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Don't Sign Up With AT&T
Cell Phone Contract With AT&T - Complaint
Review by karendeez_21 on 2012-12-06
Rating: 
FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA -- Please do not go with AT&T. I was advised my first bill would be $86.00 by the customer service representative when I signed up with AT&T.
My first bill was $262.00 and not one person at customer service could tell me why. Now, I cancelled the service with them, my phone was cut off 10/30/2012 and they billed me for November and December. I had 1 line and 450 minutes a month with 3GB data plan paying $120.00 a month if you can get with a different cellphone carrier please do. I DO NOT RECOMMEND AT&T TO ANYONE.
My first bill was $262.00 and not one person at customer service could tell me why. Now, I cancelled the service with them, my phone was cut off 10/30/2012 and they billed me for November and December. I had 1 line and 450 minutes a month with 3GB data plan paying $120.00 a month if you can get with a different cellphone carrier please do. I DO NOT RECOMMEND AT&T TO ANYONE.
Comments:
Posted by madconsumer on 2012-12-06:
i have been with at&t for decades, never any issues with my billing. in the last 4 states i lived in, i used at&t. best service of all!!
Posted by At Your Service on 2012-12-06:
Several things come to mind within your review:
To begin with, I can tell you several people thing they are signing up for a certain usage plan when they agree to $49.99 or $59.99, etc... Unless everything provided for is UNLIMITED, you are only signing up for a plan that will stay within that price PROVIDED YOU STAY WITHIN YOUR USAGE REQUIREMENTS.
The frustration you MAY be incurring is going off with you new smartphone and going into overages. This is extremely costly as you pay a premium after the fact.
Ask for a copy of both your contract and monthly statements. If you're not able to understand the documentation, get help from a family member or friend. Ultimately, it's important you know what you had signed up for and what you are being billed for. My guess would be that you received a promotional discount on a phone when signing the agreement. This is something they will generally charge you for, in the form of early termination fees, by leaving the contract so early.
In all earnest, if what you review in the contract and usage statements clearly show the charges are incurred, DON'T IGNORE THEM. THEY DON'T GO AWAY. Companies are legally allowed to charge late fees and collection charges to such amounts. NO ONE GOES THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT REQUIRING INFORMATION FROM THEIR CREDIT REPORTS and if those reports show a large negative, you're going to have to deal with it.
Credit reports are pulled for a variety of reasons, not the least is to apply for a line of credit. This happens, too, when purchasing a car, home or applying to rent an apartment. In fact, more often than not, your credit report will be pulled when applying for a job. The point is, if the debt is legitimate, you really do want to deal with it now and not down the road as it will generally grow exponentially. I've seen debts under $100 grow to a level as to potentially costing someone their home -- it is that serious.
Get it handled and then let us know the outcome. Thanks for the posting.
To begin with, I can tell you several people thing they are signing up for a certain usage plan when they agree to $49.99 or $59.99, etc... Unless everything provided for is UNLIMITED, you are only signing up for a plan that will stay within that price PROVIDED YOU STAY WITHIN YOUR USAGE REQUIREMENTS.
The frustration you MAY be incurring is going off with you new smartphone and going into overages. This is extremely costly as you pay a premium after the fact.
Ask for a copy of both your contract and monthly statements. If you're not able to understand the documentation, get help from a family member or friend. Ultimately, it's important you know what you had signed up for and what you are being billed for. My guess would be that you received a promotional discount on a phone when signing the agreement. This is something they will generally charge you for, in the form of early termination fees, by leaving the contract so early.
In all earnest, if what you review in the contract and usage statements clearly show the charges are incurred, DON'T IGNORE THEM. THEY DON'T GO AWAY. Companies are legally allowed to charge late fees and collection charges to such amounts. NO ONE GOES THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT REQUIRING INFORMATION FROM THEIR CREDIT REPORTS and if those reports show a large negative, you're going to have to deal with it.
Credit reports are pulled for a variety of reasons, not the least is to apply for a line of credit. This happens, too, when purchasing a car, home or applying to rent an apartment. In fact, more often than not, your credit report will be pulled when applying for a job. The point is, if the debt is legitimate, you really do want to deal with it now and not down the road as it will generally grow exponentially. I've seen debts under $100 grow to a level as to potentially costing someone their home -- it is that serious.
Get it handled and then let us know the outcome. Thanks for the posting.
Posted by trmn8r on 2012-12-06:
AT&T is right behind Verizon as the second largest wireless provider, with about 106 million customers. While your experience was a bad one, it doesn't seem possible that it is typical.
Posted by ok4now on 2012-12-07:
I'm a former Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile customer. I played the game and got fed up with the high monthly bills, overages and iron clad contract locking you in.
I'm now with Cricket for $50 bucks a month with unlimited voice, text, internet and NO contract. Yes the reviews are bad and it's not perfect. They throttle you back with heavy internet usage but that's not important to me. I got the HTC Smart Phone and have no complaints with the service. Do the math and the cost savings are huge. If I'm not happy I can walk owing them nothing. Something to consider.
I'm now with Cricket for $50 bucks a month with unlimited voice, text, internet and NO contract. Yes the reviews are bad and it's not perfect. They throttle you back with heavy internet usage but that's not important to me. I got the HTC Smart Phone and have no complaints with the service. Do the math and the cost savings are huge. If I'm not happy I can walk owing them nothing. Something to consider.
Posted by CrazyRedHead on 2012-12-07:
Your first bill is always the highest.
Posted by omlos on 2013-03-10:
I have just had a similar experience. I asked about my first bill and went through it a couple of times with the sales person. When I got my bill, it was very different with add ons. I addressed this with a few reps, who when I appraised them of this, simply started saying the same sentences over and over. Not conversing, just rehearsing what they have been told to say in certain situations. I have never walked away from a store that I have a contract with, when I have no copy of my agreement. Was told I could look up their contractual agreement online. Am I the only one who sees a con here? The method in use is transparent and I am counting the days until I can change. While problematic, I had been with my previous carrier since the early ninety's. Their service being insufficient in the area I moved to. I have to say, with the previous carrier I had never been subjected to any element of the rudeness I have found with AT and T. I suppose it is to be expected, as surely they are dealing with unhappy customers all day. I feel sorry for them, but to understand is not to condone. Naughty naughty, AT and T. I
Posted by Disgusted on 2013-03-26:
I spend $2400-2600/year with ATT on 4 phones
I spend 45 minutes a month wasting my time going over each and every bill for OVERCHARGES !!! Do NOT go with this company! It is a surprise bill every month. Go prepaid with No contract
I spend 45 minutes a month wasting my time going over each and every bill for OVERCHARGES !!! Do NOT go with this company! It is a surprise bill every month. Go prepaid with No contract
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