ATT saga continues

After a frustrating weekend with no phone, several failed efforts to contact ATT over the weekend, Monday finally got here. I diligently set the alarm clock for 8:00 a.m., so I could be sure to call them early enough to get them out here today! That was no easy feat for me because I didn't go to sleep till after 4:00 a.m.! But I made the call - even before coffee. After listening to excruciating music for 20 minutes, I finally got to talk to a gal named Becky and explained what happened. Becky declares matter of factly that the repairman came back out Saturday morning at 8:15 and could not get access. I was livid! "I was asleep!! How was I supposed to know he was coming!"

I let her know with no uncertainty that that was totally unacceptable and I wanted his supervisor to know exactly what happened. She said she would tell her supervisor who would in turn tell his supervisor. I asked to speak to her supervisor, Lisa, myself. Both ladies apologized profusely, and Lisa assured me the technician's supervisor would hear about it. Becky then asked me if the correct number to call me is - and read off my home phone number!! I made conscious effort not to scream and said, "No, That's so silly!! That's the number that is not hooked up!!" grrr.. My patience level is really non-existent. The ladies both tried to be nice, but I didn't feel like making nice.

It will be probably after 12:00 they said. By 2:00 I called again. This time I talked to a young man, Troy. Troy was pleasant but said it wasn't ATT's policy to call before they come out, like that should explain things. I said no, it's not a matter of ATT policy at all! It's a matter of that man having some manners and consideration himself, as a human being! How hard would it be for him to have called Friday and said, "I can't make it this evening, but I will be out by 8:00 in the morning."

Finally at 4:30 (now two full days of waiting for them to show up and a screwed up weekend) the technician got here - Dorman I find out is his name. He said he didn't even need to come inside! So, that lame brained excuse about no access was a pile of b.s. Dorman said the man who never called had been complained about more than once for the same irresponsible behavior and he, Dorman, would personally see to it that the man's superintendent was informed via Dorman's superintendent, and then he gave me his boss' phone number.

After Dorman finished in the back at their box and was leaving, I checked my phone in my living room, and it did not work. He informed me that he hooked up two wires. He said there was a third wire that was bad and would give me static that he would hook up if I wanted him to. But to run a new wire, he said ATT would want $130!

Well, I had five working phone jacks when Roadrunner disconnected me last Friday morning. And now I only have two working phone jacks -- both at the far end of my house. That just won't do. So , this story isn't over yet. Tomorrow I have to call back and tell them I need my phone accessibility just as convenient as it was before. I'm now going on Day 5, counting my weekend, of total frustration trying to just achieve what should have been a simple task of getting phone service!

For what its worth, I do think the clarity of the voice is better than the VOIP with Roadrunner. Once these issues are worked out, if they ever are, I guess things will be better.

ATT vs ROADRUNNER PHONE SERVICE

It's been a very long time since I've aired my Woes on this site. I won't go so far as to say life hasn't had its shares of woes over this past time period, but I've been preoccupied and pretty much rolled with what has come my way. But it's time to complain - at least a little bit.

Several months ago I chose to change my home telephone service from ATT to Roadrunner, both for the free long distance that it offered, as well as a cheaper phone bill. Usually Roadrunner is amenable with service calls and the like, and I do love my Roadrunner Internet connection. However, as it would happen, the quality of the voice transferral, both receiving and sending, suffered. No, not 100% of the time, but intermittently. Either I would hear a low volume, muffled voice or I would send a garbled, underwater sound out to the person I was trying to communicate with. Of course I would call RR and complain and they would be attentive and come out and check lines and connections, etc, but they never could fix it.

Then a new problem developed that I would lose Internet connection much more frequently than before. By frequently, I mean, maybe once or twice a month or something, sometimes for a few hours, sometime only minutes. Sometimes they had to reset my modem. Sometimes they told me to. Sometimes it would reset itself. They even gave me a new modem. But the problems persisted. The last time was for over six hours and their phone was out of service and I couldn't even call them. So, I had no phone, no Internet, and no way to reach them. So, in a fit of rage - albeit, panic, I called ATT. Moving from Cable to DSL gave me much consternation, but I was tired of not having consistent reliable connections. When the cable went, my phone went.

ATT explained it would take two weeks to set up the takeover of my accounts. Two weeks was the 24th. I received my modem from ATT, along with promises of two $50 rebates, 3 months of free phone, and a $50 Visa gift card. Geez!

They called me in a few days to say it would be the 28th because they didn't give Roadrunner all the correct info, and they had to start over. Um. Okay (is this a hint of what is to come?)

It dawned on me I would lose my RR web space of which I do utilize for my web page. I called ATT back to see if they had free web space available. I was put on hold. Finally I got a person as opposed to animation. The person didn't know. "Let me transfer you." Hold. Next department - well, you get the idea -- two hours and six departments later and still, nobody knew. The 6th department was literally the 1st department I started with! I'm growing less and less happy about this decision.

I asked around and decided I would be giving up too much Internet speed and opted to change just the phone to ATT and keep Roadrunner Internet. That was easy enough to change. ATT didn't give me a hard time, told me about the return label for the modem, and informed me I was losing all incentives since I wasn't getting the Internet. Well, okay. So be it. I didn't have those incentives to begin with.

Finally the 28th came. Roadrunner was prompt to disconnect my phone early in the morning. My appointment was for ATT to hook me up was 12:00 to 5:00. I think at least 4 times ATT had called over this period of two weeks' wait, leaving messages on my answering machine that they would be here on the 28th. Great! By the way, as if it mattered to ATT at all, the 28th just happens to be my birthday.

They weren't here by 2:00. This is Friday, mind you. I called ATT customer service with my cell since I now have no house phone, explaining I wanted to be sure the repairman would be coming because it was Friday. "Oh, yes, ma'am. You're next."

I called at 4:30. "Are you sure he is coming?" "Oh, yes, ma'am. It may take till 5:30 but he's coming. " "Here's my cell number." She assured me she gave it to him.

It reached midnight. He never came! He never called! If I ever do find out who "he" is, "he" will certainly get a piece of my mind!!

I called at 6:15 and got a recording that I have to call back during business hours. I tried to call technical support. Since I don't have an active account, the animation tells me I have to call back during business hours. There is no one to talk to -- only a machine!

So, here I sit, wondering what to do. I seriously am considering going back to Roadrunner's crappy VOIP and begging them to take me back; but the quality really is annoying! Either way I have to wait till Monday, set up a new appointment, wait around another whole day for a repairman who might or might not come. God help anybody who has phone problems on the weekend or after 5:00! Guess I best keep my cell phone charged and bill paid!

This ride turned out to be quite a bumpy one. But then why would I think it shouldn't have been. When do you ever deal with these companies and all go like clockwork.

Does all this explaining and complaining help? Well, maybe a little. At least I got it off my chest. Take a deep breath, and wait till Monday!

Maybe I'll tell you next about what Sears did to me about my car! It's a story of equal frustration.