I guess AT&T does not want my business!

[pdxpt3]

Hi everyone, I have been an AT&T wireless customer since way back before they were Cingular, back when they were AT&T originally. While the rates leave a lot to be desired I have not had much of a complaint up until recently. You see, lately there is some new policy regarding being late with a bill that does not make any sense to me at all, as well as keeping me from being able to make a payment. Lately they will just shut off my phone and I can not even dial 611 to get a customer service rep. This latest time it happened is today, and I am quite upset. I got an email reminder that my bill was due over the weekend, followed by some stupid looking email about how they were trying to collect on a past due balance blah blah... I would have called yesterday but I was busy due to the holiday, and today well, today i cant call to make arrangements, or pay, because the phone won't work... Now, its important to know that I am only 1 month behind... 1 month... like to the day almost... and if you were to look at my history I have always caught up and paid my bill in full if I get behind... And I am normally not behind, so to be treated like a second class citizen really really really turns me off. Especially when I have endured and been gracious through several AT&T billing 'blunders' and dealt with the over priced service for so long. The last couple times this happened I called them and asked if there was something they can do to give me a heads up before they just shut it off, since this is my only phone for work and business... not really they said. And one day I happened to be next to my daughter when she got a text message reminder, and so I called immediately and asked if they could maybe send 'my phone' (the primary line on the acct.) the txt message reminders instead of my daughters phone.... No was the answer to that, because my daughters phone number starts with a lower digit than mine the 'machine' will send her the text message reminder and not me... and that is all wrapped in the mysterious fact that 'sometimes' the 'machine' will send a txt alert, but I shouldn't count on that. OK, so AT&T is using a commodore 64 for customer service or what? Cant tell the 'machine' to use a different number? ??????? Are they trying to harvest re-connection fees? I would pay my bill if I could just call the freaking customer support line... They shut my phone off again... for being a month late... again... And they sent an email over the weekend but I didn't even get time to call and make an arrangements. And I can only guess, but they might have sent a txt reminder to my daughters phone...maybe Well, I guess that AT&T must not want me as a customer... I might as well get a pay as you go plan with walmart if I get this kind of service To those who have not signed up for AT&T wireless service I suggest you to consider another option.

[lucy19]

Im sorry to hear that, but remember, if you are having trouble paying youre bill on youre bill due, you can also request to customer service change youre billing cycle, that will change youre bill due, but you have to change it on youre current bill cycle to avoid a lot of proration... hope this helps... then can suspend the line even with days with past due... be careful.

[drumn_bass]

Only!? one month behind, that is just not good, get your life together, try to get ahead of your bills and stuff like that will never happen to you again, also your credit score will benefit. Now I can understand sometimes stuff happens and you must be late (but a whole month?! seriously?), well you need to call AT&T and make payment arrangements before your bill is due, not when your phone is suspended. No company is obligated to provide a service for free, they can only wait for so long for your payment, but at some point they have to do something about it.  

[mightyjeeper]

There is no new policy. Your service is subject for interruption at any point past the due date. Simply call AT&T before the services are interrupted if you need more time on your bill. AT&T is extremely flexible when it comes to giving payment arrangements on past due balances. Really sorry that you are not able to contact AT&T via the cell phone, but there are other means. AT&T does want your business, but expects to be paid for services rendered, just like any other business-client relationship. If AT&T owed you a credit, or a rebate and stated that it would be due to you on 09/08/2010 and you didn't have it, I can guarantee that you would raise the question to them as to where it was. Same thing with the monthly bill.

[juicy907couture]

You're lucky they keep continuing to give you a month before they shut it off. Your balance is due when it's due. You can't gripe and moan that you're upset with AT&T because they won't let you go multiple months past due.

[lucy19]

did you call AT&T to have a payment arrangement???

[UNSC_REACH]

You were late, you were suspended. Whats the issue?

[Irondog]

Its nice to see the compassion you got from the other responders. Lets say someone did not get the bill because it was lost in the mail... it happens !! Now lets say AT&T was a car company, and someone was late making a car payment, and they used a remote control device to render the car useless until the payment was made......Car companies do it right....they give you 3 months then take your car away.

AT&T does it backwards. Some people use their phone to make money, just as people need their car to make money. Missing one payment on ANYTHING is something that can happen to literally anyone. This should not constitute taking service away....YET.

AT&T has once again got too big. This is a cycle that has happened for at least 30 years now. As a long distance provider originally, their monopoly had to be broken up by the government, and now as the largest or 2nd largest mobile phone provider they have once again forgotten the most important part of their business......the customer, and put short term profits first.

I for one have been disgusted at their arrogance for other reasons, and this one just adds to my list of reasons I am going to verizon. I realize they are very similar, but verizon does not change their policies in ways that effect my contract, or make promises to only later say I have nothing in my contract to make that promise valid. AT&T has lied to me about many things and I am sick of it.

[juicy907couture]

Get off your soap box and re-read the original post. This isn't a "one-time thing." The OP says that it's happened multiple times. Even if a bill is lost in the mail, that does not excuse you from paying it. It's still due.

[UNSC_REACH]

Wow, ATT can do nothing right. From wanting their payment to suspending service for non-payment, all of a sudden they are "too big". A little dose of reality will show that if you dont pay your bill, your service is suspended. If your car company had a way of repo-ing your car before 3 months, I'm sure they would. Also, lets not even get started that its actually the bank that wants the car back, not the car dealer....

[mightyjeeper]

Verizon has a due date, and they are bigger than AT&T...what sense does this make. They will expect thier money too.

[Virtual]

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Irondog wrote:

Its nice to see the compassion you got from the other responders. Lets say someone did not get the bill because it was lost in the mail... it happens !! Now lets say AT&T was a car company, and someone was late making a car payment, and they used a remote control device to render the car useless until the payment was made......Car companies do it right....they give you 3 months then take your car away.

AT&T does it backwards. Some people use their phone to make money, just as people need their car to make money. Missing one payment on ANYTHING is something that can happen to literally anyone. This should not constitute taking service away....YET.

AT&T has once again got too big. This is a cycle that has happened for at least 30 years now. As a long distance provider originally, their monopoly had to be broken up by the government, and now as the largest or 2nd largest mobile phone provider they have once again forgotten the most important part of their business......the customer, and put short term profits first.

I for one have been disgusted at their arrogance for other reasons, and this one just adds to my list of reasons I am going to verizon. I realize they are very similar, but verizon does not change their policies in ways that effect my contract, or make promises to only later say I have nothing in my contract to make that promise valid. AT&T has lied to me about many things and I am sick of it.

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Yes, because is AT&T's fault that people don't pay on time and have their lines suspended, right?

[Preachintheghet…]

I cant wait until you get screwed over by this company like some of the rest of us have. I have had my service shut off too and it was not even my issue. The EMPLOYEE did not follow through with payment. Most companies would have the decency to make up for a mistake like that but AT&T does not do a thing. They just screw it up even more. So you can step off of your soap box too. 

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juicy907couture wrote:
Get off your soap box and re-read the original post. This isn't a "one-time thing." The OP says that it's happened multiple times. Even if a bill is lost in the mail, that does not excuse you from paying it. It's still due.

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[Preachintheghet…]

{Please keep it courteous} You really can see why this company is crap. Just look at the responses from some if it decision makers. I have been screwed by this company and it employees and I cant wait until AT&T looses its grasp on the iPhone. You guys would lose soooo many customers.

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[mightyjeeper]

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Preachintheghetto wrote:

{Please keep it courteous} You really can see why this company is crap. Just look at the responses from some if it decision makers. I have been screwed by this company and it employees and I cant wait until AT&T looses its grasp on the iPhone. You guys would lose soooo many customers.

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This conversation is nothing new and has been discussed.

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[Preachintheghet…]

Then don't waste your time reading and commenting on my posts. 

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mightyjeeper wrote:

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Preachintheghetto wrote:

{Please keep it courteous} You really can see why this company is crap. Just look at the responses from some if it decision makers. I have been screwed by this company and it employees and I cant wait until AT&T looses its grasp on the iPhone. You guys would lose soooo many customers.

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This conversation is nothing new and has been discussed.

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[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Preachintheghetto wrote:

{Please keep it courteous} You really can see why this company is crap. Just look at the responses from some if it decision makers. I have been screwed by this company and it employees and I cant wait until AT&T looses its grasp on the iPhone. You guys would lose soooo many customers.

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well hope you are patient - you have at least 2 years to wait - that is if it ever happens. Verizon upset Steve Jobs with their ads, he is know for holding a grudge so they may not see it for a decade or more.

Curious - can you poiht out any responses from the decision makers of ATT? Have not see one posted here outside of those posted by the forum moderators in the process of them doing the job that is required of them?

[BrianfromNO]

Do you have a point?  For the record, a couple of facts here.  I have never been an employee of AT&T, and those people here who are employees of AT&T are not "decision makers".

Human errors occur.  In this case, the human error was on the part of the customer, in failing to pay his/her bill.  Sorry, but in no way can this be blamed on AT&T.  You can take your poorly formed arguments and your logical fallacies, and try not to let the door hit you on the way out.

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Preachintheghetto wrote:

I cant wait until you get screwed over by this company like some of the rest of us have. I have had my service shut off too and it was not even my issue. The EMPLOYEE did not follow through with payment. Most companies would have the decency to make up for a mistake like that but AT&T does not do a thing. They just screw it up even more. So you can step off of your soap box too. 

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juicy907couture wrote:
Get off your soap box and re-read the original post. This isn't a "one-time thing." The OP says that it's happened multiple times. Even if a bill is lost in the mail, that does not excuse you from paying it. It's still due.

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[Caretaker]

Everyone, let's please keep in mind the Keep it Courteous section of the guidelines.  Everyone wants to have a positive experience while on the Forums; your opinions are always welcome, but personal attacks and harassment in the Forum, are not acceptable. 

[Preachintheghet…]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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Preachintheghetto wrote:

{Please keep it courteous} You really can see why this company is crap. Just look at the responses from some if it decision makers. I have been screwed by this company and it employees and I cant wait until AT&T looses its grasp on the iPhone. You guys would lose soooo many customers.

---

---

well hope you are patient - you have at least 2 years to wait - that is if it ever happens. Verizon upset Steve Jobs with their ads, he is know for holding a grudge so they may not see it for a decade or more.

Curious - can you poiht out any responses from the decision makers of ATT? Have not see one posted here outside of those posted by the forum moderators in the process of them doing the job that is required of them?

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In this particular case I was talking about drumn_bass. I should have been more clear because Lucy made a very professional comment that seemed helpful. Drumn on the other hand told the guy to get his life together and mocked him for being so late. I doubt he knows the situation at all. Good for Drumn if he has never been in a financial bind and had no apparent answers for quick cash to pay some bills but alot of people do have stuff com up. And yes he said that he understood that stuff happens but he also tried to make the guy look bad. 

Yes I know it says in the Sig that they opinion is only theres but you have to admit that when they have the AT&T employee signature you cant help but think that this is how they are in the workplace too. So the decision makers I am speaking of are the employees that make comments on this forum and yes they do have decisions to make with peoples accounts and yes they have leeway. They are not robots. 

[Preachintheghet…]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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Preachintheghetto wrote:

{Please keep it courteous} You really can see why this company is crap. Just look at the responses from some if it decision makers. I have been screwed by this company and it employees and I cant wait until AT&T looses its grasp on the iPhone. You guys would lose soooo many customers.

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well hope you are patient - you have at least 2 years to wait - that is if it ever happens. Verizon upset Steve Jobs with their ads, he is know for holding a grudge so they may not see it for a decade or more.

Curious - can you poiht out any responses from the decision makers of ATT? Have not see one posted here outside of those posted by the forum moderators in the process of them doing the job that is required of them?

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In this particular case I was talking about drumn_bass. I should have been more clear because Lucy made a very professional comment that seemed helpful. Drumn on the other hand told the guy to get his life together and mocked him for being so late. I doubt he knows the situation at all. Good for Drumn if he has never been in a financial bind and had no apparent answers for quick cash to pay some bills but alot of people do have stuff com up. And yes he said that he understood that stuff happens but he also tried to make the guy look bad. 

Yes I know it says in the Sig that they opinion is only theres but you have to admit that when they have the AT&T employee signature you cant help but think that this is how they are in the workplace too. So the decision makers I am speaking of are the employees that make comments on this forum and yes they do have decisions to make with peoples accounts and yes they have leeway. They are not robots. 

[UNSC_REACH]

I think the point is these employees are not going to, and are not allowed to lookup customer information. They can only comment and help out. So they are not really "helpers" or official "employees" as they are at work, they have only a fraction of their normal capacities when helping customers on this forum.

[Preachintheghet…]

So the employees of AT&T are drones? They cant make decisions?  Brian.... are you kidding me? Think about what you just said. Your argument is garbage. In that one comment from you I can tell that you are a typical internet "tough guy" and "intellectual". Or so you think. You make THOUSANDS of comment on an AT&T forum that must take hours upon hours to do and you think you are smart enough to out wit anyone on here. That is what you think you are... I cant really say what you actually are because the moderators would surely delete it. 

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BrianfromNO wrote:

Do you have a point?  For the record, a couple of facts here.  I have never been an employee of AT&T, and those people here who are employees of AT&T are not "decision makers".

Human errors occur.  In this case, the human error was on the part of the customer, in failing to pay his/her bill.  Sorry, but in no way can this be blamed on AT&T.  You can take your poorly formed arguments and your logical fallacies, and try not to let the door hit you on the way out.

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Preachintheghetto wrote:

I cant wait until you get screwed over by this company like some of the rest of us have. I have had my service shut off too and it was not even my issue. The EMPLOYEE did not follow through with payment. Most companies would have the decency to make up for a mistake like that but AT&T does not do a thing. They just screw it up even more. So you can step off of your soap box too. 

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juicy907couture wrote:
Get off your soap box and re-read the original post. This isn't a "one-time thing." The OP says that it's happened multiple times. Even if a bill is lost in the mail, that does not excuse you from paying it. It's still due.

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[drumn_bass]

You sir need to calm down. And what I said to OP was not to "make him look bad", but more of a life advice. If I was in the similar situation I would be more worried about my credit rating than my cell phone.

[Preachintheghet…]

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drumn_bass wrote:

You sir need to calm down. And what I said to OP was not to "make him look bad", but more of a life advice. If I was in the similar situation I would be more worried about my credit rating than my cell phone.

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Calm down? Why do you assume that? I believe that my comment was completely rational. 

My simple point was that your "life advice" is not really helpful because you do not know the situation and that the way the you presented your "life advice" was unprofessional and rude to be honest. 

[drumn_bass]

So the truth hurts?

[Glomag]

Thank you for your comments and opinions related to this topic. This topic has been thoroughly discussed and has been closed. Should the OP need additional assistance, please feel free to open up a new thread.