Why is AT&T service so bad

Because it's your job to choose the carrier that works for you and you chose the wrong one. It's not up to AT&T, or Verizon, or T-Mobile to provide fabulous service to everyone everywhere. I happen to live in a T-Mobile dead zone. It would be foolish of me to sit here and complain about having no reception while doing so.

It's not up to AT&T, or Verizon, or T-Mobile to provide fabulous service to everyone everywhere.

To be fair, that is every carrier’s goal but simply not achievable. Every carrier has places their coverage is poor and more than likely they know it. Turning a poor coverage area into a good coverage area is no simple task. That’s why it is each customer’s responsibility to pick a carrier that provides the service they need where they need it. The major carriers have sort of become victims of their own success. Customers now expect them to have great coverage everywhere and that is just not the case for any carrrier.

I agree, I have AT&T and I think it’s got the worst service no matter where I go. At home, at work, downtown, even when I go on vacations . I don’t think it has much to do with that last guys comment about “it’s your responsibility to choose the right carrier and you chose wrong” I live right by Athens Georgia and even there the service is shotty at best. You would think in a major city it would be better. I’ve traveled to Panama City beach and it sucked there. It sucked in Gulf Shores Alabama. On top of the (Edited per community guidelines)ty service the customer service agents are unwilling to work with people. When I was out of work I got slightly behind on my payments, once I got a new job my pay date was 4 days after my cut off date and I called and explained my situation and they were unwilling to work with me for 4 DAYS . It was completely ridiculous. I think AT&T used to be a decent company back in the day but now there are better options, I will be switching soon. 

If you know your payment is going to be late you can contact Billing before its due and possibly work out some sort of payment arrangement until you get settled. But it's your responsibility to stay on top of that not AT&T.  If AT&T coverage is not good in areas that you travel in then really your only other option is to look at other carriers. No carrier can guarantee 100% coverage in all areas travelled. Now, if you're trying to connect to 5G at all times that's another matter.

Yeah they can’t cover all areas; but ANY area in ANY state would be nice! As I already said: I’ve gone to multiple different cities and states and it’s all been poor quality service. They don’t do payment arrangements as I just explained. Pay by the cut off date or it gets cut off. Yes it’s a customers responsibility to stay on top of that, but good customer service involves understanding that sometimes people go through life events that cause hardship. Companies that are willing to work with customers (for a 4 day gap which is nothing) are usually companies that get loyal clientele and end up better in the long run. If a multibillion dollar company is unwilling to work with someone over a 4 day difference then it’s honestly just a bad company. Compassion and understanding goes a long way! 

We have very little reception problems (LTE only) in the areas and states we travel to (Calif., Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Florida) so it's hard to say what's causing your reception problems.

I have AT&T and my service is great!!! But I probably don't live in the same location as you...

That said, I believe that you and your coworkers have bad service with them.  What I do NOT understand is what is wrong with y'all?  WHY do you still have service with them?

You're literally paying them for service, that's it. It's all that they provide for what you're paying them a monthly rate for.

If it's that bad, then pay off your phone, unlock it, and switch to a different carrier.

How can there be so many people you know with AT&T and you all hate it?  Did none of you ask around before switching? Who did you all have before you switched? 

I think I’m just unlucky tbh 😅 only reason I still have them is because I’m paying off the 2 new phones on my account still so I at least wanna deal with it until I get done paying them off. I had the best luck with Straight talk, I heard they’re on Verizon towers. I’m not 100% sure how true that is. But if that’s true maybe I’ve just so happened to be near more Verizon towers as opposed to AT&T ones 🤷🏼‍♀️

Unlucky?!?  What about all the other people you mentioned?  Coworkers and wife?  Why did they say they're staying?

If they stink so bad, I guess I'm not sure why you didn't turn around and return the phones the week you got them instead of hanging on for 3 years???