If you know me at all, then you realize that I'm a cavewoman
when it comes to technology! And I mean a Cro-Magnon NOT a Neanderthal,
although I have been known to grunt when I eat.
So far this year, I've lost my ATT bundle 3 different
times!!! I mean NO PHONE, TV, or INTERNET!!! The 1st occurred earlier in the
year and affected everyone in the neighborhood. The last 2 happened only to me;
during the middle of May and early June.
Since I have only a landline and no cellphone this really
left me in a pickle. I had no way of contacting ATT to report it.
Back in May, I walked over to my friend Marie's house. She
& her husband Ed are snowbirds. They were preparing to leave for the north
the very next day. Marie walked back to my house with me & we called ATT
from her cellphone. They insisted I had a bad modem. The best appointment they
could schedule was in 2 days. Ugh!
In the meantime, Ed followed us over. He told me, "ATT
is bullshitting you! There is nothing wrong with your modem. The problem has to
be somewhere outside."
I thanked them and wished them a safe trip. My next 2 days
were nothing short of miserable!!!
Two days later when I saw the ATT truck pull up I was ready
to throw confetti and celebrate. Ed was right. I was informed the problem was
in the box at the entrance of the subdivision. Yet I was the only one who lost
their connection.
My ATT bill arrived and I nearly had a stroke! I had an
existing arrangement with them that wasn't supposed to expire until the end of
June. They disagreed! I have been with ATT for 10 years now and was turned over
to something called "The Loyalty Group". I was assured by someone
named Victor that my bill would return to the previous rate for another year.
When my next bill arrived it was $25 higher! Naturally I
complained!
This time, I got some woman in Texas who couldn't connect me
to Victor, but said she'd look into it. I was informed that my bundle price
didn't rise, only the taxes did. -- Victor neglected to inform me of this and
it's hardly a minor detail!
However, my bill should have been $5 cheaper, she said. I
complained about my 2 miserable days without service and demanded to be
compensated for it. She agreed to take $11 off for this. I asked for an email
confirmation. I've yet to receive one! However I did check my credit card
statement and the deduction was there.
Now we come to June 1. Again, I lost EVERYTHING at 9:45 that
evening!!!
The next morning shortly after 11:00 AM, I drove a couple
blocks around the corner to my friend Irene's house. Irene is elderly, hard of
hearing, and likes to sleep late. I walked around the back of her place, waved
and called out with no response.
As I walked back to the front a neighbor walking his dog
came by and inquired who I was. After I explained, he banged on Irene's door
with no response. He was kind enough to let me use his cellphone to call my
friend Rose who agreed to meet me back at my house.
Thanks to Rose, I got hold of ATT. I wanted the earliest
possible appointment! Even if it was 4:00 AM I'd set my alarm clock!
Around 11:30 AM the following day a repairman arrived. I
asked if ATT was deliberately trying to lose me as a customer.
"I don't know, maybe," he replied.
That was the wrong answer as well as a stupid one. And you
can be sure I won't forget it!
This time, I was told the problem was with the device in the
woods out back. Well knock-on-wood, let's hope this doesn't happen again
anytime soon!
I know I'm probably the only person on the planet who
doesn't own a cellphone. However the reception in this neighborhood is bad.
Also I have no family, and my friends all contact me via email. Plus all these
emergencies shouldn't be happening this often!
Yesterday, after returning from grocery shopping, I found a
Comcast/Infinity card on my front door. I left them 10 years ago for ATT
Uverse. This was done for valid reasons, in fact a long list of them! Perhaps
they've improved in the last decade, or perhaps not. I'm shopping around, we'll
see!
For sure, I don't want any damn satellite attached to my
house! Too many friends who have one complain the picture goes out every time
it rains or the wind kicks up. And Florida summers tend to be stormy. Not to
mention we are now into hurricane season.
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