U-verse

Have you been seeing the ads for the new AT&T service U-verse? We've seen them, heard them on the radio and received several mailings as well. Two Saturdays ago, two young salesmen rang our doorbell and sold us on the system. University Park has a deal with Charter, - even after a city survey which detailed the complaints the whole community had with Charter service.

Anyway, apparently AT&T called "monopoly" and has wedged into our area. We had two salesmen - one experienced one and one newbie (sort of like good cop-bad cop). Whatever we figured out wasn't just right was always the new guy's fault. We were promised "everything Charter was giving you, plus more channels, faster internet, free installation, AND lower cost per month" After about and hour and a half, we'd signed up and waited while the new guy tried to make contact with the installers. After about 15 minutes, they left saying that the installers would call that afternoon.

By Wednesday, I called (they had neglected to leave us a personal card) the main office and was shunted around to finally hear that someone would call. On Friday, I went to a corporate office (not the cell phone office on Lovers Lane, but the one on NW Highway next to El Fenix). They were shocked that someone hadn't called to install, then disputed what the salesmen had sold us (now it was more because of our two lines and the multiple TVs), but they promised Byron over the phone of a cash-back - not of $100 but $275. The installers came on Monday.

All good so far - except that the phones were dead. We got the phone people out Tuesday and they fixed the phones - except for the City + Country Pets line (not connected with our home lines at all - different number, different bill). It is now ringing on our main home number. Apparently Elizabeth can get messages from the remote call notes, but that's all.

Harold, the installer, said he just couldn't figure it out and said a more experienced technician would have to come out to see where the phone line came into the house, since he couldn't find it. He would have someone out on Wednesday.

On Thursday, two new men showed up to survey our experience with the installers - not getting the word that something was still wrong. They couldn't figure it out either and said someone else would be out to fix it.

I've called Harold 4 times and left messages and called Chris (in the last duo) three times who always says "I'll have Harold back out today!"

The TV part of U-verse is working great, though. I can record programs on all the TVs and watch them on any other TV, and there seems to be a good selection of movies (we did have HBO on Charter, which is extra on U-verse... we should learn to have salespeople put it in writing...sigh)