Anyone else have this problem?

[dancewithml]

My brother and I decided to get U-Verse cable and internet last summer. We were told our package would be $70 a month but we opted for one that was about $85 a month. We never got a bill the first month and then the second month we got a bill for over $400. Of course we immediately decided that this service was no longer necessary if the hidden charges are that immense. My question is if this is an isolated incident or do they routinely rip people off in this fashion. I know for a fact their cell phone service is a joke, just wondered if they might be able to salvage themselves with their internet.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

Your first bill will always be higher.  It will include a full billing period plus a prorated billing period beginning from the date of your install to the beginning of your first full billing period.  The first bill my include other one time fees such as a activation fee or additional installation fees.  Subsequent bills will only cover one billing period.  It sounds like you canceled service when you received the first bill and never received any subsequent bills.  

The U-verse bill contains detailed line items that show you exactly what you are being billed.  What billing periods were covered by that $400 bill that you received and what additional charges were included on the bill?

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

You should also call CS and discuss your bill.  It is also possible for you to get some of the fees waived.  If you get an uncooperative CSR politely end the call and then call back.  It is worth it to keep calling until you get a cooperative CSR.  It could mean getting a reduced bill.

[dancewithml]

texasguy37

It was the very first bill we got so it shouldn't have covered any period but the first and secone month. At any rate to tell some one they are paying $80 a month and then bill them over twice that much is a bit misleading even if you include activation fees ext. I actually went to the uverse online site to see what other fees are entailed and the only one the mention is instalation which is only about $100  

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

Did you review the detail line items on your bill to see what you were being for?  Until you know the details that make of the amount that you were billed you cannot confirm whether or not the bill amount is correct or incorrect.  Just posting that you don't think is should be $400 means nothing.

[fearlessuser]

Actually found this on their help site

https://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB412557&cv=803#fbid=9QfgXpGocJE

Since i've had the service a few years and it sounds like its only for the first bill, i can't say exactly whats in there. But it makes it sound like it give you some video explaination of the charges on the bill. Can see if that helps at all. Should be something the billing department would be able to tell you as well, but there's less hold time looking at the video

[dancewithml]

fearlessuser
thanks that would be helpful but i have long canceled that service. I don't do any business with at&t. They don't treat their customers like a company that values others money.

texasguy37
this is the part where i accuse you of working for the company, since no average everyday joe defends someone else with that much fervor unless they are being paid. Then you say that you don't and that you were just trying to help blah , blah, blah and then I get bored having heard it all before from the other AT&T unofficial representatives. So to avoid the hassle on both ends I will just say

Good Day Sir

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

---

texasguy37

this is the part where i accuse you of working for the company, since no average everyday joe defends someone else with that much fervor unless they are being paid. Then you say that you don't and that you were just trying to help blah , blah, blah and then I get bored having heard it all before from the other AT&T unofficial representatives. So to avoid the hassle on both ends I will just say

Good Day Sir

---

Some advice for you.  We are U-verse customers not AT&T employees.  Some of us freely voluntary our time (uncompensated) to help our fellow customers resolve issues and get the most out of their service.  If you are not posting on this site seeking help from your fellow customers, there is no reason to post on this peer to peer forum.  If you simply want to gripe about AT&T and U-verse, contact AT&T directly by phone or letter instead of taking your frustrations out on other customers.  You can also visit the U-verse Facebook page where you are very likely to receive a response from someone at AT&T.

Good day to you also.  

[fearlessuser]

So you got a bill that you were unsure about, and instead of getting a person on the phone to explain why it was so high, see if there was some kind of a billing issue, you just decided to cancel the service and complain about it online? Apart from one or 2 people that say they work for the company, this is a public forum, with customers trying to help people out. There are people out there that just want to help other people. I know it sounds odd, but it happens.
Was there any interaction you had with anyone that actually works for AT&T? Why do you say they "don't treat their customers like a company that values others money"? Some interaction with them has to be the basis for that. Other than that, seems like you're just getting mad about something that could have been explained or corrected.

Not really sure why people thinks that a company just goes around trying to do anything possible to make it so people dont pay them anymore. Do billing errors happen? Sure. All the time? Not at all. I've never had any billing issues with my services. Sucks that you did, but it might have been something that you could have worked out with them if you just picked up the phone

[dancewithml]

fearlessuser
that is not at all my only reason for my statement bout them at a whole. That involves my own personal experiences in store, on line, and on the phone factored with close friends and family.

texasguy37
I stand less of a chance of persuading others to change carriers if i merely talk to at&t them directly. Also when i talked to them directly they basically told me i was out of luck in a kind voice. Difference between me and you is i don't keep my motives hidden. I want to see AT&T go under and I don't mind trolling a little bit to aid in the inevitable.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

---

texasguy37

I stand less of a chance of persuading others to change carriers if i merely talk to at&t them directly. Also when i talked to them directly they basically told me i was out of luck in a kind voice. Difference between me and you is i don't keep my motives hidden. I want to see AT&T go under and I don't mind trolling a little bit to aid in the inevitable.

---

Yeah.  People are going to change their service provider, who they are satisfied with, because a stranger on the internet tells them to. Makes sense to me.  

[dancewithml]

Just like Im going to change my opinion cause you tell me Im mistaken???

Good Day Sir

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

Interesting.  I don' t recall making that statement.

[skeeterintexas]

Like my momma used to say:  Some people would complain if you hung them with a new rope. 

[dancewithml]

I don't recall asking your advice on what, where, and how I should post, yet somehow you still felt compelled to do so!

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

---

dancewithml wrote:
I don't recall asking your advice on what, where, and how I should post, yet somehow you still felt compelled to do so!

---

Don't worry.  I will not bill you for my time.  I volunteer my time on this forum to help other U-verse customers.

[dancewithml]

"volunteer" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[skeeterintexas]

12,740 vs. 34

Just sayin'..........

[docbombay]

Good point.  Not holding my breath waiting for AT&T to "go under" either...

docbombay

[ShaunMN]

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to post your comments and opinions related to this topic. This topic has been thoroughly discussed and will now be closed.