Charter has been providing me with TV service for over a year now. I have even made them my Internet provider and telephone provider. I have also had a TiVo and used a Cable Card. Charter pretty much hates supporting Cable cards and in the past year they have replace mine twice and it is acting up again.

Recently Charter has been advertising to call them to lock in a special price for 2 years. Also AT&T has been advertising U-Verse. So today I deiced to see what deal I could get. Charter gave me no problem and a price around $135 per month for 2 years. AT&T U-Verse is a total different story.

I priced U-Verse online and I come up with a price of $171 / month. I decide to online chat with their sales department and this is what I am told (all chats took place on 12/5/2009):

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Welcome to AT&T. My name is Jeff S..

Jeff S.: I will be happy to answer your questions regarding AT&T U-verse products. To start, could you please tell me which state you're located in and the zip code?

Ryan: NC 28655

Ryan: I currently have no ATT service. I have everything through charter

Jeff S.: I would like to thank you for visiting AT&T!

Jeff S.: How may i assist you today?

Ryan: Charter has offered me a plan on a fixed price for 2 years. They are not my favorite in may aspects and I waited over 2 years now on Uverse.

Ryan: I want to see what kind of plan you can offer me similar to their setup.

Ryan: I currently have Basic and Expanded through them. I also have HD and their price included the extra HD channels and DVR service.

Ryan: I also have unlimited local and long distance on telephone and the price they offered includes 10 meg Internet.

Jeff S.: You can also go to www.2wire.com and hit speed to check the speeds you are receiving now.

Jeff S.: Were you able to take a look at the site?

Ryan: yes

Ryan: I am currently on a different network than my home network so the results are not accurate.

Jeff S.: No problem. For TV there is the U200, Internet the Elite 6.0 Mbps would be similar and the U-voice comes with unlimited calling.

Ryan: I would need the 12Mbps plan. I need the upload speed and I used to have the 6 meg service from att and it was part of the reason I went to charter. I work from home and have to send a file to my office every evening and it kills my connection.

Ryan: What is the best price I can get on the U200 With all the HDs + DVR + an extra box with 12M and Phone?

Jeff S.: The best price would be offered online.

Jeff S.: The price would be about $159.

Ryan: So I figured that at 171/month

Ryan: Charter is offering everything at a fixed price of 135/ month.

Jeff S.: I'm sorry for the delay. I'll be right with you.

Jeff S.: You can receive lock in the U-verse service for 12 months as well with the $30 discount.

Ryan: So that would be the U200+HD+HD Premium Tear+extra box+12M+Telephone for 141/month with 12 month commitment?

Jeff S.: That is correct.

Ryan: let me run this by my wife.

Jeff S.: Sounds good.

Ryan: Thanks for your assistance.

After I talk it over with my wife, I decide to go with AT&T. I go online to do the order, but I cannot find the $30 discount for the 12 month commitment. So I do another online chat:

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Welcome to AT&T. My name is Mickey.

Mickey: I will be happy to answer your questions regarding AT&T U-verse products. To start, could you please tell me which state you're located in and the zip code?

Ryan: Hi Mickey. I spoke with Jeff earlier about service and I told him I would come back after I talked to my wife.

Mickey: Could you please tell me which state you're located in and the zip code?

Ryan: NC 28655

Mickey: Are you an existing AT&T Home Phone customer?

Ryan: No. I am looking to move all my services from Charter.

Mickey: Are you interested in AT&T U-verse Voice online today?

Ryan: I need voice, Internet, and TV

Mickey: That's great!

Mickey: Thank you for sharing this information and considering AT&T U-verse Services online today.

Mickey: Have you decided on a plan that you would like to order online today?

Ryan: We looked at the U200 with HD + DVR with 2 receivers, 12MB Internet, and unlimited phone.

Mickey: That's a really great choice!

Ryan: With Jeff I figured it to be 171 / month but I decided to leave the $5 HD Premium off.

Mickey: Please click on "Build Your Own Bundle" to select the plans of your choice.

Ryan: The thing that sold me on the package is Charter is offering me a similar package for $135 month but Jeff said "You can receive lock in the U-verse service for 12 months as well with the $30 discount.

Mickey: If you order U200 + Max Internet + Voice Unlimited online today with me you will get $400 back and there is no contract with AT&T U-verse services.

Ryan: That was available when I spoke with jeff earlier too.

Mickey: I can understand. At this time, there are no such promotions; however, if you order U200 + Max Internet + Voice Unlimited online today with me you will get $400 back.

Ryan: The way I am looking at it is Charter is offering me $135/month locked for 2 years. Which come to $3240. You are offering me $166/month -$400 which comes to a 2 year cost of $3584.

Mickey: I can certainly understand your concern. Prices are regular with no contract.

Ryan: The way I was figuring it earlier with Jeff was $141 / month for the first year then $171 / month for second year -$400 with a 2 year cost of 3344

Ryan: I am not willing to pay an additional $300 over 2 years on TV.

Mickey: AT&T U-Verse U-200, Voice Unlimited and Max package with 2 additional receivers HD service would be around $173 a month online today.

Ryan: Thanks but no thanks.

Mickey: I can offer additional $50 back (from my department) on top of $400 back. So you will get total $450 back with me.

Mickey: To offer you that additional $50 back please provide me with your order confirmation number, full name, address with zip code and name of the AT&T U-Verse plans at the end of the chat.

Mickey: How does that sound to you?

Ryan: That is still more than I am willing to pay.

Mickey: AT&T U-Verse U-200, Voice Unlimited and Max package with 1 additional receivers HD service would be around $166 a month online today.

Ryan: Unless I can get the service for $141 or less per month with the $400 back it is a no deal. U200+HD+DVR with 2 receivers, 12 MB Internet + unlimited telephone.

Mickey: U200 + Max Internet + Voice Unlimited + one additional receiver + HD service would be around $166 a month.

Mickey: By ordering online you will get $10 off on Internet for 6 months.

Mickey: You can save $10 more for six months by going with Paperless Billing. You will just need to Enroll in Auto-pay and paperless billing at U-verse Central after U-verse installation.

Mickey: There is no contract with AT&T U-Verse service. This means you can cancel at any time without penalty.

And my computer battery died.

So AT&T apparently does not want me as their customer so I guess I will stay with Charter.

Here is another Chat that I had.

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Welcome to AT&T. My name is Lance.
Lance: I will be happy to answer your questions regarding AT&T U-verse products. To start, could you please tell me which state you're located in and the zip code?
you: 28655 NC
Lance: Thank you for sharing this information and considering AT&T U-verse Services online today.
Lance: Are you an existing AT&T Home Phone customer?
Ryan: No
Lance: Are you interested in AT&T U-verse Voice online today?
Ryan: I am interested in the whole package.
Lance: I'd be happy to assist you with that.
Ryan: Let's start with TV.
Lance: In order to better assist you, allow me to ask you a few questions.
Ryan: I need HD and DVR. No movie Channels. Local and TLC, Discovery, And Animal Planet.
Lance: Are you interested in premium movie channels like HBO & Cinemax?
Lance: I'd be happy to assist you with that.
Lance: What do you (or will you) use the Internet for in your home (i.e. downloading music, watching videos, gaming, pictures)?
Ryan: I need the fastest internet.
Ryan: I need telephone.
Lance: How many computers are you looking to connect?
Ryan: 4
Lance: Thank you for answering all my questions.
Lance: Based on your needs, I recommend that you order, AT&T U-Verse U-200, Voice Unlimited and Max package is only $149 a month online today.
Lance: Does that sound like something you would be interested in?
Ryan: It is.
Lance: Let's go ahead and place your order today online.
Ryan: Ok. I have been going through the site and adding everything. I have everything in my cart.
Ryan: I am at $166. beacuse I added HD and an additional reciever.
Ryan: I spoke with someone on chat earlier and I was told that I could get an addional $30 off a month if I did an annual commitment. How do I get that?
Lance: If you order online AT&T U-Verse U-200 Triple Package(TV, Internet, Voice) or any above Triple Package. Your order qualifies for the $400 Visa Reward Card.
Lance: How does that sounds to you?
Lance: The $30 Off for the Internet has expired.
Ryan: That might be the deal breaker. The reason behind this is that Charter has offered me a simialr package for $134.99.
Ryan: A previous rep told me today that if I did an annual commitment I could get an additional $30 off which would bring me to $136 a month with ATT
Lance: Our offers are hotter than ever and won’t last forever and bound to change anytime! Remember, we offer plans with no term commitments. This means you can cancel at any time without penalty
Lance: I understand and you are right. But, currently the offer you are looking for has been expired and a new promotion is been released out.
Lance: If you order online AT&T U-Verse U-200 Triple Package(TV, Internet, Voice) or any above Triple Package. Your order qualifies for the $400 Visa Reward Card.
Lance: If you order online AT&T U-Verse U-200 Double Package(TV, Internet) or any above Double Package. Your order qualifies for the $350 Visa Reward Card.
Lance: How does that sounds to you?
Ryan: So you are telling me that the offer I was offered a couple of hours ago is no longer valid.
Lance: Yes, the offers are bound to change anytime. I suggest you to take advantage of the new promotion. Before, you miss out these hot on going promotion.
Ryan: I will stick with what I have. Apparently ATT does not whant my business.
Lance: I apologize for the frustration that has been caused.
Lance: Due to my limitations I am unable help you with that.
Ryan: Here is part of what I was told earlier:
Ryan: Ryan: Charter is offering everything at a fixed price of 135/ month.Jeff S.: I'm sorry for the delay. I'll be right with you.Jeff S.: You can receive lock in the U-verse service for 12 months as well with the $30 discount.Ryan: So that would be the U200+HD+HD Premium Tear+extra box+12M+Telephone for 141/month with 12 month commitment?Jeff S.: That is correct.Ryan: let me run this by my wife.