Complaint Review: AT&T Residential Phone Service

I established residential phone service on or about 04-23-2007 and residential internet service on or about 04-25-2007. I never received a bill for the month of May. As a result, I emailed AT&T repeatedly and finally someone sent me a link where I could download the bill. Once I discovered it was past due, i called AT&T immediately and paid the bill over the telephone. I went through great trouble to get someone on the phone because the AT&T number of 1-800-288-2020 is answered by a machine and you have to listen to more than 15 minutes of automated prompts and recordsings. I get the distinct feeling that AT&T is trying to avoid talking to their customers.

On June 12, 2007, I finally received my first bill. It was dated June 1, 2007. The bill had $17.99 of toll charges that I either didn't make or were made with a calling card. I do not have long distance established on this telephone. Also, I was pulled off of the lifeline program even though I have been approved or should have been approved and submitted a timely application. As a result, AT&T backdated the charges to a much higher rate. I was charged $14.61 for a combination of internet and residential service. This in addition to the $19.99 that I was paying for internet service. As a result, I believe I was overcharged $3.92 AT&T alleges on the phone that this is an extra charge if you have both internet and local phone service, but you can't get internet unless you have local phone service and the advertised rate that I was told that I was going to pay is $19.99. In addition, AT&T charged me a conversion charge from converting from the California Lifeline Program of $4.25, but I haven't converted anything and don't believe this is an authorized tarriff in the State of California.

In addition, AT&T charged me $.57 late fee, but they failed to provide a timely bill and I wasn't late. I actually paid the bill the same day that I was provided a link to the bill. This isn't my fault.

AT&T needs to be broken up and divested of their holdings. They are to rich and powerfull and corrupt. Their automated phone service which doesn't connect you to a live person can be bipassed if you just repeatedly punch in your telephone number multiple times without saying anything.

This is not a good company to do business with.

Randal
Renton, Washington
U.S.A.