ATT ARG!!!!

I know I promised to write about Flagstaff next, but have to share this experience first.

Living without internet it more challenging that I first thought it would be, but I kept telling myself "You can do it." I think I was lying. It didn't start out this way though (which sounds like a good opening for a movie). 

(Fade to small town America and pan to a small gray house)

While in Arizona over 4 weeks ago I called to have my electricity signed over on my new apartment in Clare where I was going for my final fieldwork for my Master's degree. While on the phone with a really nice lady here in MI at 6 A.M. Arizona time she asked if there was anything else I needed done for my move. I off hand said I was looking for internet but since I was only going to be there for 3 months I didn't think anyone would let me because they usually want a 1 year contract.

She was really helpful and said that she showed ATT as not requiring a contract. WOW! How awesome is that right? 

(Introduce that Dun dun dun music. You know the kind I mean.)

She set me up with ATT, and had an install date of the 23rd which was the day I was coming up to officially sign the lease and meet my new supervisor. I said this was the only day that would work because I was not going to be actually living here until the 28th. I left for work thinking this is so cool! I will have internet practically waiting for me in Clare.

 (Start sinister music and the light foggy mist you see in those horror movies).

I get an email from ATT that night stating they had the install date for the 25th and that my router would be sent to this apartment and would be delivered on the 24th. Wait, what!?!? Where did those dates come from? So I called ATT (Phone call #1) and explained what was happening. The lady I talked to said I could just call UPS to have the delivery stopped because it had gone "too far" in their system, and that I did not need to be present for the installation. Oh, yeah, and when I asked for a tracking number to give UPS I was told "Oh no! You don't need a tracking number! Just give them the address." 

(Increase sinister music)

So I called UPS only to be told that, No... you did have to have a tracking number for them to be able to do Anything with a package. So I called ATT back and got a guy this time (Phone call #2). He told me that Yea, you do need a tracking number, but he couldn't give me one because it hadn't been generated yet. I would have to call back on Monday (the 23rd) and I could get one then.

(Fade to black. Narrative voice comes as dawn breaks over a lake)

Monday morning I get an email from ATT telling me my package shipped and gave me a tracking number. I email UPS (because Monday was nuts), and am told the next day that there is nothing they can do because the package is already out for delivery. 

(Enter crazy woman screaming as she jumps into the lake)

I was told by UPS that if I ever wanted to have a package location changed that I could pay them $5 extra and they could hold it at the UPS office (wherever that is). 

(Woman is now throwing things at nearby telephone polls that just so happen to be serviced by ATT)

Tuesday I recieved an email from ATT that my services would be installed the next day (25th) and that I needed to be sure someone was present during the install. So I called ATT to cancel or change the date. (call #4). I was told that I did not have to be present and that the service would just be there waiting for me.

(Fade to Woman smiling while sitting on a park bench peacefully watching pigeons poop on telephone polls serviced by.. Yep.)

Wednesday I get two (not one, but two) phone calls from the guy installing my service to say he will be there within the next couple hours. Well good luck to him, but I am at least 2 hours away and there is no way I am making the drive for nothing. I hear nothing from them until Saturday when I get to the apartment with all my stuff and see the 3 notices UPS left on my door including the final notice that was made last Thursday. 

(Woman is grinding her teeth now, and starts cheering the pigeons to poop more)

Finally on Tuesday I call ATT to find out where the router is (call #5) and am told I will have to call UPS to find that out. They were nice enough to give me the number when I explained that I did not have internet access because my phone is stupid (non-smart). Called UPS and they said it is about 20 minutes (each way of course) in Mt. Pleasant. So I drive like crazy and get there just before they close. I am feeling good now.

(Woman is doing happy dance around the park bench)

Get home and go to install it only to discover that unlike Charter who uses the cable jack that I have in the apartment, ATT only uses a phone jack which is not in the apartment. So phone calls #6, 7, and 8 are all similar as I explain to them that I do not have a phone jack, yes I know it is weird, no I do not have the legal right to install or have them install a phone jack because I only rent the apartment, no I am pretty sure the landlord won't allow changes to the apartment, and yet I will need the account canceled and since I did not use the service and was not asked about a phone jack during ANY of the previous conversations I should not be charged anything. I was told during phone call #8 that my account had been canceled. 

Except, 3 days later I get an email from ATT with my first bill charging me the full amount. I emailed them explaining what had happened, and got a reply that said they did not show my account canceled, and I would have to call ATT again!!!

(Fade to Woman falling back onto the bench crying and screaming at the telephone polls and pondering is she can rip them down with her bare hands)

So today I called (call # 9 and 10) after work and told them I am done, and just want to cancel. The lady was the best I talked to so far, and offered to wave the installation charge of the phone jack if I could get the landlord to agree. This is a $150 charge that is free now. SO... I agreed to check with him.

(Fade to woman hopefully looking at the telephone polls smiling slightly. music changes to soft classical music maybe Fur Elise)

So I texted the landlord and explained what was going on. His reply was as long as they don't drill through the siding. He then said he knows there is no phone line in the house, and that he is sure they won't be able to do it without drilling. Also that most people just use Charter.

(Music changes rapidly to loud angry cymbals crashing like one of Beethoven's Symphonies. Fade to woman screaming as she knaws on telephone poll with her teeth. She is making some progress too!)

I mean a $150 service installed for free and you are worried about your siding?!? Oh well, I don't know what to think anymore. Just glad that McDonald's is only a 5 minute drive and they have free wifi. Big Sigh! At this point I don't think internet is worth all of this. I mean it's not like it is chocolate or coffee right?