Thread: Warning about UVERSE

Currently, I have Dish and Comcast. During an Inquiry with UVERSE, they told me I could NOT keep my current Dish and Comcast service if I wanted UVERSE installed.

Dan: To clarify, you will need to disconnect your existing services when you switch to AT&T U verse.
you: So you are telling me that I cannot have parallel services
Dan: That is right.
you: OK, then I will hold off for now until UVERSE has been around longer
you: Thanks for your your help though

Here is the full online chat I had with their representative:

Dan: I will be happy to answer your questions regarding AT&T U-verse products. To start, could you please tell me what state you are in?
you: California
Dan: Thank you for considering AT&T U-verse Services.
Dan: Have you been able to check availability for AT&T U-verse at your location today?
you: Yes, it is available
you: I have a couple of questions
Dan: I would be happy to answer your questions.
you: 1. For internet, what specifications are supported, i.e. b,g, N?
you: for 801.2
you: wireless
Dan: It will be G type.
Dan: We have not heard from you in a while. Do you wish to continue this chat?
you: OK, thanks. Currently I have dishnetwork for Satellite, and Comcast for internet. I do not wish to disconnect the existing service until I am sure UVERSE provides the internet speed and television quality. Is there trial period where I can determine that?
Dan: The difference between AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet and other DSL service is that AT&T’s Internet is delivered through our fiber optic network. AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet also provides faster upstream speeds of up to 1 Mbps compared to traditional high speed Internet at up to 384 Kbps. Wireless home networking is included with AT&T U-verse at no additional charge and you will receive our AT&T Wi-Fi Basic service.
Dan: Which AT&T U-verse package you are referring to in order to better understand your desired services?
you: What I am looking for is 4 receivers, and 10 Mbps. Assuming the U300 package, what would my monthly cost be excluding any promotionals?
Dan: Great Choice! AT&T U-verse U-300 comes with Up to 290 channels, Local channels, One HD-ready receiver with DVR, 48 Digital Music Channels, Video on Demand Library, The Movie Package (This package has more than 30 channels of Starz, Encore, SHOWTIME, The Movie Channel, and Flix).
Dan: AT&T U-verse U-300 will cost you $79 a month for TV.
Dan: It is necessary to have a separate receiver for each TV.
Dan: All the receivers are HD-ready.
Dan: The first receiver comes free with DVR capability, and the additional receivers are $7 per month.
Dan: With AT&T U-verse Max Plan, you will get Up to 10.0 Mbps downstream and up to 1.5 Mbps upstream Starting at $55/month.
Dan: Due to the complex nature of taxes, fees, and surcharges that vary by state and local laws, a billing specialist will have to calculate that total. A fair estimate is to say your bill may increase by approximately $15.
Dan: For ordering AT&T U-verse U-200 or above plans online, you will receive $200 Cash back and free professional installation up to 3 TVs and 1 computer.
Dan: How does that sound to you?
you: give me a minute please
Dan: Not a problem. You can take your time.
Dan: Let's go ahead and place your order today so that you can take advantage of our limited time offers.
you: about 156 excluding taxes. Is HD included, and if not how much more for that?
Dan: $10 HD fee is per month for AT&T U-verse service. The HD fee $10 is not per receiver and on top of it if you wish to add HD premium tier that you will be charged $5 per month additional.
Dan: Excessive charges could be applied to your monthly cost if you are hosting servers or websites from your home. These types of usage patterns would be grounds for possible excessive usage charges.
Dan:
you: That is about what I am paying now. I am going to need to think about this
Dan: You can see the cost for your services recapped on the order summarypage. You will not be charged or committed to any of your selections until you submit the order.
Dan: AT&T U-verse TV offers a differentiated viewing experience with crystal-clear all digital picture and sharp, all-digital channels, and super fast channel changing. Also, enjoy picture-in-picture browsing via the interactive AT&T U-verse TV channel guide.
Dan: The advantage of fiber optic technology is speed. With fiber optics AT&T U-verse only transmits the channels you are watching, so it requires a low amount of bandwidth and makes AT&T U-verse capable of delivering your programming content at a very high speed.
Dan: Each company is different. AT&T believes that we can provide our customers with an excellent alternative for watching TV for these reasons: * Only AT&T U-verse allows you to record up to four shows at once with an included DVR * Only AT&T U-verse lets you program your DVR remotely from any web-connected computer and wireless phone from AT&T * AT&T also provides a free HD-ready DVR receiver, and can support as many as eight receivers.
Dan: We have not heard from you in a while. Do you wish to continue this chat?
you: The one feature I really like is the DVR recording from any room, which is definitely cool. My hesitation is that I was a long time AT&T DSL customer, and a year ago the DSL started droping out constantly. No problem with the phone. When the tech came over he said my house had to be rewired, which made me drop AT&T DSL and go to comcast. Price wise it is definitely in the ball park with some great features. I need to read some current customer reviews before I decide, I you have been very helpful in pricing it for me, i.e. TV and internet
Dan: Your Internet speeds will not drop even when moire subscribers are online.
Dan: Your existing cable wiring will be used at the time of installation.
Dan: Let's go ahead and place your order today so that you can take advantage of our limited time offers.
Dan: Have you had the chance to begin the ordering process today?
you: What if I pay extra for them NOT use the existing cable? The reason is, I do not want to disconnect my existing service until I am sure about the service
Dan: To clarify, you will need to disconnect your existing services when you switch to AT&T U verse.
you: So you are telling me that I cannot have parallel services
Dan: That is right.
you: OK, then I will hold off for now until UVERSE has been around longer
you: Thanks for your your help though

That is a deal breaker to me, and there is NO way I would disconnect my existing service until I was sure UVERSE was working properly.

Well, I can tell you that I have Dish and had Charter. Uverse was installed and coexisted with Dish and Charter until I had Charter disconnected. I still have Dish and Uverse.

There is no legal or technical way that AT&T can stop anyone from subscribing to U-verse and any other TV or internet service at the same time.

AT&T better train some of their customer representatives better or they will lose business

I had Uverse installed back in July 2008, when I signed up no mention of other services as a problem. I had DirecTv at the time and kept it for over a month. There is no way they can prevent you from keeping the existing service that you have this is America. I would call and ask for a supervisor or contact the Better Business Bureau I have had excellent results using them, corporations do not like the BBB contacting them. Good Luck

I dumped DISH for U-verse. However, I left my DISH active until U-Verse was up and running then waited a few days to terminate service with DISH. I had no problem doing that.

I suspect that as long as you're using separate wiring there would be no issue with having both comcast and u-verse.

Originally Posted by efbrune

There is no legal or technical way that AT&T can stop anyone from subscribing to U-verse and any other TV or internet service at the same time.

The rep was giving you bad info.

I have dish, direc and Att..

If they dared to say ''that'' to me I would never have signed Att on..

Thats foolish on their part.

New service needs to be tested out first.

I just think you got the wrong rep..thats all. Id call back and get someone else.

Im still not sold on the fact that ATT is better than the sat cos.. Jury is still out.
Plus thier dvrs are very tempermental to say the least.
Spotty service. Each day is a new surprise.

Sorry, im telling it like it is.

As mush as I hate dish. the company. I adore their equipment.

Just just cant seem to say goodbye. Its that good. VIP722.

and in fact I am very much in the same boat as you are, i.e. equipment and service

I will try it again