| Ma Bell Has Indigestion California is the largest local service market for AT&T and since the CPUC approved AT&T's request to de-tariff rates, AT&T has wasted no time in raising rates.
Many of the products and services beyond the cost of the flat rate and measured rate service have increased twice during the past 12 months. An example, Caller ID has gone up in price from $6.17 per month to $9.99 per month. Anonymous Call Rejection has gone from $1.90 per month to $4.00 per month and a Non Published Number has gone from .28c per month to $1.25 per month.
I am sure that many Californians who have looked at their bills along with local media chatter about the increases on a percentage basis to reduce, cancel downgrade and eliminate services.
AT&T has been making a big aggressive marketing pitch pushing the bundles, or pushing landline packages if you don't have DSL, Wireless, Satellite/Uverse services. Customers are pushing back and saying NO!
The good thing is that DSL is now a good deal, and for the customers who have never had DSL, $10.00 a month.
I've cut everything back on my line to just measured rate lifeline service for $2.85 per month, provides 60 un timed local calls, each additional call is .08c un timed, a non-published number for $1.25 per month and DSL for $10.00.
I use another carrier for local toll and long distance.
Of course, how many customers have been disconnected for non-payment for local, wireless, DSL, satellite/Uverse.
The way AT&T paints it it must be so many that it impacted earnings. Must be all the people who have lost their homes and rung-up big bills and forgot to pay when the postal service couldn't deliver their mail to the bridge or underpass they are no living under.
No, it's not all the deadbeat customers. It's the customers who are upset by the huge price increases this year and have said ENOUGH and are either reducing/cutting back their services or disconnecting altogether. I guess some are discovering VOIP and all the services that come with VOIP for one low monthly price.
Poor Ma Bell, soon, we'll have to take-up a collection for her. |
