In May I called to sign up for unlimited long distance on SBC's All Distance Plan. At that time, the CSR solicitated me for DSL service. I had three conditions to signing up, as I was not really in the market for broadband internet at the time. 1) $24.95/mo 2) no setup fees and no router charge, 3) If I moved within the year, I could cancel without termination fee. I've had trouble from the very beginning on every count.
The first bill I got for DSL had a $99 dollar charge for the router. When I called customer service, the said they could reduce that to $49 if I paid $29.95/mo. That was unacceptable to me so I filed complaints with both the Better Business Bureau and the Missouri State Attorney General. That got results and the refunded the $99 dollars.
So... in November I put a contract on a house in Platte City, Missouri. I called SBC to TRANSFER both my phone and my DSL to my new address. They didn't do business in Platte City (10 miles North of Kansas City) so they can't transfer. The rep on the phone said they couldn't charge the $200 termination fee because they weren't able to transfer the service, but, you guessed it, hey hit me with a $200 termination fee. I wrote a note and returned the bill with an explanation of why the charge was not justified, and soon collection agencies started calling. I am still fighting it. I'll spend two hundred dollars in postage writing the FTC, the BBB, the AG of Missouri, and every congressman/senator, and consumer protection agency before I give them a dime, but I have learned that lying is a standard practice for this company.
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