So yesterday, I was checking my bill pay accounts and for some reason my bill for my AT&T didn't go through. I always have the bill paid automatically online for the exact day that it's due.
When I called to pay it over the phone (since it wasn't working online), I entered all of my card information on the phone and before receiving a confirmation number, I was automatically transferred. This person said my account was suspended that morning for no payment.
UHHHH WHAT!?!? My payment was due yesterday, and I tried paying it in the afternoon (so I paid it the exact day that it was due, how is that late?!? I just don't understand). Does that make any sense? I demanded that I be able to talk to someone else because this person just kept saying “I'm here to help you and make you happy.” She literally said that at least 15 times, and it was getting aggravating that she said literally NOTHING ELSE. I don't know why she kept on saying it.
So I was transferred. This person said I was transferred to the wrong person. Then i was transferred 5 more times to the wrong person and finally I talked to someone and they said that it was an accident BUT I would still have to pay the $30 internet restoration fee myself.
Ummm what? I asked her about 5 times why I would have to still pay this, and she had nothing to say.
So then I asked to be transferred to someone where they would be able to cancel my account. And I was transferred and this person said I was transferred to the wrong person again.
So the next person that I talked to, I was not a pretty sounding girl on the phone. I was fed up after spending my ENTIRE lunch break (a little over an hour) on the phone talking to AT&T. So much for going to BreadCo for lunch.
Well, after I was transferred to this person and I told them right away what my question was and if they couldn't help me then I'm not going to waste my time telling you my name, number, account number, account code, social security number and address since I already told around the other 12 people that same information. She said she could help me. And she did. She waived the fee (should I even be thankful for this? I should have gotten this anyways!).
She said she would waive it so that I won't cancel, I told her I won't cancel right now…
So now I'm currently in the market for a new internet service. Because this was a complete waste of my time and I was so angry. Any good companies out there that you can recommend? I'm also going to get rid of my cell phone and home phone through them also because of this, I plan on just bundling it through another company hopefully.
This was just my last straw with AT&T. They've messed up too many times.
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Jess - PrettyPhysici says
November 9, 2011 at 3:55 amI have Sprint, and I love them.
Juhli says
November 9, 2011 at 4:44 amWe have the Comcast cable, internet & phone bundle. The services are great. I refuse to talk to them but my husband is willing to wade through the conversations to find the best pricing, etc.
Carrie Smith says
November 9, 2011 at 5:36 amI haven't had problems with my AT&T cell phone service, but the internet customer service is HORRID. I cancelled last year, and I'm so happy I did. The coverage sucked anyways…
Melissa Blake says
November 9, 2011 at 5:39 amNever used AT&T….thanks for the warning!
Out My window says
November 9, 2011 at 5:40 amI live in the northwest ins a small area with a local company. We have had terrible luck with Sprint here, and my sister uses comcast in the DC area and hates them. I think the big national companies just don't give good service. Good Luck
chanel says
November 9, 2011 at 6:14 amoh man! I hate when stuff like this happens and you haven't done anything wrong but somehow you have to be the one who cleans up the mess. xo, chane lhttp://bywayofney.blogspot.com/
Stephanie says
November 9, 2011 at 6:18 amOk, WEIRD. I have AT&T, and I'm about 90% sure that my bill specifically states that there's some sort of grace period where they won't even charge late fees, much less suspend the account and charge a $30 restoration fee for a 1-day-late payment! Unfortunately, I don't have any advice, since I've been generally pretty happy with AT&T, and when I was on Verizon it was when I still on a family plan with my parents in high school and college, so I had no experience with their customer service… But good for you for standing your ground and getting them to waive that fee!
Girl Makes Cents says
November 9, 2011 at 6:21 amUghh that is extremely frustrating!! Glad you were finally able to get them to fix everything though.
Tanner says
November 9, 2011 at 6:34 amWow… cancelling for being 1 day late on the same-month bill? I don't even think that's possible. Not doubting you or anything, but it just very unheard of and borderline maniac from AT&T. My parents have been late as much as 2 months and then they give you a definite deadline. AT&T sounds like they're not lenient at all. As far as phone/internet service goes, you're just picking the lesser of two evils. Verizon is good with phones, though the moment you have a problem, it takes a LOT of talking to get them resolved. Not all problems, just some odd and end problems. For internet, Comcast is definitely the quickest in service and so on, though I've heard Fios from Verizon is decent. Best of luck! Glad to hear that fee was 'waived'. I don't believe it should've been there at all!
Tanner says
November 9, 2011 at 6:39 amI meant disconnecting/cancelling your service* for being 1 day late. My mistake.
Michelle P says
November 9, 2011 at 7:51 amI wasn't late at all though! I paid it on the same day that it was due (which was yesterday). So that's why I'm confused! AHHH
Michelle P says
November 9, 2011 at 7:57 amAnd Tanner, it was maniac of them! I have paid a couple of days late in the past (because I have forgotten) and they've charged me $6 for it just being one day late, but they've never suspended my account completely. I couldn't believe it. I even asked everyone I talked to on the phone why an account would be suspended for being paid on the same day, and they all had nothing to say.
Smart Sorority Girl says
November 9, 2011 at 8:16 amThanks for the comments on my blog! I always get excited when I see that someone read my post! :)I have sprint and I get absolutely no signal in my apartment. What's the point of a blackberry when you can't even use your phone. I'm going to verizon and getting an iphone…eventually. Your lunch hour sounds like my fiance's friday afternoon with Time Warner Cable. Customer service is such a joke these days. 🙁 Sad.
Mrs. Pancakes says
November 9, 2011 at 8:21 amHonestly I can't stand AT&T either!
Practical Parsimony says
November 12, 2011 at 5:23 pmI take a stand with ATT and get what I want. It does take a frustrating long time. My daughter who works and has two children, just divorced, has told me of things she owes with ATT. I call and pretend I am her and get it all straightened out. I got her last bill with ATT down from $120 to $0.01 cent. That huge amount was for cancelling service and getting another carrier three days before her contract was up. NO, she did not cancel early, and I stayed on the phone until they admitted they were wrong and cancelled the charge, all the taxes and fees taxed on. I have so many rollover minutes and a good plan and a plain phone, so I feel my internet service, cell, and home phone is worth the $104 I pay.By the way, they are nicer if you are not under contract and can actually fire them.
Practical Parsimony says
November 12, 2011 at 5:24 pmfrustratingly long time…lol.
Michelle P says
November 13, 2011 at 8:57 am@Smart Sorority Girl, I want an iPhone too! @Practical Parsimony, That's good that they lowered it. They always seem to try and pull a fast one of their customers. They tried telling me that I can't cancel because I have a contract. I told them I didn't have one but they wouldn't admit it! ARggg