Texas Gas Price & AT & T U-Verse Email Sending Problem

I thought the installation of my new AT & T Internet/TV system had been successful. So, I took off, unaware I was leaving an email problem behind.

On the way to my destination I needed gas. Yesterday I'd seen it at $2.57. There was a long line to save a few cents on a few gallons of gas. So, today I paid a bit more, but had no line. I think it was $2.65.

As my faithful readers know, when I get gas I call my Mom and Dad. Usually my Mom answers. Today it was Dad. We talked for a long time. Dad hears well when he's on the phone. I don't think my Mom and Dad have heard from my little sister in awhile. I fear they feel she's ignoring them. I mentioned that she's real busy taking care of Little Evie. I try to call Mom and Dad at least once a week. I'm what you call the stereotypical perfect son that most Mom's and Dad's dream they'd have.

I got back here and checked email. I had an email that required a reply. But I could not send. With Charter this was never a problem, but near as I can tell, AT & T is in some deal with the devil known as Yahoo and somehow their email is entwined like some demon marriage that produces evil spawn.

I Googled for help. I am not alone. I think AT & T and Yahoo want to make it difficult so you'll use the Yahoo email program and thus be exposed to ads. I, in my innocent, ignorant naivete, thought that AT & T was a legit ISP, that they were just my broadband portal to the Internet. I didn't realize they also were going to play the role of Internet Spam Nanny Cop.

That's what I read more than once. The send blocking is intended to filter spam. I can go through some bizarrely byzantine process to validate up to 10 non-Yahoo email addresses from which I would be allowed to send email via the AT & T/Yahoo connection.

Why was I not informed of this? Does anyone have a solution? Besides begging Charter for forgiveness. But I like the TV part of this deal.

Bye Bye Charter Communications, Hello AT & T U-Verse

Exactly on time 2 AT & T installers showed up, a guy and a gal. Everything about them reeked of quality. They even put on these plastic bootie things when they came inside, so as to not to muddy up the carpets. Even though it isn't muddy outside.

Initially they said the install would take up to 3 hours. But they were done in way less than 2. My entire old network system is gone, including the new router I bought 3 weeks ago. The new system is wireless.

The DVR thing looks like it will take some getting used to. But it isn't like I watch a lot of TV. I like the picture in a picture option. That seems useful. The picture quality is much better too.

After the AT & T people left I had the pleasure of calling Charter Communications to cancel them. I got an American on the phone rather quickly, rather than some random Joe in a foreign land. The customer service person tried see if I'd stay if she could sweeten the deal. I told her, honey, it's already done, I'm using AT & T now.

She had the nerve to ask why I switched. As if she didn't know people aren't happy with Charter. So I told her I didn't like losing things like TCM and Bravo along with a rate increase, that AT & T I-verse was cheaper and I got way more, as in 2 DVR player things, a wireless system and way better service.

The Charter person told me I needed to return the modem that apparently I was leasing. I told her she could have someone pick it up. She was not cooperative with that concept. But what are they gonna do? Cancel my service? Nope, that's already been taken care of.

Getting Rid Of Charter Communications

If all goes well, by later today I should be able to report that I am rid of Charter Communications and that my new AT & T U-verse Internet and TV cable system is working.

Charter annoyed its customers across the country in July when they arbitrarily moved several popular channels, like TCM and Bravo to new locations not accessible without some sort of converter.

Calling Charter about the missing channels got you to some foreign land where gibberish was spoken and the call quickly became an attempt to sell Charter phone service.

Last week to compound the aggravation Charter had the gall to send a letter detailing a price increase! Lesser service now at a greater price.

With this AT & T U-verse thing I get a DVR, whatever that is, that can record 4 channels at once. I can't imagine having 4 things on TV at the same time that I'd want to watch. And I'll have TCM and Bravo back viewable. Just in time for the new season of Top Chef.

Charter Communications Missing Channels Solution

Well. I've had me a day. It started with dealing with an off shore WaMu bank customer service center that specialized in gibberish.

It ended, well, it's not quite the end of the day yet, but by late late afternoon I'd solved my problem with Charter Communications lack of communicating as to why I can no longer watch Bravo or TCM.

Oh, Charter had explanations. But they were GIBBERISH.

So, this guy knocks on my door. He's from AT & T. Selling their new cable tv, phone and internet service. He quickly made quite a good case as to why I should dump Charter.

The number one thing that sold me is when the guy said AT & T does not use off shore customer support because they don't want to piss people off, they want to create good word of mouth. Like this blog.

Come October 14, AT & T will show up here and will install DVR's for 2 TV's. Converter boxes for 2 TVs. The Internet connection stuff and anything else needed. For way less than I've been paying that inept Charter Communications.

Once I'm up and running with my new AT & T system that is gonna be one fun call to Charter overseas to tell them I'm cancelling their crappy service.

Charter Communication Internet Woes

Yesterday afternoon my Internet connection ceased being connected. I dread calling Charter Communication and eventually being connected to someone in the Philippines calling himself Joe and not speaking English very well.

Well. Yesterday's call brought fresh aggravation. After I'd entered all the identifying info I was told there were outages all over Alabama. I'm not in Alabama.

Then I was told to hold for very important information about my area. A woman's voice came on telling me the date and time. And then told me due to Hurricane Ike my area was experiencing widespread outages. She then gave me a number to call to find out when service would be restored in my area.

Well, I'm not in the Hurricane Ike damage area. So, I hit a button. A voice told me I really needed to listen to the message. And then it played again. I went through 3 rounds of this when another voice asked if I'd like to speak to a customer support technician. Hit '1' if you do.

I hit '1'. Almost instantly a woman answered speaking perfect English. She asked identifying info including the last 4 digits of my SS #. Then she told me there were problems in West Fort Worth. I'm in East Fort Worth I told her.

She then told me she saw no problem with my connection. She then wanted me to reset the modem. Had already done that. About then the connection started working again.

Before I got off the phone I asked if she was in the Philippines. No, she said she was in Florida. She said people are often surprised not to get a Philipino.

So, this morning the Internet went out again. I dreaded it, but I called again. This time I didn't get the Hurricane Ike message. Instantly got a real person on the line. An American. Is Charter improving customer service? So, someone is supposed to arrive to fix the connection between 2 and 4 this afternoon, calling an hour before to confirm.

We'll see how that goes. In the meantime, I'm using Miss Puerto Rico's Internet Connection. It's DSL and I don't believe it has ever been down.

Charter Dis-Communications

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I returned from Tacoma to find I could no long find Turner Classic Movies or Bravo on my TV. I called Charter Communication and got some foreigner speaking gibberish from an off-shore, non-U.S. customer support center that provided no customer support, just the aforementioned gibberish.

So, yesterday I saw one of my favorite movies, The Night of the Hunter, was on TCM. So, I decided to go to the Charter Communications website and see if I could find any info or an email customer support address.

I found several customer support options, including email. I took the email route. The first reply came today. And it was gibberish. It's obvious that Charter also has non-Americans doing their email support. What is the point of them spending money on this type of customer service?

What follows is the email exchanges, 2 of them, first my question, then Charter's answer, then my follow up question with Charter's next answer.

I came home from a trip to find I no longer get TCM or Bravo. I then learned TCM has been moved from 49 to something like 78. However, when I tune to 78 I get a blue screen. What gives? And how do I get the missing channels, that I thought I was paying for, back?

Thank for contacting Charter Communications. My name is Susan. I'll be walking through your concern today regarding your favorite channels.

First of all, thank you for your e-mail submission. I understand, how frustrating it could be that we can't view our favorite channel. I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you. In line with the 2009 cable digitalization of service, your favorite channel is no longer available in Basic and Expanded cable sesrvice. It was transferred to digital service. I am very sorry for this short notice.

You may check our website at www.charter.com for all channel changes. Click on the ; ; . TV Guide Channel, Guide button on remote control. If you have additional concern please have a live chat with us. You can also call 1-888-438-2427 if this is more convenient for you. If there is anything further I can assist you with please let me know.

So how do I view the channels that have been moved to digital service? And why am I being charged the same amount if my service has been reduced?

Dear Mr./Ms. Durango:
Thank you for contacting Charter Communications. My name is Mae. It's my pleasure to reply to your email.

To see the channel lineup in your address, please access this link: http://***charter.com/Visitors/Channels.aspx. In addition, if you want to know what programs will be aired in your favorite channels, please go to http://***charter.net and click on the "Tv" tab on the upper right side of the main window; then, you'll be routed to another window wherein you'll be prompted to enter your Charter Account user name and password or, if you're not yet registered, you can just enter the ZIP code in your area.

If you have any additional questions and needs further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again through chat at www.charter.com for further assistance. You may also contact us by phone at 1-888-438-2427.

Thank you and Godspeed.

Mae

My favorite part of the second reply is the "Godspeed" part.

Charter Communications Not Communicating

I did not watch much TV when I was up in Tacoma. I did not turn on my TV here til Friday night. I wanted to watch something on Bravo. But my Bravo channel, #72, was now a blue screen. I then switched to channel #49, Turner Classic Movies. Also blue.

What fresh hell is this I wondered?

So, even though I knew nothing good would come of it, I called Charter Customer Service. I don't know why they call it that. There is no service. The customer doesn't matter. I know I reached a call center in a foreign land. The Ukraine perhaps, maybe the Philippines, maybe India. I don't know. Joe wouldn't tell me where he was. These foreign customer service people always have fake American-type names, or so it seems.

I told Joe I wasn't getting Bravo or TCM on my cable connection. Joe told me that I was incorrect, that he can see I am getting Bravo and TCM. I told Joe all I'm getting is a blue screen.

Joe then asked me if I was interested in getting a Charter telephone. Why would I want a Charter Telephone, I asked Joe? You people are somehow losing my TV channels, why would I want to trust you with phone calls?

It is now Sunday and I'm still getting a blue screen of death when I want to watch Bravo. I talked to another Charter victim this morning and asked if she noticed any missing channels. She was missing SoapNet and is now 2 weeks behind on Young and the Restless. Quality of life is being detrimented by Charter's cavalier treatment of its customers. If you fall 2 weeks behind on Young and the Restless you may never catch up.

I guess I could go to the Charter website and see if there is any means to email a complaint. I think I've gone down that road before and found it fruitless.