rahlquist
Redeye
join:2001-10-30
Villa Rica, GA
| Fair Warning. AT&T Switching to Advanced billing for LD Serv
In short I got a notice in email last night warning me I may be double billed on my next AT&T bill for my Long Distance service because AT&T is going to a prepay model for LD service. I have been submitting it to just about every news posting website (like here) since last night and hopefully people will pick it up. The full text of the message is at my site for now ( »www.patentlystupid.com/node/48128 ). I guess AT&T may be desperate for cash?
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Fed Up With Stupidity?
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scubasteve
join:2007-06-02
Brooksville, FL
 ·AT&T Southeast
| I received the same email this morning which prompted my call to customer service where I canceled that service and a few other things.
I doubt that they are desperate for cash - but its very tough to swallow when you have never missed a payment. More likely the large corporation syndrome - I fail to see what the benefits are to the merger.
The long distance package with all the bells and whistles was more than I needed anyway. With free long distance on my wireless I don't need it at home too. |
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johnqpublic
Premium
join:2002-03-22
Xanadu
| said by scubasteve  :I doubt that they are desperate for cash I see you missed the front page story yesterday regarding AT&T. 
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Sarah Palin - Witchhunter approved! |
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Airwolf7
Premium
join:2004-12-12
Franklin, KY | reply to rahlquist
Don't you get a regular bill in the mail?
It has stated that AT&T is going to a prepay model for LD service for the past several months.
To prepare for this one bill with a double payment I budgeted money for it well in advance. |
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scubasteve
join:2007-06-02
Brooksville, FL
·AT&T Southeast
| I don't get bills in the mail. Mine are electronic. So I am already saving ATT a little coin each month. My first notice was in email yesterday morning.
Unless there is some change in the $$ amount of the bill - I don't go through it in great detail and I have not noticed any special notes - they could have been there. For me it's not about the money - it costs more to put a tank of gas in my car than the one time double bill.
I am not buying the idea that this is to generate extra cash for ATT. Its a one time deal and for one month. What would they do next - bill us a year in advance.
Just another move to alienate those who pay their bills on time every month.
Cheers |
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scubasteve
join:2007-06-02
Brooksville, FL
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to johnqpublic
said by johnqpublic :said by scubasteve :I doubt that they are desperate for cash I see you missed the front page story yesterday regarding AT&T. Oh I saw the news - I just don't believe that they are as bad off as they say. |
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ajtroglio
join:2000-04-20
Saint Louis, MO
| reply to rahlquist
My LD plan is One Rate Online Basic Long Distance which is $0.00 / month. Just $.12 per minute. Why would anyone have long distance from the POTS when there are cell phones?
Just looked at my August bill and there was not mention of long distance prepay. |
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willpick
Premium
join:2008-01-28
Boca Raton, FL
| I haven't had LD from Bellsouth/ATT for about 6 years now. I don't use my cell for LD, I just use phone cards. As I don't make too many LD calls a month, it's the simplest,cheapest way to make 'em. I will have to warn my sis about the change in billing practice-- |
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joako
Premium
join:2000-09-07
Gainesville, FL
| reply to ajtroglio
said by ajtroglio :My LD plan is One Rate Online Basic Long Distance which is $0.00 / month. Just $.12 per minute. Why would anyone have long distance from the POTS when there are cell phones? Just looked at my August bill and there was not mention of long distance prepay. $0.00 + "FCC Line charge" and other misc fees.
Me I just pay 2-5 cents/minute on VoIP. Probably could save money going to Vonage but I like the flexibility of controlling every aspect of my phone calls. Telemarketers get a NIS message with SIT tones and all, etc, etc etc.
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Gflash
@bellsouth.net | reply to rahlquist
If AT&T bills ahead one month, then the rest of us will not have to make up the difference when a deadbeat customer decides not to pay his last bill. They should have done this all along . |
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Airwolf7
Premium
join:2004-12-12
Franklin, KY
·AT&T Southeast
| I think it is definitely a good move on their part.
No more deadbeats running off with an unpaid bill for the last month of service.
I understand how this billing method would work for me because I have the "Everything and the Kitchen Sink" plan with all you can eat LD service. How will this billing method work for people that don't have a fixed price LD plan? |
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rahlquist
Redeye
join:2001-10-30
Villa Rica, GA
| reply to rahlquist
As I mentioned when I sent the tip in to TechDirt as well
»www.businesssheet.com/2008/10/at···ong-term
AT&T is having trouble getting credit issued to themselves, what better way to solve it?
On the backs of 'joe-sixpack'
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joako
Premium
join:2000-09-07
Gainesville, FL
| reply to Airwolf7
said by Airwolf7 :I think it is definitely a good move on their part. No more deadbeats running off with an unpaid bill for the last month of service. I understand how this billing method would work for me because I have the "Everything and the Kitchen Sink" plan with all you can eat LD service. How will this billing method work for people that don't have a fixed price LD plan? Just like a mobile phone. You pay the monthly fees up front and on the next month's bill you are charged for any minutes not included in the plan.
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kremithefrog
join:2008-06-27
Albany, GA
·AT&T Southeast
| said by joako :]Just like a mobile phone. You pay the monthly fees up front and on the next month's bill you are charged for any minutes not included in the plan. Yeap. This is in line with how ATT bills most of their wireless customers. It makes sense for them to do that. I don't like paying for something before I use it but it they didn't do it, then the losses caused by deadbeats could get passed along to other customers. |
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