Why is it so expensive to start using Uverse?

Catch_ME · ‎08-15-2012

Hello,

I'm leaving my parents house and currently we have comcast ISP/VOICE. My parents love DirecTV sooooo much that they did not like me entertaining the idea of them leaving it. My mom also dislikes comcast billing. She would rather not deal with them.

I called Comcast and they gave me a quote on a new customer.

$7 to rent Modem

$30 for first month of 20mbps

$50 install fee that is credited towards account after the first month(if you stay)

$20 a month for Voice.

$107 to start plus tax. But on Month 2, we will be credited $50 because of the install fee. I think there is a $15 activation fee but I'm unsure.

AT&T:

$100 for modem

$150 for the Install Internet

$25 for first month

$275 TOTAL

OR

$100 for modem

$150 for Install Internet

$150 for Install Voice

$45 for First month

-$199 install for bundle

$250 TOTAL

So My question is as follows:

1. Why so expensive for Install?

2. Why do they have to have 2 installs when it is a few bits to turn a service on and off from the 2wire gateway?

3. Why is the service slower and more expensive than comcast overall?

Computer-Joe · ‎09-19-2008

Catch_ME wrote:
Hello,

I'm leaving my parents house and currently we have comcast ISP/VOICE. My parents love DirecTV sooooo much that they did not like me entertaining the idea of them leaving it. My mom also dislikes comcast billing. She would rather not deal with them.

I called Comcast and they gave me a quote on a new customer.

$7 to rent Modem
$30 for first month of 20mbps
$50 install fee that is credited towards account after the first month(if you stay)
$20 a month for Voice.

$107 to start plus tax. But on Month 2, we will be credited $50 because of the install fee. I think there is a $15 activation fee but I'm unsure.

AT&T:
$100 for modem
$150 for the Install Internet
$25 for first month
$275 TOTAL

OR
$100 for modem
$150 for Install Internet
$150 for Install Voice
$45 for First month
-$199 install for bundle
$250 TOTAL

So My question is as follows:
1. Why so expensive for Install?
2. Why do they have to have 2 installs when it is a few bits to turn a service on and off from the 2wire gateway?
3. Why is the service slower and more expensive than comcast overall?

If you get internet from AT&T, you can normally get them to give you a rebate for the modem cost.

If you get voice and internet from AT&T, there will not be an up front modem charge just a monthly rental fee ($7 IIRC) and there are not two seperate install charges, you can normally get them to give you a rebate for part of the install charge.

That being said, there will be a large first bill because they charge a month in advance, so if you get installed on the 10th of the month, the bill will be from the 10th untill end of first month plus second month, plus startup costs, plus any taxes and fees, and any rebates will usually not be received for at least two months.

__________________________________________________________
How can you be in two places at once, when your not anywhere at all?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I really want to become a procrastinator, but I keep putting it off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are three kinds of people, those that can count, and those that can't.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature has made them." :Bertrand Russell

dhascall · ‎04-21-2008

Catch_ME wrote:
Hello,

I'm leaving my parents house and currently we have comcast ISP/VOICE. My parents love DirecTV sooooo much that they did not like me entertaining the idea of them leaving it. My mom also dislikes comcast billing. She would rather not deal with them.

I called Comcast and they gave me a quote on a new customer.

$7 to rent Modem
$30 for first month of 20mbps
$50 install fee that is credited towards account after the first month(if you stay)
$20 a month for Voice.

$107 to start plus tax. But on Month 2, we will be credited $50 because of the install fee. I think there is a $15 activation fee but I'm unsure.

AT&T:
$100 for modem
$150 for the Install Internet
$25 for first month
$275 TOTAL

OR
$100 for modem
$150 for Install Internet
$150 for Install Voice
$45 for First month
-$199 install for bundle
$250 TOTAL

So My question is as follows:
1. Why so expensive for Install?
2. Why do they have to have 2 installs when it is a few bits to turn a service on and off from the 2wire gateway?
3. Why is the service slower and more expensive than comcast overall?

You called Comcast. Did you also call AT&T, just to keep everything equal? It sounds like you are using AT&T base rates, which is almost like paying full list price for an automobile - which no one does.

You will find that AT&T phone sales staff bend over backwards to offer enticing deals.

In response to your questions:

1. It's not more expensive. You seem to be quoting a Comcast phone in promotion with AT&T base rates. My Comcast bill and U-Verse bill were similar (when I switched) but I get HD, more channels and so on.

2. It's just he way that they report it. Comcats gets it somewhere. I upgraded my Comcast internet and paid a seperate install.

3. UV Internet is a bit more expensive but (IMO) U-Verse's ADSL is more reliable. I do not miss Comcast's "evening slowdown."

And yes, your mom is right, Comcast CS is the pits.

Good Luck

Computer-Joe · ‎09-19-2008

dhascall wrote:

You called Comcast. Did you also call AT&T, just to keep everything equal? It sounds like you are using AT&T base rates, which is almost like paying full list price for an automobile - which no one does.
You will find that AT&T phone sales staff bend over backwards to offer enticing deals.

In response to your questions:
1. It's not more expensive. You seem to be quoting a Comcast phone in promotion with AT&T base rates. My Comcast bill and U-Verse bill were similar (when I switched) but I get HD, more channels and so on.

2. It's just he way that they report it. Comcats gets it somewhere. I upgraded my Comcast internet and paid a seperate install.

3. UV Internet is a bit more expensive but (IMO) U-Verse's ADSL is more reliable. I do not miss Comcast's "evening slowdown."

And yes, your mom is right, Comcast CS is the pits.

Good Luck

Caveat emptor, as many will also offer enticing deals they don't actually have the authority to, and you may not find out until after the first bill comes.

As well, all providers pricing (including AT&T), when signing a new customer, are promotional prices. So those great deals are only for a limited time and/or come with a term contract/early termination fee.

With AT&T you will still pay full price for the first 2 or 3 billing periods before you actually start seeing those promotional prices, and it seems to be a growing trend that when you call in after 3 months to inquire about your promotional pricing or rebate to find out that indeed, the initial sales person did not have the authority to give you that deal, so the promo prices and/or rebates were overridden or modified by upper level managers before they get entered into the system.

Also, AT&T may charge you an up to $450 non-refunbable fee if they don't like your credit rating/history just to get the service.

__________________________________________________________
How can you be in two places at once, when your not anywhere at all?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I really want to become a procrastinator, but I keep putting it off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are three kinds of people, those that can count, and those that can't.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature has made them." :Bertrand Russell

Catch_ME · ‎08-15-2012

NO REBATE. I had gone to AT&T store to confirm, while paying my cell phone bill, everything that I stated! They said their is no other promotions except one.

That is their refer a friend program where both you and a friend get $25 for each service refereed. As a gift card of some kind.

Catch_ME · ‎08-15-2012

Just to CONFIRM.

I WENT TO AT&T STORE.

Yeah dude. I tried to ask for any other promotion.

Let me know if you know something.

AT&T offerend nothing to counter any Comcast or FIOS deal. Both are cheaper to start!!

Catch_ME · ‎08-15-2012

Yeah I feel that nothing has been tried. I feel no interest as a customer.

Sad as my mom wants to JOIN AT&T uverse badly but she, no joke, lauged at this when I presented her this price.

Again, she doens't want to go with Comcast but she will go with them if I can't find a Uverse deal that is good by the end of this month.

The end of Sept, she will have the ISP in her name and no longer in mine.

If Uverse, great.

If comcast, compromise.

If AT&T, Unacceptible.

Needs to be less than $150 to start. And currently, AT&T uverse doesn't offer.

Is there a coupon code or some twitter acct. I can follow?

Thanks guys.

Jeffster_1 · ‎06-24-2009

I believe the best rebates and pricing are on-line, not the AT&T store or the phone.

Have you checked on-line?

dhascall · ‎04-21-2008

Catch_ME wrote:
Just to CONFIRM.

I WENT TO AT&T STORE.

Yeah dude. I tried to ask for any other promotion.

Let me know if you know something.

AT&T offerend nothing to counter any Comcast or FIOS deal. Both are cheaper to start!!

I would call and keep trying different CSR's until you get best rate. I have done that and say that I can only afford xxxx and want nothing or very little to get started.

I assume that you are not wanting U-Verse TV? The reason that I say that is that there are only a couple or three areas where U-Verse and FiOS co-exist, afaik.

Catch_ME · ‎08-15-2012

No interest in Uverse TV as my parents are DirecTV subscribers and have been since about 2000. They will never leave them and I can't convense them otherwise.

FIOS isn't in my parents area. So that isn't an option. Comcast is in my parents area though.

Right now it is Comcast Cable Vs AT&T Uverse.

As far as my parents are concerned, it comes down to 3 factors

1. Price

2. My opinion

3. Comcast made my mom angry in the past.

I cannot force them to one servce or the other. But I know my mom and dad will decide based on Price mostly.

Catch_ME · ‎08-15-2012

I would like some offers. Please let me know when you can.

THANKS!!

Computer-Joe · ‎09-19-2008

Catch_ME wrote:
I would like some offers. Please let me know when you can.

THANKS!!

First of all I agree with others,don't go to the AT&T store. Just a bunch of Apple store wannabes that couldn't out think a mcdonalds job. Sure they can sell ya a cell phone, but I wouldn't think most can even do that right, much less know all there is about Uverse service.

That being said, you will not get any offers on this forum. This is not a sales venue and we are all just customers here for the most part.

As suggested, call the 1-800-288-2020 number a few times and ask what kind of deals are available, pick the best one you hear, and be sure to call back a couple days later to verify you're getting what you were sold.

__________________________________________________________
How can you be in two places at once, when your not anywhere at all?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I really want to become a procrastinator, but I keep putting it off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are three kinds of people, those that can count, and those that can't.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature has made them." :Bertrand Russell

mduha29912 · ‎12-14-2011

Get it in writing if you talk to ATT on the phone they will promise all kinds of things but later they will say we have not record of that and you get stuck paying an inflated rate.

dhascall · ‎04-21-2008

mduha29912 wrote:
Get it in writing if you talk to ATT on the phone they will promise all kinds of things but later they will say we have not record of that and you get stuck paying an inflated rate.

But if that happens, most know to contact Alex, one of the AT&T Community Managers for further assistance.

Conversley, one could call 1-800-288-2020 and say "cancel." You will be connected with Retentions. You then explain what happened and watch them fall all over themselves making it right and offering you further discounts. I have about a 90% success rate with the latter when my promo periods are up or I have issues.

Computer-Joe · ‎09-19-2008

dhascall wrote:
mduha29912 wrote:
Get it in writing if you talk to ATT on the phone they will promise all kinds of things but later they will say we have not record of that and you get stuck paying an inflated rate.

But if that happens, most know to contact Alex, one of the AT&T Community Managers for further assistance.

Conversley, one could call 1-800-288-2020 and say "cancel." You will be connected with Retentions. You then explain what happened and watch them fall all over themselves making it right and offering you further discounts. I have about a 90% success rate with the latter when my promo periods are up or I have issues.

Although Alex is the man, and I wouldn't wish him to be unemployed, it's a sad state of affairs that the likes of AT&T, with the resources available to them, should ever have to have someone like Alex who's job is to constantly clean up their messes.

Also agree with the Retentions route, as it seems they are the only CS department that can get something accomplished, correctly, the first time. I always go straight to Retentions whatever my reason for calling. (I've got a direct number)

__________________________________________________________
How can you be in two places at once, when your not anywhere at all?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I really want to become a procrastinator, but I keep putting it off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are three kinds of people, those that can count, and those that can't.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature has made them." :Bertrand Russell

dhascall · ‎04-21-2008

Computer-Joe wrote:
dhascall wrote:
mduha29912 wrote:
Get it in writing if you talk to ATT on the phone they will promise all kinds of things but later they will say we have not record of that and you get stuck paying an inflated rate.

But if that happens, most know to contact Alex, one of the AT&T Community Managers for further assistance.

Conversley, one could call 1-800-288-2020 and say "cancel." You will be connected with Retentions. You then explain what happened and watch them fall all over themselves making it right and offering you further discounts. I have about a 90% success rate with the latter when my promo periods are up or I have issues.

Although Alex is the man, and I wouldn't wish him to be unemployed, it's a sad state of affairs that the likes of AT&T, with the resources available to them, should ever have to have someone like Alex who's job is to constantly clean up their messes.

Also agree with the Retentions route, as it seems they are the only CS department that can get something accomplished, correctly, the first time. I always go straight to Retentions whatever my reason for calling. (I've got a direct number)

Hold on a minute CJ! I woiuld not want to do business with a company or organization that does NOT have an Alex type ombudsman. It is imperative. Comcast has an "Alex," as does Ford Motor Company, Banks, Insurance Companies, the IRS and so on.

Computer-Joe · ‎09-19-2008

dhascall wrote
Hold on a minute CJ! I woiuld not want to do business with a company or organization that does NOT have an Alex type ombudsman. It is imperative. Comcast has an "Alex," as does Ford Motor Company, Banks, Insurance Companies, the IRS and so on.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for having a consumer advocate, but the phone company I knew and delt with 10 or 15 years ago would have had an "Alex" sitting around twiddeling their thumbs most of the day.

I just did a search for posts with referals to Alex and it came up with "about 4,000". That's just the customers that found this forum and posted a complaint. How long has he been an option, 12-18 months now?

I can tell you NICOR does not have an Alex, I had to hunt down their parent company (Atlanta Gas Light) on the internet and call the public relations office who transferred me to the VP of operations, to get my yard fixed from work Nicor did a full year ago.

__________________________________________________________
How can you be in two places at once, when your not anywhere at all?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I really want to become a procrastinator, but I keep putting it off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are three kinds of people, those that can count, and those that can't.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature has made them." :Bertrand Russell