U-Verse Billing

[#1]

I'm baffled as to why AT&T billing notifications are so infrequent and poorly timed.

One notice is sent out a few days before payment is due. But NO notice is sent the day it's due. Then a notice comes a couple weeks later with the previous amount and the next bill amounts combined.

Then a week later an automated system calls asking for a payment.

WHAT?!

If I've signed up for paperless billing, why is the email notification process so poorly designed?

[#2]

That does sound strange and have you talked with CS billing about your sporadic notices and the late auto system calls? You may need to ask for a supervisor, or Tier 2, because often Tier 1 can't get to the bottom of problems.

Doesn't seem like U-verse billing is one of there stronger points. I never signed up for paperless billing because used to have way too many errors and unexplained increases.

But I do receive email notices regularly, and way in advance, that my bill is ready to view and print. And this is what I normally pay from because the paper bills don't arrive until 2-3 weeks later. And it's not snail mail causing this, they're just normally late in mailing bills out.

For some reason AT&T U-verse is the only bill my bank bill pay system has to mail a check to and they won't accept an electronic transfer. Never could get this straightened out even with my bank manager and U-verse billing supervisors talking directly. Go figure since I have excellent credit and have been an AT&T phone customer for 30+ years. I have no problem in paying my AT&T phone bill through an electronic transfer.

Oh well, you have your own problems and hope you get them straightened out.

Good luck. 

[#3]

For uniblurb3, re: inability to pay u-Verse by etransfer -

I, too, was frustrated trying to make e-transfer work. Nobody knows anything. I found that U-verse requires a check digit on the account number. The check digit only appears on your payment stub (acct#-chkdig). When entering it in the acct number field on your banks website, do not include the dash, just the number as the last number in the string.

Try it for a $2 payment. Also, it takes a couple of days for it to show up when you check the at&t website & also, to show confirmation at your bank.

Mine has been working for many months. Others must be working, too. Not sure why nobody else talks about the check digit problem.

[#4]

Could you please clarify exactly what you mean by a check digit?  I have been paying online since starting service, and use only my checking account number.  But I do this directly, and do not use my bank's bill payment service--perhaps there is a difference.  Just curious.

docbombay

[#5]

Doc, well I'll try and explain it since I just got it worked out, thanks to "aviewer".

On the very bottom of my U-verse bill there is a part you tear off to send with a check. It states:

Return this portion with check payable to AT&T

Please include this number with your check  XXXXXXXXX-6

Account number # XXXXXXXXX

There are 9 digits in the account number but when you add "6" to the end (with no dash) there are 10.

I just went into my bank bill pay system and edited the payee: AT&T U-verse.

There was only the 9 digit account number and I added a 6 onto the end of it.

Since I was afraid it may send an electronic transfer, in addition to sending a check from my bank, I called a rep with my bank. They looked at the payee and said my account is now showing it is all set up to send an electronic transfer. Great, and now I won't have to pay my U-verse bill at least 10 days in advance to make sure a check goes through in time.

Thanks so much "aviewer" and greatly appreciate the tip!

I saw your post over in this thread suggesting this but ignored it since it didn't work for LazyRunner.

http://forums.att.com/t5/Billing/Is-AT-amp-T-Planning-on-Allowing-e-Bills-AutoPay-via-the-Bank/m-p/2...

It is kind of strange that U-verse is the only payee which has an extra digit on an account number. I have some longer account numbers, including AT&T phone, but you use the account number for paying the bill. Go figure U-verse.....

PS. I'm not sure what an account number with U-verse looks like on paperless billing and if the 6 is added at the end.

[#6]

Thanks, Uni--I'm on paperless billing, and my U-verse account # has a "Y" attached to the end when the bill is viewed in U-verse Central.  Like it's not confusing enough!  Sorry to confuse the issue, but I guess I didn't understand that we were talking about a paper bill originally.  Thanks for the explanation!

docbombay

[#7]

Doc, you're welcome but sorry I kind of went off topic talking about a paper bill. Regardless if the bill's paperless, or paper, when you view it online it should be the same.

In the link to the post by aviewer (below) he mentioned he had to change the "Y" you are seeing attached to the account #, to a 6, in order to pay his bill. That's what I did too but on a paper bill there was nothing behind the account # except to add it when paying by check. Yep, real confusing.

http://forums.att.com/t5/Billing/Is-AT-amp-T-Planning-on-Allowing-e-Bills-AutoPay-via-the-Bank/m-p/2...

If a subscriber is using autopay probably none of this matters. They will somehow find a way to pry their money out of your account.

[#8]

It's all kind of academic anyway--so long as the payment goes through every month, I needn't be so curious.

docbombay

[#9]

For uniblurb3 -

I read your description of the check digit. It sounds like you are reading the number 6 off your paper bill. I hope this is correct and 6 is the number for you.

My concern is that you have, so far, only satisfied an edit in your banks system that requires 10 digits.

When it is sent to at&t it may be rejected if it is not correct. Please leave time to pay the bill in a timely manner, if your first try is rejected. That is why I suggested a trial payment of $2. Although, you may want to send the whole payment now.

I was just talking to my son to warn him about using the check digit. He said he already sent a payment from his bank using only the acct # & he saw the credit on his U-verse acct. This has to be the norm because we do not see many complaints on the forums.

An explanation that comes to mind is that at&t accepts payments with just the acct# (no check digit). But, your bank and my bank have built edits (assumably directed by at&t) that require 10 digits. Of course, they do not know what the 10 digits mean. If the bank does not have this edit there is no problem.

[#10]

I have never had a problem with using bill pay with comerica bank.

1. you put who you are paying

2.account number for ATT

3.address,or po box....city...state...zip

4.phone no of ATT...I use the 800  number

5. thats it for me...has worked great each and every time, for this one and all my other bills.

[#11]

---

aviewer wrote:

For uniblurb3 -

I read your description of the check digit. It sounds like you are reading the number 6 off your paper bill. I hope this is correct and 6 is the number for you.

My concern is that you have, so far, only satisfied an edit in your banks system that requires 10 digits.

When it is sent to at&t it may be rejected if it is not correct. Please leave time to pay the bill in a timely manner, if your first try is rejected. That is why I suggested a trial payment of $2. Although, you may want to send the whole payment now.

I was just talking to my son to warn him about using the check digit. He said he already sent a payment from his bank using only the acct # & he saw the credit on his U-verse acct. This has to be the norm because we do not see many complaints on the forums.

An explanation that comes to mind is that at&t accepts payments with just the acct# (no check digit). But, your bank and my bank have built edits (assumably directed by at&t) that require 10 digits. Of course, they do not know what the 10 digits mean. If the bank does not have this edit there is no problem.

---

Yeah, I know it's not a done deal until I see the payment go through. Believe me I will still pay my bill at least 10 days in advance and make sure it goes through. I'll monitor it closely but it is encouraging my bank is saying it's now showing as an electronic transfer when it didn't before without the 6 added at the end of the account number.

And "6" must be the correct # since I stated before:

On the very bottom of my U-verse bill there is a part you tear off to send with a check. It states:

Return this portion with check payable to AT&T

Please include this number with your check  XXXXXXXXX-6

Account number # XXXXXXXXX

We'll see and I'll post the outcome. My billing cycle is mid-month so I won't be paying my bill until right after the 1st of the year.