Switched from Uverse to Charter - my review from 'the other side'

[JoeSpa]

I thought it would be helpful for me to post an unbiased report of my switch to Charter from Uverse.

A little background:  I've used Uverse for about 4 years and decided to switch due to poor customer service, inconsitent billing, and problematic TV - those were my reasons.

Now I have charter and I can say that the customer service is indeed far superior, and the internet is much faster for cheaper. 

I called charter on a Friday night at 11pn to order Palladia and to my surprise I got an english speaking person quickly!  They got me set up with Palladia and transferred me to the internet dept.  to increase my internet pipe to 30meg.  That person picked up immediately also!  I was shocked.

However, the TV quality is not as good.  There are far less HD channels and the channels do not seem to be in any order.  Granted the HD channels are between 700 and 800, but I do like how Uverse would have an HD channel on the same channel plus 1000.  Also, charter would have a cartoon channel next to a news channel - no real order.  Thats something I will have to get used to.

Also there are odd lines on the bottom of the screen and the guide is compressed on the screen. 

I liked how Uverse could watch a recorded TV in any room - that feature is now gone as I have separate DVRs.

I would say residental phone is about the same.

I like not having the residential gateway - I think that thing was crap.  The wireless was pityful and I hate how you had to use it for DHCP.  I now got a firebox watching my network and I prefer to have more control.  That's just me.

Overall I am pleased and I am saving about $ 60 a month.

[Bernie157]

Joe, I have read your post and have some comments, both in agreement and otherwise.  We are planning to leave U-Verse for Cablevision in CT.  I had Cablevision for TV (with good old AT&T for phone & internet) before going to U-Verse in January 2010.  I will save about $70/month by switching "back" to Cablevision although now for the "triple-play" -- phone, Internet, and TV.  Cablevision's DVR is whole-house like U-Verse's, or so we will see.

From looking at their website for TV channels, I believe that the channel line-up has impoved considerably from when I had them before. Many more are HD.  Note: I have only 2 flat/wide-screen TVs which are only 720p capable.

I agree that the channel numbers and channel types is a mish-mash as opposed to U-Verse's very orderly grouping of types and just adding 1000 for HD.

Bernie

P.S. Our reasons for leaving are strictly about the ever-increasing month-cost vs. the 2-year promotion from the cable company.  Except for a few sporadic TV blips, we have very few complaints about quality of service.

One thing we might be sorry about is that at some resorts we have been to, having an AT&T-based Internet signon gave us free wi-fi.  Otherwise we would have to pay a fee.

[jimgfitzgerald]

I had Charter for years and always liked them until my internet became unreliable.  It started going out every night.  After several attempts to have it fixed, I gave up and switched to U-Verse 8 months ago.  So far, I love U-Verse and have had no problems.  I was able to get $53 in discounts for 6 months and $39 for 12 months.

[rogerrhody]

The complex I live in made the decision for me to switch from charter to uverse.  Uverse customer service is non-existant, when talking to their technical representatives you will find that they do not have an understanding of uverse at all.  I am sorry I ever switched to ATT uverse at all, I should have found other options for internet service (I can do without tv).

[oufanindallas]

I've never had Charter, but my mom does and she hates it, but it's the only provider in her town without going satellite so she's stuck with it.  She's contantly griping about the horrible customer service and picture quality.  She lives in Oklahoma and has way too many TVs to go with Dish or DirectTV so she deals.  No service is perfect, but since I got UVerse in 2009 I have had no issues that weren't corrected quickly and professionally within minutes. Can't say the same about the Direct, Dish or TWC that I have had.