1. #16
    dbb10001
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Gio7707 View Post
    UPDATE

    So far they didn't work with me and the nightmare goes on :

    NEW BILL :

    Total Amount Due $463.97 ( I start having suicidal thoughts )

    Does the stimulus package cover any cell phone expenses for companies like AT&T ???

    Please somebody help me !!!

    I'm really sorry to hear about your large AT&T bill. In light of your situation, I thought I'd mention a strategy for seriously cutting cell bills that might help. We tend to think of wireless costs as fixed, but you can tinker with your plan to optimize its features to best suit your usage and often generate significant savings in the process. I know this firsthand because I work in the consumer advocacy division of the Houston-based company Validas, where we electronically audit and subsequently reduce the average cell bill by 22 percent through our website, fixmycellbill.com (and I'll add that 22 percent equates to over $450 per year for the average user).

    You can find out for free if fixmycellbill.com can modify your plan to better suit your individual needs by going to the website. Check out Validas in the media, most recently on Fox News at myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/consumer/conlaw/lower_cell_phone_bills_072409.

    Good luck on retaking control over your AT&T expenses.

    Dylan
    Consumer Advocacy, Fixmycellbill.com


    See More: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!




  2. #17
    Gio7707
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    recently on Fox News at myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/consumer/conlaw/lower_cell_phone_bills_072409.

    this link doesn't point to the exact location !!

    Good luck on retaking control over your AT&T expenses.

    I dumped them already ...



  3. #18
    dbb10001
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Gio7707 View Post
    recently on Fox News at myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/consumer/conlaw/lower_cell_phone_bills_072409.

    this link doesn't point to the exact location !!

    Good luck on retaking control over your AT&T expenses.

    I dumped them already ...
    Sorry about that link--put "h t t p : / / w w w" before the link and it will work.

    Best,

    Dylan



  4. #19
    Gio7707
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    yes worked, really cool ...

    what about if the company will not allow you to do any changes because of past due bills ??

    Thats just another strategy to lock the plan and make sure that the consumer will be billed more then he wants ??



  5. #20
    boscokid
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    I called once to get a credit - they were very good about removing charges from my bill. It can never hurts to ask. Try to be polite



  6. #21
    Gio7707
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    Quote Originally Posted by boscokid View Post
    I called once to get a credit - they were very good about removing charges from my bill. It can never hurts to ask. Try to be polite
    yeah, I was polite and it didn't help..maybe it's my foreign accent (refers probably to the terrorist next door...)

    All they credited was $26.00 (!!!) and I can't even change my plan now....

    I already started a different strategy ...



  7. #22
    Gio7707
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    Quote Originally Posted by bateraaa View Post
    ouch!
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by boscokid
    I called once to get a credit - they were very good about removing charges from my bill. It can never hurts to ask. Try to be polite

    yeah, I was polite and it didn't help..maybe it's my foreign accent (refers to kind of the terrorist next door...)

    All they credited was $26.00 (!!!) and I can't even change my plan now....

    I already started a different strategy ...
    Last edited by Gio7707; 12-22-2009 at 11:30 AM.



  8. #23
    lennyd
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Gio7707 View Post
    UPDATE

    So far they didn't work with me and the nightmare goes on :

    NEW BILL :

    Total Amount Due $463.97 ( I start having suicidal thoughts )

    Does the stimulus package cover any cell phone expenses for companies like AT&T ???

    Please somebody help me !!!
    Hey Gio

    Would you believe I only came here to research features on a few phones, and your plight seemed so strong, and nightmare so real that I ended up signing up here just to try and get you a solid answer so that you could hopefully reverse some of those insane charges.

    This may get a little long (sorry its my writing style lol) but hope it helps.

    First though it may be too late for you (sort of, but read this part too) remember that every carrier in the US must offer a 30 day buyers remorse period by law (allows you to cancel a contract, or return a phone you do not like, or both). This can also be extended by the company if needed, but they do not have to and normally only will if it will help to relieve a problem, gain or keep a customer etc.

    I have done this with several cell companies (including the one I am with now) and even before it was a law most would do this on their own as well if you were a decent negotiator. Also note that it does not always work like it should, and everything has it's problems, and ultimately you need to be able to know enough to request it, and demand it if needed.

    How this may help in your case is that it seems that you were not on the proper plans when you first set up your accounts, and also were not aware that you were being charged for so many different things (activation fees, pro rates, even charges you did not expect that went on your CC and are covered by rebates you may receive later, and so many more), and that fact that either the person who set up your account or even the company CSR who took your call after you received your bill should have been able to see this immediately (that you were on the wrong plan(s)) and should have explained this to you and offered a solution that would be acceptable to both parties. An example would be the ATT CSR offering to set your account with the applicable minutes, text, and or data plans while making them retroactive to the original date of your contract. This is not an unusual thing (from my experience) and basically it would remove the use charges, and replace them with the proper charges for the packages that fit your usage.

    Just these changes alone should make your bill much more palatable, but with all the nonsense and stress you have had to endure due to a quick sign up by the sales rep, and not being originally offered a sensible solution from the CSR I would believe you should not have too much trouble getting credited on some of the other fees like the activation etc).

    Since ATT does have some of the "better" CSR's you should do better once you are aware of what you are trying to do, but sometimes may need to spend some time explaining your situation, unhappiness, and desired solution. This may take a while, but it can be time well spent. Typically all but the highest paid people will save more in billings than they could have made in the same amount of time if they were working so it is worth it.

    Remember that these companies (now mostly all major corporations btw) are designed from the bottom up to be profitable, and use any method available to increase their billing since it increases their profits, and it is up to the consumer to know what is available to them, what to ask for, and how to negotiate in order to keep their cell bill as affordable as possible.

    Also keep in mind that monthly service items (air, txt, data plans etc) are billed in advance of when you actually use them (I hope the gas station people do not figure that one out lol) and initial or partial month accounts or changes are prorated as well so anytime you start a new account or make changes during your billing cycle your following bill will most times be considerably more than expected because your paying for both a partial and full months plan plus any overages etc.

    Now it is up to you (any of us actually) to call up the company and dispute every charge on the bill, and request that they explain each and every one in detail. Be sure to let the CSR know which charges you are not familiar with, or wish not to pay, or even would like for them to credit your account. You may find that they can do more than you think to help reduce the bill, but you have to ask, and sometimes push a little to get it.

    Lastly all these companies monitor each other to see what they are giving away, not giving away, and just doing in general to see what they are up against. Over the last ten years everyone has been tightening up on what they will allow a customer in order to make them happy and just to keep a customer. Still some will do more than others, and it seems that both the two larger companies (those with the largest customer counts) have tightened up the most, and at times refuse to even compare themselves to the other carriers. So you may need to allow the CSR time to get an OK from a superior to be able to do certain things (larger credits, discounting some services, and certain freebies etc).

    I believe you can do this if you put a little time into it, and know that it does happen because I have done this with most of the major carriers at one time or another, and even with the one you are using this very month (and expect to again next month

    Good luck and please post the results.
    Reducing the cost of Cellular one complaint at a time



  9. #24
    Gio7707
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    sad and tragic end of an att customer ... requiem to at&t
    Attached Images Attached Images  



  10. #25
    wintersdawn2
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    i would be happy to help you as this can still be fixed for up to 3 years i use to work for att in the department that reviews and collects on your bills mostly for buisnesses but i do know a few tricks to get results mine was 900.00 one month due to an error when i was working there


    hope i can help



  11. #26
    Gio7707
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    quote=wintersdawn2;1377866]i would be happy to help you as this can still be fixed for up to 3 years i use to work for att in the department that reviews and collects on your bills mostly for buisnesses but i do know a few tricks to get results mine was 900.00 one month due to an error when i was working there


    hope i can help[/quote]

    Thanks so much for your help , however I have already dumped AT&T and thank god we have great competition on the market.

    I already have switched to an excellent provider with a customer friendly/efficient service.I never ever would return to AT&T.

    While other companies reduce costs and prices, AT&T still tries to maintain the highest possible prices they can while maintaining the size of their market. The trouble with that is the market is growing so their share is shrinking compared to their competitors.

    Another reason I dumped AT&T is this :

    AT&T: Strictly for losers

    Shoddy customer service. Poor network coverage. Brain-dead marketing. What's next for AT&T? How about bandwidth caps and metered data plans for iPhone users?



  12. #27
    ericwkratzer
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    Re: Got my first bill from at&t : $301.00 !!!

    That sounds like an amazing service. I know that I'm overpaying but I haven't had the time and energy to audit my bill. I'm going to give this a try. Thank you.



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