We have been Cox Communications customers for years but tired of the high prices for services…read more($120/month for phone & premium internet). After receiving regular advertising for U-Verse, promoted by DirectTV, and attracted to the price bundle - Vonage phone and U-Verse internet for $46.99/month - we called to have it installed. BIG MISTAKE!
Our technician, Brandon, was very nice, seemed knowledgeable, did a decent job on the install. He stressed several times that if we had any questions or problems to call him, not the 800 customer service number, as he could troubleshoot any problems faster and we would likely have a call outsourced to another country. He left us his cell and his manager's (Nick) cell phone number.
Two days later, on a Saturday, I noticed where before we had all green lights on our router, we now had a blinking red light on the broadband signal, intermitten internet coverage, and an upload speed of 1.5mbs. I called first thing Monday morning and left a message on Brandon's cell. No reply. I called the following week, on a Monday morning, left a message, no reply. I called manager Nick on Tuesday morning, left a message, no reply.
We went back to Cox Communications Wednesday, had service reinstalled Saturday.
THURSDAY late in the day I finally received a call from Brandon. He did apologize for not getting back to me, and when I asked him about the upload speed he stated U-verse can't compete with Cox, 1.5mbs is the top U-Verse can do.
Went to the AT&T store to return our router and cancel service, was told all they do at the store is orders to install U-Verse service, we would have to take our router to UPS with the account number, and UPS ships it for free. Went to UPS store, as I was walking in, the counter employee asked me, "U-Verse?"
I told him yes, he gave me a routing receipt and return receipt and told me to keep it for 2 years as sometimes U-Verse tries to charge people for equipment not returned. In fact, he jokingly said to put the receipt in a safe deposit box, time capsule, whatever, but to not lose it.
As I was in the store another customer came in with 2 plastic bags full of U-verse modems and routers. The employee saw him with the bags and asked, "U-Verse?"
The UPS employee said they return up to 15 U-Verse boxes a day. Lesson learned....
When I called Monday to cancel U-Verse, was told in order to pay over the phone ($99 charge so far for 2 weeks of service), it would cost an additional $5. I will have to go back to the local AT&T store to pay....unbelievable!