how-to block ads
|
»next review in page
Review by BlackArt 
Posted: 55 days ago
member for 4.8 years, 35 visits, last login: 2 days ago
 Milwaukee,Milwaukee,WI
 $35 per month
 AT&T
 "used to be decent at around 4-5 mb/sec"
 "down to less then half that (2mb ish)"
 "Would be ok if they would fix the connection speeds"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
Ordered 6 mb down and 768 mb up.. @ $35 per month
I ordered online and installed myself
When it was first up and runing i was getting 4-5mb/sec now its down to half of that =(
Followup comments:  chi56
join:2008-07-22
Schaumburg, IL | ATT DSL I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PAY FOR 6MB AND AT TIMES GET 1.2MB AND AVERAGE 2.6MB. TECK WHO CAME TO THE HOUSE SAID IT'S WORKING JUST FIND. | |
| | BlackArt
join:2005-01-30
Milwaukee, WI | Re: ATT DSL What i believe is happening is that the Iphone's are hogging all the bandwith and were getting the crap end of the stick =(
I have been looking for another DSL provider but they all seem to go through AT&T's network. | |
| | | |
| Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
 | »next review in page (previous review)
Review by kjpost
Posted: 64 days ago
member for 2.6 years, 2 visits, last login: 16 days ago
Grand Rapids,Kent,MI
$35 per month
 about 6 days
Ameritech
"3"
"4"
"Just OK, but still better than cable"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
DSL speed is spotty as to whether or not I get my contracted speed. 6016 kbps is always shown as my connect speed, thru put is equal to the connect speed, usually half or less. Upload is almost always right on the mark for the contracted speeds. Having to use 2wire junk equipment is a let down, it does not last more than a year or two. Service has been OK to great. Several billing errors like billing the DSL service twice per month went on for a while before I found a customer service rep. who was on the ball. Service on the line has been hit and miss when needed, staff always clean and warm, results are not always what was expected. Lately no issues except the up and down with my speed. Yeah I know the Internet is not always fast period, but this is to consistent. Line noise is minimal observing the routers stats I'm getting a good signal, just there is nothing to back the signal up - like getting a good AM radio channel, but you still just have AM. Easy to recommend over Comcast, but still much room for improvement.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by TomR_in_MI
UPDATED: 72 days ago
member for 6.9 years, 1747 visits, last login: 15 days ago
Walled Lake,Oakland,MI
Contract price not specified.
"they scammed me for a long time, their speeds are not consistent, I am still not able to achieve the speed levels sold to me"
"they are the scum of the earth"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
AT&T lowered their pricing but did not pass this lower pricing on to their customers. Their customers had to find out about the lower pricing and then phone in and inquire about best pricing in order to get their monthly charges reduced to the new lower pricing. Even then the customers could not recoup the money that they had been overcharged in the past.
AT&T are the scum of the earth.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by nythain
UPDATED: 165 days ago
member for 166 days, 1 visits, last login: 155 days ago
Kansas City,Clay,MO
$40 per month (24 month contract)
AT&T
"Friendly and helpfull in store service."
"Everything else."
"Worst decision I've made in my life."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
Subscribed ATT DSL Direct PRO tier 3Mbps
Noticed really slow speeds. Since this was my first time using dsl (had been
a loyal cable customer up untill recently) i figured meh, dsl just sucks.
Well, after reading around on the web and finally getting around to visiting
my modems config page, i realized i was only connecting to thier network at
1984Kbps, near half of the advertised 3008Kbps.
Sooooo, next day, im in chat with an ATT representitive, this is how it went
in a nutshell. (sorry i dont have logs)
Me: Hi, was hoping you could help me find out why my modem is only
connecting to your network at 1984Kbps instead of the advertised 3008Kbps?
Them: Here's a link to a throughput test, click on it and tell me the
results.
Me: Download = 1.6Mbps Upload = 384Kbps
Them: Testing your line from my end
Them: Here's a complete explanation. Due to the number of computers on your
network, you are going to get lower speeds.
Me: But the problem is at the modem, as long as it just connects at 1984Kbps
i will never get a faster speed, even if i was the only computer accessing
the entire internet at the time.
Them: Well, as long as your speed isnt below 1.5Mbps everything is fine and
there's no problem
Me: The problem is, im paying for 3.0Mbps and your saying its completely
acceptable for me to get speeds advertised a tier lower?
Them: That is correct, there are many factors to determine internet speed.
Me: We already covered this.
Them: Well the other problem is the distance from the modem to the phone
exchange.
Me: So what you are saying is i really need to contact Time Warner?
Them: We understand your frustration, but you are going to have this problem
with any ISP you choose, our technology is considerably better than Time
Warner RoadRunner.
Me: We'll see.
So basically, there was absolutely nothing willingly attempted about my
connection speed problem and a whole lot of bragging and backpeddling and
excuse making. All at a higher rate than time warner, a 2 year contract, and
slower speeds to begin with. I would not recomment this company or service
to absolutely anyone. i would recommend a 10.00/mo dial up accoutn before
recommending someone pay 40.00/mo for near dial-up speeds (wich the
throughput test actually told me i was getting, my download, 12 seconds, 56k
download, 9 seconds, marginal difference). In fact, i will be breaking my
contract and contacting time warner in the near future for thier service
again, and would recommend almost anyone do the same.
I hope at least SOMEONE reads this and heeds the advice, bad company, bad
technology, bad service, bad support
--
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by hdman
UPDATED: 178 days ago
member for 5.9 years, 2082 visits, last login: 1 days ago
New London,Waupaca,WI
Contract price not specified.
Ameritech
"The SBC people here at Broandbandreports.com"
"SBC's information between sales, support, is deplorable"
"Come HERE to get the data before banging your head against the wall...."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings well below consensus)
|
First, let me explain that had it NOT been for the people who work with/for SBC who help out here at broadbandreports.com, I would STILL be messing around with the lost connections, hang ups, non-returned calls, and misinformation from the OTHER folks at SBC. Below is a diary that I kept throughout the whole fiasco. I am not a kook, but I keep good notes and when it became apparent that this was going to be a mess, I started keeping a diary. The whole experience is over now, thanks to the good people here, but my review of the process and service should be very evident in my diary notes below. I apologize in advance if I break some rules here, so I am hopefull the mods will edit as required. Please note, that the diary contains emotional notes and I did not edit them out so you can see how frustrating it was getting, however I am more tempered now that I got help here at this website and the forums. Here goes:
Having been completely jerked around by the liars at Charter Cable in 2002 who left me a message in the fall of 2001 stating that I would have cable in the Spring of 2002, then denying they ever said it, I finally got a letter from SBC this summer (2003) saying that DSL was available. The story is below....
1. September, 2003. After months of waiting, was told DSL would be avail on Nov. 14th, 2003.
2. Called SBC week of 11-5 to get a jump, and it was available. Ordered for 920-982-XXXX on ticket number XXXXXX. Ordered via Kimberley at 877-XXX-XXXX and she stated that all was well with line and I would easily get DSL. No problems on distance, all looks GREAT according to her.
3. Received modem on 11-11-03.
4. Also on 11-11-03 received call that line is not compatable with DSL no reason given or known. Spoke with MANY reps, finaly was told that reason was "pair gain". Used over 90 minutes of cell time to get this data!!! Spoke with "Tammy" at 888-767-XXXX User ID "XXXXX". She said to try 920-982-XXXX (my other number) and if also had pair gain, she and her supervisor would allow me to put DSL on one line, and leave voice on the other. Ordered DSL for second line on ticket XXXXXX. The provisioning company is Advanced Solutions, Inc. (ASI) and they had found the Pair Gain on first number ordered.
5. On 11-12-03 spoke with Emerging Products Center (EPC) at 888-767-XXXX. They stated that both numbers are on fiber and would have pair gain problem. Also, there is no way to do what "Tammy" said could be done in step 4. They told me that I need a remote terminal and this would take care of pair gain issue on both lines. Would also work if CO in New London was able to take me off pair gain system and put me on pure copper wires if they were available. They suggested I call the Wisconsin Corp office at 800-257-XXXX. I did that, they were absolutely NO HELP. Went to the CO in New London, nobody works there, it is just a building with no people.
6. Re-orderd DSL for 920-982-XXXX on 11-17 with completion due 11-24-03. Wade XXXX, our local SBC business rep for my companies business lines, basically blew me off by saying it was a residential issue, no help. On 11-24, no DSL light on modem, so I opened a trouble ticket. Some woman from ASI talked to my wife this evening and said that DSL was not ready yet in my area, and to "keep trying" by ordering the service until it works. Yea...RIGHT!!
7. On 11-25 I contacted "Charlie" at ASI. He told me that they (the engineers) had surveyed my area this morning, and now instead of being 13K feet away, I am magically 34,700 feet away with NO pair gain. He said 21000 feet is fiber. He told me that normally this would be the END, but there are codes in the system for my number which shows that Remote Terminal is being implemented. He can NOT change my order to be via remote terminal because it shows "not available" at this time. He directed me to repair at 888-611-XXXX to find out when RT would be up and they were useless. They sent me to "scott" at the business office at 800-924-XXXX who wanted to sell me long distance. He sent me to "sue" at the installation group at 800-649-XXXX and she is in XXXXXXX and has "been around the block" and she was interested in helping me. She connected with me BACK to the DSL group and "katrina" wanted to start the whole process over. We ended that call, and "sue" tried to speak with an engineer in the New London area. She called me and left a message stating that the local engineers would call me by the end of the day on 12-2-03. We'll see.....
8. The trouble ticket opened on 11-24 is XXXXXX. It is is now 12-2-2003 and I have been on www.broadbandreports.com talking to 2 great helpers in KAIFS and ADSL-Guy who both work for SBC. I wrongly jumped on KAIFS, and he was PO'd and I was wrong to do it. ADSL-Guy has also elevated the issue. "Sue" above is having engineers call me with a report by the end of the day today. By now, my order has been cancelled and I am to return the equipment. They are stating that I am 35K feet away, but now there is NO fiber in the lines, it is all copper. SBC just can't seem to get the same story twice.
9. Just for giggles, I called the DSL line and spoke with "Robyn" at ASI. She told me that I was too far at 35K feet (impossible) for DSL unless I get an RT in the line. She said she would check on an RT availability and placed me on hold, and cut me off. This is about the 10th time this has happened (seriously, this is not an exaggeration). Those IDIOTS at SBC can't even operate their own phone system and yet we HAVE to trust them with ours?? Can't wait for the cell phones to crush the wired morons....
10. Just for giggles, I called the SBC DSL line again today and ran the gambit to see what the scoop was. I was told that my service is supposed to be "up" on 12-3, tomorrow. Yea, right. "Jerry" opened case file XXXXXX for todays call. He then looked at the above closed trouble ticket and then gave me the same old corporate line that I am "too far" for DSL unless I get an RT. He said I should call 611 from my phone and see if I can get wired to one if there is one...I will try that tonight just for laughs...
Based on data from KAIFS at the website above, my theory now is that I truly am ALL copper to the CO, but the line runs PAST my house down the road for a few more miles. I am "bridge tapped" so that they can use this wire for somebodyelse down the road if I give up the wire. I will try and see if SBC can terminate the wire AT MY HOUSE so that the distance is cut down. Will try that tonight as well. I really do hate SBC with a passion and will start looking at other alternatives for wireless data once this issue is past me. SBC sucks, period (except for the people at Broadbandreports.com that is). The repair people were no help at all. "Jerry"'s advice was no good....who would have guessed?
11. It is 12-3 and the call from the engineers NEVER came, but I am not suprised. I will be calling "sue" again to let her know. Talked to "sue", she was shocked that I was never called, however somebody placed another installation order, but it was not me. That order was due today, but "Jerry" told me yesterday that was the cancellation order so I have no clue who to believe.
12. Spoke with "Mike XXXX" who is an SBC engineer in Appleton. FINALLY a super nice, super smart guy who actually will talk. He did the physical survey and it was checked twice. I am serviced to terminal XXXXX which then runs SOUTH of my house to S, then West to the crossbox at Rogers and S. This crossbox is 12,168 feet from the CO, and I am another 12K feet from that crossbox, so now I am REALLY 24K feet away. He is going to see if we can TRY the DSL and see if it syncs, and if not, he will have an ISDN person call me with pricing. He is a super sharp person, and appears to be committed to helping my cause.
13. Mike said that his co-worker, Shawn XXXXX, said NO DICE on trying DSL. Also, nobody called me from the business office so I called them a few days later. They told me that my CO is not provisioned for ISDN. The experts on broadbandreports.com don't think that is true, and neither do I. However, I really don't want to hassle with SBC any more right now, so I give up....
14. On 12-13 I got a card from SBC welcoming me to SBC/Yahoo DSL. It has been 2 weeks since the last order was cancelled, so these people really are morons... However, on 12-15 I had a TON of noise on my line so I called to make sure one of these morons didn't accidentally turn on DSL for my line. They had not, so I REALLY had a line problem. "Jim" the local SBC service tech found bad phone cable on my line somewhere in town and fixed it. Super nice guy who kept me informed the whole way. He did say that I am ALL copper right to the CO with no pair gain at all, so now who do I believe. He said that someday they will run fiber from the CO to the cross box and to keep my eyes open to see if a newer, bigger hut goes in there someday. That would be my clue that an RT is coming. I will do that, but for now the issue is dead. If it had not been for the great SBC people at Broadbandreports.com I would still be fighting with the people inside SBC and ASI and probably would be ordering several modems to keep "trying" as I was told to do by some idiot at ASI. I will ONLY get my data from the web from now on because those SBC people know the facts, and the SBC people who man the phones are some sort of flunky in my opinion.
15. I hope to be able to add more here when I really get broadband someday....
All in all the experience has been a nightmare. Thanks SO MUCH to broadbandreports.com, ADSL-Guy, KAIFS, and others for putting an end to the debacle. I am saddened to learn that some jerk got some of these people in trouble and now they can't help here any more. I sure hope some manager at SBC reads my reviews and contacts me about the problems, because I would sure love to tell them. I would also love to tell them to support this website because it is a great place to get REAL information. For now, I am on dial-up again.....
01-06-2004 Just an update, but SBC keeps sending me letters asking why I have not logged on yet. The letters also state that my service is active and I am being billed. I did call customer service and they said I was NOT being billed and my invoices reflect that. However, they were baffled as to why I was getting the letters. Yee ha..... I am working another route with Charter Cable again....I will re-edit when I have more. Be careful about what you hear from SBC people unless you hear it on BBR as well.
09-24-08 - Its been over 4 years since the debacle ended with SBC. They have run fiber from New London to Appleton, right PAST the box mentioned above, yet no new hut was added. UVerse is being lit up in Appleton, but us rural folks are hosed once again by ATT who is attacking the cable companies in Appleton. truth be told, I highly doubt ATT will EVER go after rural people with anything other than a thinly veiled partnership with WildBlue or others just to say that they have options for us. ATT, someday you will lose your lock on our area, and my guess is that will be the day you bring actual service to the area.... Thats all for now...
05-26-09 - About a month ago, we tried the whole process again. Had a local contact from BBR set me up to test the DSL. He entered an order, got it all OK'd, then the local service tech came out and cancelled the order stating I was too far away. He left a message stating that he would rather give us no service versus poor service. I could SWEAR we had agreed to TEST the product...but I guess that part never sank in at AT&T. I am pretty sure that AT&T will never service my home with DSL or UVERSE. Now that they have an agreement with WildBlue, they can state that they truly do offer broadband to rural areas, which is a crock of crap in my book. There is a home no more than 1000 feet from me who HAS DSL....but they say he is on a different crossbox than I am, and that the wires that would connect me to that same box were pulled out years ago. Again, I call BS!!!
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by porterm
UPDATED: 239 days ago
member for 2.7 years, 73 visits, last login: 2 days ago
Saint Louis,Saint Louis,MO
$35 per month (12 month contract)
"faster then dialup if thats anything worth considering"
"when you have a problem and the answer is obvious to you,you have to jump thru hoops to get them to do anything"
"ok for surfing,location is everything. if you dont know what your talking about when a problem develops"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
ive had some form of internet service for twenty years. first dialup(AOL) and then aol broadband(kinda weird that swb wouldnt serve me broadband at that location
but AOL could over the same lines) this service wasnt all that great,but much better then dialup. moved to my current location about 5 years ago and found that i qualifiedfordsl here so ordered it up. never had a problem setting my service up nor several others who asked me to help. originally came with a 2wire modem which worked well. about 2 years into the service,started having problems woth lost connections and slower then dialup speeds.spent a month or more talking to charlie from india,went to the now defunct circuit city and bought a new modem,
and checked everything in the house and found no problems. finally called for a tech who came in and immediatley said he didnt think he could do anything.
i had noticed a bell guy up on the pole outside priviously working on the same junction my line came from and had mentioned this every time i called but it didnt seem to pull much weight with everyone i had talked to on the phone. after leaping
an astronomical number of hurdles with them i got mad and went ti the nic and took every wire out and ran one single line up to the computer with a splitter /filter as the only connection. called them up and they started to run me thru the same hurdles again. at this point,i stopped them and explained what all i had been thru and what i had done to prepare for this call. they once again ran some tests and
the person agreed to roll a tech.but if anything was found faulty within my house,i would be liable for the service call. i agreed and they set up a run for a couple days later. got a call on the day agreed on albiet a little late in the day from a tech
and told him to come on out no matter how late it was. the tech arrived about 7 in the evening and actually was one of the nicest service guys i had ever encountered. i told him what i had done and he looked at my compter and had me go to a site and run a test and he agreed with me that something was wrong.
we then went to the basement where the nic was located and he hooked a laptop
directly to the nic. he couldnt get a good signal from there either,hooked directly to the outside line. i told him of the lineworker and the garbage bage covering the connection and he told me to sit tight ,that he was going up on the pole to check things out. he wasnt up there 10 minutes or so and cams down and said lets go check it out now. went inside and lo and behold,im hot,getting great speeds and
all. he told me as soon as he went up and identified my line all he did was touch it and it fell out. he reattached it and everything was fine. i have no complaints for this gentleman as he did what the first tech should have. i do have a problem with how long it took for someone to actually believe me and do what they should have to get me the service i was paying for. too many hoops to jump thru. service has been acceptable since then but my speed isnt what my father recieves just a couple miles away. i get about 1100kbs down here and dad gets about 1700kbs down at his house. but i understand thewhole distance from the co bit so im not complaining. my house is listed as being connected to one certain co,but there is another much closer. geuss im just at the wrong end of the wrong loop. just got notice that uverse is available here now,wasnt a week earlier,so im considering going to it to replace my dish service along with my dsl,just not sure if i want to pull the trigger just yet. seems like early adopters have to put up with a lot till they get thier deal right in a new area. price ways,its about the same as my combined bills,but im afraid to try something that may not work. oh yea,the original package was 1500/400 for something like $50 a month. its since gone down with contract pricing and hasnt risen even though the contract has long run out.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by eak
UPDATED: 1 year ago
member for 8.6 years, 206 visits, last login: 14 days ago
Clarkston,Oakland,MI
$79 per month (12 month contract)
about 17 days
SBC
"They service Michigan as a monopolistic entity. Funhouse RULES!"
"And the more you bend over, the better they service you."
"SBC/Ameritech/ATT funhouse ROCKS! Tier1 phone support sucks rocks."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings well below consensus)
|
Update 04/Nov/2008 3:005PM
Tom the cable tech came onsite. He ended up replacing my pair to the CO. He is still measuring the cable distance at over 6000 feet. Yes, to the CO 1/4 of a mile away. Over 1 mile. SOmething is still wrong but Tom is either too clueless or believes that playing stupid would placate me enough to let him feel like he had finished his job and there were no further problems. My line is still only testing to a max speed of ~8Mbit (it has always tested to ~10Mbit) but this is better that the 5 IP addresses (because I host servers) but such is life in Ameritech/SBC/ATT land. I get a TON of marketing garbage every week asking me if I want cheaper DSL (they never advertise cheaper rates for static IP packages), convert from cable to their digital TV service (a partnership with Dish network, and Ive been a Dish subscriber for 6 years) and switch to AT&T cellular (my wife has been a Cingular, now AT&T customer for 5 years) but I guess Ill just let them continue to waste their marketing dollars.
The Funhouse forum is still the best reason to join this website and its the one thing that I can say has kept me being a DSL customer. The moment I can eliminate them from my home for higher bi-directional speed, I will be gone. Their monopoly on my C/O and the state of Michigan will probably prevent that from happening before my 4yr old graduates from high school.
Updated December 25, 2005
I would like to publicly state that BeachBoy, Toaster and (Bill) ROCK! They actually had my line up to correct speed within 5 minutes of me posting. We ran into a few snags caused by me removing voice mail off my DSL line last week but BeachBoy and Bill went WAY above and beyond the call of duty. Both stayed 2 hours beyond the end of their shift to work the the issue.
Thank you BeachBoy, Bill & Toaster! You make me more than thankful this forum is here every time I have ever had an issue! This forum is the reason I am still an SBC customer and it is the only reason I give SBC support 2 HUGE thumbs up!
Thanks!
Updated 05November 2004 -
Had a speed related issue. Solved in minutes by Beach Boy!
Updated 16March2004 - BeachBoy ROCKS! My current tech support rating is based COMPLETELY upon the guys participating in the SBC forum online. Without them, it would be a 1! Needed my password reset. Done in a flash. Needed my speed cap checked. It had been set back to 4Mbit instead of 6Mbit. Reset and working beautifully. THANK YOU!
Updated 16March2004 - BeachBoy ROCKS! My current tech support rating is based COMPLETELY upon the guys participating in the SBC forum online. Without them, it would be a 1! I ordered the Expoert+S upgrade for my DSL line and was having problems getting the expected speed levels out of it. I would post his real name here but I don't think I should. This man is another BIG reason why I am still an SBC DSL customer. Thanks!
Updated 03/01/2004 - MAXO ROCKS! Noon on a Sunday and he helped me try to track down a problem with my sister-in-laws ADSL in Sterling Heights, MI. Now I just wish that there was an online interface to SBIS so that I could request that they reset her Radius session without having to wade through phone hell. This support forum is THE BEST! SBC phone support still sucks rocks. When my s-i-l called up support they told her to go talk to a video game manufacturer about why her DSL wouldn't let her surf. Ill be tracking down that person today to have them reprimanded.
Updated 12Dec2003 - ADSLguy ROCKS! Noticed my bill was reporting that I had Expert/S package but I should only be on Deluxe/S. Sent IM to ADSLguy. He called ME! Asked for confirmation. Called me back 20 minutes later and everything is cool. Just ran speed test: 1286/321. Ive said this before. The online support you get from the Funhouse forum is the best thing that has ever happened to SBC/Ameritech data service. They have again impressed me with their courtesy, prompt follow through and professionalism. They should get a bonus for every good review they get for SBC. THANKS!
Updated 12Oct2003 - If the SBC support forum was offered any place other than DSLReports I would never come back here.
Updated 23Sep2003 Well, I have been VERY happy with SBC. Their front line phone support has been more than a bit of a let down but the support here in the Ameritech/SBC forums is, in a word INCREDIBLE!. I recently split my business line with lineshare ADSL with static IPs off to their own bill. What a circus! The business rep said it was a no brainer. I wouldnt see any downtime or outage. In actuality they canceled my DSL and phone line, assigned a new phone number to me and I was down for 2 days before I could get it all straightened out. In the process I think I got a front line phone support contractor fired for lying to me but its all in a days work. Im upping my view of tech support to 4/5 ONLY because of the support forum here. I pity anyone who has to call in for support.
Updated 21Jan2003 Ameritech is now SBC.
Updated 13Jan2003 0:00:00AM - trying to get it listed as my ISP
On Dec 27 2002 I placed my order to upgrade my 768/160 to 1500/256. The order process went relatively smooth. Due date was 06Jan2003, which came and went. On 07Jan SBC maintenance reported the upgrade as complete but it was not. ADSLguy in the Ameritech tech support forum confirmed that there was an error in the redback profile which still had me capped at 768/160. It took until Thursday night and almost 8 hours on the phone to get an ASI tech through the tech support line to uncap me. Unfortunately another ASI tech re-capped me Friday morning because my business profile hadn't been properly updated by the business office. 8 more hours over 3 more days, 5 - 1st line techs, 3 supervisors, 2 managers, 5 ASI techs, 3 maintenance techs, 4 billing reps, 2 escalation techs, a call to corporate with a demand for an executive appeal and 3 calls with the escalation engineer didn't accomplish what 3 IM's to ADSLguy accomplished in 1 day. I can't say enough about how awesome his support and the other Ameritech personnel in the Ameritech forum has been.
If:
1) Any other DSL provider in my CO offered service
and
2) Ameritech didn't require you to have a phone line from them on the pair with your DSL line, even though its business class service with static IP's
and
3) if ANY other telephone company offered local service to me
then I would dump Ameritech in a heartbeat and take every person I know with me. However, Im saying that without the choice nor the experience of actually using any company but Ameritech in Michigan since they still pretty much have the monipoly on service here.
I believe it is robbery that I have to pay $80.00 a month for 1.5Mb/256Kb PLUS $25.00 for a voice line to get a static IP address with 256Kbit upstream bandwidth. Its not like they couldn't put a 1 year checkout on the DHCP for my router. It doesn't take any more engineering to set up a static IP than for a dynamic IP. You can get the exact same speed with a dynamic IP for $49.00 but then theres still that voice line charge.
Tech support is a MAJOR problem for Ameritech. Most of the front line has been outsourced to at least 2 companies who have limited access to the people who can actually do the work. Also, SBC is going through some significant growing pains as it integrates the DSL networks of the other telco's it has purchased. To top it off, they consider the wiring side and the data side two completely seperate companies. THis can cause more than a few headaches when you have wiring related problem which is causing you dificulty with the data circuit.
Overall, the stability of the circuit at 768/160 has been pretty much flawless in the last 18 months which is probably better than what you can say about any other provider. You are taking your life into your own hands if you should ever decide to make a change to either the voice or data side and be prepared wait for a long time to get anything done with painfully long hold times with tech support and thats if you actually know what to ask for and you aren't afraid to ask for managers. You will be far better off using the Ameritech support forum.
If I can answer any questions, don't be afraid to ask.
And when you believe you just can't fight any more, remember the following phrase:
I DEMAND AN EXECUTIVE APPEAL.
You will need to get to the corporate offices to get it but it can work miracles.
EAK.
Update 21June2001 - the key to getting things done when you are at your wits end is to contact the Executive Appeals organization, demand an executive appeal and demand an executive complaint number when you file it. 5 weeks after contacting the Executive compaint organization, I now have DSL.
===============Initial order detail===========================
I placed my order for voice service 6 weeks ago, at the direction of Ameritech Team Data, specifically so that I could have DSL active when I move into my new home next week. I work from home and I MUST have connectivity to do my job.
They assigned me a 248-393-XXXX number which is serviced by the PNTCMINR
»/coinfo/clli/PNTCMINR CO at 3556 Walton, right at the corner of Baldwin and Waldon. This is so close to my house that, if it weren't for trees, I could see it. It is less than 2000 feet. Instead of setting up my lines to be serviced by that CO, they instead set me up to be serviced by the Independance township CO, PNTCMINE(D?) »/coinfo/clli/PNTCMINE
at 3385 PONTIAC RD and now they tell me I am (of course) too far from the CO (>14000 feet) and that they won't create a DSL order for me.
I have spent >4 hours on the phone and Ameritech is telling me that they can get my line changed so that it will be serviced by the correct CO so Im crossing my fingers.
I really REALLY do NOT like dealing with Ameritech.
Eric.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by USRnetman
UPDATED: 1.1 years ago
member for 6.6 years, 3 visits, last login: 1 year ago
Lake Zurich,Lake,IL
$30 per month
"Service exists and is reliable"
"Customer service is primarily a marketing group"
"Service is OK but too expensive"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
I have a primary service with Comcast but use AT&T for backup and alternate service.
I just tried to work with customer support to reduce my overall costs. They spent most of their time trying to sell new services rather than giving me honest rates and costs. I was told that there are 3 levels of dsl service; Express, Pro (2 x express) and Elite (4 x Express). The costs are $30.00, $31.00 and $35.00 per month respectively. I believe that the rates were base on my other services but I could not get any specifics or actual line speeds.
I upgraded my service from Express to Pro which should also add AT&T WiFi services (I will use at Barnes and Noble). I will also move the dsl service from my second phone line to my primary phone line and drop the second line. By also downgrading my LD service I hope to reduce my total monthly wired phone costs from $130/month to about $80/month.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by giscard
UPDATED: 1.5 years ago
member for 4 years, 738 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Enid,Garfield,OK
Contract price not specified.
AT&T
| Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
I have been considering changing to cable..........I have always been on swbell/At&t since the service has been on here in Enid, OK.. Sometimes the Elite rate I am on just gets messed up and very slow.............not having kept the times of the day when it slows down or speeds upl.......I do appreciate the service.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next page (previous review)
 Review by spawn46375
UPDATED: 1.6 years ago
member for 8.7 years, 353 visits, last login: 354 days ago
Schererville,Lake,IN
$49 per month
about 30 days
Ameritech
"good points? whats that? oh yea i do now have what im paying for"
"you name it its wrong"
"they couldnt run a candy store"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings well below consensus)
|
still one big joke with most support other then ASI
teleco seems the be one of the largest parts of the pie
order nightmare they lie out theyre arse to get you to order!!
the say they allow servers but in the tos it says no so what is it?
im heading to the zoo to talk to some baboons to see if they work for the sales office!!!
install nightmare!!!
didnt have sync till 2 days after my due date! load coil!
even after that they messed up my email!
most of the techs are moronic and thats being nice!!
stuck at 384/128 for 21 days and they wanted to argue about it
didnt get to tier 2 support till i threatened a lawsuit!
and even then they still didnt fix it! it would still be that way if it wasnt for the ppl on here!
one dns server is still down ive told them a few times they never told me what the mail servers address was
after all the crap it now works from what seems to be good but was it worth the work i had to do to get it to work? they couldnt do it and its theyre job!!!
BOTTOM OF THE LINE move as far away from ameritech as you can i hear BT is good in the UK maybe we should all move there lol
UPDATE: im at 768/128 like i had to fight to be. i called asi and got it fixed myself.
it works well other then the 2 times i was capped for no reason after i was uncapped. distance isnt the issue and wasnt the issue ever. well so far its been ok other then that and unstable ping times from time to time(not between me and redback its isp issues) i will still not up my rating because they deserve what they got and still do. not all the techs are bad but alot are. and they contiune with crap with 2 other people i know and the distance isnt the issue there either.
UPDATE: upped tech support to reflect the techs that frequent this forum and those few good ones out there.
UPDATE: still the same old crappy speed its funny how companies dont have to maintain lines, still no upgrades of anykind other than moving boxes and poor workmanship on the teleco side of this its always nice when the insulation is falling off the wires on the teleco side, but i guess it works still somewhat not due to anything with sbc atech, thanks to the techs asi for all the help i got its bad when a hand full of techs even know wtf is going on or care about it when you have a large very heavily outsourced company with undermaned line techs on the teleco side. especially in a heavily populated area
UPDATE: still the same old crappy speeds no network updates around here! this is even after 8 years! gee i wish i could start something and never maintain it at all ever after all this time!
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
|
|
AT&T Midwest
(35)
(58)
·
·
·
·