AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

I HATE AT&T wireless, I've hated them for a long time now, but I've been refusing to cancel with them because I didn't want to pay them more $$$ just to leave.

I had an issue about 6 months ago with dropped calls, calls not going through, no service in certain areas, etc. (This seems to happen everytime they flip-flop from AT&T to Cingular and back, which has happened several times) So I called and they said it was probably my phone, which is already a few years old at that point. They sent me a new phone and told me to send the old one back. I never send the old one back (because I'm an idiot and left it in my sister's car then forgot about it for a month, and by that time it was already on my bill).

During the same phone call, I asked the guy what the early termination charge is. He told me its $10 per month left in the contract. At the time I was broke and stubborn, so I didn't cancel.

Now, there's only a month or so left in my contract (it ends May 7) and I broke my phone over the weekend, so I figured it's easier to just cancel it than to buy a new phone (AT&T won't offer an upgrade unless you resign for 2 years- NO WAY!) and switch to Verizon like I've wanted to.

So I called and NOW I'm being told that my contract states that there's a flat fee of $175 to cancel. Sometimes it's $10, but not for me.

I asked why I was told, when discussing my contract a few months ago, that it was $10./month. She looked back into the notes from my past calls and doesn't see any notation of me being told that. Of course!!! I only asked in passing because I was p*ssed off.

So, what would you do? I could try writing to corporate (she said I could get the email/address on the site) and try to get out of it for the $10

I could just sign on with a new provider and pay 2 cell phone bills for a few months

I could buy a new phone, which is the least attractive option because I'll be leaving ATT ASAP.

Living without a cell phone is not an option because I don't have a home phone at all, so it's my only means of communication besides email.

WWYD?

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

i am right there with you IHATE there servie ever sence they went back to att. i barly can use my phone.....they too told me it was my phone plus my area where i live...umm when it was cingular i never had this many dropped calls and knew where i would loss it. i have at least 1 year left and i to was thinking of getting a second service and putting att service at the smallest i can... i hate then soooo much and know of plenty of people who tto have this problem... i can't stand there ads on tv

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

i know this sounds weird but if you don't have a phone anyway, would you consider just getting a new phone with a new service and a new #? then just let your old contract expire.

not even sure if that's a possibility but it's what i would consider for myself.

what do you pay for service each month? i don't know if it would be worth it to me to hassle with corporate...

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

I've had AT&T for years, and it's weird when I hear others have issues, because I've never really had a problem with it. Then again, location is key, and I'm in a good area for all cell carriers.

Anyway, if I were in your position, I would get another phone for AT&T, and run down the last month or so left on the contract. You can buy an AT&T/Cingular phone on ebay for as low as $15. When I've lost phones, I've replaced them with phones off ebay until I was able to renew my contract & receive a new phone. Anyway, I think this is the best option... monetarily.

But you could also take this opportunity that your cell broke, and get a new one with a new carrier. Though the cancellation fee would still be less than the monthly bill, you'd still be paying for service that you're not utilizing.

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

My BIL and his fiancee have AT&T too and they love it and insist its the best, but they are the only one's I know who love it.

I could just look for a new phone on ebay...I'm just concerned I won't get it for 2 weeks, then I'll be away for a week, and there will be only 3 weeks left on the contract.

My service now is $60 a month (and now that I've removed the texting and other extras that I had it should be around $40)

I have to call and see if I can remove the extra $8.99 for 7pm-7am nights, which I never need anyway. I have almost 2000 rollover minutes I don't use...I'm more of a text messager lol.

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

Have you tried asking if verizon would buy out your old contract in order for you to have their service now instead of in a couple months. I went to a "wireless hut" type of place and they gave me the amount of money I would have to pay on the remaining bills.

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

Can't you borrow a used AT&T phone from someone to use until MAY? When people upgrade their phones, they usually just keep the old one lying around. You could use that phone util your contract ends & then cancel & get verizon. I would not pay 2 phone bills for 2 months....I see that as AT&T still getting the best of you. GL!

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

I love AT&T and have never had any issues.

That being said, I would sign on with a provider you like now instead of waiting and just ride out the final two months with AT&T. You will pay less then the termination fee and it will be a small price to pay for you to be with a provider you like.

Good luck!

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

since you still have your old phone lying around, can't you use that for two months? then switch providers. I wouldn't be able to afford to pay two bills for two months, so if it was me, I'd ride it out...and then switch policies. I'd send the letter to corporate anyway, it couldn't hurt.

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

We had the exact same problem with them. We were not successful in getting the $10/mo cancellation for our phones so we reduced the plan to an emergency/no voicemail plan for about $11 a month for the duration of the contract. The ONLY caveat is that you have to do this on the FIRST day of the new month, otherwise they retroactively charge you for every single call.

Good luck.

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)

Re: AT&T wireless- Vent and need advice. (LONG)