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BEWARE OF AT&T!

W

Whistleblower

Flightless Bird
BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!

AT&T exemplifies screw-the-consumer corporate arrogance at its worst.
DO NOT PATRONIZE AT&T or YOU'LL REGRET IT!

I had an ISP service package with AT&T Worldnet that included email, DSL, a
personal website on their server, and Usenet access. Suddenly they dropped
the Usenet service, with no compensation to customers that were forced to
find another source. Another example of their screw-the-customer attitude is
the fact that reaching a tech support person by phone typically requires at
least a 20 minute wait on hold. AT&T once had a good tech support service on
Usenet, but dropped that too and became very hard to reach. I should have
seen the writing on the wall and dropped AT&T back then!

This March 2nd I get an email that AT&T Worldnet service, DSL service, and
website hosting will no longer be available effective March 31st - A KNIFE
IN THE BACK to all their small business and individual customers!

They arranged a deal with Covad to take over the DSL service, and a new
email/web service that allows you to keep your existing email address and
ID. You could elect to use AT&T for dialup only, or go to another ISP
entirely. In effect, if you wanted to keep your present email address, IDs,
settings, and DSL, you are FORCED to accept Covad and still be tied to AT&T
as your ISP. Before, if your DSL service went down you had free dialup
backup, but no longer. Dialup now costs extra. And since converting to Covad
DSL about a week ago, I have already had a service failure!

For a business, the website customer-screwing by AT&T is the worst of all. I
had my site for years and it had a high ranking with the search engines -
top10. Now I have been FORCED to move it to another host with a new URL
unknown to the search engines. My initial outlay for 3 years of webhosting
and a domain was over $150. Fortunately I was able to upload my site to the
new host without the typical professional fee of $250 to do so, but it took
alot of my time. In addition, I'll have to toss and replace about $50 worth
of business cards with my old URL web address on them, replace other printed
materials with the old URL, change many documents, and inform many contacts.
I will inevitably lose business because the old URL, now in many website
links and hard-copy publications, has become useless.

The forced "migration" process from AT&T was complex and time-consuming, not
helped by the unavailability for several days of the means to do so at their
website where AT&T stated it would be. Instructions were vague and
non-specific, and good luck reaching them by phone! As the service cutoff
date approached, nothing could be done due to this and to AT&Ts
inaccessibility. Then, one day after completing part of the migration
process, CUTOFF! I had NO SERVICE - no web, no email, no DSL, no dialup,
nothing! Finally after hours of effort,I was able to establish my DSL
service. My Outlook Express was unable to download email until I corrected
that too - with no help from these corporate cretins that couldn't care
less!

Now, for the same monthly price as before (under a 1 year contract with a
BIG termination fee if you want out), I have DSL, web, and email. But no
dialup backup, Usenet, or website as before. The website costs extra now.
And will AT&T tech support improve? I wouldn't hold my breath!

The substantial expenses and inconveniences inflicted by this AT&T
customer-screwing is something for which a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT would be
appropriate, but no doubt the agreement you are forced into when buying
their service protects them from responsibility. Clearly AT&T, with typical
mega-corpseration greed and arrogance, cares little for their home and small
business customers. This sort of thing will continue as long as they can
perpetrate such actions without being held accountable, and consumers and
businesses will remain at their mercy.

When you vote, keep in mind it is the Republican-Conservatives that protect
these mega-corpserate bullies and allow them to run amok, unregulated, and
perpetrate such consumer-screwing actions as this.

BOYCOTT AT&T!
 
P

Patrick Keenan

Flightless Bird
"Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote in message
news:holk7h$6an$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!
>
> AT&T exemplifies screw-the-consumer corporate arrogance at its worst.
> DO NOT PATRONIZE AT&T or YOU'LL REGRET IT!
>
> I had an ISP service package with AT&T Worldnet that included email, DSL,
> a personal website on their server, and Usenet access. Suddenly they
> dropped the Usenet service, with no compensation to customers that were
> forced to find another source.


I think you'll find that most ISPs are going this route. In Canada, the
major providers dropped Usenet access a few years ago.

Part of the reason - this will vary by jurisdiction - is the potential
liability for illegal content (an example one ISP gave was kiddie porn).
Whether the ISP winds up liable or not, there's no way to put a positive PR
spin on having such materials on your network. The cheapest response is
prevention.

You can get usenet access - and probably superior service - for just a few
dollars a month from other specialised Usenet providers. Some are free,
but those are usually restricted.

A few seconds with Google will lead you to better service, for the price of
a couple of coffees.

HTH
-pk
 
B

Bob

Flightless Bird
Comcast and others did the same.

I use http://www.eternal-september.org/ (free news server)


N.Y. attorney general forces ISPs to curb Usenet access

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9964895-38.html




"Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote in message
news:holk7h$6an$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!
>
> AT&T exemplifies screw-the-consumer corporate arrogance at its worst.
> DO NOT PATRONIZE AT&T or YOU'LL REGRET IT!
>
> I had an ISP service package with AT&T Worldnet that included email, DSL,
> a personal website on their server, and Usenet access. Suddenly they
> dropped the Usenet service, with no compensation to customers that were
> forced to find another source. Another example of their screw-the-customer
> attitude is the fact that reaching a tech support person by phone
> typically requires at least a 20 minute wait on hold. AT&T once had a good
> tech support service on Usenet, but dropped that too and became very hard
> to reach. I should have seen the writing on the wall and dropped AT&T back
> then!
>
> This March 2nd I get an email that AT&T Worldnet service, DSL service, and
> website hosting will no longer be available effective March 31st - A KNIFE
> IN THE BACK to all their small business and individual customers!
>
> They arranged a deal with Covad to take over the DSL service, and a new
> email/web service that allows you to keep your existing email address and
> ID. You could elect to use AT&T for dialup only, or go to another ISP
> entirely. In effect, if you wanted to keep your present email address,
> IDs, settings, and DSL, you are FORCED to accept Covad and still be tied
> to AT&T as your ISP. Before, if your DSL service went down you had free
> dialup backup, but no longer. Dialup now costs extra. And since converting
> to Covad DSL about a week ago, I have already had a service failure!
>
> For a business, the website customer-screwing by AT&T is the worst of all.
> I had my site for years and it had a high ranking with the search
> engines - top10. Now I have been FORCED to move it to another host with a
> new URL unknown to the search engines. My initial outlay for 3 years of
> webhosting and a domain was over $150. Fortunately I was able to upload my
> site to the new host without the typical professional fee of $250 to do
> so, but it took alot of my time. In addition, I'll have to toss and
> replace about $50 worth of business cards with my old URL web address on
> them, replace other printed materials with the old URL, change many
> documents, and inform many contacts. I will inevitably lose business
> because the old URL, now in many website links and hard-copy publications,
> has become useless.
>
> The forced "migration" process from AT&T was complex and time-consuming,
> not helped by the unavailability for several days of the means to do so at
> their website where AT&T stated it would be. Instructions were vague and
> non-specific, and good luck reaching them by phone! As the service cutoff
> date approached, nothing could be done due to this and to AT&Ts
> inaccessibility. Then, one day after completing part of the migration
> process, CUTOFF! I had NO SERVICE - no web, no email, no DSL, no dialup,
> nothing! Finally after hours of effort,I was able to establish my DSL
> service. My Outlook Express was unable to download email until I corrected
> that too - with no help from these corporate cretins that couldn't care
> less!
>
> Now, for the same monthly price as before (under a 1 year contract with a
> BIG termination fee if you want out), I have DSL, web, and email. But no
> dialup backup, Usenet, or website as before. The website costs extra now.
> And will AT&T tech support improve? I wouldn't hold my breath!
>
> The substantial expenses and inconveniences inflicted by this AT&T
> customer-screwing is something for which a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT would be
> appropriate, but no doubt the agreement you are forced into when buying
> their service protects them from responsibility. Clearly AT&T, with
> typical mega-corpseration greed and arrogance, cares little for their home
> and small business customers. This sort of thing will continue as long as
> they can perpetrate such actions without being held accountable, and
> consumers and businesses will remain at their mercy.
>
> When you vote, keep in mind it is the Republican-Conservatives that
> protect these mega-corpserate bullies and allow them to run amok,
> unregulated, and perpetrate such consumer-screwing actions as this.
>
> BOYCOTT AT&T!
>
>
 
M

Mr doe

Flightless Bird
Whistleblower wrote:
> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!




I love my AT&T
 
S

Stewart

Flightless Bird
"Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message
news:8aWdnclqdJ0f_zPWnZ2dnUVZ_oadnZ2d@supernews.com...
>
> "Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote in message
> news:holk7h$6an$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!
>>
>> AT&T exemplifies screw-the-consumer corporate arrogance at its
>> worst.
>> DO NOT PATRONIZE AT&T or YOU'LL REGRET IT!
>>
>> I had an ISP service package with AT&T Worldnet that included
>> email, DSL, a personal website on their server, and Usenet access.
>> Suddenly they dropped the Usenet service, with no compensation to
>> customers that were forced to find another source.

>
> I think you'll find that most ISPs are going this route. In
> Canada, the major providers dropped Usenet access a few years ago.
>
> Part of the reason - this will vary by jurisdiction - is the
> potential liability for illegal content (an example one ISP gave was
> kiddie porn). Whether the ISP winds up liable or not, there's no way
> to put a positive PR spin on having such materials on your network.
> The cheapest response is prevention.
>
> You can get usenet access - and probably superior service - for just
> a few dollars a month from other specialised Usenet providers.
> Some are free, but those are usually restricted.
>
> A few seconds with Google will lead you to better service, for the
> price of a couple of coffees.
>
> HTH
> -pk


As most of us already know, there is quite good usenet access
available for free (all he has to do is read a few headers). No
restrictions....though not much for binaries, it that's the OP's
thing)....
 
W

Whistleblower

Flightless Bird
Re: BEWARE - SUCKER!

"Mr doe" <Mrdoe@blowfish.net> wrote in message
news:7YqdnaBOAdTvRzPWnZ2dnUVZ_jmdnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Whistleblower wrote:
>> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!

>
>
>
> I love my AT&T


You'll live to regret it!
 
A

Ann Watson

Flightless Bird
Patrick Keenan wrote:
>
> "Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote in message
> news:holk7h$6an$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!


>> I had an ISP service package with AT&T Worldnet that included email,
>> DSL, a personal website on their server, and Usenet access. Suddenly
>> they dropped the Usenet service, with no compensation to customers
>> that were forced to find another source.

>
> I think you'll find that most ISPs are going this route. In Canada, the
> major providers dropped Usenet access a few years ago.
>

Yes, they did indeed drop usenet access but did they drop the
price of their service? Of course not.
 
S

Seth

Flightless Bird
"Ann Watson" <Annailis@hotmail.invalid> wrote in message
news:hoo1hc$60d$1@speranza.aioe.org...
> Patrick Keenan wrote:
>>
>> "Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote in message
>> news:holk7h$6an$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!

>
>>> I had an ISP service package with AT&T Worldnet that included email,
>>> DSL, a personal website on their server, and Usenet access. Suddenly
>>> they dropped the Usenet service, with no compensation to customers
>>> that were forced to find another source.

>>
>> I think you'll find that most ISPs are going this route. In Canada, the
>> major providers dropped Usenet access a few years ago.
>>

> Yes, they did indeed drop usenet access but did they drop the price of
> their service? Of course not.



But, overall, was it a key part of the service or rather an extra given at
no extra charge? The main purpose of an Internet Service Provider is to
provide Internet Service. Extras like web pages, email, Usenet, those are
extras give at no additional charge and subject to change. The providers
give those things to remain competitive with other providers. When most of
the other providers are dropping it, they don't need to offer it as an extra
anymore either, especially if with the possible legal ramifications it
becomes more of a liability than it's worth.

Will they lose some subscribers as a result of dropping it? Probably. Will
they lose enough subscribers that it would cost more in lost revenue than
possible legal issues with states that are holding the ISPs responsible for
content? Their accountants have determined probably not. Can they drop
their Usenet access to text only to avoid the issues with carriage of
restricted material? Sure, but then what's the point when there are free
text only alternatives.
 
M

Mr doe

Flightless Bird
Re: BEWARE - SUCKER!

Whistleblower wrote:
> "Mr doe"<Mrdoe@blowfish.net> wrote in message
> news:7YqdnaBOAdTvRzPWnZ2dnUVZ_jmdnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> Whistleblower wrote:
>>> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!

>>
>>
>>
>> I love my AT&T

>
> You'll live to regret it!
>
>

First I had the DSL.
Then I switched to U-verse
No long waits for Tech support.
No Usenet ( subscribed to Giganews at $4.95 a month )

Best part is that I will never have to Talk to a COMSHAFT tech support
person again in my lifetime. Ps Comshaft dropped Newsgroups a few years
back.
 
S

Stewart

Flightless Bird
"Ann Watson" <Annailis@hotmail.invalid> wrote in message
news:hoo1hc$60d$1@speranza.aioe.org...
> Patrick Keenan wrote:
>>
>> "Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote in message
>> news:holk7h$6an$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!

>
>>> I had an ISP service package with AT&T Worldnet that included
>>> email,
>>> DSL, a personal website on their server, and Usenet access.
>>> Suddenly
>>> they dropped the Usenet service, with no compensation to customers
>>> that were forced to find another source.

>>
>> I think you'll find that most ISPs are going this route. In Canada,
>> the
>> major providers dropped Usenet access a few years ago.
>>

> Yes, they did indeed drop usenet access but did they drop the price
> of their service? Of course not.


They took away usenet and didn't raise the price. You won.

Usenet access can be had for free or for a minimal cost.
 
T

Tim Slattery

Flightless Bird
"Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote:

>BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!
>
>AT&T exemplifies screw-the-consumer corporate arrogance at its worst.
>DO NOT PATRONIZE AT&T or YOU'LL REGRET IT!


What's now called AT&T is actually Southwestern Bell. They bought what
was left of AT&T a few years ago and renamed their company.

SWB has a long history of screw-the-customer practices. I have no
doubt that everything you say is true.

--
Tim Slattery
Slattery_T@bls.gov
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
 
A

Ann Watson

Flightless Bird

>>> I think you'll find that most ISPs are going this route. In Canada, the
>>> major providers dropped Usenet access a few years ago.
>>>

>> Yes, they did indeed drop usenet access but did they drop the price of
>> their service? Of course not.

>
> Seth wrote:
> But, overall, was it a key part of the service or rather an extra given
> at no extra charge? The main purpose of an Internet Service Provider is
> to provide Internet Service.


It certainly wasn't advertised as an "extra", although they
probably deemed it such. It just gets annoying when they charge
more and more for less and less - and if access goes down for
awhile, you don't get reimbursed (but don't you be late with a
payment!).
 
A

Ann Watson

Flightless Bird
Stewart wrote:
> They took away usenet and didn't raise the price. You won.


Of course they raised the price eventually and keep doing so.
At least so far it's been affordable.
 
C

Char Jackson

Flightless Bird
On Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:25:41 -0400, Ann Watson
<Annailis@hotmail.invalid> wrote:

>Stewart wrote:
>> They took away usenet and didn't raise the price. You won.

>
>Of course they raised the price eventually and keep doing so.
>At least so far it's been affordable.


Many ISP's have also doubled the connection speed a few times over the
years, and when they do, they don't double the price.

I'm not really a cheerleader for any ISP, but things could be worse.
 
A

Ann Watson

Flightless Bird
Char Jackson wrote:
> On Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:25:41 -0400, Ann Watson
> <Annailis@hotmail.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Stewart wrote:
>>> They took away usenet and didn't raise the price. You won.

>>
>> Of course they raised the price eventually and keep doing so.
>> At least so far it's been affordable.

>
> Many ISP's have also doubled the connection speed a few times over the
> years, and when they do, they don't double the price.
>
> I'm not really a cheerleader for any ISP, but things could be worse.
>

You obviously don't live where choice of isp is limited.
 
C

Char Jackson

Flightless Bird
On Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:46:55 -0400, Ann Watson
<Annailis@hotmail.invalid> wrote:

>Char Jackson wrote:
>> On Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:25:41 -0400, Ann Watson
>> <Annailis@hotmail.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>> Stewart wrote:
>>>> They took away usenet and didn't raise the price. You won.
>>>
>>> Of course they raised the price eventually and keep doing so.
>>> At least so far it's been affordable.

>>
>> Many ISP's have also doubled the connection speed a few times over the
>> years, and when they do, they don't double the price.
>>
>> I'm not really a cheerleader for any ISP, but things could be worse.
>>

>You obviously don't live where choice of isp is limited.


I guess that's true. I have a choice of Comcast cable, a few flavors
of DSL, 3G wireless, dial-up, and satellite.

With Comcast, for example, service in this area went from 1.5 Mbps to
3, then to 6, and more recently to 12 Mbps, all without a price
increase. TV service has increased a few dollars over the years, but
Internet service price has been stable here while performance has
increased greatly.
 
S

SC Tom

Flightless Bird
"Char Jackson" <none@none.invalid> wrote in message
news:mb64r5h4d4nve8e8lrlrlvie2uptb8clt4@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:46:55 -0400, Ann Watson
> <Annailis@hotmail.invalid> wrote:
>
>>Char Jackson wrote:
>>> On Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:25:41 -0400, Ann Watson
>>> <Annailis@hotmail.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Stewart wrote:
>>>>> They took away usenet and didn't raise the price. You won.
>>>>
>>>> Of course they raised the price eventually and keep doing so.
>>>> At least so far it's been affordable.
>>>
>>> Many ISP's have also doubled the connection speed a few times over the
>>> years, and when they do, they don't double the price.
>>>
>>> I'm not really a cheerleader for any ISP, but things could be worse.
>>>

>>You obviously don't live where choice of isp is limited.

>
> I guess that's true. I have a choice of Comcast cable, a few flavors
> of DSL, 3G wireless, dial-up, and satellite.
>
> With Comcast, for example, service in this area went from 1.5 Mbps to
> 3, then to 6, and more recently to 12 Mbps, all without a price
> increase. TV service has increased a few dollars over the years, but
> Internet service price has been stable here while performance has
> increased greatly.
>


Charter in my area has increased the service speed also without a price
increase, but their initial 1.5 when I got it a few years ago was
exorbitant. At that time there were no other high-speed options available,
so if anyone wanted it, Charter had them over a barrel. When a couple of
other companies moved into the area, Charter raised their speed to stay
abreast of the competition, but kept the same price, which is still slightly
higher than the others, but not out of line enough for me to go through the
hassle of changing.
--
SC Tom
 
B

Bernie in CT

Flightless Bird
On 3/29/2010 9:32 AM ET, Tim Slattery wrote:
> "Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote:
>
>> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!
>>
>> AT&T exemplifies screw-the-consumer corporate arrogance at its worst.
>> DO NOT PATRONIZE AT&T or YOU'LL REGRET IT!

>
> What's now called AT&T is actually Southwestern Bell. They bought what
> was left of AT&T a few years ago and renamed their company.
>
> SWB has a long history of screw-the-customer practices. I have no
> doubt that everything you say is true.
>

Actually what is now called AT&T was just previously SBC or SBC Global, which
had gobbled up many of the smaller phone companies as well as Prodigy.

BL in CT
 
G

Gary H

Flightless Bird
On Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:12:36 -0400, Bernie in CT
<bernielguard-ng2@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On 3/29/2010 9:32 AM ET, Tim Slattery wrote:
>> "Whistleblower" <Justice@USA.con> wrote:
>>
>>> BEWARE OF and AVOID doing business with AT&T!
>>>
>>> AT&T exemplifies screw-the-consumer corporate arrogance at its worst.
>>> DO NOT PATRONIZE AT&T or YOU'LL REGRET IT!

>>
>> What's now called AT&T is actually Southwestern Bell. They bought what
>> was left of AT&T a few years ago and renamed their company.
>>
>> SWB has a long history of screw-the-customer practices. I have no
>> doubt that everything you say is true.
>>

>Actually what is now called AT&T was just previously SBC or SBC Global, which
>had gobbled up many of the smaller phone companies as well as Prodigy.


it was called Southwestern Bell before that.

>BL in CT


I had a lot of problems with the OLD AT&T.
 
N

NormanM

Flightless Bird
Re: BEWARE - SUCKER!

On Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:29:03 -0400, Mr doe wrote:

> Ps Comshaft dropped Newsgroups a few years back.


As did AT&T.

--
Norman
~Shine, bright morning light,
~now in the air the spring is coming.
~Sweet, blowing wind,
~singing down the hills and valleys.
 
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