 | | Free, as in.... Free to AT&T ?
or
Free to not pay an ETF / cancellation on ADSL. | |
|
 | | | Re: Free, as in.... i voluntarily converted my dsl account to u-verse. i did it because i got att to give me the u-verse service for $20/month for a year instead of the $35/month for the dsl. they tried to screw me over with pricing but i called them and made them give me the $20 rate. I fully know it will go up to $38/month after a year. there is no difference in the speed because the max speed i can get at my location is 3 Mbps even though the tech tested the line and said it could handle up to 7.6 Mbps. I had to spend $100 for the crappy U-verse modem because the tech didnt have any of the new motorola u-verse modems in his van. i did eventually call att and get that motorola u-verse modem for free by sending back the crappy one because it was giving me problems with my router. bottom line: att always has had screwed up billing. always. just call and bitch at them. tell them either fix it or ill dump your service. of course it only works if youre not tied into a contract. | |
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| | 327$ 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 $327+ in just equipment. | |
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|  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Re: 327$ said by 25139889: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. I read that is it came out to at least $218 in fraudulent charges. :/
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
| |
|
 Chris 313Come get somePremium
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. | |
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|  ArrayListnetbus developerPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | 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. | |
|
| | | | Re: The Perfect Excuse Has the service been consistent with Comcast? I am interested in doing the same change myself but I am waiting for my contract to expire in Oct of this year. | |
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| | | Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| Re: The Perfect Excuse I also jumped to Comcast business from uverse and it's great. I only had a problem once after a really bad storm last year, slow Internet and bad ping. Simply unplugging/replugging the modem cured the problem. It's been about a year now and no other problems at all. Speeds are good with power boost and no Data cap... | |
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| | | ArrayListnetbus developerPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL Reviews:
·Comcast
| I've been very happy with it. My favorite thing about business class is that they notify you for ANY scheduled downtime. Comcast really does have a stellar product. You shouldn't have any problems if you go with business class. unscheduled downtime can equal free service from what I've heard btw. | |
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| | | | | | Re: The Perfect Excuse Thanks.
I told AT&T if they don't upgrade my area at the time I got U-verse that I was just going to head over to Comcast so they have until Oct to surprise me. | |
|
 gaforcesUnited 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! | |
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|  DC DSLThere's a reason I'm Command.Premium
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
kudos:2
 ·Covad Communicat..
·Verizon Online DSL
| 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." | |
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| | | 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 | |
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| | | | Re: Watch out for upsell I apparently missed some of the article. | |
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|  NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 | 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.
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Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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| | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Watch out for upsell I agree! As much as I'm not a fan of AT&T, they do have a right to discontinue a service. Comcast discontinued digital phone on me and made me move to digital voice. (didn't care for that) but what could I do? The switch was sold and I couldn't expect them to offer a service to me forever.
The only thing I see an issue with is that AT&T should have migrated the customers for no charge. AT&T made a HUGE effort to drive DSL sales a few years back.. I even recall a quote made by the CEO at the time stating "Yes, $14.95 DSL is a loss leader, and U-Verse isn't available YET, but it's easier to market a new product to a captive audience than it is to find new customers"...
AT&T knew what it was doing years back when they loaded up DSL consumers. | |
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| | | NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 | Re: Watch out for upsell said by fiberguy:The only thing I see an issue with is that AT&T should have migrated the customers for no charge.
Would have been a better way than disconnecting the unresponsive customer. Except that there would still be complainers.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
|
| | 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... | |
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| | | 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 | |
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| | Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| 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... | |
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| | | | | Re: Smells like BS. said by mackey: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. Her mistake was ordering through a phone rep and not online (thus getting whacked with both the $149 install charge and not getting the free equipment) and if you look closely, the "**" for "Monthly Charges Total**" says "**This total reflects available discounts. Because AT&T bills one month in advance, your first bill will include charges for one full month of service, plus a partial month from the date of installation to the start of your monthly billing period." so the first bill is going to be up to double (depending on how far into the billing cycle the install date is).
/M | |
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| | | | tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL Reviews:
 ·T-Mobile US
·Speakeasy
| Re: Smells like BS. Exactly how is she going to order on-line, when at&t cut off her internet access??
Seams to me At&t breached her contract/service agreement, most likely mid month for a paid up service. At&t should bear the full costs of restoring her service or providing an alternate service. | |
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| | | | | | | Re: Smells like BS. said by tkdslr:Exactly how is she going to order on-line, when at&t cut off her internet access??
Seams to me At&t breached her contract/service agreement, most likely mid month for a paid up service. At&t should bear the full costs of restoring her service or providing an alternate service.
Work, friend, smartphone, public library, Starbucks, Panera, etc. If you want to get online you can find a way. Or you can just make excuses...
If she was still on DSL then there's no way she was in a contract. No contract, either party can terminate service at any time.
I highly doubt they killed her service mid-billing cycle. Once they killed her service at the end of the cycle, if she had the Uverse service installed soon after then that $337 includes almost 2 whole months of service (~3 weeks prorated + the next full month).
/M | |
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| | slckusrPremium
join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH
kudos:1 | They only waived my install fee, by doing a self install. (the tech still showed up to check the lines at my NIC). | |
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| | slckusrPremium
join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH
kudos:1 | double post gateway timeout.  | |
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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. | |
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| fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Sleazy, but said by BiggA:Comcast doesn't grandfather anything, but I wouldn't want them to, .... Not sure where you're getting that bit of information from, but Comcast absolutely grandfathers their retired plans... they have for YEARS.. | |
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| | BiggA
join:2005-11-23
EARTH | Re: Sleazy, but Not the pricing on internet. Ours floats. They do grandfather some video plans. | |
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| | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Sleazy, but That depends. They have grandfathered internet tiers at times, but in this case yes, they tend to tweak existing plans and then perform price increases.
However, video PACKAGES are in fact grandfathered, always. They may do price increased, but the package members and products are grandfathered. | |
|
 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.
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I support the right to keep and arm bears. | |
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| |
| DC DSLThere's a reason I'm Command.Premium
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Covad Communicat..
·Verizon Online DSL
| 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." | |
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| | | 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.
"AT&T is one of the most obnoxious companies to exist and will lie, cheat and steal to get money out of customers"
That's the part that I TOTALLY agree with! I will NEVER EVER do business with AT&T or Verizon even if I ever happen to move into one of their areas. I will make sure there are other options than those 2 ripoff artist companies! 
--
The Firefox alternative.
»www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/ | |
|
 dslwanterIt's comingPremium
join:2002-12-16
Niles, OH
·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.
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Yeah, it's kind of like that. | |
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| | | Re: Timewarner said by dslwanter: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.
Wait, you're seriously going to switch to TWC's "Up to 3 down" for $40/month instead of getting Uverse "Up to 6 down" for $25?
/M | |
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| | cramer
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC
kudos:7 | Re: Timewarner Actually, the standard rate for TWC is 10/1 now. (41.95$ if you go through Earthlink.) | |
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| | dslwanterIt's comingPremium
join:2002-12-16
Niles, OH Reviews:
·AT&T Midwest
| said by mackey:said by dslwanter: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.
Wait, you're seriously going to switch to TWC's "Up to 3 down" for $40/month instead of getting Uverse "Up to 6 down" for $25? /M Nope. I'm going to spend $29.99 for 12 months up to 10mbps. AT&T's $24.95 is also a promo for up to 6mbps.
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Yeah, it's kind of like that. | |
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| | | | | Re: Timewarner said by dslwanter:Nope. I'm going to spend $29.99 for 12 months up to 10mbps. AT&T's $24.95 is also a promo for up to 6mbps. I thought T's $24.95 was the normal price. I do know TWC goes to $52.99 after those 12 months though.
/M | |
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| | | | cramer
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC
kudos:7 | Re: Timewarner Everything is a promo price. Finding the actual, full price is always difficult or impossible. One would think the FTC would have words over that. | |
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 ctceoPremium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN
 ·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. | |
|
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. | |
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| NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 | Re: Wow.. Now I'm glad I didn't get Uverse Internet after all.. said by tkdslr:Each time I checked no deal, (same old crappy CO serviced), PPPoE aDSL re-branded as Uverse service.
AFAIK, U-verse Internet is IP-DSLAM, not PPPoE. Furthermore, my new ADSL2+ service from Sonic.net, LLC is not PPPoE either (though it is not IP-DSLAM).
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
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| | tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
·Speakeasy
| Re: Wow.. Now I'm glad I didn't get Uverse Internet after all.. Not really.. You're just not up to date with At&t's new marketing speak..
AT7T has re-branded their old aDSL as a form of Uverse service.
They only way to tell, is to try and sign up and see what speeds they offer after plugging in your address. A typical 3.3kft loop would be able support downward bit rates of 5-8Mbit/sec(aDSL), 10-17Mb(aDSL2+), 15-23Mb/sec(vDSL), ??Mb/sec(vDSL2+)..
But all At&t Uverse would offer was 1.5Mb/sec down.. Indicating no connection to the Vram, instead it would be a 12-15kt ft line would home run back to CO. (Which is basically equals no service..) | |
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| | | cramer
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC
kudos:7 | Re: Wow.. Now I'm glad I didn't get Uverse Internet after all.. Actually, they are still labeled different. It's not always obvious unless they are side by side on the same page... "AT&T DSL" (ADSL/ATM) vs. "Uverse DSL [HSI]" (ADSL2+/PTM) vs "Uverse Internet" (VDSL)
In areas where Uverse (either kind) is installed, they will not offer legacy DSL. If you are ever disconnected from legacy DSL, you will *never* be reattached to it. (even if you are out of range for any uverse. this is the often seen "no available ports" excuse.) | |
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| | | | tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL Reviews:
·T-Mobile US
·Speakeasy
1 edit | Re: Wow.. Now I'm glad I didn't get Uverse Internet after all.. Well I haven't used At&t's aDSL service for over 6 years now. (I used Covad/Speakeasy bridged aDSL circuit during most of that time)
I'm 3.3kft from a 6ft high environmental cabinet housing the VRAM servicing my subdivision.
The max speed they're offering me is 1.5Mb/sec down.. which was the max speed for the OLD CO serviced aDSL service.
Thus, it's not a matter of what you think(they call it), they just won't connect it no matter what. At&t will try to trick to customer into thinking they got Uverse, when all they got was the old aDSL. | |
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tkdslr
join:2004-04-24
Pompano Beach, FL
1 edit | Sorry about the double post.. I received a gateway timeout the first time I tried posting. (force of habit, is to repost after errors like that.) | |
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 King PDon't blame me. I voted for Ron PaulPremium
join:2004-11-17
Franklin, TN | SHOCKED! I say. | |
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| | That's why I ditched them for Comcast. They currently creep me out less. It really burns my butt that in a city as large as Atlanta, these are the only real choices. There are a handful of third parties, like Atlantic Nexus, but they require you to have an AT&T land line in order to get service.
I wouldn't use AT&T for anything at all. | |
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| | we vol switched from dsl to u verse. I thought it was a mistake at first (4 mo ago) but now seeing this I am glad I did it. Anyway the way ATT billing dept works is they throw all the crap onto the bill they possibly can (double charges, charges they said would not be on there etc) then if you dont call to complain you have to pay them or you get shut off. So basically every time you get a bill you have to complain. Same with verizon fios. I have them too at another loc. Basically the more you complain to the right people the more you get discounts. Just get ready to spend a few hrs. vz discounted my bill the other day 20.00 mo. just because I called to bitch
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Lakewood Accountability Action Group | »www.LAAG.us | Demanding action and accountability from local government
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| | When I dropped AT&T land-line service they gave me the run around. I just wanted basic phone service, nothing else. But they kept adding fees and saying it would cost extra to remove call waiting, voice mail, call forwarding, ect. $30 a month for a land-line I hardly used was too much, and they were telling me it would be $40 a month without the extra crap they were changing me extra for.
When I called to cancel they finally offered me a $14 a month rate, but it was too late and dropped them totally.
--
no .sig found, please restart your browser. | |
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| | Under the AT&T DSL TOS, once Uverse is offered in the same area as DSL, you are required to switch, if AT&T so requests.
However, the switch is not supposed to cost you any money. This customer should call and request a credit.
I had AT&T DSL for four year. I had the faster package they offer at 6MB down.
Moved from AT&T DSL to UVerse, have a faster speed for less money (although I now get tv and UVoice as part of the bundle). | |
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| Reviews:
·DSL EXTREME
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: It seems some people are confused said by rtsmurf :Under the AT&T DSL TOS, once Uverse is offered in the same area as DSL, you are required to switch, if AT&T so requests.
However, the switch is not supposed to cost you any money. This customer should call and request a credit.
I had AT&T DSL for four year. I had the faster package they offer at 6MB down.
Moved from AT&T DSL to UVerse, have a faster speed for less money (although I now get tv and UVoice as part of the bundle).
I'd investigate if DSL Extreme was within range and see about getting service from them, if one doesn't want Uverse. | |
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 ff1324Everybody Goes HomePremium
join:2002-08-24
On Four Day
·AT&T Southwest
| I went from paying almost $80 per month for our phone service and 3M internet to $60 per month for Charter 15M with their phone service with unlimited local and long distance. That includes fees and taxes. The package is actually $50/mo.
Best move ever so far.
AT&T wanted $3/mo just for me to be able to access long distance even if I didn't use it. And of course that was taxed and fees applied.
Changing to U-Verse was going to add another $6 or $7 to the monthly because you were required to lease the gateway. I've used the same DSL modem and wireless router for 8 years now. At $576...pretty good margin for a modem which costs $40.
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My rants get raves. | |
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joe42353
join:2003-12-09
Port Saint Lucie, FL | I have not received any notifications yet but if I cannot keep my DSL I plan on going Comcast. | |
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sqinkyPremium
join:2001-01-24
Fernley, NV Reviews:
·Charter
| AT&T is rolling out a very crippled U-Verse internet only solution here in my city. It's the 3mbps tier, and it seems to me that offering an inferior service with the company's premium service name would be seen by the Marketing Weenies as devaluing the brand (but what do I know). I currently have AT&Ts 6mbps DLS. For what it is, it's just fine. But it amazes me that AT&T has been telling people here that the U-Verse is the way to go and actually switching customers from the service I have onto the slower service. A friend of mine was talked into that very switch. She believed the AT&T person despite what I told her. She ended up canceling all of her AT&T service and switching to cable internet. If AT&T tries anything like forcing me to U-Verse, I will go to cable as well. I'd have gone to cable long ago, but I really had a bad time last time I had to deal with Charter... | |
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| | | Re: New customer fees its att they will screw you any way they can | |
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| KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Yes, it's AT&T's fault because they cut her off just to force an upgrade (which they did) that they then socked her for every single fee possible instead of waiving them as they should.
Really, it's just plain fraud.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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