SBC $14.95 DSL

[Muse]

I didn't know it was just for one year. I have the 1.5 mbps, am happy enough with it. Saw an offer to go from 1.5 mbps to 3.0 for 17.95/year (oops, per month, sorry!), with a one year contract. Really, I'd just as soon stay with 14.95. They bumped my monthly payment by around $7 last month. I don't know that they ever told me it was for one year. My bill shows a monthly charge of $49.95, so what's changed is the "discount." I'm in Berkeley, CA. Anyone know more about this? Thanks!

 

[Heisenberg]

That's pretty standard to raise the rate after a year. You should've read the fine print a little closer on the contract.

 

[FoBoT]

http://public.swbell.net/contact.html

 

[mugs]

Teaser/introductory rates are very common with broadband. You can try to continue the $14.95 offer by threatening to cancel if there is another broadband option in your area, but if you do that you have to be willing to actually cancel. The $17.95 deal sounds good (I assume that's per month, not per year like the OP says)

 

[BoomerD]

Same thing here. One year contract expired (again) and the rate jumped to $49. Called and upgraded to DSL Pro (3.0 mbps) for $19.99/mo. The $17.99 rate is for new subscribers, and they usually won't give you that rate for upgrading. With some negotiating however, you can usually get them to credit your account for the increaed amount with a new contract...we did.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Yup. Happened to me a couple months ago. Called them up and balked at the price, and they offered to renew me at the same price for signing on another year.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage
Yup. Happened to me a couple months ago. Called them up and balked at the price, and they offered to renew me at the same price for signing on another year.

Wish they'd do that for me...

I called and a guy offered me the "Pro" upgrade (1.5 --> 3.0) for $19.99/month, one year contract. I said I was happy enough with my 1.5 @ $14.95/month. He transferred me to the DSL people. Woman I talked to said she could get me the $19.99 but only if I signed on for extra services, which included call waiting, long distance, local long distance, some other stuff, including $.10/min. on long distance and $20/month long distance. I said I didn't want that other stuff and I have a long distance carrier with no monthly fees and $.05/min.! That's the best she could do. I said I'd investigate my other options. Found the mailer I got a few months ago that said I could sign on for the 3.0 Pro service at 17.99/month with a one year contract if I did it by 8/31 online. I just went online and it's evidently available to me, so I guess I'll do it. Comcast sent me mailer for $24.99/month one year 6 mbps service, which I'll pass on.

 

[trmiv]

Switch to another provider, I do it when the rates go up. I had SBC with Pro, after the year it went up to like $60 a month. I switched to Sonic.net and got their intro rate. The switch is really easy since SBC provides the lines to Sonic.net, so Sonic handles all the switch on their end. I was down for like half a day.

 

[ghost recon88]

dang, I wish SBC DSL was available in my area. Alls we have is the loneshark Comcast, which everyone here hates to no tomorrow.

 

[kingtas]

Roadrunner.

 

[UILanMan]

Just call to cancel and they'll tell you about the lower rates, and offer to give you it to make you stay on. I just did this on Monday - but I really did want to cancel, and was shocked that he offered it so easily (probably because I was pretty intent on cancelling).

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage
Yup. Happened to me a couple months ago. Called them up and balked at the price, and they offered to renew me at the same price for signing on another year.

And my contract expired June 11. I cannot have Pro so the best I could get is $35 per month. I changed ISPs.

 

[waggy]

well duh. read the contract next time BEFORE you sign it.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: waggy
well duh. read the contract next time BEFORE you sign it.

To whom is this reply directed?

 

[bigfil]

i cancelled and went with comcast for 19 a mo for 6 months
after my 1st year with sbc was up

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: bigfil
i cancelled and went with comcast for 19 a mo for 6 months
after my 1st year with sbc was up

I went to DSLextreme for $12.95 a month but the next year, like AT&T is unknown.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: trmiv
Switch to another provider, I do it when the rates go up. I had SBC with Pro, after the year it went up to like $60 a month. I switched to Sonic.net and got their intro rate. The switch is really easy since SBC provides the lines to Sonic.net, so Sonic handles all the switch on their end. I was down for like half a day.

How much do you pay for sonic.net? What speeds do you get? Any benefits over SBC?I did accept the 17.99/month SBC Pro deal today, so I'm locked in for a year. If SBC tries to jack up my rates significantly after a year I will certainly look elsewhere.

You know I think I misinterpreted the deal a year ago. It was for a year but I thought what they wanted was my commitment that I would stick it out a year. I didn't realize that they were then free to jack up the rate.

One thing to realize is that it's evidently easier to get a good rate when you do it online instead of calling them. At least, that's how it worked out for me today. Went to http://att.com/pro