AT&T Wireless billed me another $800 instead of refunding my $800 deposit ripoff Phoenix Arizona
I am a Canadian living in Mexico but spend regular time in the USA. I needed a cellphone for my USA visits. I decided to use AT&T. Because I had no credit record in the USA I was required to give them an $800 deposit for 1 year before I could have an account with them. I gave them this deposit in March of 2001 when I activated the account. My account has been kept current since that time.
In April of 2002 I requested the refund of my $800 deposit as the year was up. This was done through a phone call to accounting from an AT&T service center in Tucson. I was informed I would receive a check for the $800 in 8 to 10 weeks. I never received the check.
I was in Mexico during this time, in early May I checked my account online and discovered I had been charged $800 on my account. Instead of paying me my $800 they had charged me another $800.
I tried phoning their 800 number from Mexico a number of times. This cost me about $1.50 a minute. I was on hold for a total of well over an hour on numerous occasions at all times of day and night without getting through to a live person. I finally gave up as I was throwing good money after bad.
I contacted online customer service with my problem on May 15. I was informed the error would be corrected. They did reverse the $800 charge on my account but I have still not received my deposit back.
In June I requested a definite date when I would be repaid. I did not get a response to my query. In July I again reiterated my problem and requested repayment of my deposit. On July 22 I received a response saying my account information was being forwarded to accounts receivable and they would respond as soon as possible. I have yet to hear from accounts receivable and I am unwilling to wait until some unspecified future date when I will hear from them.
Peter
Tucson, Arizona
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Sonya
Sanford,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Please Be Careful Mary
#5Consumer Suggestion
Wed, July 21, 2004
Mary,
I read your post on Ripoffreport.com. Do you realize that you gave everyone in the world access to not only yours but your son's social security number, your address, your phone number, your date of births, etc. I would not be surprised if you end up having your social security number used again to obtain services, possibly even illegal services. I would seriously consider editing your post and removing this information before you ruin your life as well as your son's. You never know when this information can get in the wrong person's hands. I hope you are able to correct this before someone takes advantage of your information. Take Care
Mark
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Can you say Identity Theft???
#5Consumer Comment
Fri, July 16, 2004
Mary,
I agree AT&T May have done wrong by giving your son a Cell Phone under your information; however that is not what I would like to address here. I am sure if you have read a newspaper in the last couple years you have heard of Identity Theft. My suggestion to you, after reading your report would be that you start pulling your own credit report immediately and at least once a month thereafter for several years to come. In this report you have posted all the information needed to steal your, and your sons identity. you should NEVER post social security information anywhere!!! and to top it off you have also given dates of birth and phone numbers. I would suggest that you edit your report as soon as possible even though I am sure the damage is already done. Please crawl out from under your rock Mary, Identity theft is one of the biggest crimes going today...and you have just made yourself and your son a prime candidate for being a VICTIM?? of this crime.
Mary
Santa Maria,California,
U.S.A.
AT&T Mistakes
#5REBUTTAL Individual responds
Fri, July 16, 2004
Mary E B
Santa Maria CA. 93455
Unauthorized use of my social security number is causing undue hardship
July 15, 2004
AT&T Wireless
Attn Will Lindsey
Bellevue, WA. 98009-9003
Thank you Will Lindsey for the Customer Appreciation Certificate, I agree with you I have been a good customer for approximately eight year. I was refused service on 6/17/04 for the following reasons. AT&T has not corrected this discrepancy I hope you can help me on this request. I have written the Better Business Bureau and the Credit department in effort to get my good credit back.
AT&T allowed my son Robert D. B # XXXXXXX social security # ((REDACTED)) to get a phone in his name under my social security # ((REDACTED)) This is frightening knowing any terrorist could obtain a phone under any persons social security number Apparently his driver's license was not checked. My account # is XXXXXXXX. Account name Mary B wireless phone # 805-xxx-xxxx.
was allowed to use my social security number ((REDACTED))to get his phone is his name without checking his drivers lice son my permission in 2000, to get phone service
I was unable to update my AT&T wireless service on 6/17/04. I was advised that
My son Donald Robert Bunker accounts # XX XXX XXX social security # ((REDACTED)) was issued unauthorized wireless phone service by AT&T February 16th 2000 under my social security # xxx-xx-xxxx. This transaction was without my knowledge.
I have been with AT&T with the same cell phone # 805-xxx-xxxxfor eight years with a perfect record. When I was refused new service on June 14, 2004 I was deeply concerned and shock to learn my son's account # xxx-xxx xxx had been written off several years ago due to non payment. I had no knowledge of his unauthorized account using my social security number.
Apparently his driver's licenses were never checked. This would have prevented the unauthorized phone service. It should have been obvious his social security number did not match the information on his driver's licenses. I was born on December27th, 1941. Roberts' date of birth is April 27th 1970.
AT&T should be responsible for the unauthorized phone service. I never received any billing statement on account #xxx xxx xxx. I would have paid the bills had I know about them. Holding me responsible for my son's unauthorized phone service is unfair. I knew nothing about this delinquent account until June 14th. I am requesting AT&T take responsibility for there mistake issuing a phone with an unauthorized social security number.
Sincerely,
Mary E. B
deedee
paramus,New Jersey,
excellent customer service group
#5UPDATE Employee
Tue, August 27, 2002
During your initial activation with AT&T wireless, your service agreement advised that you should contact Customer Care after one year of service to receive a refund on your security deposit.
The AT&T Wireless store should not perform and financial exchanges on a customers account. Contact the R/M department directly to receive your find out the status of your security deposit.
Rule of thumb. Once the dealer has activated your service, his job is done, unless you wanted to perform an upgrade. AT&T Wirless has an excellent customer service group, and their calls are monitored. Apologies for your inconvience.