Got this cellular digital phone. Got this deal. It’s like $39.99 a month, and I get 400 minutes anytime.
As part of a special we also get an additional 500 offpeak minutes and another 400 peak minutes each month.
Usually the bill is $39.99.
This month the phone got used very heavily. Coincidentally, AT&T Wireless stopped the bonus minutes at the same time without telling us
I got a bill for $450.00. I’m not kidding. Over 1500 minutes were used (Mrs. Scylla calls her parents a lot.)
I called and the first person said I had to pay it. I said “No I didn’t.” They said non payment would result in a cancellation of service, turning the bill over to collection, and might affect my credit rating. She sounded very smug when she said this.
I replied that AT&T has been legally enjoined from doing any of those things in the face of a bill with disputed charges until the bill was resolved, and could I please speak to somebody who had knowledge and athority in this area.
The next person insisted that I had been informed of the termination of the special.
“No I wasn’t”
“It was in your last bill.”
“I’m looking at it now. Where is it?”
“I’m not familiar with the format, so I’m not sure where it is, but it’s there.”
“Shall I read the whole thing to you from start to finish because unless it’s in invisible ink, it’s not here. I’m looking at it right now.”
“No. It’s in there.”
“I’m looking at it now. I’m telling you it’s not here. You’re not looking at it. You’re not familiar with the format. Please tell me how you know it’s here.”
“It should be there.”
“I agree. It should be. It’s not. Do you understand that I’m not going to pay this bill? Do you understand that you’re telling me I should accept a tenfold increase in the cost of my service without being informed beforehand? You do understand that I’m not paying this, right?”
“Sir, you did use the phone. We’re billing you for services you used.”
“If I walk into a bar, and the posted price for a beer is $1.50, and they charge me $40.00, that’s fraud, and I am not recquired to pay it, and it is illegal to even try to make me. Are you in PA?”
“No Sir.”
“Then that makes what you’re doing interstate fraud.”
(Note: I actually have no idea what I’m talking about. I’m making this up as I talk to the guy. I don’t feel guilty about this as I’ve come to the conclusion that none of these people are talking about and are making it up as they go along.)
“Sir. Can you hold for a moment?”
“Certainly.”
Two minutes later he’s back on the phone.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“I just spoke to manager. If we reinstate your bonus minutes going forward, and have you just pay the $39.99 would that be allright?”
“If you just put it back the way it was?”
“Yes sir.”
“That will be fine. I’ll send the check.”
Nice try guys.
