Andrea Hicks
Lansing,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, September 16, 2004
Hello, I used to work at SBC, in the Customer Care Center. One reason your first bill is so high, is because they bill 1 month in advance. Actually, a lot of companies do the same. I don't like it either but, it's how their system is set up. So, what you're actually getting is a bill for your immediate service and the month upcoming. After you pay your first bill, your bill should be close to what they told you it would be when you first hooked up. You said they didn't do any hook-up/wiring in the house for you...that's good. They charge a VERY hefty fee for internal wiring. They do still however, charge an initial hook-up fee just to turn both of your services on. Basically, those are processing fees and many customers refer to it as "hitting a switch." Yep, that's a pricey switch to hit. The only thing I can say, is that since I've workef for a phone company...I have BASIC service. Yep, it stinks to not have those 'extras' but those extras cost EXTRA. There are already enough fees on your bill every month so why add more that you may not even use much. I don't have call-waiting, caller-id, DSL ( I use highspeed dial-up), or anything that will "feed their greed." They will offer enticing promotions but you're better off not getting them. I even go as far as to have all the FREE BLOCKS for the Pay-per-use options on my phone. I don't want them saying someone must of used them, so I save myself the hastle. As a consumer, people need to look at their bills and they need to DEMAND an explanation of all of them so they won't get confused down the road. If you don't like how one rep explains it, demand another rep. It's your service and unfortunately, we as customers have to ensure that we're being given competent service by being informed. Good luck to you.
Andrea Hicks
Lansing,#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, September 16, 2004
Hello, I used to work at SBC, in the Customer Care Center. One reason your first bill is so high, is because they bill 1 month in advance. Actually, a lot of companies do the same. I don't like it either but, it's how their system is set up. So, what you're actually getting is a bill for your immediate service and the month upcoming. After you pay your first bill, your bill should be close to what they told you it would be when you first hooked up. You said they didn't do any hook-up/wiring in the house for you...that's good. They charge a VERY hefty fee for internal wiring. They do still however, charge an initial hook-up fee just to turn both of your services on. Basically, those are processing fees and many customers refer to it as "hitting a switch." Yep, that's a pricey switch to hit. The only thing I can say, is that since I've workef for a phone company...I have BASIC service. Yep, it stinks to not have those 'extras' but those extras cost EXTRA. There are already enough fees on your bill every month so why add more that you may not even use much. I don't have call-waiting, caller-id, DSL ( I use highspeed dial-up), or anything that will "feed their greed." They will offer enticing promotions but you're better off not getting them. I even go as far as to have all the FREE BLOCKS for the Pay-per-use options on my phone. I don't want them saying someone must of used them, so I save myself the hastle. As a consumer, people need to look at their bills and they need to DEMAND an explanation of all of them so they won't get confused down the road. If you don't like how one rep explains it, demand another rep. It's your service and unfortunately, we as customers have to ensure that we're being given competent service by being informed. Good luck to you.
Andrea Hicks
Lansing,#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, September 16, 2004
Hello, I used to work at SBC, in the Customer Care Center. One reason your first bill is so high, is because they bill 1 month in advance. Actually, a lot of companies do the same. I don't like it either but, it's how their system is set up. So, what you're actually getting is a bill for your immediate service and the month upcoming. After you pay your first bill, your bill should be close to what they told you it would be when you first hooked up. You said they didn't do any hook-up/wiring in the house for you...that's good. They charge a VERY hefty fee for internal wiring. They do still however, charge an initial hook-up fee just to turn both of your services on. Basically, those are processing fees and many customers refer to it as "hitting a switch." Yep, that's a pricey switch to hit. The only thing I can say, is that since I've workef for a phone company...I have BASIC service. Yep, it stinks to not have those 'extras' but those extras cost EXTRA. There are already enough fees on your bill every month so why add more that you may not even use much. I don't have call-waiting, caller-id, DSL ( I use highspeed dial-up), or anything that will "feed their greed." They will offer enticing promotions but you're better off not getting them. I even go as far as to have all the FREE BLOCKS for the Pay-per-use options on my phone. I don't want them saying someone must of used them, so I save myself the hastle. As a consumer, people need to look at their bills and they need to DEMAND an explanation of all of them so they won't get confused down the road. If you don't like how one rep explains it, demand another rep. It's your service and unfortunately, we as customers have to ensure that we're being given competent service by being informed. Good luck to you.
Andrea Hicks
Lansing,#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, September 16, 2004
Hello, I used to work at SBC, in the Customer Care Center. One reason your first bill is so high, is because they bill 1 month in advance. Actually, a lot of companies do the same. I don't like it either but, it's how their system is set up. So, what you're actually getting is a bill for your immediate service and the month upcoming. After you pay your first bill, your bill should be close to what they told you it would be when you first hooked up. You said they didn't do any hook-up/wiring in the house for you...that's good. They charge a VERY hefty fee for internal wiring. They do still however, charge an initial hook-up fee just to turn both of your services on. Basically, those are processing fees and many customers refer to it as "hitting a switch." Yep, that's a pricey switch to hit. The only thing I can say, is that since I've workef for a phone company...I have BASIC service. Yep, it stinks to not have those 'extras' but those extras cost EXTRA. There are already enough fees on your bill every month so why add more that you may not even use much. I don't have call-waiting, caller-id, DSL ( I use highspeed dial-up), or anything that will "feed their greed." They will offer enticing promotions but you're better off not getting them. I even go as far as to have all the FREE BLOCKS for the Pay-per-use options on my phone. I don't want them saying someone must of used them, so I save myself the hastle. As a consumer, people need to look at their bills and they need to DEMAND an explanation of all of them so they won't get confused down the road. If you don't like how one rep explains it, demand another rep. It's your service and unfortunately, we as customers have to ensure that we're being given competent service by being informed. Good luck to you.
Myra
San Antonio,#6Consumer Comment
Sat, May 22, 2004
I dont know what to do. I am petrified after getting my first SBC internet and phone bill. I just moved to San Antonio and have experienced terrible service with SBC. They are horrible! AND NOW THIS! I just got a bill from them for $ 234.00 for my first month of internet and phone service??? I have NEVER paid this kind of money before! It makes no sense! I had a company in the last city I lived at where they came out installed everything and was billed for DSL for $ 26.5 a month. And my phone bill was around maybe $ 50.00. How does one get $ 234.00? I even had to pay $ 75.00 for an independent guy to come out and hook up all of the crap they sent to us. So they didnt even come out and do ANYTHING! It think this is a total rip off and they are way out of line & GREEDY! Please advise - what do I do? See an attorney? call the TV news station and report them or what? MJA
Myra
San Antonio,#7Consumer Comment
Sat, May 22, 2004
I dont know what to do. I am petrified after getting my first SBC internet and phone bill. I just moved to San Antonio and have experienced terrible service with SBC. They are horrible! AND NOW THIS! I just got a bill from them for $ 234.00 for my first month of internet and phone service??? I have NEVER paid this kind of money before! It makes no sense! I had a company in the last city I lived at where they came out installed everything and was billed for DSL for $ 26.5 a month. And my phone bill was around maybe $ 50.00. How does one get $ 234.00? I even had to pay $ 75.00 for an independent guy to come out and hook up all of the crap they sent to us. So they didnt even come out and do ANYTHING! It think this is a total rip off and they are way out of line & GREEDY! Please advise - what do I do? See an attorney? call the TV news station and report them or what? MJA
Myra
San Antonio,#8Consumer Comment
Sat, May 22, 2004
I dont know what to do. I am petrified after getting my first SBC internet and phone bill. I just moved to San Antonio and have experienced terrible service with SBC. They are horrible! AND NOW THIS! I just got a bill from them for $ 234.00 for my first month of internet and phone service??? I have NEVER paid this kind of money before! It makes no sense! I had a company in the last city I lived at where they came out installed everything and was billed for DSL for $ 26.5 a month. And my phone bill was around maybe $ 50.00. How does one get $ 234.00? I even had to pay $ 75.00 for an independent guy to come out and hook up all of the crap they sent to us. So they didnt even come out and do ANYTHING! It think this is a total rip off and they are way out of line & GREEDY! Please advise - what do I do? See an attorney? call the TV news station and report them or what? MJA
Myra
San Antonio,#9Consumer Comment
Sat, May 22, 2004
I dont know what to do. I am petrified after getting my first SBC internet and phone bill. I just moved to San Antonio and have experienced terrible service with SBC. They are horrible! AND NOW THIS! I just got a bill from them for $ 234.00 for my first month of internet and phone service??? I have NEVER paid this kind of money before! It makes no sense! I had a company in the last city I lived at where they came out installed everything and was billed for DSL for $ 26.5 a month. And my phone bill was around maybe $ 50.00. How does one get $ 234.00? I even had to pay $ 75.00 for an independent guy to come out and hook up all of the crap they sent to us. So they didnt even come out and do ANYTHING! It think this is a total rip off and they are way out of line & GREEDY! Please advise - what do I do? See an attorney? call the TV news station and report them or what? MJA