Lost money on a transaction I did not make. [ Edited ]

[cloudbusted]

So a week or so back I bought a 25$ prepaid card for my GoPhone and the money is set to expire in November. Since buying that prepaid card I have made my first transaction today: a text message costing my usual 2 dollars. Yet I noticed that my remaining balance was only 11 dollars. So I log into my GoPhone account and it tells me I was charged 10 dollars for "RingTones/AnswerTones/Games" yet I did nothing of the sort and didn't even use my phone on the day specified. 

As usual I can't get ahold of anyone through online customer service and the phone is only more hassle. Does anyone know why something like this would happen? If there is some secret 10 dollar charge I don't know about that will happen again this may well be the last time I bother with at&t or prepaid in general. I don't want to have to get a plan but it seems like plan users get better customer service and less weird transactions. 

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

I would contact customer service (611 from your cell phone).  You'll need to state "more options" at the first menu prompt, and then "customer service" at each subsequent prompt to reach a live representative.  Generally as long as there isn't a pattern of disputed charges, they will refund the charge.  If you've provided your cell phone number for anything on-line recently, I suspect that's where the $10 charge came from - a lot of monthly subscription fees are $9.99.  Unless the text message you sent was to an individual that you know, it could be that is how you were signed up for the subscription. (?)

(It used to be that at&t had an automated on-line method for requesting/receiving credit for this type of thing, but the link is no longer active; and I'm not finding any information re: "Direct Bill" at the at&t website itself. )

[cloudbusted]

So if someone had gotten my cell phone number and signs me up for something, there's nothing I can do to stop it? Does this only happen with prepaid numbers only? I was thinking of swtiching to a plan, but I'm guessing I'll need to be careful about who I give my number to. 

[purrsonality]

i had the same problem just dial 8003310500 it will transfer you to the gophone operator...the operator will come on giving you several different options dont press any...after a repeated number of times the operator will change the option and ask you to press 0 for more assistance(you will be transfered to a human) tell them your issue and they will refund your money....hope this helps

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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cloudbusted wrote:

So if someone had gotten my cell phone number and signs me up for something, there's nothing I can do to stop it? Does this only happen with prepaid numbers only? I was thinking of swtiching to a plan, but I'm guessing I'll need to be careful about who I give my number to. 

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While on the phone with customer service you can ask them if a purchase block is available for prepaid customers.  (I'm not sure if it is or not - it is a service that's available for post paid customers.)  You'll receive a PIN that you have to use in making any authorized purchases that are to be billed to your at&t line of service.

But regardless - yes, I would be careful of who you provide your cell phone number to; personally, I avoid giving mine to businesses, etc. unless there is truly a legitimate need for them to have it.  And there are tons of "scams" for monthly ringtone/game subscriptions where if you look at the fine print, you get signed up for them by accepting/requesting something via a text message.  (Also on-line ads for things, etc. - always read the fine print that comes with an offer for "free" stuff.)

[wacko]

If you see any charge like that on your online account history that says RingTones/AnswerTones/Games, but you never signed up for any subscriptions or downloaded any content, and I see that it becomes a hassle for you contacting Customer Service, you can go to att.com/directbill. You can see there what the charge is all about and you may process a refund if you never really purchased or signed up for a content/subscription. You must have the phone when you do this as you will be sent a confirmation message on your gophone that you will need to put on that website.

att.com/directbill

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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wacko wrote:

If you see any charge like that on your online account history that says RingTones/AnswerTones/Games, but you never signed up for any subscriptions or downloaded any content, and I see that it becomes a hassle for you contacting Customer Service, you can go to att.com/directbill. You can see there what the charge is all about and you may process a refund if you never really purchased or signed up for a content/subscription. You must have the phone when you do this as you will be sent a confirmation message on your gophone that you will need to put on that website.

att.com/directbill

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Thank you very much for providing a working link to the direct bill webpage.   (If at&t would incorporate access to all the various webpages specific to a user's account from within their on-line account, it would make things so much easier.)

[jamileh]

Hi cloudbusted - did you get this issue sorted out or do you need some help?