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I work for a well known Non-Profit organization here in Lafayette, Louisiana. We were experianceing some problems with our internet DSL service that we concluded were due to low bandwidth.

We decided to upgrade to Fiber Optic/High Speed. We went on AT&Ts website to look at what they had to offer. After getting the customer service number from the site, I called so I could speak to a real person.

The lady was friendly, actually sounding excited to help me. She looked up our existing service on her computer after asking me some questions and explained that we now had 6 Mbs bandwidth with our DSL, but that she could offer me 12 Mbs with the U Verse package and it would amount to aprox. $10.00/mo more than we were paying now.

Imagine my excitement! Twice the bandwidth for a mere $10.00 per month. This was Friday May 17Th. She set up the instalation date for Monday May 2oTh between the hours of 8:00am and 11:00am.

Our internet service went down at 7:30am on May 20Th. We neglected to remember that payroll had to be sent in via computer that day. Our book keeper had to ruch home to his apartment to have internet access and do payroll.

11:00am came and went. No AT&T, no phone callthat they were running late, nothing. Finally, I called them. The lady that helped me said it had to be disconnected in the central office to allow the switch over to Fiber Optic but she was unable to get the U Verse supervisor to answer the phone to tell me the status of the instalation.

At 3:00pm the installer showed up. He was there to install the new modem. He did so, and explained I would have 6 Mbs speed. 6 Mbps????

Thats what I had on DSL! I explained that I was promised 12 MB from the customer rep. He made a few phone calls to the higher-ups, and basicly gave me this story:

"Fiber Optic availability is determined by how many feet you are away from the central office downtown. There are no step-up amplifiers as such, it runs directly from the office. After so many feet the signal starts to degrade. They might be able to let you "try" what we have available to see if you like it, but if you want the 12 Mbps, they want you to sign a contract first since they can't un-do the promotional package your now in."

I was stunned.When I mentioned how furious I was at being swindled and that I was just going to call tomorrow and cancel the whole thing and get my original DSL back, he said: " Federal Law will not allow you to switch back to DSL once you've gone to Fiber Optic".

Wow...not it all started to fit. Customer Service at AT&T paints the pretty picture of how great live will be with blazing fast Fiber Optic, but fails to tell you your too far away from the central office to obtain the bandwidth your asking for.... data they clearly have on hand at the time your asking about Fiber Optic.

They switch you anyway, dropping the gorey details on you after the switch is made knowing you'll have to accept it because your not allowed to switch back. You wind up with no more bandwidth than you had before, your paying more for it, and your no longer "grandfathered in" to DSL. Mission accomplished!

AT&T's unwillingness to make this right prompted me to make this post. I only hope this helps someone else.

Monetary Loss: $100.

Location: Richardson, Texas

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Guest

AT & T installed fiber optic cables in our subdivision. They tore up dozens of grass areas and never repaired the areas to what they were before the in stallion. Also, a 3rd party did the digging

and left ever thing in a mess.

Guest

my dsl service went out also,att sent tech out and said they could only fix it by installing fiber optics and would only cost me 7 dollars more per month,didn't want the increase so they offered me a 200 dol gift card to assist with 7 dollar inc.Sounded to good to be true,but i went with it,as the tech reassured me on the offer.Next day another tech came for the install and also reassured me of the price and gift card offer.Well next day after install got online bill for around $147 for the install!! and an inc in my bill of $17 instead of 7!

also they automatically signed me to one year additional contract!...I contacted supervisor and told him of the two fraudulant offers by the two techs,so he managed to get install fee removed.But no way was i going to accept one year contract and $17 inc with fraudulant Att.Needless to say i had to cancel my internet service. Now im looking to see if others had same issues and want to start class action lawsuit.

Guest

You know not what you speak of. But ok buddy.

You didn't get scammed. Sales sold you something based off of records. Tech came out and told you exactly what speed he could offer you without any issue.

You complained. Cry some more.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1103320

You are an ***.... Rep should know what he can offer.

Guest

DSL repackaged indeed. They advertise their fiber lines but the small text makes it clear that they most likely won't be able to supply fiber service to you area. They tried to force me to "upgrade" to a "faster plan" that was actually slower and more expensive than the deal I had on DSL (likely because I was on a grandfathered plan).

Guest

AT&T U-verse is a scam....It is DSL repackaged...same old *** different day!

The "U-Verse" name is nothing more than a company branded/trademarked name for a new branded "ecosystem"...nothing more!

I have had to go back to businesses and remedy "scan-to-email" issues on MFP (Multi-Function Copier/Printer/Scanner) because the business upgraded from AT&T DSL to AT&T U-Verse...the modem they have *still* takes the same RJ-11 phone type DSL connector--not optical fiber! The only possible reason for upgrading the modem device is to have gigabit ethernet ports on the back!...remember, your internet speed is only as fast as your slowest interconnect interface!...in this instance, your ethernet connection from the back of the modem to your computer!

Guest

HI

YOUR STORY ALMOST MIRROWED MINE BUT AFTER THE LIES AND ME HAVING ENOUGH BULL I CALLED TO CANCEL AND WAS TOLD I COULD GO BACK TO DSL. WELL THEY BROKE A FEDERAL LAW BECAUSE BECAUSE THEY SWITCHED BACK TO DSL.

BUT UVERSE CALLED ME BACK AND TRIED TO SCAM ME INTO SWITCH ING BACK TO UVERSE BUT THEY NEEDED A SERVICE PERSON TO COME OUT. I GOT DSL AND I WILL LOOK INTO THE FEDERAL LAW ISSUE .

I NEVER HEARD OF THAT. I DID IT SO I KNOW IT CAN BE DONE.

Guest

att are thieves! BEWARE

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