Awesome AT&T tech support

She kept trying to assure me that she wasn't messing with me. You be the judge.

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Thank you for contacting AT&T Internet Services, my name is Joyce Walter. One moment while I review your information.
Joyce Walter: Thank you for waiting. Again, my name is Joyce. I checked your chat log and I see that you want to set up an email client?

Me: Yes please.
Me: Here's the challenge: I have a lot of folders & filters set up on Yahoo webmail.
Me: Is there an easy way to copy those settings?

Joyce Walter: I do apologize for any inconvenience you experienced with this issue. I'll be glad to assist you with this. First can you please verify for me the working telephone number associated with your AT&T account?

Me: xxx-xxx-xxxx

Joyce Walter: Thank you
Joyce Walter: What email client?

Me: Mozilla Thunderbird, but I'd be happy to use a different client if it would be easier.
Me: My main goal is to get away from Yahoo webmail because I HATE all those new ads you guys just added. I don't really care which client I use instead.

Joyce Walter: Mozilla Thunderbird is a product that AT&T Internet Services does not support, I can offer you AT&T Support+, a fee-based technical support service that can assist you. If you'd like, I can refer you to AT&T Support+ to explain more about the service and to resolve your issue, or we have some information about many of these common products on the Member Facing Support Site at http://help.sbcglobal.net. Another option is to contact Mozilla Thunderbird directly. If you'd like I can provide you that contact information.

Me: I'll even use a different webmail if it would be easy to set up (maybe gmail?). Do you have any advice for me?

Joyce Walter: I can give you tips

Me: Yes please.
Me: The best solution would be if there's a way to turn off all the ads. I have a deluxe account, after all.

Joyce Walter: One moment please

Me: sure, take your time :-)

Joyce Walter: Outlook 2003

1. From the Tools menu, select E-mail Accounts.
2. Select the Add a new e-mail account radio button, then click the Next button.
3. Select the POP3 radio button then click the Next button.
4. Enter the name you wish to be shown on the email in the Your Name: box.
5. Enter the email address in the E-mail Address: box.
6. Enter the account user name in the User Name: box.
7. Enter the account password in the Password: box.
8. Enter the POP3 server address in the Incoming mail server (POP3) box.
9. Enter the SMTP server address in the Outgoing mail server (SMTP) box.
10. Make sure the Remember password checkbox is checked.
11. Make sure the Log on using Secure Password Authentication (SPA) is not checked.
12. Click the More Settings ... button.
13. Enter the profile name you wish to refer to this account with in the Mail Account box.

The Organization and Reply E-mail boxes may also be filled out if desired.
14. Click the Outgoing Server tab above.
15. Put a check in the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication checkbox.
16. Make sure the Use same settings as my incoming mail server option is selected (selected by default).
17. Click the Connection tab above.
* If you are on a Dial connection, choose the Connect using my phone line option.
* If you are on an HSI connection, choose the Connect using my local area network (LAN) option.
18. Click the Advanced tab above.
19. Under the Incoming server (POP3), put a check in the This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) checkbox.
20. Make sure the Incoming server (POP3) port number is set to 995.
21. Under the Outgoing server (SMTP), put a check in the This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) checkbox.
22. Make sure the Outgoing server (SMTP) port number is set to 465.
23. Click the OK button.
24. If you are currently connected to the Internet, click the Test Account Settings ... button to verify that all is working properly.
* If the test failed, click the Close button on the Test Account Settings pop-up window and re-check all settings.
* If the test was successful, click the Close button on the Test Account Settings pop-up window, then click the Next button.
25. Click the Finish button.
Joyce Walter: An exampe for outlook, thats just like the one you have

Me: That doesn't answer my question.
Me: The important thing is that I have a lot of folders and filters set up on Yahoo mail. I'm looking for an easy way to transfer those to another client or service.
Me: Are you still there? Are you going to give me any more help?

Joyce Walter: im still here
Joyce Walter: It will be possible

Me: I know it's possible but I don't want to spend hours doing it. Do you know any way to do it conveniently? Is there an import feature?

Me: Hey how old are you?
Me: Are you cute? I bet you're cute.

Joyce Walter: We dont asnwer any unnecessary questions
Joyce Walter: Im sorry
Joyce Walter: Im sorry

Me: You apparently don't answer ANY questions. You're not even TRYING to help me any more, so I figured I may as well have fun with it.

Joyce Walter: the smtp and pop servers are the most important part of the client emaail that you need to save

Me: Listen Joyce, I used to be a network admin. I know how to set up the smtp and pop servers. I'm trying to ask you about something else but you don't seem to want to answer that question.
Me: Well it's noon, maybe you're eating lunch instead of helping me. Whatever you're doing, I hope it's fun.

Joyce Walter: What is actually the issue you're having right now?

Me: I'm sick of Yahoo webmail because of the new ads. I want to switch to a different client or service, I don't care what. The problem is I have a lot of custom filters and folders set up in my Yahoo webmail.
Me: I want to know if there's an easy way to import all those filters & folders into a new client or service.

Joyce Walter: I see
Joyce Walter: I understand your frustration
Joyce Walter: Unfortunately, it is not an option to remove these advertisements as of this time, and we apologize for the inconvenience. Advertising has always been a needed step towards providing world-class service at an affordable price.

Me: Affordable price? You didn't have ads for the first three years I paid for webmail.
Me: It's just about Yahoo's desire to squeeze even more money out of me. But you're still not answering my question.

Joyce Walter: Email client is different from a new service
Joyce Walter: Email client, you can do that thru the mail options
Joyce Walter: New service, that means disconnecting the att connection

Me: Listen, if you don't want to help me, just say so.

Joyce Walter: Can you please give me a clear question?

Me: I think my question was pretty clear. I want to know if there's an EASY way to import all my Yahoo webmail customer filters and folders to a new email system. I've asked the same question three times now. Are you having fun with this?

Joyce Walter: I want to know if there's an easy way to import all those filters & folders into a new client or service - This is the question you asked me a while ago
Joyce Walter: If you are pertaining to a new email client yes its possible

Me: First of all, people don't pertain, questions pertain. But that's ok, this isn't English class. Second of all, thank you for telling me that it's possible.
Me: Like I said before, I used to be a network admin. Believe me, I know how to set up every email client in existence. What I'm trying to ask you (is this the fourth time?): Is there an EASY way to do it?
Me: I don't think you want to answer my question. Why don't you just be honest about it.

Joyce Walter: Im sorry about that
Joyce Walter: Yes its possible
Joyce Walter: If you are pertaining to an att email, just log in and import using the mail options there

Me: What are you saying?

The agent is sending you to http://att.yahoo.com.
Joyce Walter: Please log in from there

Me: I am already logged in.

Joyce Walter: Click on the envelope icon

Me: You've got to be kidding me.
Me: I was bitching at you about how I hated the ads in the Yahoo webmail. Your suggestion is that I use Yahoo webmail?

Joyce Walter: the session takes time to load that's the reason why I cant see all your replies right away
Joyce Walter: No
Joyce Walter: I am asking you to log in because we can import addresses from there not to use it as your mail server
Joyce Walter: Click on address book then options
Joyce Walter: There's an import export for addresses from there

Me: That's good to know. You meant "export," of course, but that's ok. Too bad I wasn't asking about addresses.
Me: Seriously, stop messing with me. Can you answer my question or not?
Joyce Walter: Sir Im not kidding on troubleshooting the issue
Joyce Walter: Are you pertaining to importing the folders or addresses from our web server to thunderbird?

Me: What did I say about the word "pertaining"? People don't pertain; questions pertain. I don't know where you got the idea that I was asking about addresses; I said "filters" four times (five now).
Me: I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, I'm assuming AT&T wouldn't hire someone stupid. So if you're not stupid, that must mean you're messing with me.

Joyce Walter: Im not Sir
Joyce Walter: What filter are you pertaining?
Joyce Walter: Filter for att's port such as port 25 for your att email address?

Me: Joyce Walter, you should thank God I'm not your English teacher because I would have sent you home by now. Here's a tip: stop using the word "pertaining," you're not using it correctly. Just say "asking."
Me: I'm talking about the custom email filters in Yahoo webmail.
Me: When you set up Yahoo webmail, you can use filters to automatically direct messages to different folders.

Joyce Walter: Going back to your main concern, no, its not possible for our server to import filters, just addresses

Me: I don't want to IMPORT, I want to EXPORT to an email client.
Me: But I bet you can't help me with that. :-)

Joyce Walter: The only thing you can import/export from our server are your saved addresses/contacts in your webmail

Me: Ah, Joyce . . . what a long, strange trip it's been. I will never understand why it took you an hour to answer that question. But I really hope at least ONE of us can take something away from this conversation. Please, stop using the word "pertaining" and you'll be fine.
Me: Good bye now :-)

Joyce Walter: You can always chat us back if you have any inquiries. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Me: lol, probably not! Good luck helping someone else. :-)