FEBRUARY, 1998: "After hearing from a friend that AT&T has been accused of overbilling, I looked at my home telephone bill and noticed a $3.00 monthly charge. I called AT&T, spoke with "Keith" (refused to give out last name or extension), and he told me that this is an International Savings Plan that I signed up for. Sure enough, in July of 1995 AT&T offered me an overseas savings plan which was supposed to last only 12 months and then removed, according to AT&T (it was only a 1yr offer). During that year I called Europe ( 4 times a month), and when the offer expired I stopped calling frequently (maybe once in 3 months). "Keith" said that AT&T began charging me this month again for some reason, and he will gladly refund $3.00. After I hung up I looked at a few more bills, and discovered that as far as I could go back (January 1997) that I have been charged $3.00 a month (I guess AT&T doesn't count on people saving their old bills, eh?). When I called back no one knew who "Keith" was (they probably make up names). Again, they pretty much swore that I have not been charged, and when I offered to fax in my bills, they backed down. A supervisor agreed to refund only $39.00 out of $57.00, and without the taxes (another $10 or so). It is April 18, 1988, and I have yet to see a refund."

Rec'd 3/31/1999: After recieving my phone bill from AT&T I noticed that they were charging me $2.88 a minute for my long distance phone calls for the first two minutes then .50 cents for the minutes after that and the calls were made after 8 pm every call. From usatank@netins.net. Sincerly Very upset customer. [Note: I have been using Vartec Telecom as my long distance carrier for about 2 years, very happy w/them, charges are 5c/min within the state of CA, 10c/min outside, 24hrs/day. There is a 3 minute minimum, and they did away w/a monthly service charge, but heck, you'd be saving a bundle the first few seconds. Don't know their office#, but access code is 1010-811.].

Rec'd 8/10/1999: I think that some of the people that write to you should look for the local number to the Public Utilities Commission. I know here in CA that if the PUC is contacted they will investigate and if a lot of people get together, a stronger voice and presence will be set. My story started while I was in the Navy and overseas on deployment. My card number was stolen and passed around or sold (it is still done on some bases both here and abroad). I arrived with our battle group in the UAE ( Middle East) to find a letter from my father stating that he had just received a bill from AT&T for over $1500.00 and a copy of the bill. There were calls to all over the U.S. and at many different times while my ship was in port or not. After many three way calls with my father, AT&T, and myself from other countries, the final outcome was that I would have to pay the bill. Two months later (two months with no phone card) somehow AT&T got it through their heads that they were not getting any money from me and with the U.S. Navy behind me they weren't going to be able to force me into any payment plan. The capper to the whole story is that on the way home in Australia I got a letter from AT&T asking if I would like a military calling card (The NERVE of some companies). Dana C., USN.

Rec'd 8/10/1999: About a year ago I switched over to AT&T from SW Bell for local and long distance service. Things were fine until a couple of months ago, when I received a letter stating that AT&T was experiencing billing problems, and my next bill may be adjusted to reflect the errors. I received my next bill dated June 19 for $91.31, due July 9. I then received an "Account Suspension Notice", dated June 30, stating that I owed a total amount of $91.31 of which $29 was "severely delinquent." This was news to me, as I had paid all my previous bills in full, and this "delinquent" amount was not noted on my current bill. On July 6, I called and spoked with Denitra and asked why I had received the notice when my bill wasn't yet due. She said it was a recurring error in their billing system in which charges were applied to local service first, then long distance. She said she would would make a note on my account and my service would not be interrupted. I mailed my bill (which, to be honest, arrived at AT&T about a week late), but I have never had service suspended for being a week past due. Guess what -- my long distance service was disconnected. I called and, after an endless tangle with AT&T's convoluted computerized system, spoke with another representative. She apologized and said I was disconnected due to the same billing problem, but since my payment was late, I could not have my long distance service restored until payment was received. I knew the payment must have reached them, so I confirmed through my bank and through AT&T's automated system that the payment had been received and posted. I called again and talked to Christine. She said that service could not be restored because I now owed $79.56 (for which I had not yet received a bill), and that I had various smaller amounts past due for several months...Christine then told me that my bill for the past month was $106. No, I said, I am looking at my bill for last month and it was $91.31, which I paid.

Well, Christine was hearing none of it, she just kept arguing with me that I had not paid my bills in full, that I had past due amounts, and that, basically, she was right and I was wrong. I told her that I was tired of arguing with this company and I was ready to switch back to SW Bell. She said that was fine if that was what I wanted to do. At this point, I realize I should have asked to speak to her supervisor, but I was so close to blowing a gasket. The next week, I called and switched back to Southwestern Bell for my local service and MCI for long distance. Ironically, I received my monthly AT&T statement for $79.56, dated July 19 and due Aug. 8. Of course, I will pay the final $79.56 I owe on the account, but it will take all my strength not to get a magic marker and scrawl "kiss my ass!" across it before I send it in. Cathy B.

APRIL, 1998: "Last month I asked AT&T to remove the Personal 800 Service from my telephone bill, which they had erroneously signed me up for. This month's bill came with a $2.00 charge for the removal of the service. AT&T REFUSED to remove this charge from my telephone bill...so I told them to remove themselves from my bill. Now I started using a long distance service called VARTEC, which charges me 5 cents a minute for calls within California, and 10 cents a minute for calls outside the state, 24 hours a day. No problems with them yet (I just have to remember that there is a 3-minute minimum...not a big deal, calls are almost always longer--and even if not, it's still cheaper!)."

Rec'd 6/27/1999: In April of 1998, I switched my long distance carrier to RCN. I still kept getting bills from AT&T for something called a National Access Contribution. Since it was for such a small amount, and since this was the first time I had ever not had AT&T for my long-distance carrier, I thought it was something I still had to pay because they had set up the lines originally. I did begin to wonder about it, and asked someone who also uses RCN if she got this bill from AT&T. She said no. I just got the next bill (they were now billing me quarterly because the amount was too small for a monthly billing) and called RCN to see what they knew about it. They told me I shouldn't be getting billed. After wading my way through endless menus that all seemed to end in a recording, I finally found my way through the maze to a human voice. And this voice cancelled my bill. I asked for a refund for the money I had mistakenly paid and was told, 'No, I should have cancelled my service.' Now how does RCN take over as my long distance carrier and AT&T doesn't have a clue? I'm mad at myself for being so gullible - it just didn't occur to me that they would be falsely billing me. Janice A., jangle5757@aol.com .

Rec'd 7/12/1999: AT&T is trying to collect one hundred eight (108)+ - Million dollars with out providing service. They claim to be entitled to the value of 2 full years of service in penalties because they wrote this penalties in a tariff filed (but not aproved or disaproved) with the FCC. They have done the same to many others (resellers) and is a grate source of tax deductions. Billion per year in fake unpaid bills. The lower federal court (Judge Deny ____) sided with AT&T and defaulted us in a technicality.What do you think? What else can I do about it? Victor ____, American ____ _____ Corp. [note: I hope you can appeal...sounds to me like the judge needs to receive the AT&T bill himself!].

Rec'd 7/13/1999: We rec'd in the mail 7/7/99 a letter from AT&T, 901 Marguette Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402-3233. Letter shows Account Number 8001405____. Service: Private :Line Services." NO TELEPHONE NUMBER LISTED" The letter advises past due amount of $ 1672.24. I have been trying for 4 days to get the telephone number that this letter refers to without any luck. I have been given 3 different 800 numbers to call, all parties are busy and left on hold from 5 to 15 mins. only to be told I have to Provide the telephone number in order to get help????? At this point this outstanding cannot be paid unless the right party from AT&T provides the telephone this account refers to. The service obtained from all of the above 800s was appalling, something needs to be done very quickly to resolve the customer service standards. ... Thank you, Jerina M., Newark, NJ. [Note: another example of AT&T's "customer service"]

Rec'd 7/16/1999: I was offered a very good plan by a person claiming to be an AT&T representative: 10 cents within US 24 hours, 55 cents to INDIA 24 hours and no plan fees for six months. I took it. Now I got my first bill, all calls to INDIA are charges at rate close $3.00 and with in US calls at rate close to 30 cents. I called AT&T and they say they have nothing on the record to show that the plan was offered to me. I called them immediately after I got the bill but they say I have pay the whole amount which is about $500, which if it had been correctly billed would have been around $130. The only option they have given me now is to file written complaint. I have learned my lesson, and ask for any offer in writing. Suggestions welcome. Srinivas Pyla info@pencor-group.com (318) 839 9063 ext 221 (318) 839 2328 -Fax [Note: I have gone through an almost identical scam about two years ago with AT&T. Luckily, my phone bill was not as high.]

Rec'd 8/5/1999: I have a fax line in my home that is used for mostly incoming faxes for my business. About 6 months ago my wife while paying the bill made a comment that I had made numerous long distance calls, 23 in all. Knowing I had not made these calls I found they were made by a neighbor and apparently our line were in someway crossed. AT&T would not admit this so I contacted the Public Utilities Commission. I was then contacted by AT&T and told they had found the problem and the telephone in question had been disconnected. The only problem is they now will not refund my payments that I, in good faith paid to keep my good credit rating and keep them from cutting off my service. Russ F., Lockeford Ca.

Rec'd 8/10/1999: [read this is you can--another very strong reason not to use AT&T]: A year ago I switched over to AT&T from SW Bell for local and long distance. A couple of months ago, I received a letter stating that AT&T was experiencing billing problems, and my next bill may be adjusted. I received my next bill dated June 19 for $91.31, due July 9. I then received an "Account Suspension Notice", dated June 30, stating that I owed a total amount of $91.31 (my current bill), of which $29 was "severely delinquent." This was news to me, as I had paid all my previous bills in full. On July 6, I called and spoked with Denitra ...She said it was a recurring error in their billing system in which charges were applied to local service first, then long distance. She said my service would not be interrupted. I mailed my bill ...Guess what -- my long distance service was disconnected. I called and, after an endless tangle with AT&T's convoluted computerized system, spoke with another representative. She apologized and said since my payment was late, I could not have my long distance service restored until payment was received...a week later, I tried again to make a long distance call, only to find my service was still disconnected. I knew the payment must have reached them, so I confirmed through my bank and through AT&T's automated system. I called again and talked to Christine. She said that service could not be restored because I now owed $79.56, and that I had various smaller amounts past due for several months! I told her that I had never been notified of any past due amounts, other than the disputed $29 from the previous month, and that I had paid my bill in full each month. Christine then told me that my bill for the past month was $106 and some odd change. No, I said, I am looking at my bill for last month and it was $91.31, which I paid.

Well, Christine was hearing none of it. I decided to end the conversation. The next week, I called and switched back to Southwestern Bell for my local service and MCI for long distance. A few days later, I received an "Account Closure Notice" from AT&T. Of course, I will pay the final $79.56 I owe on the account, but it will take all my strength not to get a magic marker and scrawl "kiss my ass!" across it before I send it in. Cathy B.

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