U-Verse Modem - Rent or Buy Options?

As an "Telephone" provider, U-verse doesn't fall under the current rules that exist for CATV providers, however, those rules may change in the future.

The Gateway (or modem) fee is $7/month, not $10.  The $10 fee is for TV Receivers after the first.

Well, you're the first person to report an HSI Equipment Fee of $10.  When I went to the website to confirm what the fee is, the Cart page says "Included".

So having gotten conflicting information from different customer support reps, I SAVED the conversations, bought an RVG589 from an Amazon.com merchant for $60, returned the leased AT&T modem at a UPS store, and got my replacement up and running in no time.

Now they are struggling to figure out how to permantly remove the lease fee, because I no longer lease equipment from AT&T. 

If they fee appears again on my bill, I will file my complaint with the FCC, since they are the governent regulatory agency that oversees Internet issues.

It is disturbing to me how much conflicting information AT&T has provided.  For example, in the "Welcome to the 45 Mbps package" message, it mentions a Usage cap of 1 GB.  Of course they MEAN 1 TB, and it does provide a link to a page where the 1 TB cap is correctly stated.

If this was a mom and pop operation, I would be more understanding.  But it is a Fortune 500 Company, and they need to start treating customers properly.  (To be clear about it, my purchased Arris AVG589 says ATT on it .. so it is an ATT gateway, and I own it.)

From the (legally binding) Terms of Service:

Section 7, subsection A

If you have not purchased U-verse Equipment from AT&T or if previously purchased U-verse Equipment is beyond the one (1) year warranty period (from date of installation) and requires replacement, then you agree to pay a monthly equipment fee for the U-verse Equipment, as part of your purchase of or continued use of the Service and/or other U-verse services. Equipment fee/Purchase options depend on the AT&T U-verse services you order and the installation options you choose.

As of Jan. 2015, all accounts carry an 'equipment fee', whether you purchase equipment or lease it from AT&T.  

Well when they company is forcing you to switch to U-verse then yes it is starting. I recieved a letter from AT&T today that I have 45 days to switch from DSL to U-verse, at a higher cost, or they will be dropping me as a customer. 

I will be leaving AT&T only becasue I now have to 'rent' equipment that I previously could buy and own myself. BOOOOOOOO! Down with AT&T. 

Same issue here and I just filed a complaint with the FCC:

I have had At&T UVerse Internet for over 2 years now, since 2014.  I bought my modem for $100 directly from At&T at that time since I did not want to pay a monthly rental fee.  Well, in Aug 2016 billed me $7 as internet equipment fee.  I called to ask what the fee was for and the representative stated it is a monthly rental fee for their modem.  I had to explain to 4 different customer reps that I bought my modem when I signed up for service in 2014.  Finally, after looking over my billing history for the past 2 years they realized I had never paid a monthly modem rental fee and that it was a mistake on my bill.  They supposedly opened a case to get it resolved and stated they would credit my Aug bill for $7.49 for the fee error ($7 plus 0.49 tax).

I just received my Sep 2016 bill and the same fee is once again on my bill.  I also noticed I did not receive the $7.49 credit I was promised.  I called AT&T again and was told that the case is still pending but it was noted in my account that I owned my modem and was not supposed to be billed the $7 fee.  This rep indicated she was able credit my account this month but could not do anything to resolve the case any faster.  I am fed up with this and tired of calling to get a credit for this bogus.  If this issue cannot be resolved soon, I will be cancelling my UVerse internet service and going with my local cable company since AT&T seems incompetent with their billing.

Wecome to AMERIKA land where ISP can have a monopoly on equipment (like a Cable Modem) and charge $10/month to only lease (drive that share price up) or $120/Yr which in 5 years is $600 worth of pure waste of consumers hard earned money.  AT&T please lobby and bribe our politicians to make sure this continues to be legal.  Thank you for your pure greed at the expense of the consumer.

This whole thing totally stinks.  I switched to Uverse just like everyone else and had been just fine.  Then I moved, and the house I am currently living is L-shaped.  The wifi just reaches the master bedroom but not all the way inside.  So I tried three extenders, and each of them had issues with the Uverse modem.  So I contacted Uverse to be told your modem is old and you qualify for it to be replaced!  So I asked how much, it's a monthly charge of $7.00 I said what is the model # and looked it up and the cost of the same model is about $168.00.  So I asked do you replace it every two years with a newer version.  No, so after 24 months when I own it, does the monthly fee stop?  No.  So I am paying forever for a $168 modem that in two years will be worth pennies.  I said something colorful and hung up the phone in disgust.  With all of us feeling the same way.  There has to be something we can do??