’s home to determine the most appropriate approach for protecting everyone involved. Employees have been directed not to enter customer homes out of an abundance of caution.
These measures are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health and other agencies. We will continue to monitor updates from federal, state and local officials regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, and we may make adjustments to this screening policy as appropriate.
Q: How do I pay my bill?
A: There are many ways you can pay your bill without coming into the office or leaving the comfort of your home. Please rest assured that all methods are safe and secure.
Pay by phone — Give us a call at 1-800-759-2226 to pay your bill over the phone. We will verify your identity, confirm your monthly bill amount and proceed with payment options.
Pay online — Visit our website www.skybest.com to pay your bill online. From the home page click PAY/VIEW MY BILL at the top of the page. Login to our online portal. If you don’t have an online account, you can set up one from there. Be sure to have your latest bill with you to reference your invoice number and bill amount due.
Pay by mail — If you wish to pay by mail, include a signed check for the amount listed on your monthly bill. Please include your bill stub and mail to the address provided on the statement.
Pay by bank draft — You can sign up for automatic bank draft by using your checking account’s routing and account numbers. With this option, your monthly bill amount will be deducted from your bank each payment cycle. You never have to worry about missing a payment.
Pay by drop box — You are welcome to visit our West Jefferson Call Center or Sparta Customer Center to pay your bill through our drive thru or drop box access.
Q: Is the lobby still open?
A: For the safety of our members and our employees, our lobby will remain closed to the public during this health crisis. Many of the services you require can be handled over the phone or at our website.
Q: What happens if I can’t pay my bill?
A: Any members needing assistance with their account should call 1-800-759-2226. We remain committed to working diligently with our customers during this difficult time.
Q: Should I be aware of any coronavirus scams?
A: Criminals are opportunists. They will often capitalize on major news events to create scams to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. The fear evoked by the coronavirus pandemic creates the perfect opportunity for criminals to prey upon individuals with various scams.
Some of the potential scams to watch out for include:
Phishing: the fraudulent practice of sending emails disguised as coming from reputable companies in order to entice people to reveal personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.
Social engineering: the use of social media to seek donations for fake charitable causes.
Non-delivery scams: fake advertisements for in-demand medical supplies that can be used to prevent/protect against the coronavirus. The criminals will demand upfront payment or initial deposits then keep your money and never complete delivery of the ordered products.
The U.S. Secret Service Agency offers the following advice regarding the above scams:
- Phishing Emails/Social Engineering — Avoid opening attachments and clicking on links within emails from senders you do not recognize. These attachments can contain malicious content, such as ransomware, that can infect your device and steal your information. Be leery of emails or phone calls requesting account information or requesting you to verify your account. Legitimate businesses will never call you or email you directly for this information.
- Always independently verify any request for information that appears to come from a legitimate source.
- Visit websites by typing in the domain name yourself. Receiving “certificate error” notifications from your browser can be a warning sign that the website you are trying to visit could pose a danger.
April 2, 2020
Measures Implemented in Response to COVID-19
As we continue to monitor the situation regarding COVID-19, SkyLine/SkyBest has implemented various measures to keep our employees, customers and the community safe. As a telecommunications provider, we are an essential business and will remain in full operation for the duration of the statewide stay-at-home order. However, we have made some adjustments that we feel are necessary to safeguard our employees and customers. In addition to closing our customer center lobbies to the public, our technicians will no longer be going inside homes during service calls or installations. New services will continue to be installed as we remain dedicated to keeping you connected through our critical services.
March 19, 2020
Measures Implemented in Response to COVID-19
SkyLine has implemented various measures in response to the continuing spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and in accordance with advisories from government and healthcare officials to ensure our employees’ and our customers’ safety. Those measures include work and travel policy changes, increased education on illness prevention methods and more stringent practices for disinfecting vehicles and tools between customer visits. We want to ensure that our technicians can continue to serve our community safely, quickly and with the same level of professionalism our customers have come to expect. Our Customer Service staff will work with customers requesting special payment arrangements to assist those adversely affected, and SkyLine has additional options for business customers to maintain business continuity and modify their services as needed during this crisis. Additionally, SkyLine is assisting our area public school systems as they work to meet their students’ needs remotely during this time and have enacted a plan to provide internet connectivity to students at their homes who don’t currently have access to it due to need. For nearly 70 years our cooperative has made a point to work with our customers in difficult situations to try to keep them connected. We will continue to do that throughout the coronavirus outbreak. We know that during difficult times like this, a connection to work, school and current events in the world is more important than ever. Our broadband network is designed and ready for events like this, and is more than capable of handling a dramatic increase in the number of people working and learning from home.
March 18, 2020
Measures Implemented in Response to COVID-19
SkyLine Customer Center and Call Center locations will remain in operation but will be closed to the public effective Monday, March 23rd and will remain closed to the public through the end of the month. Drive-through service at the West Jefferson Call Center on Highway 194 in West Jefferson and at the Sparta Customer Center on Grayson Street in Sparta will remain open during this time.
March 17, 2020
Measures Implemented in Response to COVID-19
SkyLine/SkyBest is also committed to working with customers impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) to prevent their internet service from being disconnected during this challenging period. For 69 years, we have always made a point to work with our customers in difficult situations to try to keep them connected. We will continue to do that throughout the coronavirus outbreak. We know that during difficult times like this, a connection to work, school and current events in the world is more important than ever.
Our network is designed and ready for events like this. SkyLine/SkyBest has recently made upgrades to both our core network and our field equipment. Even during this trying time, our broadband network is more than capable of handling a dramatic increase in the number of people working and learning from home. SkyLine/SkyBest technicians are also monitoring the network continuously to ensure that they detect and address any problems as soon as possible.
Finally, as we stated on March 13, SkyLine/SkyBest has taken steps to ensure our employees’ and our customers’ safety. Those measures include work and travel policy changes, increased education on illness prevention methods and more stringent practices for disinfecting vehicles and tools between customer visits. We want to ensure that our technicians can continue to serve our community safely, quickly, and with the same level of professionalism our customers have come to expect.
To find out more, please contact us at 1-800-759-2226 or chat with a member of our customer service team online at www.skybest.com.
About SkyLine/SkyBest
As the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative, SkyLine and its subsidiary, SkyBest Communications, provides advanced communications services and technology solutions across an expanding network in northwest N.C., east/middle Tennessee and upstate South Carolina. With more than 65 years of service to the High Country, SkyLine/SkyBest is the local team you can count on for Gig-capable Broadband, Business Communications and Network Solutions, Bundled Services (Voice/Internet/Digital TV), Business Phone Systems, Business Hosting Solutions, Monitored Security Services and Automation and Surveillance Services.