They got bought out about 5 years ago by Altice, the European equivalent to Comcast (everyone hates them). Actual competition opened up over there so instead of fixing their failing business model, they came to the US, got something like 25 billion (I could be overestimating, I forgot the actual number) in interest free loans till 2025, then proceeded to buy up every provider they could get their hands on. They then proceeded to strip away the workforce, raise prices, and implement every horrible consumer practice they could to ensure maximum profitability and the lowest amount of corporate responsibility.
Suddenlink was a good company before that. I worked closely with many people throughout that company for over a decade before that happened.
It's really been this year that it's been truly awful. I only occasionally had issues with internet before, but in the last six months our internet has gone out at least once a week. Sometimes it will happen a few days in a row for several hours at a time. Or it's intermittent. I have internet in the morning, it's out for an hour or two. Then it's back for a few hours, and then it goes out again. It's maddening.
Our only other option in our area is AT&T, but they cost a fortune and their internet was so slow. At least when Suddenlink is working it's super fast.
I wish we had more options, but that's the downside about living in a more rural area.
I work tech for a living and still have to put up with Altice era Suddenlink on a weekly basis. My trick that I've used and also taught my customers is to call them and get a service call scheduled EVERY TIME there is an outage or your speeds drop below 80 percent of the plan you're paying for. Be polite, but obnoxiously insistent. When you're done with that, ask to be transferred to billing (sometimes the same person can help you with that) and explain that this is the (X) time you've had that problem and you would like a bill credit. If they're difficult, ask to speak to a supervisor and refuse to get off the phone until you do.
In one case, it took us seven service calls to get the problem fixed. That was frustrating, but the service at that location has been rock solid for years now. They replaced stuff all the way to the junction box in the alley then replaced equipment in the junction box two times.
Labor costs the company money.... They take note of how many times you've called, and how many times they've had to come out. They get sick of having to spend money on you so they eventually send the best of the best to get it fixed. Eventually.
It's sad that it comes to this, but this is just how you have to deal with these shitty companies that thrive on having little to no competition.
Sudden Link is the WORST INTERNET EVER!
They got bought out about 5 years ago by Altice, the European equivalent to Comcast (everyone hates them). Actual competition opened up over there so instead of fixing their failing business model, they came to the US, got something like 25 billion (I could be overestimating, I forgot the actual number) in interest free loans till 2025, then proceeded to buy up every provider they could get their hands on. They then proceeded to strip away the workforce, raise prices, and implement every horrible consumer practice they could to ensure maximum profitability and the lowest amount of corporate responsibility.
Suddenlink was a good company before that. I worked closely with many people throughout that company for over a decade before that happened.
It's really been this year that it's been truly awful. I only occasionally had issues with internet before, but in the last six months our internet has gone out at least once a week. Sometimes it will happen a few days in a row for several hours at a time. Or it's intermittent. I have internet in the morning, it's out for an hour or two. Then it's back for a few hours, and then it goes out again. It's maddening.
Our only other option in our area is AT&T, but they cost a fortune and their internet was so slow. At least when Suddenlink is working it's super fast.
I wish we had more options, but that's the downside about living in a more rural area.
I work tech for a living and still have to put up with Altice era Suddenlink on a weekly basis. My trick that I've used and also taught my customers is to call them and get a service call scheduled EVERY TIME there is an outage or your speeds drop below 80 percent of the plan you're paying for. Be polite, but obnoxiously insistent. When you're done with that, ask to be transferred to billing (sometimes the same person can help you with that) and explain that this is the (X) time you've had that problem and you would like a bill credit. If they're difficult, ask to speak to a supervisor and refuse to get off the phone until you do.
In one case, it took us seven service calls to get the problem fixed. That was frustrating, but the service at that location has been rock solid for years now. They replaced stuff all the way to the junction box in the alley then replaced equipment in the junction box two times.
Labor costs the company money.... They take note of how many times you've called, and how many times they've had to come out. They get sick of having to spend money on you so they eventually send the best of the best to get it fixed. Eventually.
It's sad that it comes to this, but this is just how you have to deal with these shitty companies that thrive on having little to no competition.
Thanks for the tips! It's been a lot better the last week or so, but if the problem comes back I'll try it.