My problems with AT&T continue. We purchased AT&T cell phones, but it was apparent that the cell coverage in our area was nothing like the rep had stated. We complained, and AT&T agreed to reimburse us our money (it was only 1 week after we contracted with the phones with NO service) if we would send the phones to a AT&T service center, prepaid, with insurance and an "authorized return #". We returned the phones, but AT&T *NEVER* reimbursed us for the phones. As we are military and move often, we had to give up and just accept being $160 out of pocket.
Before we moved, AT&T send us literature saying that they could transfer our phone to our new address on the east coast with the same calling plans and features we had at our current home. We signed up for this service. At the time, we had a nation wide long distance plan and a long distance plan to Canada as well as calling cards linked to our home bill for our teenage children.
When we got to Va Beach, our first bill was a shocker — $500 in calls to Canada alone at a rate of over $1/min. I called AT&T and they stated this were the correct rates since I didn't have a calling plan. This went back and forth, until finally I contacted the FCC with my complaint and supporting documentation (old phone bills and calling plans at old address, AT&T's "move easy" transfer plan, etc). The FCC sided with me and ordered AT&T to back date my bill and reinstate the calling plan to Canada I had previously.
All was well until we moved again. This time, our phone was disconnected at our new address no less than 4 times. Each time I would call and they would tell me I owed AT&T $500. I would tell my story, and they would read my file, and state..."oh, it doesn't say you don't owe the money until way down the second page". Only when I threatened them to file a court proceeding did the disconnects stop. We always kept our phone bill current.
Now back to the west coast. Our phone company was SBC. No problems with SBC; good service; we pay our bills on time, no late fees, etc. We go on vacation in Hawaii and mail all our bills at the same time from same post office. All bills are paid and the checks cashed during our vacation, but not AT&T. AT&T claims to not be in receipt of our bill payment, and you guessed it... Disconnected our phone and internet and demanding an "early termination fee" if we do not pay $65 per line to reconnect. Needless to say, we refuse.
So we are in the process of fighting that battle, when I get a dunning letter from a collection company demanding payment of the $500 (now much higher with costs, etc) from the original 1998 dispute.
This is getting ridiculous and I am tired of it. At what point is AT&T responsible for their behavior? Can you get a court order requesting that all their internal files on you be "scrubbed" and eliminated? I have gone the FCC route, won, but now am subject to harassing collectors 10 years after this incident.
Enough is enough! I am so frustrated, especially since I live in military housing and AT&T is the only provider here. There is a rival cable company in town that provides *excellent* phone service, but they aren't authorized to serve the base. I feel trapped and extorted.
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