ATT Uverse vs Xfinity (Houston, Center: 2014, apartment, new home)

[Spartacus713]

Comcast literally has the worst customer service of any substantially sized company in America.

Seriously, if you want to save yourself a lot of aggravation, go with Uverse. Also, AT&T has the best technology for the cable TV services, especially the online guide and related tools.

[huma281]

Comcast - Best internet speeds, horrible CS by far, when I had it my connection would constantly drop and go down for days every month. One time, they tried to charge me for using my own modems and required me to provide receipts I owned my modems, how crappy is that?

ATT - Slower internet, but still fast. Good CS. Stable internet, rarely get disconnects. Similar price as Comcast for slower speeds. New customers get a introductory rate. To keep a good rate, call near the end of your term and tell them you would like to terminate your services after your contract is over. They'll forward you to their retention department who will give you good rates to keep you on board. I'm paying about $32 for 24mbs per month last few years.

[SK115]

As a current U-verse customer, I would recommend it over Comcast. I had Comcast years ago (back before it was called Xfinity) and the customer service was truly terrible. I remember they wouldn't ship us a new cable box, and made us come into the store. However, the store would run out of cable boxes by noon, and they wouldn't reserve them. The nearest store was not close to us either. It was like getting a drivers license. I recall it felt like dealing with the government as opposed to a private company.

AT&T has much better customer service. The internet might be slower at times, but I don't know that I could tell the difference. It doesn't go out too often.

I also had Dish Network for television several years ago and had positive experiences with them. I'm fine with anything that isn't Comcast.

[sonic0boom]

Originally Posted by Mamiamjo

Ok I'm looking at xfinity for a new house, ( I have xfinity at our current house and like the internet speed, but like directv options for tv) or directv for tv and Internet.
Can you use directv for tv service and xfinity for Internet only? Or do they use the same wiring in the house?

I have Comcast for internet only, so that's no issue. Just keep in mind that you pay quite a bit more if you don't have it bundled. In my case, internet was around $42 bundled with cable and is now just shy of $70 by itself. On the other hand, I'm still saving considerably by just having internet. But the question of cutting out cable is another topic altogether!

[ipuck]

ATT really step up on the customer service here. When I cancel my uverse, they actually CALL me first and ask me since my contract is up if i wish to renew. When I told him i am moving, they said they will go ahead and cancel for me and just drop off the box at UPS store.

I have infinity now, internet is slower even through i paid for higher bandwith. Cost more too.

[Augiec]

OP, I live near the med center as well, but my experience with the two companies is very different from most of the people posting.

I guess I'm an anomaly in that I get along with Comcast fine. I've had issues with my new X1 cable box, and the service rep spent 25 minutes on the phone trouble shooting it, as well as another issue with how my account was setup that I didn't know I had.

We had an outtage this past Sunday, which was the first outtage I've had in quite some time, so I called Comcast to find out when it would be up and running (and explain that I really don't want to miss Game of Thrones), and they sent me vouchers for 5 pay per view programs. I'll probably give them to friends who watch stuff like UFC.

I tried Uverse and it was terribly slow. I mean, really, really bad. We couldn't stream Netflix, I couldn't play anything on my XboX One... it was functionally useless. Basic email on our ipad or iphones, sure; but any sort of multimedia content was stalling. I was worried when I saw the speedtest and it clocked in at download speeds of 12Mbps with a wired connection. On Comcast, even after moving our PC to wireless, we're clocking 79-85Mbps.

If money were no object, I'd go Direct TV for tv service & Comcast for internet, but it really depends on what part of town you live in.

[sonic0boom]

Also, should you go with Comcast for internet, be sure to buy your own cable modem (the Motorola SurfBoard series is good) rather than "renting" one from them. They want to charge $5 or so to rent their modem. In contrast, the Motorola modem can be bought off Newegg for $69.

[huma281]

Originally Posted by sonic0boom

Also, should you go with Comcast for internet, be sure to buy your own cable modem (the Motorola SurfBoard series is good) rather than "renting" one from them. They want to charge $5 or so to rent their modem. In contrast, the Motorola modem can be bought off Newegg for $69.

Not only that, you'll have to buy your own router if you want wifi too. The Surfboard will only give you wired access. I think they might have new ones that have wifi, but they cost $150+.

[sonic0boom]

Originally Posted by huma281

Not only that, you'll have to buy your own router if you want wifi too. The Surfboard will only give you wired access. I think they might have new ones that have wifi, but they cost $150+.

I guess i always assume that you will have to buy your own router, although i think i heard that one comes with Uverse.

But anyway, that's sort of like the cost of doing business that you'll need some extra hardware for internet. Point is that it is cheaper in the long run to buy your own than to rent it from the ISP.

[shanv3]

I hav Xfinity now and did not have any problems with connectivity or speed. Had ATT in the past and found their customer service poorer than Comcast.

And of course got cheated by them once. Applied for a double play through the site and the customer service had no idea of that offer, had to return the equipment. Then they themselves called and gave me an upgrade , after 2 months or so.