SBC DSL for $14.95

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: almostrice
Got shot down in TX. They said it is only for new customers applying online. I asked to close the DSL. They said my contract does not go out until June 13. I will be calling again since its now after 6pm. Tried the numbers above but its only for Cali. Maybe we should be listing our locations when leaving 1800numbers.

Did you ask to speak to the rentention department? As seen by previous posts, thats usually the people you have the most luck with.

 

[almostrice]

Originally posted by: Devistater

Did you ask to speak to the rentention department? As seen by previous posts, thats usually the people you have the most luck with.

They had no clue what a retention dept was. I have until the Jun 13 for my contract to end. It looked like the lady would do nothing unless I was out of contract. I even asked her to extend my contract for that 1 year period. She just said she could do nothing since I am on contract for another 10 days.

 

[almostrice]

Originally posted by: Vikroda
I just signed up through Dell with their $100 rebate. However, that's at a higher rate so I'll have to call to adjust that. almostrice, I read on FW that someone from TX called the CA office and was able to get the lower rate. YMMV.

That tread is 32 pages long. Could tell me how long ago the post was?

 

[Vikroda]

Originally posted by: almostrice

Originally posted by: Vikroda
I just signed up through Dell with their $100 rebate. However, that's at a higher rate so I'll have to call to adjust that. almostrice, I read on FW that someone from TX called the CA office and was able to get the lower rate. YMMV.

That tread is 32 pages long. Could tell me how long ago the post was?

I picked a random page and saw that. Considering that the thread started a couple days ago it could not have been too long ago.

 

[PicPop]

Originally posted by: Vikroda

Originally posted by: almostrice

Originally posted by: Vikroda
I just signed up through Dell with their $100 rebate. However, that's at a higher rate so I'll have to call to adjust that. almostrice, I read on FW that someone from TX called the CA office and was able to get the lower rate. YMMV.

That tread is 32 pages long. Could tell me how long ago the post was?

I picked a random page and saw that. Considering that the thread started a couple days ago it could not have been too long ago.

Login to anandtech -->click "profile" on the top --> Personal Options --> Messages Per Page (pick the number u like)

 

[Vikroda]

(Yeah, my 150th post)

Originally posted by: PicPop
Login to anandtech -->click "profile" on the top --> Personal Options --> Messages Per Page (pick the number u like)

almostrice was referring to the thread on FW

 

[almostrice]

Originally posted by: Vikroda

Originally posted by: almostrice

Originally posted by: Vikroda
I just signed up through Dell with their $100 rebate. However, that's at a higher rate so I'll have to call to adjust that. almostrice, I read on FW that someone from TX called the CA office and was able to get the lower rate. YMMV.

That tread is 32 pages long. Could tell me how long ago the post was?

I picked a random page and saw that. Considering that the thread started a couple days ago it could not have been too long ago.

Found it. I called the California number and was routed to the TX number. The Cali operator could not find my info. I will try to be more insistent.

The post is below.

Success for a number in DFW area, Texas
Woohooo
Well this is how it goes....
Called the texas number and the general number, both, but got shot down both times.
Finally called the california number, and she said she will have to route me to the
texas center, but I insisted if she could try lookin me up and see if she could do it.
And guess what, she was able to pull up my account, and in 2 minutes..I got my plan
changed to 14.95 I had changed in to 19.95 in March, but now my contract is extended
starting June 10 for 1 year.
So Texas guys...call California and get it to work.
( but hey I also talked into her abt the California weather and mentioned that she was lucky to
live in a such a cool place..and that I envied her..blah blah blah...

 

[cstring]

called the retention center and got renewed for $24.99. but I was on hold for almost half an hour tho.

 

[13Gigatons]

Originally posted by: Superdoopercooper
I actually had much better performance / no problems with TWC's Road Runner, but for 1/3 the price, I'll deal with having to reset my crappy DSL modem once in a while. I switched to DSL back during the last offer ($19.95).

It's been six months since I reset mine, they have much newer modems now.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: almostrice

Originally posted by: Vikroda
I just signed up through Dell with their $100 rebate. However, that's at a higher rate so I'll have to call to adjust that. almostrice, I read on FW that someone from TX called the CA office and was able to get the lower rate. YMMV.

That tread is 32 pages long. Could tell me how long ago the post was?

There's a related post here on AT a few pages back

Originally posted by: PicPop
took me less than 4 mins on the phone for the re-rate. I signed up thru Dell on April when they have a $60 rebate and first 3 months for free [$26.95/mo]. the lady told me that I can't do the re-rate because it's for online order only so I told her my friends got the same plan like me but they got their plans rerated. She put me on hold for like 2 mins and came back to me said I am the $14.95 plan now. so [($14.95 x 12) - $60 rebate]/15 months = $7.96 per month..They did make me a very satisfy customer today!

 

[Randolphjo]

Originally posted by: jesusbonjovi
hmm things are getting cheaper now.. i cant believe a few of my friends still have 56k... Stupid Comcast i am paying $53 a month but for 4mbps down. I never trusted SBC.. the whole thing about supposedly getting 1.5mbps but never really going over 1.2mbps seemed bad to me especially when i had 1.5mbps cable and i was getting 1.7mbps down. I wish comcast would lower their prices

DSL Reports DSL Tests page

I've had the SBC Pro 1.5/384 package for several years now and I test the speed of my connection fairly regularly on the DSL Reports website (link above). I consistently average 1.65/420 - nicely above the 1.5/384 I pay for.

 

[xfarmer]

This deal makes me sick! Not everyone is able to get broadband. I think SBC, Comcast should keep their profit margins up and reinvest into expanding their networks before cutting their prices for current customers. OK, I realize I am being selfish here... I hope everyone enjoys this fantastic offer!!...lol

signed,
still waiting for broadband out in the sticks

 

[anandtechxhen]

My experience to get this deal:
My status: SBC basic local phone service; pay per call long distance service;SBC DSL one year contract with two month left(may be important )

Call: 1-800-310-2355 in CA.
Reach: SBC residential customer service. The lady said this offer is only for online.She can do nothing. But she can transfer the call to DSL departmet.

Reach: SBC DSL customer service. The guy check my status. The answer was same. The offer is for online and new customer only. I just mention I will close my account after the contract is finished and wait for better deal. Then, he said he can transfer the call to customer care department.

Reach: Customer care department. The guy checked the status and said you can get the rate if I agree to take one year contract. My answer is YES. Two minutes wait, got the deal. And give this guy five stars satisfied rate.

 

[imported_Ainaas]

I realize this is a bit tangent to the current thread content, so I apologize if it ruffles anyone's feathers. I live in Indiana and have SBC DSL (started before SBC bought out Ameritech actually). We've always had 768/384, but our max sustained download speed has never topped 40 KBps (so ~320 Kbps). If you do one of those online distance testers (an approximation I realize) we're well within the ranges for full speed, but obviously we're not getting it. The first DSL modem we got was labeled "Extended Range", but that was burnt out by lightning or something, and we recieved an exact replacement, but wasn't labeled "Extended Range." The speed has been the same on both those.

What do you guys think we should do? I will call my dad and tell him to re-negotiate for the $15 a month plan so at least we get a decent price for not-alltogether-terrible service, but SBC hasn't ever really been responsive when I complain to them about the speed. I'm asking about alot of variables here, but do you guys think it's the modem, our distance from the switching station, the DSL hookup at our house, in-house phone wiring, or something else I can't think of? Should I call SBC and ask for them to send tech's out?

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: ryanv12
SBC is a good company, both my parents work for them. Not to say that I'm biased, but I'm in Philadelphia right now and I've had Comcast and Verizon and they're such a friggin' hassle. I can't get SBC out here, so I'm pretty much stuck.

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?

you should know better child since your ON A TECH FORUM. Your suppose to set it up your SELF and not have THEM do it..

 

[z0mb13]

Lol I just called the 1800 number and asked to be transferred to the retention department... the person there already know what I want.. and he was like: if we dont give you the new rate then you will cancel, right?, me: RIghttt... then he kinda laughed lol..

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: Ainaas
I realize this is a bit tangent to the current thread content, so I apologize if it ruffles anyone's feathers. I live in Indiana and have SBC DSL (started before SBC bought out Ameritech actually). We've always had 768/384, but our max sustained download speed has never topped 40 KBps (so ~320 Kbps). If you do one of those online distance testers (an approximation I realize) we're well within the ranges for full speed, but obviously we're not getting it. The first DSL modem we got was labeled "Extended Range", but that was burnt out by lightning or something, and we recieved an exact replacement, but wasn't labeled "Extended Range." The speed has been the same on both those.

What do you guys think we should do? I will call my dad and tell him to re-negotiate for the $15 a month plan so at least we get a decent price for not-alltogether-terrible service, but SBC hasn't ever really been responsive when I complain to them about the speed. I'm asking about alot of variables here, but do you guys think it's the modem, our distance from the switching station, the DSL hookup at our house, in-house phone wiring, or something else I can't think of? Should I call SBC and ask for them to send tech's out?

The only way to tell distance is from SBC themselves. And they usually wont. But what did the online thing say?
If you really want "extended range" SBC dsl modems you can find them on ebay, or I think I have one I'm not using anymore. They are usually only good if you are like say 7000-10,000 feet or more from the CO or RT. If you are pretty far in other words.

There are other things to check as well. Like you can check in your NID on your side to see if you have a little tester module inside the NID, those screw things up. I forget what they are called. Usually the dsl installer removes them when they come out if they are present. Thats a rare but possible thing to check for.

You can also install a home run, I did that. Turned out to be very easy since my home had CAT5 wiring for phones anyway. For me, the problem turned out to be my crappy Linksys NR041 router holding me back. Of course my problem was that I was paying for 6mbit and only getting like 3 or 4 mbit.

Oh and check your MTU, make sure its set properly. Usually SBC has PPPoE connections and those need 1492 MTU.

And some modems can give you line diagnostics as well if you want to get really technical.

This site has a lot of information http://www.broadbandreports.com/

One of the things I love about that site is that it has a SBC support forum, where the official SBC techs can check your lines and stuff. Since you get answers from the upper level techs who actualy KNOW stuff and have access to your information, generally you get useful help and support from them. Rather than calling the clueless morons at the 800 number.

When I initially ordered my 6mbit upgrade, I asked a question of one of the techs there because my upgrade was a couple days overdue (the download portion). He responded within an hour, on a friday afternoon, just before he was due to leave for home. AND he fixed it. Great service. For technical issues, you can't beat the SBC support forum over there with actual official SBC techs.

Most of the time you can get more and better info from those forums on that site than you can by calling the 800 number. Like for instance when comcast had all those DNS troubles just recently, you could find instantly how to work around it on that forum. Whereas if you called them they didn't know what the problem was. Lots of people talked to 3 or 4 ppl on the phone who didn't know and couldn't help them. When the workaround was quite simple, and the problem affected a huge percentage of comcast customers.

 

[esquared]

Called the CA number for SBC (800-579-7861 ), and after a 10 minute wait, a csr came on and I asked for the dsl retention dept. He then said he is handling overflow since they are backed up. I asked to be rerated at the 14.95 rate and he said it's for new cust only. I told him I knew people that called in to be rerated and he said nope, only for new customers. I then asked for the dsl retention dept and he said they will only tell me what he just said. I just kept my mouth shut. I waited another 10 min before I was helped and the CSR at the dsl retention asked a few questions, did say it's for new customers, but offered me the 3.0 MB rate for 24.95 and I politely declined and said the other speed was fine for my purposes. He checked a little more and then set me up with a new 1 yr contract at 14.95. Woohoo!

 

[ziggy02]

Originally posted by: esquared
Called the CA number for SBC (800-579-7861 ), and after a 10 minute wait, a csr came on and I asked for the dsl retention dept.

if you chose "cancel service", you wouldn't have to wait 10 minutes. SBC might not allow this in the future b/c they've been receiving some many calls from us. the last time i called them for a rerate, the CSR at the retention dept did it immediately w/o telling me that the promotion is new customers only and has to ask her manager. thanks all!

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: ziggy02

Originally posted by: esquared
Called the CA number for SBC (800-579-7861 ), and after a 10 minute wait, a csr came on and I asked for the dsl retention dept.

if you chose "cancel service", you wouldn't have to wait 10 minutes. SBC might not allow this in the future b/c they've been receiving some many calls from us. the last time i called them for a rerate, the CSR at the retention dept did it immediately w/o telling me that the promotion is new customers only and has to ask her manager. thanks all!

Hence jump on this now while you still can

 

[gvayl]

Remember people when you call the retention department just make sure you say you want to cancel. The lady said that she can't offer me the $15/month deal unless I say that...tricky no!

 

[wchou]

Originally posted by: esquared
Called the CA number for SBC (800-579-7861 ), and after a 10 minute wait, a csr came on and I asked for the dsl retention dept. He then said he is handling overflow since they are backed up. I asked to be rerated at the 14.95 rate and he said it's for new cust only. I told him I knew people that called in to be rerated and he said nope, only for new customers. I then asked for the dsl retention dept and he said they will only tell me what he just said. I just kept my mouth shut. I waited another 10 min before I was helped and the CSR at the dsl retention asked a few questions, did say it's for new customers, but offered me the 3.0 MB rate for 24.95 and I politely declined and said the other speed was fine for my purposes. He checked a little more and then set me up with a new 1 yr contract at 14.95. Woohoo!

How can anyone live with 1.5mbit??? 3.0mbit is so much better. You're doing this just to save 5 bucks a month? that's 60 dollar saving a year, big deal. You do realize that the reason why their giving you a hard time is because doing so is not profitable for them.
some have no problems paying 29.95 or 19.95 but 14.95/24.95 is not much less. SBC will have to make it up somehow like doing something sneaky adding extra charges without you noticing, either way they will still get ya.

 

[wchou]

Originally posted by: gvayl
Remember people when you call the retention department just make sure you say you want to cancel. The lady said that she can't offer me the $15/month deal unless I say that...tricky no!

I really don't care about this puny and pathetic savings :thumbsdown:
I want more speed for a little more pay say 5.0/768 expert dynamic, 34.99 anyone?
I need more speed
I want more speed
I like more speed.

Please.
plz.
plz...
.

 

[esquared]

Originally posted by: wchou

Originally posted by: esquared
Called the CA number for SBC (800-579-7861 ), and after a 10 minute wait, a csr came on and I asked for the dsl retention dept. He then said he is handling overflow since they are backed up. I asked to be rerated at the 14.95 rate and he said it's for new cust only. I told him I knew people that called in to be rerated and he said nope, only for new customers. I then asked for the dsl retention dept and he said they will only tell me what he just said. I just kept my mouth shut. I waited another 10 min before I was helped and the CSR at the dsl retention asked a few questions, did say it's for new customers, but offered me the 3.0 MB rate for 24.95 and I politely declined and said the other speed was fine for my purposes. He checked a little more and then set me up with a new 1 yr contract at 14.95. Woohoo!

How can anyone live with 1.5mbit??? 3.0mbit is so much better. You're doing this just to save 5 bucks a month? that's 60 dollar saving a year, big deal. You do realize that the reason why their giving you a hard time is because doing so is not profitable for them.
some have no problems paying 29.95 or 19.95 but 14.95/24.95 is not much less. SBC will have to make it up somehow like doing something sneaky adding extra charges without you noticing, either way they will still get ya.

You know why people think you're such an asshat? All you do is knock people. You have the unmitigated gall to knock me saving 60 for the year when you tell people that 17.99 is too much for 50 DVD's because you want to pay 8.00/50. Who is the flippin' cheapskate here?


04/24/2005 08:45 PM

wchou
Senior Member

Posts: 749
Joined: 12/01/2004
50pk for 17.94 is spensive
I'm used to buying generic 4x 100pk for 16.00 or 200 for 32.xx
Too much...

I really don't care about this puny and pathetic savings
I want more speed for a little more pay say 5.0/768 expert dynamic, 34.99 anyone?
I need more speed
I want more speed
I like more speed.

Please.
plz.
plz...

You need to shut your Piehole and shut it now. You need to know when to add to a post and not take away from it. If you can't figure this piece of information out, then you need to quit posting here and go to another forum that will appreciate your threadcrapping talents. Good riddance!

 

[Jbog]

I might consider the SBC deal if there were no contracts involved. I rather pay a few extra bucks than sign a year-long contract with ridiculous $200 cancelling fee. I am already paying $22.33 per month for basic SBC local phone service. They get you with fees, I tell ya.