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zstocker3's profile

Contributor

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1 Message

Friday, November 21st, 2014 4:53 PM

DSL is available at my house but AT&T won't set it up

I'll start off with the background story. We bought a house in August, 2013, and the house had been vacant for a few months before we moved in. The owners before us had DSL at the house, and every one of my neighbors has AT&T DSL. When we moved in, we would call AT&T multiple times a week about installation but the kept telling us that it was unavailable.
After weeks of pestering them, they sent a tech guy to check it out. When he was here, I went out and talked to him about it and he said that the DSLAM had ports available but AT&T was not offering DSL to new customers. He said they are trying to switch everything to u-verse. I asked when u-verse would be available in our area and he had no idea.
At that point in time, it was September, 2013, I called AT&T and they said u-verse should be available in the early months of 2014. So in April, 2014, I called them again and they told me u-verse would be available at the end of 2014. And here I am now, nearing the end of 2014, and have no sign of u-verse installation in my area.
I guess my question would be why wouldn't AT&T let us use DSL for the time being, and make money off of us, until u-verse is available? According the these forums, a lot of people are having this problem, and AT&T seems to be taking their time with the u-verse takeover. AT&T could have given us DSL when we moved in, and made money off of us for the year and change that we have lived here.
End state here, has this happened to anyone else? and does anyone have a solution? AT&T is the ONLY internet, besides data-capped satellite, offered in my area and I would like to give them my business, but they really don't seem to want it.

Former Community Manager

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10.4K Messages

9 years ago

 

Hello @zstocker3 

 

I'm sorry you're having some issue trying to get new service. Our team will be happy to look into it for you and explore any available options. You can send us a private message by clicking here. Please include your full name, phone number, account number and the best time you can be reached.

 

Thank you,

Dmitriy

Contributor

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3 Messages

8 years ago

I am going on a year now going through the same issues.  Were you ever able to get DSL setup?  I have even offered to sign a contract stating that I will upgrade to U-verse as soon as it is available.   Nothing...

Professor

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3.9K Messages

8 years ago

To get dsl, two things need to happen first: One: you MUST live in an area already serviced by DSL internet service.

Two:   There MUST be an open service port avaiable at the central office.

 

It also does not help that since ATT plans to phase out legacy DSL completely by 2020, they are activly working to shut down DSL service, when and where they can.

 

Typically, in an area where all the port are full, you can only get service if someone leaves, and you can get their port assignment. (Good luck with that.)

However, there are areas where, anytime a port does become open, they deliberatly will NOT re-assign it.

AND, if they are in the process of re-wiring your area for u-verse, they will eventually shut down all the dsl service anyways.

 

I know, it is frustrating, when all you want to do is get internet service, and for whatever reason, they can not, or will not sign you up.

Don't take it personally, they are not allowing signups for everyone, not just you.

 

Obviously, your best bet (and might be your only option) is to get your internet from another provider, not ATT. Who knows, there might be a third party dsl reseller (dsl extreme, earthlink, many others) who services your area, and can get your dsl service thru your existing dsl connection.

 

Good luck.

Contributor

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1 Message

8 years ago

My only option is AT&T. 

How can we find out when or if the U-verse option will be available in my area?

Contributor

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1 Message

8 years ago

I have had similar issues. I called regarding prices and service. "Jane" From Undia told me that DSL was not available in my area but if I signed up with Netflix it would be issued to me. So I went to the local AT&T store. The rep was very helpful. He confirmed what others have said here. Art is phasing out DSL but UVERSE. Isn't available in my area yet and couldn't tell me when it would be, somewhere between 6 months to 3 years. I offered to sign a contract stating I would upgrade to UVERSE when it was available in my area. He explained that they could not offer me DSL despite it being available on my street and then referred me to Comcast/Xfinity until UVERSE is available. How can they give away customers to the other team like that?

Professor

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3.9K Messages

8 years ago

I know it sounds totaaly counter intuitive, but the simple reality is, they would have to completely upgrade their dsl network (It is old, and it was aslready pretty much out of date when they did the last new network installations back in 2005) and they would NEVER be able to recoup the money they would have to spend to do so, meaning, from their perspective, it is litterally cheaper to let customers go, rather than try to sign them up.

Folks don't realize, ATT is HUGE. It is even international.

They make most of their money in the wireless (cellular) market, not wired service. (to be fair, they do good there also.. but no where near what they get from wireless.)

My point being, they are happy to lose customers who they feel would cost them more money than they would make back. (Return on investment)

Apologies for you.. the market is what it is.

I wish you luck, finding an internet provider who will hopfully meet your needs, even if it is not ATT.

Contributor

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1 Message

6 years ago

Its 2018 and I'm having the same issues. I spent 8 hours on the phone with multiple sales people and they gave me the run around the entire time. I finally got a manager to confirm that they have given our connection to a different house. So, needless to say, no one else services our area so we are left at the mercy of this company. I would never use AT&T I'm cancelling anything that is linked to this company. We are very dissatisfied to say the least.

New Member

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1 Message

4 years ago

I have a rental property next door to me. The new tenant moved in and U-Verse services were being used by the previous occupant. AT&T is now saying that they do not service the address. I have been trying to get this solved but AT&T will not start service even though they were providing services up until February 2020 when the last guy moved. If an AT&T specialist representative can reach out to me to quickly resolve this that would be best. I have the old tenants account number if that is needed for reference.

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