I have been an AT&T customer for over 2 years now with my current contract ending in March. Over a year ago when the news of the AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless merge was first brought to our attention we were assured in writing (via their website and postal letters) and in person by AT&T Wireless Representatives that this would benefit the customers with a larger network, better calling plans, etc. This could not be farther from the truth. I have had minor problems with AT&T Wireless in the past but nothing compares to those I am having now.
If you are in a contract with AT&T Wireless and have a problem with your current phone you must sign a Cingular contract PLUS pay an $18 migration fee PLUS the cost of the new phone that you desire (as I was told over the phone by a Cingular Representative). During my time with AT&T Wireless I was never forced to change my plan to get another phone, only to upgrade my service which, to me, was no big deal. The best way to avoid this, as I was told by a "friendly" Cingular Representative, is to purchase an AT&T compatible phone and switch out my SIM card. That is fine for me because there is always E-Bay or the local flea market. However, if I had lost my phone completely, as is the case of a good friend of mine, I would be forced to commit to a contract with a service or plan that I really did not want in the first place, or pay $175 PER LINE to cancel service. I feel worse for those that have a shared family plan with 3 or more lines and one member loses his/her phone.
I have also had more dropped calls and the worst reception in the past 2 months than I've ever had since I've been with AT&T Wireless. I don't know if this is because of the disregard for AT&T customers or the phone that I currently have, but either way there will be some hassle involved to get this corrected.
The fact that certain parts of our original AT&T Wireless contracts can be discarded and new stipulations be added without our knowledge and/or consent is dishonest and an insult to its customers. Within the next 2 years most of AT&T Wireless' contracts will have expired so why not honor our current contracts as they are now and wait until they expire to give us options to migrate without fees if we so choose. We are not to blame for the mismanagement of AT&T Wireless or for Cingular's need to take advantage of it, yet we are the ones paying the price.
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