AT&T is Hungry for $$$ - Vent of the Day!
By Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94909)
United States
April 18, 2016 6:23pm CST
Is it just me or is AT&T hungry for $$$? We paid $42 a month for U-Verse Internet (12 mbps) on a 1 year contract. Since our contract ended a few months ago, the cost increased which is understandable.
When the contract ended, I called asking if they had better Internet options because the service we had wasn't that great. The rep said they will upgrade us to 18 mbps for $52 and this price will be month to month as I am no longer on a contract. Sounds good, we will take that! For extra $10 - we will get 5 mbps speed faster and because our contract ended we have to pay the price, right? Unless we disconnect/re-connect to go on a new contract or change carriers but we aren't up for the hassle.
Now 3 months later, we are now being charged $8 more per month. Our bill is now $60+ change. Why?
The rep. said price increase because our contract ended. No, our contract ended months ago and since then I made changes already. He was trying to sell me 18 mbps for this new price of $60. I caught him in his own lie because I already have 18 mbps. I asked him, so you want me to pay more for what I currently already have? He would not transfer me to the manager, instead insisted that his manager was away and will contact me back within the day. The day is ending and I have not received a call back.
I will be calling AT&T again tomorrow. 
To top it off, the bill is not due until mid May and they have sent 3 separate e-mails titled: Your AT&T online bill is ready to be viewed. Your bill & payments are here.
Seriously - they are very hungry for people's money. Imagine ripping off X amount of customers with their "small" charges.
To top it off, the bill is not due until mid May and they have sent 3 separate e-mails titled: Your AT&T online bill is ready to be viewed. Your bill & payments are here.
Seriously - they are very hungry for people's money. Imagine ripping off X amount of customers with their "small" charges.12 people like this
14 responses
@LdeL0318 (6400)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
I know how terrible it was. I am also dealing with that kind of problem too. My contract with the cellular company will be until July this year. I am planning not to renew because they are constantly charging me with extra SMS on top of my consumable. I swear I am not using it as much as they are charging, It's just sas because I have been a good client for more than 5 years now.
1 person likes this
@LdeL0318 (6400)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby Oh yes, but you know how long the process usually takes. I'm getting tired of ot so I guess I'll just wait for my contract to end. I'l probably go for a prepaid now.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@LdeL0318 Yes - I was on the phone for over 40 minutes. It was a waste of time because the representative could not further assist me and was just making me even beyond annoyed. I am going to have to call back tomorrow as well. Such a waste of time.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
That is a big disappointment to hear since you're a loyal customer for 5 years. All these big companies seem to scam by charging innocent people. Have you tried calling and asking them if there is a way to monitor as you do not frequently use your sms
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I do loathe AT&T. I would have asked to be directed to the managers voicemail box then, and if he came up with another excuse I'd hang up and call again, hoping to get another representative. I'd also have taken down the first reps name and complained.
I don't know how well those complaints work, but it sure as heck makes me feel better!
*this is going to be a long response, sorry*
I've never personally had AT&T but my grandparents had the phone service. All of sudden they started getting billed (home phone) for lifeline services that they do not have. They said "Well we have to transfer you to this place blah blah blah." and they kept giving the runaround. My grandfather finally just cancelled the home phoneline and to heck with it!
I had a problem with TMobile. I called a little early to cancel my service, and the rep was really friendly, telling me he'd switch me to a smaller price for the remaining months of the service and then it would cancel.. It wasn't a renewal, it wasn't a new contract... Or so he led me to believe. Then I start getting charged for it again and had to go through the whole hassle again. I got them to reverse the charges and gave them a good earful.
I wont' go back with Tmobile again and I doubt very seriously that I'll ever go with AT&T. My sister had AT&T for awhile and didnt' like it.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum I am sure they get some sort of bonus or incentive. Now a days it's who you know for connection, or if you open your mouth and talk for to make things right they know many people have busy life styles and will probably not bother with a increase as it'll waste their time. But imagine $8 extra x 12 that's already ripping me off by $96. And he told he will credit me $8 so I pay $52 but next month will be $60. You are not helping me by resolving the problem. So annoyed with these companies!
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby Yes that is only a temporary fix. I bet he was hoping you wouldn't realize that, or think of that at the time. They bank on resolving your main irritation without addressing the entire issue at the time.
I hope you can get it all resolved without too much more hassle.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby I don't know but it's really dirty how they rip people off. I think that the reps do get some sort of an incentive to get the most customers, and they probably have very little rules and regulations to stop them from doing whatever it takes. It's greedy.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
That guy is deceiving you . Why on the first place that he seem not to want you to talk to their manager . And you caught him lying . 
I think this internet services are really taking advantage that the people nowadays are so much into internet connections .
We changed our provider and the monthly charge was a bit higher and higher mbps yet the connections would sometimes go on and off .
I think this internet services are really taking advantage that the people nowadays are so much into internet connections .
We changed our provider and the monthly charge was a bit higher and higher mbps yet the connections would sometimes go on and off . 1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I am sorry to hear your internet goes on and off. It happens for me as well but not as often and it'll be back on in 5 mins when it does restart. We shouldn't have to pay so much for the Internet not work - have you called to let them know? I will be calling again later today.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@SIMPLYD That's good the connection will come back quickly 
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
20 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby No . But it comes back i a jiffy though , that's why .
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I also have U Verse Internet. I don't understand why they hike up prices. Many years ago it was said that Time Warner would hike up prices because people stole cable. But I don't see how people would steal fiber internet.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
20 Apr 16
I agree with you, no idea why they keep hiking up the prices.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
19 Apr 16
That's a lot of money for the speed,
are you sure the speed is right?
My landlord pays less than that and my internet speed is over 60mbps as I just tested it.
Just write an email/letter to the complaints department and they'll probably give you a better deal.
The call handlers may be sneaky and try to swindle people as they'd get a sales bonus.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I guess the Internet costs are more expensive here. 
I would get other services like Cable Internet but they don't have it in certain areas like mine does not quality.
At my parents house - our Internet is around $45 for 12 mbps and I'm grand fathered in at that rate.
I don't know if they will check emails or complaints. Now a days you have to complain on Social Media to catch their attention. I will call back tomorrow and be transferred again to someone else. I have done this on a few occasions in the past with billing problems for my phone and they were able to further assist me because I have been a long time customer (loyal over 10 years but am not happy with their service)
Those reps want to rip people off to get a bigger bonus! Agreed!
I would get other services like Cable Internet but they don't have it in certain areas like mine does not quality.
At my parents house - our Internet is around $45 for 12 mbps and I'm grand fathered in at that rate.
I don't know if they will check emails or complaints. Now a days you have to complain on Social Media to catch their attention. I will call back tomorrow and be transferred again to someone else. I have done this on a few occasions in the past with billing problems for my phone and they were able to further assist me because I have been a long time customer (loyal over 10 years but am not happy with their service)
Those reps want to rip people off to get a bigger bonus! Agreed!1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
And even with the speed test you don't even get close to 18 mbps usually either. And they're well aware of that.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby ours is supposed to be 75mbps but rarely goes above 60.
we've got fibre optic so we've got good speeds and we could get faster if we paid more but this speed is fine.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Apr 16
Yep. All these cable and Internet companies are all the same.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby - It's all about the stockholders.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209080)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I have been paying 60 dollars a month for years with exeede, and some months pay more for extra data. No one likes to pay more, but consider what a deal you have been getting all this time!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I never heard of Exeede before. Given the contract price (always a better deal) but the deal is only valid for a year. But afterwards, the price increases. Then I called in asking if they had better internet options and they said it will be $52 for 18 mpbs for the rest of my term until I decide to cancel.
But now an additional $8? The man was trying to sell me $60 for 18 mbps when I already am paying $52 for 18 mpbs. They are very dishonest.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Yes it is! And he said he will be in contact with me again which is obviously a lie. It is evening now and I have not received any call what so ever. I hope to get it all resolved tomorrow with a different representative of course. Thank you! Have a lovely evening! 
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Hi! No, I do not have Charter (Never heard of it) We don't want to deal with installation and waiting, so we're okay to pay the additional price due to not being on contract but that's ridicious to go out without reason.
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
19 Apr 16
That is a LOT of money, i bet they're also tons of clients like you who are pissed off. There's no way a manager would be called. If this agent is in the call center company, it would be impossible as they were trained NEVER to transfer you to the manager. You have the right to be angry, the greed is just too much.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Yes, it is!
I have been transferred to managers or upper managements before due to my demand. He was not able to further assist me. He kept asking, what can he do? I told him - I want to pay $52 for my 18 mpbs and he keeps saying I can let you pay $52 if you go to 12 mbps. Why would I down grade my services to pay more. I believe he was afraid to transfer to his manager so he lied.
@DaddyEvil (174590)
• United States
24 Apr 16
AT&T and Verizon are notorious for doing things like that! Both increase the bill you agreed to pay by claiming additional fees and taxes that the companies do not actually pay out anywhere.
It may be a hassle to do, but shutting off your internet service and simply waiting for a few days usually gets you a much lower bill for the next contract you agree to take with them! (Many people purposely disconnect, and a few days later reconnect, their services with AT&T or Verizon because of that fact!)
@IvySaysHi (4603)
• United States
19 Apr 16
yeah all these companies seem to be money hungry
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I agree. There was no need for them to send three separate emails saying bill is due for next month (mid May). They want me to pay early so they can get money sooner when I just paid for this months bill!
@Deepizzaguy (122256)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
19 Apr 16
I feel you pain. A T & T does not care for us the paying consumer anymore.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
Yes, I agree. The man was being very dishonest and I even caught him in his own lie. He tried to sell me my current paying price for a lower mbps plan. I would not accept that. I am promised the amount of $52 for 18 mbps. He tried to tell me he can upgrade me to 18 mbps for $60. And, I told him - so technically you want me to pay more for what I currently already have. He asked me to go on immediate hold. Then, he would not transfer me to his manager. I noted his name and will call back tomorrow. I don't have more time to waste on the phone with these people!
2 people like this
@polyxena (2628)
• Sturgis, Michigan
19 Apr 16
Ugh! Cable and internet companies in general. My whole logic is they think they can do whatever they want with their prices because usually most areas, only offer one option for connectivity. It's either one or the other. Would call them back again if I were you, and ask for a manager, keep bugging them until you have an answer. But that's just me.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
19 Apr 16
I am like you - I will call until I get my questions answered, on why my bill is increased when it should not be. I will get to the manager one way or another but didn't have time to be on the phone for a long time today.
