Austin Area TW Chapter (all gens welcome, even T4Rs; heck, just make it a Toyota and we're good)

Attached is his idea of what he wants. Not sure what half of it says but I do get the concept. I don't think it'll be easy. And he wants it out of aluminum.

 

Ok, I can only weld carbon steel.

 

AT&T. They replace one of their junk routers with another one, slightly less junky, then start charging me an internet equipment fee, something they have always waived. After 5 attempts at getting a stateside resource, I hit them up on their FB page, which led to the following chat:

~~~~~~~~~~~~

AT&T: Hello! Let’s get you connected to your Social Media Specialist. Are you available to begin chatting?

Me: yes

Luisa D.: Hi, this is Luisa from AT&T Social Media Department, with whom do I have the pleasure to chat?

Me: xxxxxxxx

Me: xxxxxxxx

Luisa D.: Nice to meet you Jeff, thank you very much for taking the time to chat with me today

Luisa D.: I can see that you have concerns about your equipment fee, I will be more than happy to help you.

Luisa D.: In order to start and due to security purposes could you please log into your account?, this is for verification process.

Me: I'm in

Luisa D.: Thank you very much

Luisa D.: I apologize for the inconvenience that the equipment change affected your bill, I know how important it is to keep the prices steady, no worries, I will do my best to help you with this matter

Me: I've spent too much of my time, and been lied to by AT&T personnel

Me: and have filed a complaint with the FCC this morning as a result

Luisa D.: This is not the experience we want you to have with our services, we really apologize for the inconvenience

Luisa D.: Allow me a moment while I review further

Luisa D.: Thank you for waiting

Luisa D.: I would like to explain the charges, Our advanced digital network requires updated equipment.

Luisa D.: There is a $7.00 per month fee for the equipment, which provides an all-in-one home networking solution with an integrated Internet modem and wireless router. The great thing is, if you experience an issue with the equipment, AT&T replaces it at no cost to you. Also, you can connect your Wi-Fi devices throughout your home, creating a true home network.

Luisa D.: This can help you save on your wireless data usage. You will love the fast downloads and ability to do so much with your PC.

Me: nope, not an answer

Luisa D.: I am sorry for the inconvenience, in this case the equipment fee is valid and part of the service

Me: Nope. I'm not accepting that answer. I never paid the fee in the past, and won't pay it now. If you look at my past bills, I never had to pay it, and the only thing that changed in May is that you sent me a router to replace the old one I had. Same router, just a newer one. So save the new and improved crap. I work in IT, and your stuff is junk.

Luisa D.: Thank you for that information, one moment

Luisa D.: Thank you for waiting, upon checking the system since you already filed a complaint the resolution will be given by the FCC, from my end, the charges are valid and will keep showing on the bill

Me: okay, so when do you want to come pick up your equipment? I'll throw it in the front yard; you're not the only provider in my area.

Luisa D.: If you need to return your equipment you can do it at any UPS or FedEx store

Me: nope, ain't happening. I'm not expending any more energy on AT&T's behalf. It'll be in the front yard.

Luisa D.: Please keep in mind that if the equipment is set to be returned and it is not, the charges for no return fee will be $150.00 Thank you so much for your time and for chatting with me, just to recap, we have confirmed that the charges for the equipment fee are valid and also confirmed that your complaint is being processed by the FCC, is there anything else I can help you with?

Me: Keep in mind that you'll never get $150 out of me. I'm telling you where your equipment will be, it's up to you to get it.

Luisa D.: Understood, thank you for choosing AT&T I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What a horrible job this guy has. Or maybe the horrible part is how he does it.

 

There is a 70% chance you were not chatting with a human.

Edit: also, buy your own equipment

 

That's exactly what we've experienced with AT&T as well at my in-law's place. Sent us a new modem that wasn't necessary so we sent it back, but they started charging us for it anyway. Finally, after 3 months of fighting we did get them to drop the fee again. The whole time they seemed unable to read the account history.

Spectrum (the douchenozzle formerly known as Time Warner Cable) is only marginally better. I say marginally, much like how getting shot in the leg is only marginally better than getting shot in the stomach.

HOWEVER...

Google Fiber literally connected our neighborhood into their backbone last week, and we're on the schedule for installation. For what we pay now for 200 MBPS (130 actual) we will be getting 1GBPS as soon as their installer can get us scheduled. I already have my own Gig-E modem that's compatible with their network, and cannot wait for them to get to us!

 

AT&T doesn't allow you to buy your own. You can, but it has to be hooked up downstream of the POS router they supply.

 

Yeah, Google Fiber isn't an option up here, and probably never will be. I think we may have Spectrum, and do have Suddenlink. The whole thing is kinda like going into a whorehouse and selecting which disease you're going to least mind catching.

 

I had a very similar conversation with Time Warner years ago. Owned my own router since. Fuckers. They are all fuckers

 

I wish Google Fiber was available. Still holding out hope

 

Spectrum is basically herpes with a lifetime supply of Valtrex. It hasn't been bad...but my 200 MBPS is more like 130. I can stream, download, work from home, and game provided everyone else on my local switch isn't doing the same thing. I've had my speed drop to 60.

 

Keep in mind I dropped the IT bomb after he said:

Luisa D.: I would like to explain the charges, Our advanced digital network requires updated equipment.

Luisa D.: There is a $7.00 per month fee for the equipment, which provides an all-in-one home networking solution with an integrated Internet modem and wireless router. The great thing is, if you experience an issue with the equipment, AT&T replaces it at no cost to you. Also, you can connect your Wi-Fi devices throughout your home, creating a true home network.

They replaced the router I had with the same model, so the dude throws some ridiculous script at me, like I'm supposed to say, "Oh. Okay, I had no idea!"...

 

Okay, cross that off.

 

yup. scripted drivel to get more cash from people that don't know how to argue. When they hooked up my router initially, with no fee (I verified), they said don't change the username and wifi password. Reason being, if I ever call for help they will factory reset the modem as a first step. I laughed and changed the password. Still need to buy a new router/modem that will work with this new fangled Fiber internet. My Nighthawk router is no just collecting dust. Will that work for your application? or are you fiber too?

 

I'm fiber, and as I mentioned above, in a response to Sohail, AT&T doesn't let a person use their own router. Why would they ever do that? They wouldn't be able to collect their internet equipment fee!

 

I don't understand "doesn't let"... Is there something like a key in their router to enable the net? That has always been the spiel of ISPs. I'm not "in IT" so I dunno that one But I was hoping to source my own router too, so curious on outcome.

 

The AT&T router is a gateway that can be bypassed, but not removed, AFAIK. Hence, my comment upstream about adding your personal router downstream. Frankly, the machinations to do that don't interest me, when you still end up with AT&T equipment needed.

 

agree, if it has to remain inline than there is no point, to me, to add in another. well, except that I can run a VPN through my own device and have the wifi be VPN covered instead of needing a VPN on each device connected to wifi, so there is that. Cause you know... gotta hide my searches for some cowboy gifs you like

 

Headed back to ATX now! Was in Weimar last night

 

Headed back through Manchacha?...