Looking for Exit - Long-time Cingular / AT&T Wireless Customer - About to be ex-customer [ Edited ]

[stephancos]

Dear AT&T Wirelss,

I am a long-time customer of AT&T wireless - having been a customer of Cingular wireless since the early 2000's.  Currently, we are on the AT&T family plan - with 5 phones and spend ~$200/month with AT&T wireless.

I have been a Cingular/AT&T wireless customer for a very long time.  However, I'm ready to abandon you.  Why?

1. Poor phone choices.  I have been waiting for a replacement for my Blackberry 9700 for over a year, but wanted a better device with a physical keyboard.  The Blackberry 9900 would fit the bill, but of course it is not currently offered by AT&T.  Why doesn't AT&T have it when both Verizon and T-Mobile already have it?  Okay, so how about the Samsung Galaxy S2 - that looks like a great phone - maybe I can get by without the physical keyboard?  Answer: Not yet available with AT&T wireless.  Rumor has it that AT&T is holding it until the release of the iPhone5.   AT&T - you need to focus more upon providing timely release of reasonable phones.  I am not interested in  Apple Phone's - they are overpriced and Apple's control over their phone environment is much too rigid.  If you would provide a selection of phones even close to what your competitors provide, I would very likely remain your customer.  As it is, I'm looking for the exit.
2. Over-priced plans.  Not only do I pay nearly $200/month for my family plan - including more minutes than I need (less are not available), AT&T reduces my minutes even if I use my own Internet connection to carry the call (3G microcell).
3. Tethering Costs Extra.  AT&T adds insult to injury by charging out the wazoo for tethering.

AT&T wireless - an aggressive company is waiting to take your customer base.  If you worried more about keeping your current base happy, and less about milking them for every nickel that you can, then I'm sure you would have a bright future.  As things currently stand, I am rooting for that company who wants my business and will fight to keep me!

Please show me the exit sign!

Signed - a frustrated long-time AT&T wireless / Cingular customer in Colorado.

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

I post here to receive updates.

[RicoLX]

Sounds like its time to move on....

[BadBadLeroyBrown ACE - Warrior]

First, don't listen to any rumor-mongering you hear in stores or on the various online forums. Do you honestly think some low-level CSR has any insight into AT&T's release schedule? I'd also take anything said in a forum with huge grain of salt. Some of the bloggers may have good access to sources (BGR or AllThingsD), but there are a lot of people in these online forums who need to remove their tinfoil hats & leave their parents' basements.

T-Mobile may have negotiated an exclusive deal for the 9900, giving it to them for some period of time before it's released on the other GSM carriers. Same deal with Verizon. The announcement of the 3 new BB phones was just made last month, and it said the release would occur "in 2011". 

AT&T & Verizon are very similar in their pricing. T-Mobile and Sprint, as second/third-tier carriers, may be a little cheaper (and Sprint still offers unlimited data). This is an unfortunate side effect of consolidation - less competition and higher prices.

Tethering is also an add-on on Verizon. I'm not sure what T-Mobile and Sprint offer, but tethering is NEVER going to be free on the 2 biggest carriers.

[Ravensfare]

I also have 5 lines only my bill is about $374 with tax of course. and the last couple of months.  Customer Service has gotten really dumb and doesn't know how to fix and issue or it isn't their problem.  At this point I am about to end the contract and move on. Yeah, I have data, because I have my grandchildren on my plan, and I have paid for it without issue.  But when there are issues I expect to get an answer from someone other than "well".