CP, you have it backwards: Cingular (SBC, to be accurate) bought out AT&T, then took the AT&T brand as their own. I don't think AT&T (really the old SBC) is crooked, I just think the company consists of a bunch of different business units that can't or won't communicate with each other. I had some problems because I had AT&T for both local and long distance service prior to the merger with SBC. This resulted in a lot of unnecessary confusion as my local service was switched from "AT&T" to "AT&T". Several times I ended up on the phone talking to someone in India who insisted on trying to sell me DSL. Now I would dearly love to have DSL, but it isn't available in my area and AT&T has no intention of providing it. So every conversation went something like this: AT&T: AT&T, how may I help you? Me: Well, my long distance service quit working. AT&T: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Can I interest you in AT&T high speed internet? Me: Can you provide me with DSL? The last time I asked it wasn't available here. AT&T: Let me check....(several minutes pass)... Oh, I'm so sorry, DSL is not available in your area. But we do have AT&T High Speed Dialup available for only 13 dollars per month. Would you be interested in that? Me: Uh, I think "High Speed Dialup" is an oxymoron. And I already have dialup for ten bucks a month. So no thanks. What I would really like is to get my long distance service back. AT&T: Oh, I'm very sorry, but you will have to call a different number for that. But can I interest you in AT&T High Speed Internet?
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