Interesting telephone calls with ATT

[Christien]

Originally Posted by RWebb

- don't pay and dare tehm to send out a collection agency

they won't;

Why wouldn't they? My company sends people to collections all the time. It's easy and painless, and our contracts now include a clause to recoup the collection agency's commission, so we get our full 100%.

When you're fairly certain it's a write-off, sending to collections becomes the "may as well" option because there's no cost, just lost receivable. With a lawsuit, there's at least $200 in costs just for filing, obtaining default judgment, garnishment order, etc. That doesn't include any legal time whatsoever.

[RWebb]

I meant that the collections agency would not sue.

[Gogar]

I'm three months into the EXACT SAME thing, zoltan. Mine was $12.54, though. I think I've got it under control, I hope, I think. I called qwest, and have had them remove my long distance option a total of three times. They removed that AT&T charges from my bill, and I haven't heard from
AT&T so far.

[dhoward]

I closed an AT&T account about 7 years ago. I still get a bill every month with a $8.73 credit balance. I figure the resources to calculate, SAN space, printing and postage pretty much make it worth my while to leave it alone....

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Do not do this by telephone.

Correct.

Or if you do, follow up with a WRITTEN summary in letter form, sent certified mail, return receipt.

Works every time. I learned this years ago after being d*cked in more ways than I can count by similarly idiotic bureaucracies. That method has never, ever failed me.

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by craigster59

They're hoping you get exasperated and just pay the bill. I went thru this with Direct TV. They cancelled the service, but did a "reactivation" at my old address a year later. "Oh, the account was just in hibernation." It's a service not a friggin' animal !

My mother in law moved in with us six months ago (80 y/o) and she got the exact same thing this week. Direct TV says it's in their contract. Fine print I suppose. I think she got it taken care of. If I had Direct and they pulled that, I'd go complain to the FCC and the State Attorney General.

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by Rick V

Yeah, and ever try and pay off a credit card acct? Gotta love the $0.34 bill that cames in 2 months later with a $30 late fee attached to it.

Ahh...you've had a dealings with Citi as well eh?



Z - Wanna bake their noodle? Cancel your landline, go VOIP. Make it even more interesting and use ATT Callvantage. They'll do a complete meltdown.

[HarryD]

Cut to the chase. Stop messing around with low level folks. Go to THE MAN.

Get the address of the PRESIDENT of AT&T (look in the Investor section of the AT&T Web Site to get his Address). Mail his office directly stating the facts and your desired outcome. For AT&T, try this first (as found in the Web Site):

"To contact AT&T's Board of Directors:
If you would like to communicate with the Board of Directors, nonmanagement directors, the lead director or a specific individual director, please address your letter in care of:

Ann E. Meuleman
Senior Vice President and Secretary
175 E. Houston
P.O. Box 2933
San Antonio, Texas 78299-2933 "

A Quick google search turns up that the President of AT&T (Randall Stephenson) can be e-mailed at randall.stephenson@att.com.

I have done this many times over the years. The President (or more likley his flunky) does not want to hear this from customers as it is very bad for business.

Each time I have done this, my problem was resolved to my satifaction within 2 weeks.