AT&T Update

The other day I was fed up -- with the runaround from the AT&T service center and the storefronts and decided to have one more visit to the AT&T storefront to get some answers and some service. Luck was with me as there were no other customers in the store when I arrived, so I was greeted promptly and courteously, seated, and then asked what I needed help with. I pointed out that my previous phone was replaced because, come to find out, nothing wrong with the phone, but a lack of cell service in my city. He agreed that there have been problems, but then asked if I might be interested in a small micro-cell that I would install myself, and then assured me that I'd have at least 3 bars of service in my home (I actually get 5 bars). This flipped another one of my switches because I've been round and round with the phone center and had far too many visits to the storefronts and NO ONE ever mentioned this work-around before.

The CSR told me about the micro-cell, then volunteered to update my new phone and certify that it was working properly before I left the store. I told him I couldn't receive calls and/or texts and had no idea why. He did his magic and voila! He sent me a text and I received it. One small step for me, but several more to go. He explained the micro cell installation and showed me how to do it myself, which I did when I arrived back home. He explained why I had to adjust my service plan (because I had no data plan, just calling and texting) and then figured it's going to increase by about $20/month, which is reasonable. And, finally, he suggested a new phone number to start off fresh with the new phone, the new contract, and the new micro-cell.

I am now a happy AT&T user: everything is working just like it should. Well, there is one operational difficulty: I can't remember the new phone number, so I sent out the wrong number to all my important contacts and then had to email them back to tell them the correct number. No, I'm not good enough to text that info to more than one person at a time; hence, the email message process.

I long for the day that I can whip out my phone, zip out a text, go onto the internet and look up something, and play a song on my new cordless wi-fi speaker that my CSR gave me just because he felt bad for all I've been through. He really was nice ... and gave me answers instead of attitude .