An AT&T experience may become unexpected shocks

Christmastime is coming; right around the corner. 

You can watch, listen, and read as how AT&T will have a ‘huge’ Christmas presentation on TV, radio, newspaper, inserts, magazine, etc. in multiple efforts to persuade potential customers to spend their money with AT&T products and services.

Based on my experience and my belief, AT&T staff members will say just about anything to get your signature on a contract purchasing their Internet, TV programming, telephone services, etc.  In my case, as a consumer, that seemed to be in my case.  On one occasion, concerning AT&T contract problems, upper-level AT&T management has said some of their employees and/or contracted personnel representatives are not properly trained.

From the beginning addressing my dispute, one AT&T upper-level female from the State of Indiana may have been the only totally honest individual with AT&T whom I dealt with during these two months or so of deliberation.

In a short story, and as part of a contract including AT&T services of the Internet, a house telephone, a new cellular telephone, and AT&T’s newly purchased Direct TV, I purchased a bundle for a monthly sum of $130.29.

I live in a clean, friendly, and middle-America town of 2,900 residents in piedmont, North Carolina; less than 2 miles from the town’s two most busy state highways intersect.

The first shock I found by experience shows that while AT&T offers and sells cellular telephone service, they may use only other companies cellular telephone towers.  While one of those AT&T used tower, physically located some 1 mile or so from my house and between somewhat a totally flat land, and with no physical restrictions between the referenced AT&T tower and my home, I was unable to dial 911, and communicate with Emergency Medical Services (EMS), or police, etc. using my new AT&T Cellular telephone from my home.

Folks, I am a totally disabled 73-year-old man; 2 Heart Attacks with surgeries, 1 Stroke that originally left my brain totally blank, 6 Back surgeries, Diabetic, etc.  I have worked hard in overcoming my stroke, but God has given me a miracle in recovery.

I say again.  I was unable to dial 911, and communicate with EMS services or police, etc. using my new AT&T Cellular telephone from my home.

The first day or so after purchasing the new AT&T cellular telephone with their services, I thought it was a tower down; however, some very few day later, I went into the Albemarle, NC AT&T office and ask out of the contract.

 

I was forced to pay-in-full for the new $199.99 AT&T cellular telephone.  I did pay as it was mandatory that I have cellular telephone service.  My Heart Surgeon, Dr. Watt with Sanger Heart & Vasular Institute in Charlotte, NC instructed me to purchase and maintain an operating telephone 24 hour a day for the rest of my life.

The second shock was that after removing the purchase of the new AT&T telephone and their cellular services, I thought my bill would be reduced, as I am now forced to resort to my older cellular telephone and a former cellular telephone service.  At least 4 AT&T personnel (1 via telephone) assured me my total services would reduce down to some $68 to $69 monthly.

After my AT&T cellular telephone removal of my total telephone purchase, AT&T services increased my monthly payment to $143.49. 

My third shock was after the total contract fell apart, AT&T refused to refund the cost of my newly purchased $199.99 AT&T cellular telephone.

In these few weeks of discussion on this transaction, at least 4 AT&T staff employees told me what turned out to be total inaccuracies.  On 2 of these discussions, the AT&T store manager was able to hear all of these communications. 

In the end, after some 4 weeks or so of discussions, I told that day’s AT&T employee that I had heard many promises; however, the AT&T bills continue to be contrary to AT&T store employees promises and another AT&T technician statements.

At that time, I told the young man (AT&T salesman) that I wanted some written statements backing up their promises.  He turned to his AT&T store manager who had been listening, but silent.  The AT&T Manage turned to me and told me the AT&T billings, as I have been receiving, were correct.

Even today, I am shocked that AT&T hawk contracts for services that:

1.     For reducing their services as a new cellular telephone, a customer is forced to complete a pay-in-full integral part of the contract.

2.     With the AT&T cellular telephone removal, the AT&T monthly billing increases by more than 8%. The customer is forced to pay AT&T for less services, but higher monthly service rated.  Furthermore, this disabled man is force to purchase a sew cellular telephone service; in my case, another $49.00.

3.     Even with a totally disable 73-year-old man with multiple critical health problems. AT&T refuse to repurchase a 1-week old sell and still a perfectly new AT&T cellular telephone.

4.     On February10, 2017, AT&T mailed me Check Number 6762718713  in the amount of $5.00 as their settlement; for my cellular telephone.

5.     See, read, and become aware here and elsewhere what many others are saying about AT&T  https://www.consumeraffairs.com/cell_phones/att_wireless.htm.

AT&T should be fiercely penalized for their wrongful activity.

Respectfully submitted.

Sincerely,

Oscar Y. Harward

ohahrward@yahoo.com