Teacher
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3 Messages
Signed a 1-year contract and then AT&T raised price
I was going to cancel my service in December last year, but when I called to cancel, AT&T offered U200 for a certain rate for 12 months in exchange for me signing a contract for one-year. So I agreed to keep AT&T U-Verse for 1 year and pay that set price.
Subsequent to our agreement, AT&T raised the bill by ~$4 in February (yes, the notification was in the December bill but that bill was generated after I entered into the one-year contract).
I had an online chat with customer care and I was told that it is AT&T's policy to apply the rate increase even to customers who are under a contract. I sent a private message this past weekend but I have yet to hear back.
It is absurd that AT&T thinks this is okay:
1) If I cancel the service before December this year, I have to pay a penalty.
2) Yet AT&T can raise the rate at any time without my consent.
3) If I don't like the rate increase, I can cancel the service but I still have to pay the penalty.
Is anyone else having this same issue (i.e., those who have to pay a penalty if they were to cancel within the contract period, similar to how cell phone contracts work)? Please share your experience here. Thanks.
mibrnsurg
Expert
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4.3K Messages
10 years ago
@Giddings44 Contact ATT Customer Care on the link in my signature.
Send them a private message, on this link, and they should be able to give the help needed to solve your changing prices problems. They are available M-F 8am-11pm Eastern time (also around on weekends), response may take up to 2 business days.
This is not the regular CS/TS phone people, but the social media Community Specialists that know the people to contact to get things done and gone above and beyond for me.
Include your account #, email address and a good phone # (land or cell) and time to contact you on.
Check the blue PM envelope, upper right on every page, for their reply.
The phone company figures prices by a certain amount off the reular price whatever that is.
Good luck 😉
Chris
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Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Need Help? PM ATT Uverse Care (all service problems)
ATT Customer Care(all other problems)
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more
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Giddings44
Contributor
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3 Messages
10 years ago
Chris - you're kidding! Thank you sooo much for your help. To be honest I think Uverse has the best tv/internet service out there, I rarely have a problem with the product, and when I they're very fast and complete in fixing it. But this billing situation is just horrible.
Thank you again Chris.
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mibrnsurg
Expert
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4.3K Messages
10 years ago
You're welcome, I've never had a billing problem, but ATT Customer Care and Uverse Care have helped me. Nice thing is they are pleasant, knowledgable and willing to make you happy.
Chris
__________________________________________________________
Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Need Help? PM ATT Uverse Care (all service problems)
ATT Customer Care(all other problems)
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more
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Giddings44
Contributor
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3 Messages
10 years ago
Chris you rock!! I just got off of the phone with a A VERY kind polite and amazing associate, Tammy, with AT&T, and she took the time to walk through this issue, and has been able to modify my bill enough to where we were able to reach an agreement. AT&T has been wonderful with service, price, techs etc up until this point, and have come through with great customer service.
Thank you again Chris for your help and putting me in touch with this team, and Tammy especially.
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jdobson1218
Contributor
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3 Messages
10 years ago
I have to admit, the actual service is well above my last stint of experience with a different carrier. However, the prices are quite a dissappointment. When we purchased our home in May 2013, they gave us a wonderful deal - U-Verse 450 + the max internet service with two boxes capable of recording/pausing etc and we paid less than $103 with taxes. What a shock when our year was up and it jumped up just under $200!!! So they offered me the same internet with only 300 channels for $115. I wasn't happy, but I accepted it to avoid changing carriers again - because we do enjoy the service. So $122 with taxes. Then the last couple months it's come up to about $127, so when I called to see why the price was up before the contract, I was told the service charge went up, which somehow doesn't follow the contract terms. Also - since my contract is up in two weeks, I would be seeing another influx in price. How do I avoid another $200 bill? By being transferred again and now being haggled into a new "promotion" of having the same internet and being knocked down to 200 channels for $118 a month.
So to recap:
2013: Internet and 450 channels = $103.22 with taxes
2014: Internet and 300 channels = $121.79 with taxes; later in 2014, service charge up so $127
2015: Internet and 200 channels = $118 PLUS taxes, so probably still about $127
Apparently being a loyal customer for AT&T means being rewarded LESS channels for MORE money!!! As a customer who has never once been late with a bill, this is extremely upsetting. Who wants to spend 30+ minutes on the phone EVERY SINGLE YEAR to "renegotiate" a contract that winds up being more for less EVERY time and still reserves them the right to jack up the "Service Charge" before your contract is up?! Will be looking to switch to another carrier; subpar service would be worth the steady pricing and less of a headache!
Thanks,
Jessica
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rbox1064
Mentor
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32 Messages
10 years ago
Have you priced any other providers?
I dare you to go to Charter and try to find their normal non-discounted prices on their website. I've had Dish, Direct, and Charter, Windstream, Verizon and now AT&T. Comcast has the same discount lures too.
I can tell you from my own experiences, AT&T's prices are competitive and personally my service Rocks.
Shop around.
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TomFinNC
Contributor
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1 Message
9 years ago
The exact thing happened to me. The AT&T sales person quoted me a flat monthly fee when I renewed my service last November.
AT&T goes up on the rate when I thought the price was set for a year and then says that there is a $181 fee if I cancel my service. How in the world can they do that?
What is amusing is that some AT&T employee replies that the issue is solved and quotes paragraphs from their contract. It isn't solved! That's no way to do business!
I like the Uverse service, but AT&T's pricing policies and corporate attitude is too much to put up with. I plan to switch when my cntract is up again. U-verse's service is not worth the cost - they have crossed the line with me!
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rbox1064
Mentor
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32 Messages
9 years ago
It's in the contract. They quote discounts as an amount off the base price and tell you what that amount is currently. If that price goes up, your discount amount stays the same. The same thing happens at a gas pump. Your credit card gives you 3 cents off each gallon, then the price of gas goes up per gallon and it results in you paying more. You're still getting the 3 cents just like the credit card promises.
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sparkacus
Tutor
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1 Message
9 years ago
Welcome to the future of global "Customer Relations". ALL huge corporations are removing accountability because of owning the market. BUSINESS Premise: customers are NEVER RIGHT (and who cares anyway; what choice do you have? Look at Justice Department web site: so few "antitrust" (anti-monoply cases for the BIG GUYS) but if you're trying to compete with these guys, all sorts of shady, price-fixing, "favored nation", slap-on-the wrist crap. This is at the core of the new presidential election. If you have children, imagine THEIR FUTURE - VOTE and remain POLITICALLY ACTIVE because power/wealth = CONTROL. Can't rely on fair-play principles anymore...too many bullies in almost complete power. Serious consequences.
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disillusioned15
Contributor
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1 Message
9 years ago
I have AT&T services after reading these comments everyone best bet is to survive their contract and drop them as soon as contract ends. I have continously argued over a year now with various representatives with them lying about this will be your monthly bill only to receive a new amount within 2 or 3 months. This company is about their dollars and they mislead (just lie on the air their inhaling and exhaling) as they speak to you. I would not recommend them to anyone not even my enemy.
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qqwiedjlkm
Mentor
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49 Messages
8 years ago
I have this same issue. Incredible.
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qqwiedjlkm
Mentor
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49 Messages
8 years ago
I was able to get $7 off every month from now on over online chat.
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MissAnnie
Contributor
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1 Message
8 years ago
I to was sold a contract for 3 years and told that would be my price for 3 years. from 113.00 and now to $185.00. I called in but I am stuck. this is unfair to those of us on low SS. I now have only 75.00 left to buy food, gas,and hope I do not need medicine or dental, and having my flat fixed this month was impossible. How would those who make no allowance for low income feel if they had to live on even less. How about a diet of Dollar Tree crackers.
Ann B of Louisiana
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Southernboy865
Tutor
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3 Messages
8 years ago
Yes it should. When you make entry into a contract,and are told you will be getting X service, for X price, then they immediately change it, that is bait and switch,and also FALSE advertisement. They give you a price, which you are agreed on, then change it. AT&T is a master if manipulation. They do this in other areas also,especially wireless. Unless they say it's only for X amount of time, or tell you upfront about changes coming in price, then it is illegal.
[Edited to comply with Guidelines]
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ydnas59
Tutor
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4 Messages
8 years ago
I agree with you . I had to call ATT a few weeks ago because in my area they were in a dispute with the CBS carrier in my area so we no longer were getting CBS. I went online and purchased CBS all access so I could see my shows. I called ATT and they did give me a $10 credit since I told them that's what I paid CBS . Friday I received an email about an order they said I made (I was out of town so didn't contact them) and saw my rates were $9 higher. I called them and they said everything was the same and I had a rate increase. I told them the same thing I signed a 1 year agreement and was quoted a certain price. They said there was a increase I said wait a minute I am under contract and cant leave without penalty and you can raise my rates . They said yes. The only good thing is my contract is up end of May and probably will just cut the cord or call another company. I have been with ATT about 15 years . If you want to lose a customer this is a good way to do it.
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