A new online program
that allows service members to sign up for or disconnect utilities,
phones, cable and other services will take some of the hassles out
of moving to new assignments in the United States, officials said.
Through the Navy Exchange Moving Center, service members can
select utility companies, local and long-distance telephone
companies, cable television, Internet and other service providers
for their new address. They can sign up for the service directly
online and pay deposits online or arrange to send deposits by mail.
Although the Moving Center is provided by Navy Exchange Service
Command through a contractor, anyone with exchange privileges can
use it. A link is displayed prominently on the exchange's home page
at http://www.navytimes.com/www.navy-nex.com.
"This will certainly take a lot of the load off of doing what you
had to burn leather to do in the past," said Chuck Early, a retired
Navy master chief and customer outreach specialist for the exchange
service. "It's free, and it guarantees the absolute lowest price"
offered by companies for a particular geographic area, as well as
additional discounts specifically for the military community, he
said.
The Moving Center will be tied to the Navy's SmartWebMove site,
where sailors can arrange online to have their household goods
shipped.
When 10 sailors conducted "sea trials" of the system June 27, it
was a hit, said Kristine Sturkie, Navy exchange spokeswoman. "They
were very positive, very enthused and thought it was very helpful
and a great benefit for those who move."
For now, Early said, Navy exchange officials call this a pilot
program and primarily are targeting people moving to the Norfolk,
Va., and San Diego areas.
In San Diego, there are 24 service categories, ranging from
electricity to high-speed Internet to self-storage facilities. Each
category lists more than one company, unless there is only one
provider of a service, such as electricity.
While San Diego and Norfolk have the most listings, the program
offers a fairly extensive menu of services in all Navy markets. Even
in a rural area in Hawaii with only 98 sailors, 12 different
services are provided - the minimum for any Navy market.
Large numbers of Marines are covered through the Navy markets.
And there are plans to expand to 10 major metropolitan areas by
September, which will cover 80 percent of the Army and Air Force
"footprint" in the United States, said Joseph Lynch, senior vice
president for public-sector development with the contractor, Qcorps
Residential Inc.
Qcorps Residential works to set up agreements with service
providers, such as electric, cable and phone companies, in each
geographic area, said Lynch, a retired Air Force Reserve major
general. Some firms provide service nationwide; others are regional
or local.
Customers can compare prices and features among service
providers. Customers log in through the Navy exchange site using
their Social Security number, which is verified through the Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. The Social Security number
is not captured in the online moving center system, Lynch said.
The customer also must have a valid address where the services
would be provided, which is checked against the U.S. Postal Service
database. All services provided by companies are keyed to those
addresses.
An added benefit for the Navy community is increased revenue for
morale, welfare and recreation funds, said Phil Austin, Navy
exchange operations specialist.
Depending on the contract, companies using the service pay a fee
to Qcorps for each person who signs up for service. Qcorps then
rebates a part of that fee to Navy Exchange Service Command.