Internet outage sparks customer outrage, as AT&T lags on updates

In 2018, a day without internet is a catastrophe for some.

AT&T customers in the Dallas area were treated to a day of old-school activities after a lightning strike on a connection hub—and the resulting fire—downed their internet for 12-plus hours, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Suffice it to say, customers were unimpressed with AT&T’s response.

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When the company failed to provide a timeline for when customers might get their internet and cable service back, users took to Twitter via their mobile phones. (An internet outage will not stop an angry online mob.)

People remember a combo of the worst and end of an experience (peak end rule). Right now, #northtexas #dfw is experiencing the worst of the #attoutage #attdown. 🤞🏻for improvement. A crisis communication plan may have improved many people’s #CustomerExperience.

— Gearmark (@gearmark_cx) October 15, 2018

@GetSpectrum so how long would it take to get a tech to install your service? @ATTCares doesn’t care enough to provide updates. #AttOutage

— jinxthinx (@JinxThinx) October 15, 2018

Some exasperated customers resorted to humor:

Hello @ATT , have you tried unplugging your Richardson facility, waiting 10 seconds, then plugging it back in? @ATTCares #attoutage #dfwoutage #dfw #nointernet #dallas

— Ben Carey (@TheBenjiCarey) October 15, 2018

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Others wanted financial compensation:

@ATT what kind of a refund will we, the customers see as a result of your outage? An emergency plan has obviously not been in place for something like this & that is not our problem. #attoutage

— Jen Teague (@JenTeagueLLC) October 15, 2018

Some customers wondered why AT&T’s system had no backup:

It apparently might take 24 to 48 hours to restore internet in DFW. My question is: why were there NO redundancies in one of the biggest metroplexes/business hubs in the US? #attoutage

— Cody Savoie ☕️ (@coalsavoie) October 15, 2018

Customers used GIFs to air their grievances, too:

They don’t have a solid ETA on when service will be restored, but you have a solid due date on my bill?!?! Nah, let’s keep that same energy.... #attoutage pic.twitter.com/ll7GZi0o5D

— Nikki Jones (@mrsjones_2013) October 16, 2018

AT&T’s customer service team attempted to respond to many Twitter users, all with some variation of the same explanation—but no timeline.

Damage caused by a fire at one of our facilities may be affecting internet services for some of our customers in the Dallas area. We are working to restore service as quickly as possible. We do not currently have an ETA. ^NickH

— AT&T (@ATT) October 15, 2018

That last bit didn’t sit well:

Then can y’all please work on giving us an ETA?? This is extremely unacceptable, you are hurting businesses with this outage..no eta is not good enough

— Chance Bass (@ChanceCBass) October 15, 2018

Please just stop with this message.....millions are without internet, not just "some" of your customers. Putting the backup equipment in the same room was brilliant btw, in case of fire go ahead and destroy our backups too! Sigh. Ridiculous.

— Desiree Acree (@Wkdwitch73) October 16, 2018

AT&T might have benefited from a holding statement that it could have shared across its channels to keep customers informed. Although responding to so many Twitter users might have been intended to show that AT&T had a robust response, the lack of new information only made customers angrier.

Here are some elements a holding statement from AT&T should have contained:

1. Sympathy for consumers. Many complaints indicated that customers felt AT&T didn’t understand the hardship the outage was causing. Users felt compelled to explain that they weren’t just bored; in many cases their livelihoods were affected. The company should have expressed an understanding that customers were hurting before outlining how it would fix the problem.

2. A detailed action plan. If the problem is complex, help consumers understand by outlining the steps that must be taken to restore service. AT&T might have gotten away with not offering a timeline by explaining what steps it was taking. If it didn’t want to get specific, an estimated timeline would have done a lot to calm angry customers.

3. Context for the problem. For many customers, a day without internet is an unmitigated disaster. However, with a little context, users can be reminded that such a crisis isn’t so bad; no one’s life is in danger. This is a good time to explain your safety procedures and your track record of responding to crises.

4. Details. AT&T was mostly mum on the details of its service outage—but specifics help customers relax. Instead of explaining the issue, and the restoration efforts, AT&T only acknowledged a fire and for hours offered no updates. A better crisis plan would have offered particulars.

What’s in your crisis response plan, PR Daily readers?

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