SBC DSL for $14.95

[Athena]

Originally posted by: bhaney
Are there any restrictions as to the level of phone service you must have to get this? I currently have SBC but my 1 year promo expired (was $25/month). I'd like to try and get them to switch me to this plan, but not if it means I have to have their long distance, or super-mega-everything included local plan for $50/month. As best I can tell from their site, the only requirement is an SBC local line....

There are no other requirements (no All Distance, etc.). Call up the billing center and tell them that your contract has expired and that you were thinking of cancelling until you saw this promotion -- you'll get it with no problem.

 

[chinkgai]

last time i had to call like three times to get my contract changed to 29.99 and my contract was going to expire in a month from that time

this wont be easy...

so has anyone successfully upgraded this time that upgraded last time??

 

[Devistater]

Generally existing customers can get deals like this if they agree for a year contract. Usually its a year period from the date you called, not a year on top of whatever you have. I.e. resets your contract to a year total. Pretty much everytime I've called to upgrade my speed, or reduce my prices its just been a single 5 or 10 min phone call, no hassle and its done.

As for getting a phone line: It depends where you live. I've seen them as low as $7 a month if you qualify for the poor one (i.e. if your yearly income is really low). Or as low as $15 a month for normal. In other places, they dont go below $25 per month for a phone line.
And unfortunately FCC (or was it supreme court, I cant remember) recently said that phone companies can require you to buy a phone line with them in order to get DSL. So if you want SBC dsl, you might be required to get a SBC phone line with local service if you dont have one already.

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
SBC is NOT a good company. They take forever to set up DSL and service it, and their $200 cancellation fee is ridiculous. Why would I subscribe to SBC when I can get RoadRunner which is faster, cheaper after the 6 months, and has NO CONTRACT and fast service?

Last time I checked roadrunner didn't have 6mbit service like I get from SBC at $45 a month. As for cheaper after 6 months, I'm pretty sure this price stays at this much for at least a year for the SBC deals. I've never seen an SBC deal that the price didn't stay for at least a year.
Hey, if you like paying more for less, go for it.
Anyway, it greatly depends on your area. Sometimes cable is better, sometimes its worse. Since cable is shared between the neighborhood, if you live in an area where everyone is online all the time and the cable company put only one "node" in a huge area, your speeds could fall down to horrendous levels.
Other places, the cable company planned adequetly and you get your rated speed most of the time with cable, or sometimes even faster speeds than you paid for.
With DSL, you have pretty much bandwidth that stays the same all the time.
However if you are too far from the CO or RT, then that bandwidth might be pretty low.
There's tradeoffs for each one, and its pretty much differant for every person.

Originally posted by: summit
what is good for gaming is 1.5 and below sufficient?

For gaming, its the ping times more than the absolute bandwidth. Basically anything above dialup is fine for gaming. Most games dont consume more than 10kbyte/sec or so which is around ISDN speeds. Basically anything above say 128kbit bandwidth is plenty for games.
The ping times are more important. For instance, on dialup, average ping times to servers in your area are usually 100-250ms. In other words, it could be up to 1/4th of a second between the time you hit the fire key and you actually fire. 1/4th a second is enough for the guy to have moved out of the way many times. On broadband like dsl/cable its usually 20-50ms.

 

[bigboxes]

Yeah, this "requirement for local phone service is the killer for me. I just ditched SBC 3 months ago (after 20 years of overpaying) for Vonage. Unlimited long distance and just about any of those advanced features for $25 a month and less than two bucks in taxes. SBC just can't match that. They nickel and dime you for added features and then there is long distance. That kind of takes away the price advantage. I want cheaper $ than my cable internet, but am not willing to sacrifice my speed to get it. I do think that this current price war is a good thing. Hopefully, the future will be open to more choices. If SBC unbundles their phone service and increases their speeds I will definitely consider it if and when that time comes.

 

[nlkccom]

Called 800-579-7861 (S. CA.), and got my account rerated to $14.95 in no more than 5 minutes.

 

[computeruser]

I'm an existing customer. What's the right number for Northern CA? I tried calling some general SBC number earlier today, talked to one SBC person, then was transferred to DSL person, but I couldn't convince them to give it to me for $14.95. Lady kept saying it was for "new" customers only and that it might be available later for existing customers...

 

[knightc2]

SBC is NOT a good company. They take forever to set up DSL and service it, and their $200 cancellation fee is ridiculous.

They asked me when I wanted the service to start and it was turned on 5 days before the actual billing start date. No problems so far and easy to deal with.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: computeruser
I'm an existing customer. What's the right number for Northern CA? I tried calling some general SBC number earlier today, talked to one SBC person, then was transferred to DSL person, but I couldn't convince them to give it to me for $14.95. Lady kept saying it was for "new" customers only and that it might be available later for existing customers...

Call back and get another person, then tell them you were thinking of canceling and saw this deal.

There might be a differant 800 number listed on your phone bill on the SBC yahoo internet part, not sure.

 

[nlkccom]

Originally posted by: computeruser
I'm an existing customer. What's the right number for Northern CA? I tried calling some general SBC number earlier today, talked to one SBC person, then was transferred to DSL person, but I couldn't convince them to give it to me for $14.95. Lady kept saying it was for "new" customers only and that it might be available later for existing customers...

Did you try 800-579-7861? I think it's for the whole CA. This number should get you to the retention department (if not, just ask for it), which should be able to help you.

 

[tsuthar]

Washington DC....$4 for a phone line ... gives you free incoming and $.08/outgoing local call. Of course...federal subscriber line fees, this fee that fee brings it to 15/month. Managed to get verizon DSL for $50 with the phone line. Switched to comcast now, they're special is $30/month for a year with no requirement to have cable video (i'm in love with directv - they have the one thing no one does )

 

[neuronflux]

Originally posted by: nlkccom
Called 800-579-7861 (S. CA.), and got my account rerated to $14.95 in no more than 5 minutes.

Thanks, just called and renewed my contract for the $14.95 rate. Wait time on the phone was approx. 30 minutes.

Time to refer some people now. Btw, I've had zero problems with SBC Yahoo for the 2 years I've had it.

 

[BooGiMaN]

too bad they havent changed the pricing on the plan im on..

got on the expert ackage a year ago when they offered it at 40 dollars/month for speeds of 3-6Mbps....

basically i was told that package isnt offered anymore so if i change to i lose my speeds which right now are hitting 5Mbps, and wouldnt be able to go back if i wasnt satisfied with the pro package....

 

[nlkccom]

Originally posted by: neuronflux

Originally posted by: nlkccom
Called 800-579-7861 (S. CA.), and got my account rerated to $14.95 in no more than 5 minutes.

Thanks, just called and renewed my contract for the $14.95 rate. Wait time on the phone was approx. 30 minutes.

Time to refer some people now. Btw, I've had zero problems with SBC Yahoo for the 2 years I've had it.

Cool! Glad it worked for you!

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: BooGiMaN
too bad they havent changed the pricing on the plan im on..

got on the expert ackage a year ago when they offered it at 40 dollars/month for speeds of 3-6Mbps....

basically i was told that package isnt offered anymore so if i change to i lose my speeds which right now are hitting 5Mbps, and wouldnt be able to go back if i wasnt satisfied with the pro package....

Yeah, they stopped offering a 6mbps package period at any price. Which is unfortunate.

If anyone is an existing customer, keep in mind that going to this price will convert your plan (whaterver it is) to this 1.5mbps plan. If you are paying $60 (i.e. the higher prices it was years ago) for 3mbps and dont use it enough to justify the expense, it probably makes sense to convert it to the 1.5mbps for $15 a month.

 

[usernamemax20charact]

Thanks.

My SBC DSL contract expires in 1 month. Will call to see if they'll give me this deal with another 1 year contract. This deal is $10 cheaper than what I'm paying now.

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: mscdex0
I can't believe this, they just dropped their prices back in Feb/April. I had called in then to get my Pro service lowered and thus having my new contract start from that point on.

I really wonder if they'll let existing customers call in and get the yet even cheaper price.

You are their cashcows, so the answer is NO. What part of no don't you get? Plus you are under contract which means whether to give you another discount is entirely up to their discretion. You sir, I mean noob are SOL.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: RobCur

Originally posted by: mscdex0
I can't believe this, they just dropped their prices back in Feb/April. I had called in then to get my Pro service lowered and thus having my new contract start from that point on.

I really wonder if they'll let existing customers call in and get the yet even cheaper price.

You are their cashcows, so the answer is NO. What part of no don't you get? Plus you are under contract which means whether to give you another discount is entirely up to their discretion. You sir, I mean noob are SOL.

Wrong. They almost always give you the new price. Why? Cause you COULD just cancel it and become a new subscriber to get it if you were desperate. Kinda like if you buy something at a hardware store and a week later it goes on sale, you can go back and get the sale price. Becuase otherwise you'd just return and rebuy.
As well, they just extend your contract to equal a year when they do. So they know they have you for a year again.

I've done this about 3 times now. Always a 5 or 10 min phone call, never any hassle. As others have said, if you call and they refuse, ask to speak to the retention dept and say you were thinking of canceling until you saw this deal.

BTW, to clear up any confusion. I've called them and asked to changeover to the current pricing plan, or to upgrade mine. I've never told them I've been thinking of canceling, because I've never needed too. They always switched me without hassle.

 

[iDs]

dang it! no SBC in my area

 

[AkumaX]

last time i tried to get cheap SBC DSL they said i had to sign up for long distance w/ them or have a > basic phone plan with them in order to get the promotional price

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: AkumaX
last time i tried to get cheap SBC DSL they said i had to sign up for long distance w/ them or have a > basic phone plan with them in order to get the promotional price

Yeah at one time they had a deal like that. Save money by getting long distance, local, cell phone all in one with them. Unfortunately a bunch of clueless reps started saying that for most every deal after that.

Anyway, its not true for this deal. Check the webpage yourself and see the terms for it.

A lot of times the key is to call back and get another rep, one who knows something. Or try the retention deparment direct, they will know and be more willing to do it to keep a customer (as previously mentioned a number of times).

 

[Svnla]

Dam, wish we have SBC around here. I am paying about $35/month for very much the same thing from BellSouth.

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: Svnla
Dam, wish we have SBC around here. I am paying about $35/month for very much the same thing from BellSouth.

Bellsouth is cool about early termination unlike SBC. Let's say you have 6 months left with BS, your fee is only 100.00 not 200.00
SBC will still charge you 200.00 early termination fee even if you have only 1 month left.
Last time I have to beg and beg for 29.95 promotion vs 36.95
now it's only 5.00 bucks less and I'm not very motivated to save just that much.
a little money is a little gained yes but also a lot more money spent is a lot more money wasted? so with taht much hassle, I'll just stick with 29.95 I've had to bitch like theres no tomorrow it was not fun.

 

[chinkgai]

Originally posted by: Devistater
Wrong. They almost always give you the new price. Why? Cause you could just cancel it and become a new subscriber to get it if you were desperate. Kinda like if you buy something at a hardware store and a week later it goes on sale, you can go back and get the sale price. Becuase otherwise you'd just return and rebuy.
As well, they just extend your contract to equal a year when they do. So they know they have you for a year again.

I've done this about 3 times now. Always a 5 or 10 min phone call, never any hassle. As others have said, if you call and they refuse, ask to speak to the retention dept and say you were thinking of canceling until you saw this deal.

so if u cancel, how bout the huge cancellation fee?

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: chinkgai
so if u cancel, how bout the huge cancellation fee?

You dont cancel. You say you were thinking of canceling. But then you saw this deal and was wondering if you could get it.

Heck most of the time its not even nessasary to say that. You just tell them you want to change your plan to the current pricing. Thats all I've done last 3 times and it worked. I used to be on the $50 a month from years ago. Then I called and changed to like $40 a month. Then $35 a month. Then back to $45 a month when the 6mbit special came along. None of those times were problems, 5 min phone call and it was done.

If they hassle you, then you go to retention and say you had been considering canceling.

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: Devistater

Originally posted by: chinkgai
so if u cancel, how bout the huge cancellation fee?

You dont cancel. You say you were thinking of canceling. But then you saw this deal and was wondering if you could get it.

Dune 2, so I see now. This is a conspiracy? Oh now I get!!! Thanks a million buddy, very clever.