| [Speed Problem] ATT DSL Scam - Monitor your download speeds cons I have been with ATT DSL for quite some time now, ~5+ years. Over those years, I have had many instances where my speed gets slow. I use to think that it was maintenance or network issues, but I believe that ATT lowers user bandwidth regularly to save cost. For example, I have been paying for the last 2 years, the elite package, which advertises 3-6mbps down. I live pretty close to the CO and when I run my test, I usually get around 5.1-5.4 Mbps. Within the last 2 years, I have reported at least 4 instances with tech support / maintenance regarding slow download speeds which is well below my advertised and what I usually get. Each time they say that my line tests just fine and offer to bring in a technician for $60/hr if nothing is faulty with my line. Each time I refuse and continue to complain and magically, 2-3 days later, my connection comes back to regular advertised speed. Same thing happened again a few days ago, but I have noticed the slowness for at least 2 months where all my streaming videos and downloads would buffer a lot. I then ran a test and noticed that I was only getting 1.2Mbps, but the upload remains the same. I contacted the online agent and tech support who tells me that I'm signed up for the correct elite package and that my line is completely fine. The proceeded to give me a trouble ticket # and it simply triggered some automated system to run a test and leave an automated message on my answering machine, stating that there is nothing wrong with my connection.
After getting the trouble ticket, I called the maintenance department who tells me that he needed to set my account to the appropriate package level because it did not match what I was being billed for. I then asked him when my account was set for lower bandwidth so that I can contact billing to credit the difference. He flat out refused and told me that he couldn't give me that information. I contacted billing and they tell me to call maintenance to get a date. So ATT is basically avoiding me and bouncing me around between depts.
This is not the first time and if you don't regularly check and complain, they will simply downgrade your service on the back-end even though you are charged for a higher service. I think this is a way for them to cut cost.
To everyone, please regularly check your download bandwidth and make sure that you are not given something slower than what you are paying for.
I would like to hear who else is getting this and will think about a class action lawsuit to get our money back for falsifying advertised speeds. If you complain enough and call them, they will correct your speed, but a little while later, they will simply downgrade you again. |
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| Re: [Speed Problem] ATT DSL Scam - Monitor your download speeds I also had that problem, i had to call them 4 times to get my line readjusted to 1536 but currently i'm not getting what i paid for. i bought the 3.0 mbps package but all i'm getting is 1.5mbps with of course very frequent disconnections. =( |
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 NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9
 ·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to sf_loft
Ever check your line stats when you were having troubles? If they changed your speed profile, it would show in the line stats; and you would be justified to lean on them.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to sousuke
said by sousuke:I also had that problem, i had to call them 4 times to get my line readjusted to 1536 but currently i'm not getting what i paid for. i bought the 3.0 mbps package but all i'm getting is 1.5mbps with of course very frequent disconnections. =( And what about your line stats? I saw my speed drop to around 900kps, once. During a bout with voice line problems. Took a few calls to get is sorted out. But you need information to get them to move.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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| reply to sf_loft
Yeah I got fed up with att cause of that. I posted it in sbcdirect and my speed hasn't gone down any more. I get less dc also. I use to dc about 20 times a day with speed only at 1.5mbps |
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| reply to sf_loft
I experience the same thing all the time for 2 years now. I thought buying a new modem would improve the connection. I'm really certain of my decision to move to a local ISP that has been given rave reviews here. |
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| reply to sf_loft
I have the exact same issue, except it's fairly consistent (3 months, 6 months and 12 months or 6 and 12 months).
Your sync profile matches whatever you purchased, but your redback (router) profile is set to the slower speed.
Matter of fact, I called last night and demanded to speak with tier 2, after a lengthy hold, I spoke with tier 2. After explaining what I knew to be the case, he checked both profiles and sure enough the redback profile was set to 1.5 (it should have been 6). A quick change and I was back in business.
He made the excuse that sometimes they have trouble with the database and then mentioned something about a possibly faulty router. I don't buy either, but hey it's easy to call and have them fix it. Demand to speak with Tier 2 support. They are the only ones who can fix the issue. |
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Dv Jones
join:2004-02-22
San Francisco, CA | I think these problems are most likely actual technical problems or perhaps accidental screwups and not some conspiracy. Huge companies like AT&T/SBC do not usually employ these practices becuase they could get sued and they are very risk averse. I had some speed problems a few times last year and the sbcdirect folks were very helpful in fixing it. |
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| I'm just telling you that my issue is consistent. The provisioning doesn't match the router. One database always shows 6mb config, but the router seems to magically revert back to 1.5mb.
FYI there are no noise issues on my line, SNR is outstanding, no crc errors or packet loss. Ping times are less than 15ms usually. |
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 levThis site served its purposePremium,Ex-mod 2002-08
join:2001-05-30
Chicago, IL
kudos:2 | Where exactly are you going to run these tests? |
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| reply to sf_loft
You may want to use AT&T's speed test site and use that as a reference that you are not getting the correct speed you are paying for. It keeps track and records the speed of your connection on their servers. This way you do not have to contact technical department for proof of your connectivity. |
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| There isn't any proof needed. You call SBC, force them to point you to tier 2, and tier 2 fixes the problem. They see and fix the issue, but it does seem strange that it keeps happening to some people.
I personally am not a heavy internet user, but I do go through spurts where I download quite a bit (5-10GB) in a few hours or days and then just regular internet surfing. |
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NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by ultradark:They see and fix the issue, but it does seem strange that it keeps happening to some people. But not to everybody, or even most everybody. Too inconsistent to be a policy.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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| reply to sf_loft
I've had this happen to me several times. I'm in the middle of getting this resolved yet again. I'm thinking class action. |
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tonydiPremium,MVM
join:2001-05-11
San Jose, CA | Cool! I've had it happen to me so I'd be part of the class. Let's see, what will I do with the $1 credit I'll get from AT&T....hmmm, hard to decide, so many possibilities.
/sarcasm
Don't be ridiculous. Good luck proving intent. |
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 d_lBarsoomPremium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
kudos:7 | reply to cphan
Bwaahahaha! Gasp. Gasp. ... can't stop laughing. Gasp. You're too funny. Stop it.
You're not an unemployed lawyer breaking in material for your new stand up comedy act, are you? |
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NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 | reply to cphan
You must be one of the attorneys who would file the case. Only the attorneys make money on class action law suits.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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| reply to sf_loft
Re: [Speed Problem] ATT DSL Scam Solution Just visit the Better business bureau (»www.labbb.org), or contact the states controller's office, or the office of the controler general in Washington. THey usually are pretty aware of these practices, and believe me, they act very efficiently, in contacting the company, when a complaint is issued.
Also every 3 months, the bureau will count the amount of complaints, filed against a business, at the local, state, and nation level, and then will forward their findings to the attorney general.
Complaints look very awful, when a company needs to bring their numbers to wall street, and it can work against a corporation, when the SEC review merger, and acquisitions.
SO really, if all of you (since i did file a complaint successfully, and received a letter from ATT trying to explain, and kissing my consumer's ass-as expected, and it felt great-lol). SO if all of you filed a complaint, and provide the BBB.org with your info+complaint+links to this web forum...
We should force ATT to provide what we pay for.
By the way, here are some very efficient words, used in the language of law:
-Bait and switch
-Unfair and deceptive practices
-Violation of the Fair and Labeling Act
-Violation of Consumer Act
-Abuse of consumer trust
Let's all get smarter and play their game...Let's apply the law. THere are solutions, many, many...And the Net is an open access to these solutions.
Good luck |
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NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by yann74:SO really, if all of you (since i did file a complaint successfully, and received a letter from ATT trying to explain, and kissing my consumer's ass-as expected, and it felt great-lol). SO if all of you filed a complaint, and provide the BBB.org with your info+complaint+links to this web forum... We should force ATT to provide what we pay for. By the way, here are some very efficient words, used in the language of law: -Bait and switch -Unfair and deceptive practices -Violation of the Fair and Labeling Act -Violation of Consumer Act -Abuse of consumer trust I would have to be a victim to file a complaint, yes? I have only once had my speed profile go wrong, and AT&T fixed it right away. I had to bring it to their attention first, of course. Somehow, I suspect that I would have to show a good faith effort to work with AT&T to resolve an issue before I could make a complaint out of it.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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| reply to sf_loft
Re: [Speed Problem] ATT DSL Scam - Monitor your download speeds This has happend to me a few times with att dsl over the years.
way back when they said it was an ober loaded "redback server"
as always 4 long phone calls later and a tech visit, my dsl speeds are up to what they should be.
my friends att dsl also did this, he called same deal. ( he does live down the street, it may be a local issue.
my speeds were 1mbps-400k at the slowest, and they are normaly 2.6-2.7 mbps |
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