Tutor
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4 Messages
Bait and Switch Price Quoting for New Service
I called ***** yesterday (Mar 5) to inquire about UVerse,Internet and Home Phone service. James offered me a UVerse200, 50MB Internet and N.Amer phone for $115 plus local tax, with a $200 VISA gift card. After several callbacks with him resolving issues with thawing my credit, I thought everything was set with an install date of Mar 12. Immediately after confirming all of this I noticed an email I received that offered a $25 VISA card if I initiated service. I called {Inappropriate content removed} to see if I was eligible for that. In talking to Toni about the possibility of receiving the $25 card, she said that the $115 rate that I was quoted did not exist. I argued this point and asked to speak with someone else and was connected with Melanie who said the price was actually $124. I again asked to speak with someone else and was cut off in an attempt to transfer me. I called back the first 1-888 number above and spoke to Eddie who said that there was no service order set up, but once again quoted me the $115 price and I went through the whole setup process again thinking everything was good. Later last night I received a confirmation email for a rate of $124.98 plus taxes and fees ($145.53 total). I called 1-800-288-2020 and talked to Hazel to question this price and she quoted me the $119 price. I asked to speak with someone else and was connected to Steven who confirmed that the rate is $119 plus taxes and fees. I have wasted hours of my time in trying to get anyone to confirm the existence of the pricing quoted in my discussions with James and Eddie (in addition to some confusion in my record about me cancelling because my aunt was doing some other service?--something that is totally unrelated to any of MY conversations with ATT reps.) ATT needs to coordinate all of their call centers and train all of their associates to be able to quote one price to a potential customer and then be able to follow through with completing that order for that agreed upon price.
skeeterintexas
ACE - Expert
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28.3K Messages
7 years ago
Where did you get those first two numbers from (9167 & 5597)?
I could be wrong but I thought the 2020 number is the only ATT Customer Service number. There are many 3rd party companies that sell Uverse and will tell you whatever it takes to get you to sign up through them.
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madasahornet2
Tutor
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4 Messages
7 years ago
Although I can't trace my steps back, I got the first number somewhere within the ATT website. The second one was from an email sent to me. It does claim to be a third party. My question is, why would ATT deal with anyone that would incorrectly promise inaccurate pricing? Obviously they are too big to care about treating their (potential) individual customers with honesty.
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skeeterintexas
ACE - Expert
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28.3K Messages
7 years ago
Caveat emptor is Latin for let the buyer beware, meaning the buyer assumes the risk in a transaction.
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madasahornet2
Tutor
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4 Messages
7 years ago
Yes. Very true. I chose to decline the service. Although I wish that my complaint would bring some sort of positive change, I'm aware that this will not happen. At least I found a forum to vent my frustrations.
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madasahornet2
Tutor
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4 Messages
7 years ago
Thanks for your input. It was very helpful. I looked at the online offers which coincide with the pricing you listed. I'm just not sure if I want to start doing business with AT&T after my initial exposure to them has been such an unpleasant experience. If just one of the actual AT&T employees that talked to me would have mentioned that I might have been offered inaccurate rates from a third party vendor, I would have saved myself a lot of grief, confusion, and time. It never occurred to me that this could be a possibility. I literally found the contact phone number that I used on the official website. It still baffles me that AT&T would allow this type of practice to occur.
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