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AT&T Long Distance USA Complaint - Bogus Collect Call Charges - Collect Calls

Collect Calls - Complaint
Review by Xappa on 2008-12-16
NEBRASKA -- It is only $24, but, I am just one person. Multiply me by who-knows-how-many, and this adds up to quite a racket by AT&T: My daughter calls collect from her West Coast home to mine in the Midwest. That is my que to refuse to accept charges, hang up, and make the call from my home (at 5 cents a minute). I NEVER accept collect calls. Well, here come a bill from AT&T for two separate collect calls at $12 each, listed as lasting one minute each. AT&T Customer Service is a joke. I finally reached a "manager" after 30 minutes on hold. I was told that someone at my home HAD to have accepted the charges. (It is only my wife and I.)I was also told AT&T does NOT make mistakes, therefore the charges were valid, and it was insinuated that I was just trying to "get something for nothing". Could my answering machine have triggered an acceptance signal to AT&T? I don't think so, and the "manager" had no idea. It's only $24.

And, I always pay all of my bills. But, I highly resent being charged for services I did not use or receive. In my opinion: AT&T sucks.
Comments:
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-12-16:
I'm not familiar with how collect calls bill, but maybe your daughter could get a calling card to avoid this problem in the future?
Posted by old fart on 2008-12-16:
I suspect that the answering machine is the culprit.. The phone only responds to an incoming signal and the line will automatically connect.. that's why it's called an "answering machine"...
Posted by tnchuck100 on 2008-12-16:
'...just trying to "get something for nothing"'. That is exactly what you have been doing. She calls collect. You refuse the charge. You call her back. You have "used" AT&T's system to convey information without paying them a legitimate charge. I know how this works and it's not that uncommon. However, under these circumstances you should not be complaining. You usually got away with it. This falls under the category of "unclean hands".
Posted by Slimjim on 2008-12-16:
Talk about quite a racket. So it's 5ยข at your house, but how much really can it be more for her? Rates are so competitive, what are we talking, a couple pennies per minute more? It just seems so not worth the aggravation of playing games, especially since this happened.
Posted by madconsumer on 2008-12-16:
i thought they charged a minimum of 1 minute even if the call has been declined?

most cell phones have even lower rates, and or free long distance. i know on my plan, i can all anywhere except international for the same low fee.
Posted by Starlord on 2008-12-19:
Are you aware that this method, very popular among people is fraud , and wire fraud on top of that. I hope the police in your city can't identify you. It is cheaper and safer to get a Magic Jack if you have high speed internet. Free local and long distance calls in the US and Canada for $19.95 PER YEAR!. If your daughter has high speed internet, send her one. They are $39.95 for the first year, which includes $20 for the device, and $19.95 for the first year's service. They do not cash your check or money order for thirty days, and if you decide you don't like it, send it back and they will send your original check or money order back to you. If you have someone going overseas, make sure they have high speed internet and give them a Magic Jack, and they can call you from anywhere in the world FREE.

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