Like many others, we recently received a notice from AT&T which reads (verbatim): We're excited to tell you that within the next 45 days, we'll be moving your internet service to the AT&T U-verse network! The change is free and you can keep your current speeds at a price that meets - or beats - your current price. (Later the letter states) Since your service will change in the next 45 days, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you call us at our special transitioning number as soon as possible to ensure that you won't lose service when we make the change.
This does not in any way convey a choice to me as the paying consumer. It's akin to learning my bank (formerly Friendly Community Bank & Trust) is now a completely new entity (Mediocre Larger State Bank).
I googled "forced switch to Uverse" and was rewarded with multiple complaints (even within AT&T's own community forum) about endless problems by others who had received a similar service change letter. I decided I wasn't going for it.
In my call to customer service today (to the special transitioning number), after hearing the spiel by the rep about the awesomeness of U-Verse, I politely informed her I did not wish to change from our current service; we have never had to place a call for service, we have never grumbled about download or upload speeds (with 3 laptops and 3 smartphones in the house). It's truly out of sight, out of mind. She seemed surprised that we wouldn't want to switch given the free change to the new service along with the free equipment upgrade (which will not be free in the future) and the supposed improvement to our experience (although the switch letter says current speeds will remain the same, so which is it?).
I was assured that I did indeed have a choice, and that by calling in, I could be opted out. Why didn't the letter from AT&T disclose this fully? Sounds like really crappy deceitful tactics to me.
I specifically asked if, by declining this change now, am I setting myself up to a forced change to Uverse in the future anyway and potentially incurring fees at that time? The rep replied that yes, eventually AT&T is shutting down all DSL nationwide. I asked her when that date was scheduled, and she responded that it was expected to be by the year 2020. I also asked whether or not I would be penalized in a rate increase for my current DSL service by not switching, and I was assured that I would not. We shall see.
So, until 2020, or until such time as a better ISP enters the market that treats customers as they should be treated, I'm not going to allow AT&T to order me around. If it does get to the point where I'm no longer given the option to decline, they'll lose me as a customer permanently.
Guess I'll wait and see what happens.
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