Considering leaving U-Verse - price too high

[Bernie157]

Started with U-Verse over 2 years ago, coming from regular AT&T for phone & Internet, local cable company for TV.  I basically like U-Verse services but my price for U-Verse is now over $170 even though with some promotional discounts.  Have unlimited calling, Elite Internet, U200 TV, and 3 boxes incl. DVR.

Questions: can I go to basic $19 TV or is that only for new U-Verse customers?  Can I go back to ordinary AT&T phone & Internet (I have been told NO as well as it wouldn't save much money)?  How best to cut U-Verse costs, if any way?

I am considering leaving and going with cable company's 2 year, no contract promotional price. 

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

Call CS using the phone number in my sig and inquire about any promotions that ATT may be offering that can lower your bill.  If you get an uncooperative csr politely end the call and call back to speak to another one.  Many people have gotten promotions that have reduced their bills from 3 months to 12.

[Bernie157]

I have gone that route in the past, including asking to be transferred to the retention department, which is who is authorized to give out promotional discounts in order to retain the customer. 

At least that is the way it is in AT&T in Connecticut which is the successor to SBC Global East which is the successor to SNET (Southern New England Telephone), one of the last independent phone companies when the old "Ma Bell" ruled most of the country's telephony..

I currently have $17 in promotional discounts and doubt they would give me much more at this time nor get me anywhere close to what the promotional price is for the cable company.

Bernie

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

Did you let them know you are considering dropping UV because of the cost?  If so, send Alex a PM he is a Community Manager on the forum.

http://forums.att.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/318276

[Bernie157]

I think it must be pretty clear by now.  Besides posting in this section, I have posted about what to do with the hardware if and when I leave UV, how do I keep my legacy email address and content if and when I leave UV, etc.  I PM'd Alex a few days ago about the legacy email issue and have since gotten 2 very friendly, very helpful phone calls from UV tech people assuring me that I will keep my email address, etc. and be automatically migrated (to "free Yahoo") when I leave.

As I said above, I don't think UV has much lee-way to cut my price enough so that it approaches the 2-year promotional price of the cable company.  I would probably stay with UV if I could get a fairly hefty cut because I like the U200 channel lineup, the DVR, and the status quo.  So maybe I'll give a call in the next day or so.

Bernie

[angelranger]

I finally chucked both ATT and Comcast, bought a digital TV and an antennae. works great and it is FREE !

Course I am probably significantly older than most Uverse users today.

[Bernie157]

What does older have to do with it (I'm in my 70s)????  Relatively few people live where they can get TV signals off the air, via antenna, and then the choices of channels are probably small.  What metro area do you live in?

I live in southwest Connecticut about 35 miles or so from mid-town Manhattan (New York City).  I did fine with TV from the roof antenna from the time I moved into my house in 1971 until sometime after 2000. After 9/11 when the World Trade Towers went down (several of the networks had their transmitters there which had to be set up elsewhere in a few days), my TV from the antenna got worse and worse.  Possibly this was due to the wiring or the antenna deteriorating.

Finally I bit the bullet and went with the local cable company for TV, keeping SBC/AT&T for phone and Internet.  When AT&T U-Verse came into our neighborhood, I went them for all 3 services.  Finally I had the ancient, unused antenna taken down and am not sure whether a new, digital antenna would do the job.

[BeeBeeSA ACE - Wizard]

I feel your pain Bernie....really I do.  I started out at around $145 per month for U400 + HD package and Max 12 internet.  Now I have U450 (same thing as U400 + HD package) plus Max 18 internet.  The last time i called to lower my bill the current promo was for the U450 plus max 18 internet.  That promo ran out about 6 or 8 months ago and now I'm just over $200 with tax, title, and license since the Feb. increase.  That doesn't include my land line at $53 a month which also went up in Feb.  Thank god I'm grandfathered on the $7 STB fee other wise that would be $14 more since I have two STB and the DVR.

Gonna have to cut somewhere so we can start affording the darn gas prices these days and what's expected to be coming this summer!! 

[libranel]

Am in the same boat. Customer support is almost useless. It is always time-consuming and annoying and I avoid it as much as possible in spite of multiple instances of overbilling. I am paying a ridiculous amount for triple play with no premium channels or other frills, but am not eligible for any promotional discounts. I am considering switching to TWC because they are offering a great deal right now with a $200 reward card. If I decide to return to U-verse later, I can finally qualify for a new customer promotional rate.

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

It is difficult to reach a human voice at CS but when I get an uncooperative CSR I end the call and call back.  When I get to the voice recognition system, after I verify my identity I press the 0 button and get transferred to a human.  I call back and usually get a cooperative CSR who is willing to give me a new or additional promotion. 

Don't be shy about letting them know you are considering dropping the service because the prices are too high.  They can offer you promotions whether for 3, 6 or even 12 months.  ATT does not want to lose subs to their competitors, the problem is the levle of satisfaction you get from CSRs may vary.  But there are cooperative CSRs out there to get you the help you need.

I get new promos or current promos exteneded regularly.  They are out there.

[ATTCustomerCare]

Bernie157 if you still have not received help you can send a PM to ATTCustomerCare and one of our managers will contact you and see what we can do for you.

~ Andy

[PaleoKurt]

I am in the same boat.  Ive tried a few times in the past to see if I qualify or can get any discounts, all they were able to do is give me upgraded internet at no charge for 6 month...That doesnt help at all.    My uverse bill is now more than my water and energy bill combined!!   I keep getting offers from Comcast in the mail, but I REALLY like uverse, and have had them for 4 years.   

Guesss its time to give them one last call...Thanks for all the helpfull post in this thread! 

[oufanindallas]

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PaleoKurt wrote:

I am in the same boat.  Ive tried a few times in the past to see if I qualify or can get any discounts, all they were able to do is give me upgraded internet at no charge for 6 month...That doesnt help at all.    My uverse bill is now more than my water and energy bill combined!!   I keep getting offers from Comcast in the mail, but I REALLY like uverse, and have had them for 4 years.   

Guesss its time to give them one last call...Thanks for all the helpfull post in this thread! 

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While you may get a sweet deal from comcast for the first year, after that they will raise their prices, sometimes more than once per year.  AT&T will only  raise rates once per year, in February.  When you cal lin request to speak to retentions and tell them that you have an offer for $X amount from comcast and let them know that youare planning on calling them.

[Bernie157]

FYI, I left U-Verse over a year ago for the promo/deal from the local cable company (Cablevision/Optimum).  I felt it was the only way to go at the time.  No contract 2-year term at a very reduced rate (similar to when I started with U-Verse).  Included DVR and a premium movie channel free for the first year.  Of course the set-top boxes, fees, and taxes extra.

Unlike U-V's DVR which is in one of the STBs, the cable DVR I now have is in the cloud, i.e. on the cable co's servers.  While it was really a bear to learn and use when I first went with cable, it has been greatly improved as was the Guide.  Programs can be viewed on both of our TVs and I also go online to view DVR recorded and scheduled lists as well as delete or add recordings (like I did with U-V).

I still have my same email address (prodigy.net domain, since 1996) and it still shows AT&T on the My Yahoo, Yahoo Mail, and Yahoo Calendar screens.  I think I still have the enhanced Yahoo Mail as opposed to regular Yahoo Mail -- although it is tough to tell since it is enhanced/changed so often.  I pretty much love it, though.

We are moving soon but staying with cable for the balance of the promo period.  Then we'll see.

Bernie

[mibrnsurg ACE - Geek]

Worked good for you Bernie, but those of us in Comcrap areas, it's still the 2 year contract and jack up the prices up after the 1st year.

Rumors are that we will be in the could too and there will be 8 streams soon.

Chris

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Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Need Help? 1-800-288-2020, After he gets acct info, press # a bunch of times, get a menu from Mr. Voice recognition
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more