I dumped ATT during the 1990s after they charged me five dollars to send a one-page fax to Colorado. Their service was awful, long distance expensive, and their knuckledragging employees insult customers by asking how they "can provide you with excellent service..."
After dumpiing ATT for xxxxxx during the 1990s, SBCGlobal purchased xxxxxx, and ATT picked off SBC so we got stuck with them again. It didn't take long for ATT to get back to it's sleazy tactics.
After only a few months, I discovered that ATT started billing me for unrequested service scams called "OAN Services" and "ILD Teleservices" Each scam billed my ATT account for a total of more than $30.00 EACH ($60/mo) for ridiculous services that included 'Emergency Roadside Voice Mail' and 'Antivirus Email LLC'. Based upon other complaints, it appears that ATT cooperates with these two companies and others to bilk customers.
Like thousands of other unsuspecting customers, I never asked for these services and AT&T claims it is MY responsibility to contact the billing parties and get the charges removed from my bill. When I asked ATT if they'd accept $1000/mo billing from a Zimbabwe telecommunications company they said I'd still have to sort it out in Africa!
After wasting two hours of my time with OAN and ILD, I was promised that the charges would be reversed and that both companies would block my phone numbers from future scams. ILD also told me that ATT could block my account from other scams. But when I called ATT, the customer service rep (who promised me excellent service) told me that California law prohibited ATT from blocking third party scams like this. I asked who made up that rule and they said that the California Public Utility Commission (PUC) requires it.
When I called the PUC they said the law ALLOWS ATT to bill on behalf of third parties but does NOT REQUIRE them to.
I called ATT back and, after pressing buttons and speaking with another customer service rep, I was transferred to a "telecommunications specialist" (after repeated promises to provide me with excellent service) who said that if I had a problem with ATT's billing policies that I could make a complaint with the FCC at 888-835-5322. I called and, of course, the phone is interminably busy (with a busy signal), courtesy of ATT.
As a retired police and private investigator, I urge all ATT customers to carefully review their bills each month for unauthorized charges which are usually hidden on the bottom of a very long and boring multi-page bill. If you have a choice of phone carriers, I advise you to dump ATT at your first opportunity. I dumped ATT long distance during the 1990s for a company called Pioneer Communications which saved me hundreds of dollars each month on my long distance bill.
AT&T and its service reps are very much aware of these companies, their tactics, and the havoc ATT renders on its customers.
Caveat Emptor!
Clark
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.
0 comments