AT&T U-verse

The worst experience I have ever had. HORRIBLE AT&T will drag Dtv down. We had fallen for the «bundle» that Dtv sold with At&t’s u verse Internet. They didn’t show up for their install– and it screwed up the placement of the modem for the Dtv install. AT&T was suppose to install first. Because Dtv did show up on time they installed first. When at&t did install it, some guy with huge disks in his ears who looked spacy showed up and couldn’t fish wire that the Dtv said he should be able to do, to place the modem next to the genie (we have a full basement). The modem was spotty and slow frequently. It stopped working two times for long periods of time (5 days the second time). A few other times for shorter periods. The first incident of modem failure I agreed to an upgrade that I would have to pay more for to improve speed, and on the day of the install they cancelled that appointment because apparently they couldn’t figure out sooner the modem couldn’t be supported by their existing wiring– they needed an engineer to come out. No ability to tell me when this would occur. Their modem magically began working again and I was seriously considering canceling– so I told them I didn’t want their upgrade– but just fix the external problems. I’d needed to re-​evaluate their «service» after fixing their externals (which ended up being the problem– they had a bad port in the box down the street.). However, they never sent someone out to really fix it. A month and a half later the modem stops again. They made an appointment for two days later– never showed up. I called to which they assured me after wasting my day they were still coming only to call me two and a half hours later to tell me they weren’t coming– but I was a «priority dispatch» appointment the next morning (8 – 12). They never showed up again, and didn’t call. They told me my appt was for the afternoon window– no one showed. When I called they finally admitted they weren’t coming– and had no idea when they would in the coming DAYS. They KNEW they weren’t coming the entire time because they didn’t have enough techs. While venting to numerous reps & «supervisors» (because each call lead to a chain of empty ridiculous words), I spoke to three AT&T reps who basically acknowledged AT&T makes ghost appointments, that they really don’t know if someone will make it to. One supervisor said «I can’t disagree with a single word you’ve said» when I told her AT&T had no business offering a service that they can’t provide adequate service for in an area– regardless of their partnership with Dtv and benefits to both. She agreed and said they «oversell» the service. The guy who eventually did come (NOT an independent contractor) 5 days later said they went from 50 techs to 15 in the Capitol of Springfield Illinois!!! Comcast– who happily accepted my call to set up install after my third no show AT&T appointment, came out less than a day after AT&T. They kept their appointment, hooked the box up where the TV receiver was, and told me they have 75 techs and are suppose to be getting 25 more soon. When I signed up with AT&T I asked specifically about their service– I was assured it was good and I would have top notch service. Really? With 15 techs in a huge city? Such a lie. They lied plain and simple for self interest. They knew they had no business telling customers this. A total of 5 missed appointments in less than a year and messed up the install. Yet Dtv is going to merger with them?! Ugh! I dropped both Dtv and At&t and requested respectfully that Dtv waive the cancellation fee or refuse to use AT&T as a preferred provider– to stop referring customers to them knowing this. Instead of being shocked and determined to demonstrate that this isn’t acceptable or normal for their affiliate to treat their referred customers, they told me they’d «return my cancellation fees if I SIGNED BACK UP WITH THEM»!!! Not joking. They said this TWICE to me. Instead, I switched to Comcast– purchased my own TiVo Roamio (better than dtv’s genie– can have more than 4 and is superior), got two minis (they play anything off the Roamio (but you don’t get charged for a receiver on those tvs, and can play any show on your iPads (and download shows for away). I will pay $ 150 (actual total cost with fees). My savings will pay for the equipment in just 6 – 7 mos. Between AT&T and Dtv I paid over $ 230/​mo and will never own the equipment. My internet is faster now, signal optimal, and Comcast has techs to help you for installing your equipment if you don’t want to rent. TiVo techs are fantastic too– no extra charges. They all speak understandable English– most seem to speak English for their first language. AT&T modems– their «Help» might as well use magic 8 balls. They don’t know what they are doing. Avoid AT&T and Dtv.