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Comments on news posted 2012-06-05 10:42:47: Last week we noted that AT&T is now forcing customers with DSL to upgrade to AT&T U-Verse if it's available in their area -- or face disconnection. ..

page: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4
AuthorAll Replies

en103

join:2011-05-02

Free, as in....

Free to AT&T ?
or
Free to not pay an ETF / cancellation on ADSL.

25139889

join:2011-10-25
Toledo, OH

327$

is in equipment. Depending on the modem its already $100. If they send you the wrong one or want to play the modem switch game, you pay for another; $100. I went from U-Verse FTTN (TV and Internet) had one modem, I ended up moving, and went to IP-DSL U-Verse, got a new modem, was $100 for that one, on TOP of the $100 for the first modem, ATT decided that the 2nd modem wasn't good enough and sent the Mot modem, another $100. They never told me what to do with the other 2 modems, instead after taxes and fees it came out to $327+ in just equipment.


Chris 313
Come get some
Premium
join:2004-07-18
Houma, LA

The Perfect Excuse

This crap right here sounds like the perfect excuse for forced users to switch to cable.


gaforces
United We Stand, Divided We Fall

join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

Watch out for upsell

I dunno about this story, something smells of BS.
If she got talked into a higher tier or into a router she doesnt need. Or when they came to install the router and she had a chock full of virus on her computer, they would charge extra for that.
The story doesnt go into much detail, I guess it could be true but there are probably other circumstance that caused her to be charged that much.
I have seen thier sales department take advantage of seniors and less technically inclined people to upsell before though.
--
Let them eat FIBER!


cowboyro

join:2000-10-11
Shelton, CT

Smells like BS.

I just priced out internet only on the uverse website.
$20 monthly + $100 one-time for 3M. That's 120. Far from 327, even after any fees...

BiggA

join:2005-11-23
EARTH

Sleazy, but

That's sleazy not to disclose the fees, but people can't hang on to old plans forever. Comcast doesn't grandfather anything, but I wouldn't want them to, as we'd pay $10/mo less or something, but also have 1.5/256, when we now have 8/2.


n2jtx

join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

It's AT&T

Is anybody really surprised at this story? AT&T is one of the most obnoxious companies to exist and will lie, cheat and steal to get money out of customers. If customers play by the rules to lower their costs, AT&T changes the rules. It is a company I hope I never have to do business with.

The fact that they could not find any real non-astroturf "love" from the public when it came to their proposed merger with T-Mobile speaks volumes about the kind of respect the company has.
--
I support the right to keep and arm bears.


FBGuy
Premium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL

reply to Chris 313

Re: The Perfect Excuse

I switched from U-Verse to Comcast Business class when AT&T announced caps on DSL & U-Verse. I am so glad that I made that jump.


djdanska
Rudie32
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
San Diego, CA
kudos:4
Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·Verizon Broadban..
·Clear Wireless
·Time Warner Cable

reply to n2jtx

Re: It's AT&T

said by n2jtx:

Is anybody really surprised at this story? AT&T is one of the most obnoxious companies to exist and will lie, cheat and steal to get money out of customers. If customers play by the rules to lower their costs, AT&T changes the rules. It is a company I hope I never have to do business with.

The fact that they could not find any real non-astroturf "love" from the public when it came to their proposed merger with T-Mobile speaks volumes about the kind of respect the company has.

I was thinking the same thing! Someone NOT being charged numerous fees on a free upgrade with at&t would be news!
--
The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult. The day he forgives himself, he becomes wise.
Alden Nowlan


DC DSL
There's a reason I'm Command.
Premium
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
kudos:2
Reviews:
·Covad Communicat..
·Verizon Online DSL

reply to gaforces

Re: Watch out for upsell

T is notorious for pulling all sorts of fast ones, like entering orders differently from what the customer specified and claiming that's what the customer ordered. Or, giving confirmation of service cancellation, then continuing to bill and demanding that you keep paying until they issue a final statement (and being told you aren't entitled to a refund because your service isn't really canceled until whenever their side says so).
--
"Dance like the photo isn't being tagged; love like you've never been unfriended; and tweet like nobody is following."


DC DSL
There's a reason I'm Command.
Premium
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
kudos:2
Reviews:
·Covad Communicat..
·Verizon Online DSL

reply to n2jtx

Re: It's AT&T

said by n2jtx:

The fact that they could not find any real non-astroturf "love" from the public when it came to their proposed merger with T-Mobile

Let's hope they get the same treatment for their "but companies WANT to pay us a troll toll so our customers can get to their websites!"
--
"Dance like the photo isn't being tagged; love like you've never been unfriended; and tweet like nobody is following."


mackey

join:2007-08-20
kudos:3

reply to gaforces

Re: Watch out for upsell

There is no such thing as a router that's not needed with Uverse - AT&T requires the use of their router due to the authentication system they use, so you will be using their router whether you want to or not. The $149 install charge also sounds like their normal charge to me; they probably didn't even look at her computer.

What do you mean "not much detail?" Looks like almost everything's broken down to me:
$100 "Internet Gateway" (aka the "free equipment" they promised)
$149 installation
$29.95 first full month of service
So we're now at almost $279. The article then says there were "prorated charges" which means the bill also included a partial month (so up to another $29.95), and then all the usual AT&T taxes, surcharges and fees for almost 2 months of service. $337 is not unreasonable (well, it is for 2 months of internet access, but how they got to that number is not).

/M


dslwanter
It's coming
Premium
join:2002-12-16
Niles, OH
Reviews:
·AT&T Midwest

1 edit

Timewarner

The day I receive this notice is the day I cancel and order TWC. Right now I have my Speedstream 4100 and Linksys WRT54G that has served me well for years. I'm paying $19.99 for Elite, it's $24.95 for Elite Uverse and I can't get "Max".

I'll keep my solution with stand alone modem, router, and $19.99/mo or I'm gone.
--
Yeah, it's kind of like that.


mackey

join:2007-08-20
kudos:3

reply to cowboyro

Re: Smells like BS.

said by cowboyro:

I just priced out internet only on the uverse website.
$20 monthly + $100 one-time for 3M. That's 120. Far from 327, even after any fees...

The plan she's on is $30, they didn't wave the $149 installation charge (like they do when you order online), and there was a 2nd, prorated month on that bill. Throw in the $100 for equipment and you can get to $337 pretty quickly.

/M


ctceo
Premium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN
Reviews:
·magicjack.com
·AT&T U-Verse

Going through this right now myself.

I was offered an upgrade to UVerse, took it and found that I was getting ADSL2+ at ~6900 feet. Now they tell me they can't downgrade me to DSL. I'm gonna have to keep it now because we can't qualify for Comcast. Bad Credit. So we'll be left with 56k again if I loose this UVerse.


cowboyro

join:2000-10-11
Shelton, CT
Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse

reply to mackey

Re: Smells like BS.

AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet Max $48.00
$18.05 off for 12 months with 1 year term. -$18.05
Internet Subtotal $29.95
One-Time Charges
Internet Installation Fee
What's this? $0.00
2Wire : 3600HGV Internet Gateway
What's this? $100.00
One Time Charges Total $100.00
Order Summary
Monthly Charges Total**
$29.95
One-Time Charge
$100.00

Looks like someone didn't do her homework or there was a mistake that can be easily fixed. Or maybe there is a mail-in rebate somewhere...

tkdslr

join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL
Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
·Speakeasy

Wow.. Now I'm glad I didn't get Uverse Internet after all..

For the longest time, I tried to get AT&T to connect my loop to the Vrad just a little over 3k ft away.. Each time I checked no deal, (same old crappy CO serviced), PPPoE aDSL re-branded as Uverse service.

Now I've cut the cord entirely(wireless) and I'm saving >$60 per month. After reading this little horror story, I'm glad I didn't get sucked into using even more of At&t's overpriced services.

Those upfront fees, (almost a years worth of service), and bundling requirements would have let a very sour taste in my mouth.

slckusr
Premium
join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH
kudos:1

reply to mackey

Re: Smells like BS.

They only waived my install fee, by doing a self install. (the tech still showed up to check the lines at my NIC).

slckusr
Premium
join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH
kudos:1

reply to mackey
double post gateway timeout.



NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9
Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC

reply to gaforces

Re: Watch out for upsell

said by gaforces:

I dunno about this story, something smells of BS.

She let her service lapse. From AT&T's point of view, she was a "new customer". It sucks, but it is the way things are.

As for the changes, apparently AT&T is retiring the older ADSL equipment as they replace it. How can they continue to provide "legacy"service to customers when the legacy hardware is gone? IP-DSLAM isn't the same as traditional ADSL, and traditional ADSL modems won't work with IP-DSLAM service.

My take on this is simply that the customer should take the AT&T upgrade notice very seriously, and decide whether the upgrade is worth the effort (don't wait until they disconnect you to upgrade!) or a change of provider is in order.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum

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