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AT&T Long Distance USA Informative - And another AT&T Scam.... - Long Distance Service
Long Distance Service
NEVADA -- So last month I received my A T & T long distance bill. We make about three long distance calls per month, always to DH's mom in Arizona. Initally, the bills would come every three months and cost about $21.00.
Then I noted that they were coming every month, and cost about $25.00. Then last month my bill was $68.00. And I flipped. We still make only a few long distance calls per month, still only to his mom. Whence the MASSIVE increase? So on about May 1, 2007, I called AT&T and requested to cancel my long distance service.
After wading through the insipid "menu" I finally arrived in India, where the "customer service" is located, and then spending 45 minutes speaking to someone who's English skills are less than stellar, I finally got her to agree to close my account on BOTH of my phone lines.
Today, I got a bill from....SURPRISE!!!!.....AT&T for service from May 11 through June 10 for the "AT&T Value Plan." And again I called.....India....and spoke with "Vivian." HE (Vivian) initially told me he could not bring up my account. I asked for a supervisor, was put on hold for ten minutes, and then was hung up on.
I called......India.....again. This time I spoke with "Ivan." "Ivan" sounded an awful lot like "Vivian" but he asked me for my phone number. I gave it, and he repeated it back to me incorrectly. I gave it again. He repeated it back to me again....incorrectly (but interestingly, did quote the correct name on the account.)
Now, remember, back on May 1 ( or thereabouts) I canceled long distance on BOTH of my lines. "Ivan" proceeded to tell me that the bill I received was for my second line, for which I still had service. "Ivan" assures me he has canceled ALL my accounts and has credited me for the bogus "Value Plan." I'm not holding my breath
Having now spent more than an hour of my time....in India....to cancel my USA based telephone service....again...I am livid. If AT&T has pulled this scam on me, how many millions of others are being subjected to the same scam?
I have filed an FCC complaint, but:
Is there a class action lawyer in the house?
Then I noted that they were coming every month, and cost about $25.00. Then last month my bill was $68.00. And I flipped. We still make only a few long distance calls per month, still only to his mom. Whence the MASSIVE increase? So on about May 1, 2007, I called AT&T and requested to cancel my long distance service.
After wading through the insipid "menu" I finally arrived in India, where the "customer service" is located, and then spending 45 minutes speaking to someone who's English skills are less than stellar, I finally got her to agree to close my account on BOTH of my phone lines.
Today, I got a bill from....SURPRISE!!!!.....AT&T for service from May 11 through June 10 for the "AT&T Value Plan." And again I called.....India....and spoke with "Vivian." HE (Vivian) initially told me he could not bring up my account. I asked for a supervisor, was put on hold for ten minutes, and then was hung up on.
I called......India.....again. This time I spoke with "Ivan." "Ivan" sounded an awful lot like "Vivian" but he asked me for my phone number. I gave it, and he repeated it back to me incorrectly. I gave it again. He repeated it back to me again....incorrectly (but interestingly, did quote the correct name on the account.)
Now, remember, back on May 1 ( or thereabouts) I canceled long distance on BOTH of my lines. "Ivan" proceeded to tell me that the bill I received was for my second line, for which I still had service. "Ivan" assures me he has canceled ALL my accounts and has credited me for the bogus "Value Plan." I'm not holding my breath
Having now spent more than an hour of my time....in India....to cancel my USA based telephone service....again...I am livid. If AT&T has pulled this scam on me, how many millions of others are being subjected to the same scam?
I have filed an FCC complaint, but:
Is there a class action lawyer in the house?
Comments:
Posted by Pro Se Consumer Advocate on 2007-05-21:
Interestingly, I've had the same problems..(mostly wrongful billing)
this was a result of an Online order placed..and not honored...good thing was I had an email confirmation..this occurred in August, 2006...
I actually sent SBC/AT&T (*which turn out to be subsidiaries of Southwester Bell Telephone Co.)...
I corresponded with a "General Attorney" of AT&T who basically tried to get us to pay all the outstanding charges...but I have a little experience with Mediation, so I was able to negotiate my account to be "zeroed" out....similar to you..we were also given a "new" account...basically forcing us to stay with AT&T..
I was assertive and asked for both accounts to be closed..which they did.
It is interesting to note that I inquired with the Attorney General of Texas-Consumer Protection Division into how many complaints have been filed against this company....and it was 522...over the past 24 months...in the Houston (*Texas) Regional Office only...that means there are alot of unhappy customers...we need to definitely unite...i thought of a class action too...that is because I belive AT&T is making millions of dollars in "wrongful billing" revenue...good thing I caught it on my Bill....but I can imagine those who don't have the knowledge, time or ability to diagnose these type of billing errors. I think they are raking it in doing this, then reinvesting it into Marketing campaigns trying to get more of "suckers"...At least by my assessment.
I think this would be a "good project", to consider or be a part of a "class action," because when considering not only the damage these actions cause individually, and collectively as the standing public, then I believe a class action would be a reasonable way to address this matter.
If you would like to see about "brainstorming" on this idea, you can contact me at this email:
rogelioregalado@proselegalsolutions.com
Website:
http://proselegalsolutions.com/consumerlaw.aspx
I am President of this nonprofit corporation..and these are the kind of matters/projects I want to assist and/or be involved in.
Hope to hear from you..thanks for the post.
this was a result of an Online order placed..and not honored...good thing was I had an email confirmation..this occurred in August, 2006...
I actually sent SBC/AT&T (*which turn out to be subsidiaries of Southwester Bell Telephone Co.)...
I corresponded with a "General Attorney" of AT&T who basically tried to get us to pay all the outstanding charges...but I have a little experience with Mediation, so I was able to negotiate my account to be "zeroed" out....similar to you..we were also given a "new" account...basically forcing us to stay with AT&T..
I was assertive and asked for both accounts to be closed..which they did.
It is interesting to note that I inquired with the Attorney General of Texas-Consumer Protection Division into how many complaints have been filed against this company....and it was 522...over the past 24 months...in the Houston (*Texas) Regional Office only...that means there are alot of unhappy customers...we need to definitely unite...i thought of a class action too...that is because I belive AT&T is making millions of dollars in "wrongful billing" revenue...good thing I caught it on my Bill....but I can imagine those who don't have the knowledge, time or ability to diagnose these type of billing errors. I think they are raking it in doing this, then reinvesting it into Marketing campaigns trying to get more of "suckers"...At least by my assessment.
I think this would be a "good project", to consider or be a part of a "class action," because when considering not only the damage these actions cause individually, and collectively as the standing public, then I believe a class action would be a reasonable way to address this matter.
If you would like to see about "brainstorming" on this idea, you can contact me at this email:
rogelioregalado@proselegalsolutions.com
Website:
http://proselegalsolutions.com/consumerlaw.aspx
I am President of this nonprofit corporation..and these are the kind of matters/projects I want to assist and/or be involved in.
Hope to hear from you..thanks for the post.
Posted by PassingBy on 2007-05-21:
Make sure your local phone company knows that AT&T is no longer your long distance provider. The long distance providers have a wonderful habit of not telling your local provider that you dropped their service. In your case all that AT&T has done is place your account in suspension. If you have not chosen another provider and make a toll call you'll get a bill from AT&T. Your account will be reopened and they will start billing again. I know this because it happened to me. A friend used my phone to call her husband, I didn't know it was a toll call. The next month I got a $35 bill from AT&T for a call that lasted less than a minute. AT&T billing dept told me that I had to notify the local service. But at least I was able to get the entire charge dropped.
Posted by Grumbles on 2007-09-13:
AT&T wants $50 from me. I've made exactly zero LD phone calls in the last 6 years.
Didn't even know I had AT&T LD.
Nice scam. David at AT&T customer service told me to start my own telecommunications company, then I can get paid for not doing anything also.
F*** AT&T.
Didn't even know I had AT&T LD.
Nice scam. David at AT&T customer service told me to start my own telecommunications company, then I can get paid for not doing anything also.
F*** AT&T.
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