I'm so sick of seeing these commercials of how much "better" one
1. AT&T Broadband goes on in their commercial about how "What? You have to
pay EXTRA for your local channels with satellite? You don't with AT&T Broadband."
PROBLEM. What they fail to mention is that with AT&T Broadband, you DO have to pay
not only for each receiver you rent ($5-7 per month), but also for the friggin REMOTE
CONTROL for EACH receiver (another 80 cents each). You also have to pay an extra $5
per month if you have two receivers, but this is true also with satellite.
2. AT&T Broadband claims "Watch one channel while taping another! You can't do that
with satellite." Well, here's news for the world...you can't do it with AT&T Broadband,
either. At least not if you're using DIGITAL cable. If you use ANALOG signal (ie: no
control box), then yes, you can watch one different than you are taping. However, if
you do this, you lose all channels in the digital range (ie: almost all of them)
and all your movie/pay stations.
3. AT&T Broadband claims "simplified billing". Well, I have had AT&T Broadband for
9 months now, and out of those 9 months, they screwed up 8 out of 9 bills. In some
cases, by a substantial amount. I have also had channels simply "stop working",
for no reason (resulting in me having to call AT&T Broadband to "reflash" my receivers.
I have NEVER had a problem with my billing or channels from EchoStar/Dish Network, in
the three plus years I've used them (more about that shortly). In summary, their
billing sucks, and their customer service sucks more. In more than one month when
I've called to complain, I was told "There's nothing we can do" at which point I had
to have the issue escalated to their "Executive Response" team, which finally fixed
the billing problems. Morons.
4. AT&T Broadband claims, "always crystal clear signal". Tell that to the guy that
CUT OFF my cable one morning, because he had the wrong address to cut. After having
AT&T for less than a month, one morning it was cut without reason. When I called them
to complain, and have it turned back on, they said, "We'll SCHEDULE someone to go out
and turn it back on. It might be a couple days." So let's get this straight...YOU
screw up and cut my cable, and yet "I" have to wait for YOU to decide when you want
to turn it back on? Holy fucking shit that's bad customer service! After a call to
their "executive response" team, they finally agreed to send back the moron that just
cut it, that day. Naturally, I did not get compensated for the outage nor my time.
In all the time I used EchoStar/Dish Network, I never once had this kind of problem...
EVER.
5. AT&T Broadband claims, "no long term commitments". Odd, when I signed up I was
'forced' to sign a one-year contract with them, stating that I owe them 'something'
(I no longer recall the amount) if I cancel before the one year is over. Sure sounds
like a long term commitment to me...what about you? Maybe this has changed recently,
but it wasn't in place when I signed up.
6. AT&T Broadband makes you pay extra for anything other than "basic" cable, which is
essentially your local stations that they complain about you having to pay more for
on a satellite system. So let's get this straight, AT&T Broadband charges $30 for LOCAL
channels, and makes you pay more for anything else (my bill is currently in the $60 range
and I don't even have movie stations!), yet you think it's a big deal that satellite
charges you $5 for local stations while at the same time offering over 100 others, for
$35 TOTAL!?!? How ironic (or hypocritical, you choose).
I know that I will be cancelling cable and getting back with EchoStar the INSTANT that
my "nonexistant" contract is completed.