Question for anyone with ATT/Cingular Wireless

[always quiet]

I recently switched (or should I say, HAD to!) to Cingular. I have 5 phones on the shared plan. I was paying $89.99 for 2 lines, then 3 lines at 9.99 each. Figure roughly $120.00 for 5 phones. My final bill from ATT came....totally $162.67! I couldn't imagine over $40 in fees/taxes, etc. Since it is the final bill, it wasn't even for a month (12/20 - 1/14) I go through the whole bill and it just doesn't make any sense so I call. ATT tells me that the bill is higher because I went over my minutes. I look through the bill and each line says 0 airtime charges and all the phones combined come no where near the 1000 minute plan I am on. She says that yes, I did go over my minutes BUT since I don't have 'detailed' billing, only a certain number of calls are actually shown on the bill. Since the account is now switched over to Cingular, there is no way to see a copy of this bill on line either. I asked for a complete detailed bill and a copy should arrive in 7 - 10 days.

Has anyone else ever heard of this? How can they bill you for something without sending you any actual PROOF that you did do what they are stating!!???

I had Cingular years ago and switched to ATT because their customer service was so horrible. NOW I'm back with them again..............and NOT by choice!!

 

[Fantasmic303]

I've had similar problems with Cingular, and actually just cancelled with them to try out Verizon.

First they were charging me fees for "roaming" and "long distance" when I was literally a couple miles from my house. SEVERAL TIMES. Everytime I called up, they gave me a different excuse as to why it was happening, and told me I'd have to keep calling to get the fees taken off.

At some point, the rep decided what I really needed was for them to change my calling plan. She changed it without even bothering to explain to me that I would no longer have unlimited nights and weekends. Of course, when the bill came it was TWICE as much as my normal bill!!

I called them and was patient in describing what happened (as I hate getting loud with the wrong people...I feel bad yelling at someone who has no control over the situation), until they started accusing ME of a) changing the plan (I did NOT) b) purchasing the "wrong phone" for my plan (it was the phone they had given to ME) and c) going over the allowed airtime minutes (which I did, but only because I hadn't been told about the change in my plan).

I told them there was no way I was paying the charges and would be switching to Verizon immediately at the end of my contract. They "promised" to look into the case and credit me the mischarged calls as well as "revert" back to my old plan. Gee, thanks. Considering I NEVER CHANGED IT!

Anyway, between the kiosk I had to deal with when getting new equipment and my experiences with their customer service, I couldn't deal with being a Cingular customer anymore, after like 6 years.

Good luck...I really feel for you. Although I do have to say, I thought there were some laws agaisnt disputed charges if they can't provide you details about what you were charged for, so defintiely don't back down on that.

Good luck!!

 

[jel0511]

I recently switched (or should I say, HAD to!) to Cingular. I have 5 phones on the shared plan. I was paying $89.99 for 2 lines, then 3 lines at 9.99 each. Figure roughly $120.00 for 5 phones. My final bill from ATT came....totally $162.67! I couldn't imagine over $40 in fees/taxes, etc. Since it is the final bill, it wasn't even for a month (12/20 - 1/14) I go through the whole bill and it just doesn't make any sense so I call. ATT tells me that the bill is higher because I went over my minutes. I look through the bill and each line says 0 airtime charges and all the phones combined come no where near the 1000 minute plan I am on. She says that yes, I did go over my minutes BUT since I don't have 'detailed' billing, only a certain number of calls are actually shown on the bill. Since the account is now switched over to Cingular, there is no way to see a copy of this bill on line either. I asked for a complete detailed bill and a copy should arrive in 7 - 10 days.

Has anyone else ever heard of this? How can they bill you for something without sending you any actual PROOF that you did do what they are stating!!???

I had Cingular years ago and switched to ATT because their customer service was so horrible. NOW I'm back with them again..............and NOT by choice!!

I have to say, after looking at my bill, $40 in fees/taxes for 5 lines is probably pretty much in line. We've had Cingular for 6 years now, and never had a problem. We have 3 lines and pay almost $20 in taxes/fees for those 3 lines. Each line is subjected to it's own taxes and fees, so I'd expect about at least another $10 in fees/taxes if I were to add two more lines to my account. So, based on my bill, I'm already at $30 in taxes for 5 lines without blinking.

 

[SillyMe]

I just switched, too, and not by choice. I haven't received my final bill from AT&T yet, but I just called Cingular today b/c I received a bill from them for $66 which is the same billing cycle as my last AT&T bill. I was really confused. It seemed as though I was being charged double for that billing cycle. Well, it ended up being that the $66 from Cingular was for the activation and upgrade fees! Don't be shocked when you receive that bill in the mail. They charge $18/line (I have 3 lines), which they seemed to "forget" to tell me, plus all the taxes, etc. That $66 did not include any service, only activation fees and taxes.

I did consider Verizon, but the reasons I chose Cingular were because they do have the roll-over minutes (not sure if Verizon does or not). I also chose Cingular b/c everyone that I call via cellphone has Cingular/ATT and you get free mobile-to-mobile. So far the actual "service" seems good. It's their customer service that is horrible.

 

[always quiet]

I was NOT about to pay the activation fee on the Cingular phones! I had just got my kids cell phones (through ATT) For Christmas, paid their activation fees and found out on 12/27 that in the future, Cingular was going to phase out all att equipment and have everyone get their phones. I knew if I waited, I would of been stuck paying the 2nd activation fee. They gave me a $90 credit to cover the activation on their phones.

As far as the free mobile to mobile, make sure you are on a calling plan that includes this! Their tv commercials don't tell you that this "call all customers for free" is only on specific calling plans!!

 

[TammiMcMan]

I'm currently an ATT wireless customer. I ran into a problem in early December when my DS lost my cell phone. I was having a heck of a time trying to replace it while all this consolidation was going on. Luckily our local store had a few phone styles to choose from, but when they offered me a Cingular plan, I said no thanks. I re-signed a 2 year agreement with ATT wireless and supposedly it will be honored until the end of the contract. At that point, I'll probably be going elsewhere.