AT&T Sucks Balls !

[Fez4PrezN2008]

So we brought an iphone for my son at xmas and I sign on to pay my AT&T bill today... $1100 f'ing dollars ! WTF !!! I nearly blew a gasket. Wasted a couple hours of my Saturday afternoon going down to the AT&T store that we brought it at thinking oh, they'll be able to straighten it out right there. Well turns out they can only do so much with your bill at the store. I had to call 800# from the store and wait on eternal hold for friggin forever. His original phone had unlim media and unlimited texting and that is what we asked for again on the new iphone. Someone screwed it up and didn't put the texting on as unlimited. Hence the huge overcharge. So they are supposed to re-rate it apparently but I won't know for sure until they call back in two weeks, THEN they have to do the process AGAIN on the next cycle to fix that too. So all this pain in the ass because some douche bag didn't click the right button or something when they set the gosh darn thing up. So, does AT&T suck balls or what? I think its pretty crappy that Apple only aligned with one provider too. I hate the idea of paying even the regular amount for the privilige of talking on a fancy walky talky even. OK, I'll stop now since I am starting to sound like Blowhard. Cell phones - spawn of the Devil?

[disneyspy]

holy crap that sux balls

[Tall_James]

I can't get a Verizon signal in my town. AT&T is the strongest signal here so I went with them. No problems whatsoever.

[celery]

If it's like my basic iPhone plan, it's 200 texts, and after that it's 5 cents a message. Christ, how many texts did he send to get an $1100 bill???

These kids today and their texting...

[Fez4PrezN2008]

If it's like my basic iPhone plan, it's 200 texts, and after that it's 5 cents a message. Christ, how many texts did he send to get an $1100 bill???

These kids today and their texting...
They said it was hitting at 40cents a text ! and it was a LOT of f-ing texts. Yes, these kids nowadays and their dang texts... Some of you might recall that this is a repeat for me of son's huge texting bill rant from over 2 yrs ago too...

Although the rep on the phone was polite and helful, the people in the actual store are the Palin babies of the customer service world. Practically useless.

[instrument]

LOL, look at the paperwork and see what you signed up for, I'm sure this will somehow end up being your fault.

People simply don't pay attention to their bills to something goes wrong.

Personally I have 3 email accounts setup to my BB and I probabaly send/receive 1500 messages a week... So I inderstand how the charges can add up, whenever I get a new phone or plan I always check online to make sure that no services "dropped off" it's far to common a thing to happen.

[Misteriosa]

if texting is gonna be the issue, he is gonna have to learn to text this way:

As text message prices continue to increase, we want to remind you that there are many ways to send free text messages online, even from your phone. Wikihow has a great roundup of methods, including using AIM or Gchat, texting as email, or using free text sites.

We'll add a tip we use: because you can send SMS messages as email to most phones (5555555555@vtext.com for a Verizon customer, for example), people with phones with mobile email can essentially text for free (assuming you have unlimited email) by adding contacts' phone numbers as email addresses on their contact info. You'll need to find out your friends' carriers, but if there are a handful of people whom you frequently text, this can be a great way to save some money.

http://consumerist.com/5123165/how-to-send-text-messages-online-for-free

[Fez4PrezN2008]

LOL, look at the paperwork and see what you signed up for, I'm sure this will somehow end up being your fault.

People simply don't pay attention to their bills to something goes wrong.

Personally I have 3 email accounts setup to my BB and I probabaly send/receive 1500 messages a week... So I inderstand how the charges can add up, whenever I get a new phone or plan I always check online to make sure that no services "dropped off" it's far to common a thing to happen.
Yeah, but we went through problems with over-runs w/ him before and we had unlimited text and unlimited data usage on his line before we upgraded the phone to an iphone. We told the guy we had to have unlimited on the new iphone too. I realize its a slightly different media package but I didn't get what I asked for. Maybe I should have read the fine print but I took douch bag at his word. Their (and I mean all cell phone providers) rate plans are basically just schemes and they are out to hook you if you don't get their most expensive plans. They make it WAY too complicated.

[Gvac]

I was an AT&T customer for years, which then became Cingular, and then back to AT&T. I never had any problems with coverage, but my biggest complaint was with customer service. They were the all time worst.

I jumped ship to T-Mobile a year and a half ago because their plans were cheaper and JD Power had them ranked #1 for customer service. I've had no problems coverage wise, and any time I've had an issue (defective phone, etc) the service has been top notch.

By the way, I've got 1,000 texts a month for 10 bucks. You can get unlimited for $15. Can't beat it.

[Death Metal Moe]

All I've ever heard are complaints about AT&T. One such complaint was my friend had Cingular and had great coverage. They join with AT&T and he can't even get a signal in hiw own house down in the area around Kearney, NJ. Not the boonies or anything.

I won't be touching an iPhone unless I can get it from Verizon, but I'd just go for one of their comparable ones if I wanted such a phone.

[celery]

The carriers know that ubiquitous mobile internet is coming fast, and mobile IM will replace text messaging. They're just trying to squeeze every last penny out of text messaging that they can.

Fez4PrezN2008, I'd fight this - I bet they'll lower it but it'll still be a couple hundred dollars. Then immediately sign up for the 1000 text messaging plan - it's only $10 extra a month (take it out of his allowance :)).

[Fez4PrezN2008]

... Some of you might recall that this is a repeat for me of son's huge texting bill rant from over 2 yrs ago too...

...Palin babies of the customer service world...

I got a laugh re-reading the thread from the last time... (http://www.ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52937&highlight=cell+phone+bill)

[~Katja~]

They said it was hitting at 40cents a text ! and it was a LOT of f-ing texts. Yes, these kids nowadays and their dang texts... Some of you might recall that this is a repeat for me of son's huge texting bill rant from over 2 yrs ago too...

Although the rep on the phone was polite and helful, the people in the actual store are the Palin babies of the customer service world. Practically useless.

40 cents are most likely media texts which surprises me hearing jimmy rant on images and pictures not being downloadable on the i-phone

on my cheap att plan 200 texts are 5 bucks, 2000 are 10 and unlimited are 15

[lleeder]

I have T-mobile and always have a signal and never a problem with customer service. I got my sister a Verizon phone in my name cause her credit was bad. Recently she wanted to switch it back to her name. I had to call Verizon 3 seperate times to get help. Each time they needed my cell number and s.s.# 2 times per call. The automated server was horrible. On one call it transfered me to a number that they said was no longer in sevice and recommended I call the original number I was calling to start with.

[celery]

I have T-mobile and always have a signal and never a problem with customer service. I got my sister a Verizon phone in my name cause her credit was bad. Recently she wanted to switch it back to her name. I had to call Verizon 3 seperate times to get help. Each time they needed my cell number and s.s.# 2 times per call. The automated server was horrible. On one call it transfered me to a number that they said was no longer in sevice and recommended I call the original number I was calling to start with.

Nothing infuriates me more than those automated machines. Especially the ones that make you talk - I usually just scream OPERATOR over and over until I talk to a live person.

This list is sometimes helpful for those: http://gethuman.com/

[Contra]

AT&T was the first service I used when I got my first cellphone. The reception was horrible, the customer service was OK, but the prices were crazy. Before the contract was up I paid an the extra fee to get out of the plan. I never used them again. That was '00 into '01 I believe.

[sailor]

meh, it was a mix-up and it sounds like they're fixing it for you, so that actually sounds pretty good in my book. reminds me of my $1200 cable bill (http://ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53736) story from two years ago.

[Doctor Manhattan]

I recently got an iPhone and have had a couple bills so far. No issues at all. I don't use the SMS texting because I'm not gay, but if I did it wouldn't be more than a couple dollars. Even the $5 for 200 texts is more than I would ever need.

I wrote in another thread that charging extra for texting is fucked up. Data is data.

Other than texting, I love the iPhone and am very happy with AT&T. I've had them before I got the iPhone. Verizon rocks. If I didn't go with an iPhone, I'd probably go with a BB Bold, and if not that I'd be with Verizon on some other phone. Sprint and T-Mobile can suck my dick.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

meh, it was a mix-up and it sounds like they're fixing it for you, so that actually sounds pretty good in my book. reminds me of my $1200 cable bill (http://ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53736) story from two years ago.
Yeah, sorta agree but it should not have happened in the first place. But yeah on the cable thing, LongIslandRob takes the cake. Wow. I would want to punch that guy at the cable office in the tooth.

[Death Metal Moe]

I have T-mobile and always have a signal and never a problem with customer service. I got my sister a Verizon phone in my name cause her credit was bad. Recently she wanted to switch it back to her name. I had to call Verizon 3 seperate times to get help. Each time they needed my cell number and s.s.# 2 times per call. The automated server was horrible. On one call it transfered me to a number that they said was no longer in sevice and recommended I call the original number I was calling to start with.

Oh yea, please don't EVER misconstrue me talking up Verizon's signal as love for the company. Their customer service fucking SUCKS just like most other large companies. I just have Verizon because I've found they have the most signal in the places I usually am.

I have their DSL and I'm sure there's an old post on this site somewhere about my horror story of my DSL being down for most of a month, multiple service calls that were cancelled the next day, promises, lies and a new router I paid for to figure out there was a problem with THEIR equipment in THEIR office. Fucking Verizon.

They have some of the best services and they act like it.

[PapaBear]

I'm totally happy with them. When I got my Blackberry, I waited several months before getting Blackberry service. In the mean time, I kept paying for the Media service that I had for my former phone, but was useless to the Blackberry. I just wasn't thinking about it. When I finally signed up for the BB Service, the woman on the phone pointed out that I had been paying for the Media service for nothing. Without me asking for it, she gave me a credit on my next bill for the Media service.

Also, when I was trying to come up with the best combination of plans the fit my usage, she found a plan that wasn't even on the list. I've had At&t/Cingular/SunCom for 8 years, and I've had nothing but good service.

[Ritalin]

There are two things that no man likes: the foursome in front of them and their cell phone carrier.

[sailor]

There are two things that no man likes: the foursome in front of them and their cell phone carrier.

'cept papabear.

[AngelAmy]

I am beginning to hate ATT....I get so many dropped calls it's unbelievable.

Sometimes when I send or am sent text messages the reciever doesnt get them or I don't get them until hours and sometimes a day later.

Sometimes it says I have service but if I send a message or try to call someone it doesnt work (i also cant recieve messages or calls during this time) and when I finally find out it's happening I have to turn the phone off and back on again to be able to use it.

[~Katja~]

kinda fits in with the original post

THIS KID'S A TEXT MANIAC
OMG! 14,528 MESSAGES IN A MONTH! (http://www.nypost.com/seven/01112009/news/nationalnews/this_kids_a_text_maniac_149614.htm)

[Misteriosa]

I am beginning to hate ATT....I get so many dropped calls it's unbelievable.

^this.
i was on the phone yesterday and my call dropped 4 times in 20 mins. im done with them.

[disneyspy]

^this.
i was on the phone yesterday and my call dropped 4 times in 20 mins. im done with them.

i hate sprint,when im in a car on christmas and tryin to talk to a chick in new york and the signal keeps fadin out,sprint in northern michigan is the worst

[Misteriosa]

i hate sprint,when im in a car on christmas and tryin to talk to a chick in new york and the signal keeps fadin out,sprint in northern michigan is the worst

:flush:

[Doctor Manhattan]

THIS KID'S A TEXT MANIAC
OMG! 14,528 MESSAGES IN A MONTH! (http://www.nypost.com/seven/01112009/news/nationalnews/this_kids_a_text_maniac_149614.htm)

Luckily, Hardesty has a phone plan that allows unlimited texting for $30 a month. Otherwise, he estimates, he would have owed AT&T $2,905.60 at a rate of 20 cents per message.

Then why is this a story?

But seriously how is that even possible? they did the math and figured about one every 2 minutes (if awake all month) but when you figure time for sleep (and teenagers love to sleep) then that means she is on that thing every waking minute typing. How can you type texts that often? What the fuck can you want to say?

[celery]

Then why is this a story?

But seriously how is that even possible? they did the math and figured about one every 2 minutes (if awake all month) but when you figure time for sleep (and teenagers love to sleep) then that means she is on that thing every waking minute typing. How can you type texts that often? What the fuck can you want to say?

I'm guessing she mass-messaged her entire contact list, and each of those counted as an individual message. Probably forwarding jokes and crap.

[~Katja~]

Then why is this a story?

But seriously how is that even possible? they did the math and figured about one every 2 minutes (if awake all month) but when you figure time for sleep (and teenagers love to sleep) then that means she is on that thing every waking minute typing. How can you type texts that often? What the fuck can you want to say?

you have to add in that if she sent a text to multiple people, like those 4 friends she actively texted with then one text counts as 4 or however many she adds to the distribution.

[Death Metal Moe]

hopefully her texts didn't resemble this at all:

<a href="http://failblog.org/2009/01/05/serious-text-fail/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-10842" title="fail-owned-first-time-fail" src="http://failblog.wordpress.com/files/2008/12/fail-owned-first-time-fail.jpg" alt="fail owned pwned pictures" /></a><br />see more <a href="http://failblog.org">pwn and owned pictures</a>

[nukinfuts]

They did the same thing to my sister when she bought my niece a blackberry. They will correct it but it is a pain in the ass to take your time because the salesperson was a dipshit. I have att and out of all of the provoiders they have been the best which isn't saying much. My son sends about 11000 texts a month so its not an un common teenage thing. I wonder if they screw up the billing on purpose to see how many people will just pay it. Texting is 100% pure profit for cell providers.