SBC Ameritech rips off the poor
SBC Ameritech is in 13 states and based in San Antonio.
5 Midwest states' attorney generals say that
Ameritech has a record number of complaints for price gouging,
cramming (billing for services not ordered), time delays,
service problems, higher rates for intrastate calls than
interstate, removal of payment centers, nonhonoring
of 3rd party payment centers.
In one case someone went to pay a bill at Ray's.. in Akron
and was told there that due to problems Ray's no longer
handles Ameritech accounts. He then went to Kent..
and was told at the Drug Mart he needed the actual bill
to make the payment. Next he went to the Check Mart in
Barberton on Manchester Rd..this has now been over 30 miles..
it was closed.. and finally to a place near Akron U.
The money was not recorded by Ameritech. The laid off
factory worker's phone was cut off... the billing price
asked for by Ameritech was double what his monthly rate
was.. he had blocked his long distance.
Calling Ameritech the person was cut off by Chicago
and Detroit supervisors after long delays.
The man was happy to find out there are alternatives
to SBC Ameritech local service such as Metro Teleconnect
and AT&T. He does not want AT&T and is looking
for a list of local phone service providers.
Click here to read other Rip-off Reports on Ameritech
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Christine
Cleveland,Ohio,
A Few Answers To Your Payment Problems
#5UPDATE Employee
Tue, September 10, 2002
I work for Ameritech, and would like to address your issues:
You claim we bill higher for INTRAstate, than INTERstate calls. There are only 2 "long-distance" areas; Local long distance (aka local toll) this area starts where your local service ends & extends aprox. 30 miles. And, Long distance, which is everything beyond the local toll.
Example, if you live in Cleveland, Mentor is local toll or INTRAlata call. Columbus is a long distance or INTERlata call. Obviously anything outside the state is also long distance (interlata). FYI, Ameritech does NOT draw the lines, the FCC does.
We do NOT handle long distance calls at all! The only thing we can handle currently are your local toll calls. BUT you do NOT have to have us as your provider for local toll! If you have us for local service & a long distance company for your local toll & long distance calls you will be charged 3 different rates from THEM. 1 Rate for local toll(which could be as high as $.25 a min), another rate for what they call "in-state" long distance, and a lower rate for "state to state" calls. You may have a special rate plan, but likely you will still pay more for your local toll calls.
The second issue you had was with the payment options, allow me to clear a few things up for you one step at a time. You claimed:
1) "Removal of payment centers" Ameritech has nothing to do with whether or not a company wants to handle utility payments. That is the indiviual company's choice whether to extend that service to their customers as a convenience.
2) "Rays no longer handles payments due to problems" You need to get clarification from Ray's as to why THEY stopped accepting bill payments.
3) "Drug Mart requires the actual bill" You are angry at Ameritech for one of Drug Mart's policies??? Take a moment to think about this one.
4) "Check Mart was closed" Ok, again I ask you, why are you angry with Ameritech for this? Is it our fault that someone closed their business??
5) 'Payment not recorded from "A PLACE near Akron U" Sounds like this may not have been an authorized payment center. If you had the name of the "place" we could check on it. We have a list of authorized payment centers, that you can trust to handle your money also WE HAVE A WAY OF CHECKING what happens with your paymnets if you go through an authorized center. Did you get or keep your receipt of payment from this place?
I would reccommend that you go back to this place with your receipt & ask them where your payment is!!
Also, you may want to call before you travel over 30 miles, to inquire what any one particular store's policies are on accepting payments.
Ameritech offers many convenient ways to pay your bill. You can do it over the phone, with an automatic bill pay each month from your checking or charge account. There are payment centers you can go to. You can also pay online now. Or, you can even do it the "old fashioned way" by mailing it to us!!
Another tip, when using a payment center check if they are "online" with us or if they are "manual".
The center will tell you the payment transfer is immediate. Not true, it takes 24-48 hours for your payment to post if they are "online". If they are "manual" (DRUG MART IS) they will collect all the payments for that day and mail them in (which is why they may want an actual bill?) If an agent is "manual" it can take 7-10 days for that payment to post to your account!!
So if you have a disconect notice & you pay at an agent you should always call Ameritech with the receipt number to verify payment.
I hope this info has helped. Whether you stay with Ameritech or go to another local phone company.
Christine
Cleveland,Ohio,
A Few Answers To Your Payment Problems
#5UPDATE Employee
Tue, September 10, 2002
I work for Ameritech, and would like to address your issues:
You claim we bill higher for INTRAstate, than INTERstate calls. There are only 2 "long-distance" areas; Local long distance (aka local toll) this area starts where your local service ends & extends aprox. 30 miles. And, Long distance, which is everything beyond the local toll.
Example, if you live in Cleveland, Mentor is local toll or INTRAlata call. Columbus is a long distance or INTERlata call. Obviously anything outside the state is also long distance (interlata). FYI, Ameritech does NOT draw the lines, the FCC does.
We do NOT handle long distance calls at all! The only thing we can handle currently are your local toll calls. BUT you do NOT have to have us as your provider for local toll! If you have us for local service & a long distance company for your local toll & long distance calls you will be charged 3 different rates from THEM. 1 Rate for local toll(which could be as high as $.25 a min), another rate for what they call "in-state" long distance, and a lower rate for "state to state" calls. You may have a special rate plan, but likely you will still pay more for your local toll calls.
The second issue you had was with the payment options, allow me to clear a few things up for you one step at a time. You claimed:
1) "Removal of payment centers" Ameritech has nothing to do with whether or not a company wants to handle utility payments. That is the indiviual company's choice whether to extend that service to their customers as a convenience.
2) "Rays no longer handles payments due to problems" You need to get clarification from Ray's as to why THEY stopped accepting bill payments.
3) "Drug Mart requires the actual bill" You are angry at Ameritech for one of Drug Mart's policies??? Take a moment to think about this one.
4) "Check Mart was closed" Ok, again I ask you, why are you angry with Ameritech for this? Is it our fault that someone closed their business??
5) 'Payment not recorded from "A PLACE near Akron U" Sounds like this may not have been an authorized payment center. If you had the name of the "place" we could check on it. We have a list of authorized payment centers, that you can trust to handle your money also WE HAVE A WAY OF CHECKING what happens with your paymnets if you go through an authorized center. Did you get or keep your receipt of payment from this place?
I would reccommend that you go back to this place with your receipt & ask them where your payment is!!
Also, you may want to call before you travel over 30 miles, to inquire what any one particular store's policies are on accepting payments.
Ameritech offers many convenient ways to pay your bill. You can do it over the phone, with an automatic bill pay each month from your checking or charge account. There are payment centers you can go to. You can also pay online now. Or, you can even do it the "old fashioned way" by mailing it to us!!
Another tip, when using a payment center check if they are "online" with us or if they are "manual".
The center will tell you the payment transfer is immediate. Not true, it takes 24-48 hours for your payment to post if they are "online". If they are "manual" (DRUG MART IS) they will collect all the payments for that day and mail them in (which is why they may want an actual bill?) If an agent is "manual" it can take 7-10 days for that payment to post to your account!!
So if you have a disconect notice & you pay at an agent you should always call Ameritech with the receipt number to verify payment.
I hope this info has helped. Whether you stay with Ameritech or go to another local phone company.
Christine
Cleveland,Ohio,
A Few Answers To Your Payment Problems
#5UPDATE Employee
Tue, September 10, 2002
I work for Ameritech, and would like to address your issues:
You claim we bill higher for INTRAstate, than INTERstate calls. There are only 2 "long-distance" areas; Local long distance (aka local toll) this area starts where your local service ends & extends aprox. 30 miles. And, Long distance, which is everything beyond the local toll.
Example, if you live in Cleveland, Mentor is local toll or INTRAlata call. Columbus is a long distance or INTERlata call. Obviously anything outside the state is also long distance (interlata). FYI, Ameritech does NOT draw the lines, the FCC does.
We do NOT handle long distance calls at all! The only thing we can handle currently are your local toll calls. BUT you do NOT have to have us as your provider for local toll! If you have us for local service & a long distance company for your local toll & long distance calls you will be charged 3 different rates from THEM. 1 Rate for local toll(which could be as high as $.25 a min), another rate for what they call "in-state" long distance, and a lower rate for "state to state" calls. You may have a special rate plan, but likely you will still pay more for your local toll calls.
The second issue you had was with the payment options, allow me to clear a few things up for you one step at a time. You claimed:
1) "Removal of payment centers" Ameritech has nothing to do with whether or not a company wants to handle utility payments. That is the indiviual company's choice whether to extend that service to their customers as a convenience.
2) "Rays no longer handles payments due to problems" You need to get clarification from Ray's as to why THEY stopped accepting bill payments.
3) "Drug Mart requires the actual bill" You are angry at Ameritech for one of Drug Mart's policies??? Take a moment to think about this one.
4) "Check Mart was closed" Ok, again I ask you, why are you angry with Ameritech for this? Is it our fault that someone closed their business??
5) 'Payment not recorded from "A PLACE near Akron U" Sounds like this may not have been an authorized payment center. If you had the name of the "place" we could check on it. We have a list of authorized payment centers, that you can trust to handle your money also WE HAVE A WAY OF CHECKING what happens with your paymnets if you go through an authorized center. Did you get or keep your receipt of payment from this place?
I would reccommend that you go back to this place with your receipt & ask them where your payment is!!
Also, you may want to call before you travel over 30 miles, to inquire what any one particular store's policies are on accepting payments.
Ameritech offers many convenient ways to pay your bill. You can do it over the phone, with an automatic bill pay each month from your checking or charge account. There are payment centers you can go to. You can also pay online now. Or, you can even do it the "old fashioned way" by mailing it to us!!
Another tip, when using a payment center check if they are "online" with us or if they are "manual".
The center will tell you the payment transfer is immediate. Not true, it takes 24-48 hours for your payment to post if they are "online". If they are "manual" (DRUG MART IS) they will collect all the payments for that day and mail them in (which is why they may want an actual bill?) If an agent is "manual" it can take 7-10 days for that payment to post to your account!!
So if you have a disconect notice & you pay at an agent you should always call Ameritech with the receipt number to verify payment.
I hope this info has helped. Whether you stay with Ameritech or go to another local phone company.
Christine
Cleveland,Ohio,
A Few Answers To Your Payment Problems
#5UPDATE Employee
Tue, September 10, 2002
I work for Ameritech, and would like to address your issues:
You claim we bill higher for INTRAstate, than INTERstate calls. There are only 2 "long-distance" areas; Local long distance (aka local toll) this area starts where your local service ends & extends aprox. 30 miles. And, Long distance, which is everything beyond the local toll.
Example, if you live in Cleveland, Mentor is local toll or INTRAlata call. Columbus is a long distance or INTERlata call. Obviously anything outside the state is also long distance (interlata). FYI, Ameritech does NOT draw the lines, the FCC does.
We do NOT handle long distance calls at all! The only thing we can handle currently are your local toll calls. BUT you do NOT have to have us as your provider for local toll! If you have us for local service & a long distance company for your local toll & long distance calls you will be charged 3 different rates from THEM. 1 Rate for local toll(which could be as high as $.25 a min), another rate for what they call "in-state" long distance, and a lower rate for "state to state" calls. You may have a special rate plan, but likely you will still pay more for your local toll calls.
The second issue you had was with the payment options, allow me to clear a few things up for you one step at a time. You claimed:
1) "Removal of payment centers" Ameritech has nothing to do with whether or not a company wants to handle utility payments. That is the indiviual company's choice whether to extend that service to their customers as a convenience.
2) "Rays no longer handles payments due to problems" You need to get clarification from Ray's as to why THEY stopped accepting bill payments.
3) "Drug Mart requires the actual bill" You are angry at Ameritech for one of Drug Mart's policies??? Take a moment to think about this one.
4) "Check Mart was closed" Ok, again I ask you, why are you angry with Ameritech for this? Is it our fault that someone closed their business??
5) 'Payment not recorded from "A PLACE near Akron U" Sounds like this may not have been an authorized payment center. If you had the name of the "place" we could check on it. We have a list of authorized payment centers, that you can trust to handle your money also WE HAVE A WAY OF CHECKING what happens with your paymnets if you go through an authorized center. Did you get or keep your receipt of payment from this place?
I would reccommend that you go back to this place with your receipt & ask them where your payment is!!
Also, you may want to call before you travel over 30 miles, to inquire what any one particular store's policies are on accepting payments.
Ameritech offers many convenient ways to pay your bill. You can do it over the phone, with an automatic bill pay each month from your checking or charge account. There are payment centers you can go to. You can also pay online now. Or, you can even do it the "old fashioned way" by mailing it to us!!
Another tip, when using a payment center check if they are "online" with us or if they are "manual".
The center will tell you the payment transfer is immediate. Not true, it takes 24-48 hours for your payment to post if they are "online". If they are "manual" (DRUG MART IS) they will collect all the payments for that day and mail them in (which is why they may want an actual bill?) If an agent is "manual" it can take 7-10 days for that payment to post to your account!!
So if you have a disconect notice & you pay at an agent you should always call Ameritech with the receipt number to verify payment.
I hope this info has helped. Whether you stay with Ameritech or go to another local phone company.