AT&T pulls the age old BAIT AND SWITCH - ***BEWARE*** and then THE RUN AROUND

[Saabfan]

So I get this "reminder" postcard in the mail today, 11/24, that says as of 11/03, insurance deductibles are changing from $50 to $125 on the good phones (tier 2).  There are some things that are quite interesting about this.  .... and by interesting I mean disturbing:

1.  The post card arrives on 11/24, almost three (3) weeks after the effectivity date.  It says it's a reminder, I was not notified previously, which is beautiful.  I should have a chance to say if I accept this change or not.

2.  My deductible goes up, yet my premium stays the same.  Typically in "normal" insurance, you have an option for a higher deductible and a lower premium or a lower deductible and a higher premium.  Thanks for giving me "effectively" less coverage for the same amount of money AT&T.

3.  Previously insurance was not offered on the PDA phones.  Then they offer it for only a $50 deductible (THE BAIT), you buy the insurance, then the deductible goes up to $125 (THE SWITCH).  I thought this was illegal.

So I call AT&T customer service (611), who tells me to go the AT&T (Corporate) store where I purchased the phone; that 611 has nothing to do with store contracts.  I go to the AT&T store and they tell me call 611; that the stores does not enforce contracts, they just sign people up.  Then 611 tells me to call Asurion (the insurance provider) whom with I do not have a contract and who could care less about my call.  Of course Asurion tells me to contact 611.   This is what I call THE RUN AROUND.  I attemp to get all three to talk to each other, but my attemp is futile.

AT&T should honor the initial contract and apply the NEW IMPROVED (Sarcasm) rate to new contracts.  Obviously AT&T/Asurion were losing money on their contracts and rather than honoring these contracts decided to make an across the board change to stick it to the consumer.

Just try to get out of or make a change to your AT&T contract.  I will cost you some $200.

[6061nokia]

On november 3rd, all pda devices went from $50 to $125. This was not just for your "Bait and Switch." Notificatiions went out on bills several MONTHS in advance, and letters were sent explaning in detail about the raise.

Sorry, but you have 3 choices:

a)accept that a pda will cost you $125 if you break it, so you take very good care of it.

b)cancel your insurance.

c)cancel your service with att (early terminiation fee will apply if it was more than 30 days since you bought it)

[Saabfan]

Who reads a bill.  As long as it's within the cost that I expect, not me.  You have no problem sending me junk text messages.  I guess this "notification" didn't make the text message cut.

Also, thanks for the three options.  I love choosing the lesser evil.

[6061nokia]

Well it is our responsability to read all bills that come to us, expecially when the notification is just above the "tear off and return" part of the bill. But like many other posts have said, we are customers who just want to help, so ill just say this..if att is not suiting your needs and meeting your expectations, by all means, find another carrier. Rather than sit and suffer, use YOUR right as a consumer. Now...if you are in contract with that company, and had service for more than 30 days, expect to pay.

[Jldnr77]

All the phones that currently have the $125 deductable were previously UNINSURABLE.  So how is this a bait and switch?  They are now offering insurance on phones they didn't offer insurance on before.  And if you somehow had insurance on a ineligible phone before they changed it, then that was AT&T's error because they shouldn't have added insurance to uninsurable phones.  They also gave a grace period from the time the policy change went into effect until the beginning of this month where if you made a claim on a phone that had the $125 deductible, you were still only charged $50.

Also, I would suggest you read the DEFINITION of "bait and switch".  In order to bait and switch, they have to offer you one thing, and give you something entirely different.  Since all the phones that have a $125 deductible now were previously ineligible for the service, they weren't offering you ANYTHING, so there was NOTHING to switch.

[Satanskeeper]

Your bill is your notification, even though you say who looks at bills, customers should look at bills, As far as your issue regarding the insurance. Asurion is a n independent insurance carrier, AT&T's contracts with its customers have no barring on their contract with the insurance carrier. Asurion can set the coverage limits deductibles and whether to pay or decline a claim, AT&T has no say so whatsoever. The only thing they can do is cancel their contract with Asurion and move onto another insurance carrier.

Those changes are not a violation og of the TOS (terms of service) and can change or increase premiums with a 30 day notice, this is why you should read your bill as the notice was on thire aprox 90 days ago.

Regards

[Athena]

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Saabfan wrote:

Who reads a bill.  As long as it's within the cost that I expect, not me.  You have no problem sending me junk text messages.  I guess this "notification" didn't make the text message cut.

Also, thanks for the three options.  I love choosing the lesser evil.

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Assurion is an insurance company, they have to follow the same guidelines as regards to changing deductibles, rates etc. as all insurance companies do.  This can be as little as 30 days + 5-10 days mailing time, or 60 days + 5 10 days mailing time, it varies by state.

Department of Insurance notification laws, require it to be in writing and mailed.  A text message (much like an email) may be in "writing" but it is not mailed, therefore sending a text messge would not be in compliance with the Department of Insurance.

 Having insurance is not a contracted item, has never had anything to do with a service contract, and is not a required feature.  AT&T is not obligated to honor anything in this regard, nor is Assurion, provided that they followed each states Department of Insurance guidelines.  Again, if you don't like that the deductible is being increased, then cancel your insurance and look for insurance elsewhere.  Simple as that.






Message Edited by Athena on 11-25-2008 12:44:21 AM

[Satanskeeper]

It could have also have been where someone got a new phone that was uninsurable and did not notify AT&T they just put there sim card in and was ready to go. AT&T may not be aware of the change in equipment so therefore they could not act.

[jeefunk]

To echo what's already been stated....

Any phone that has a $125 deductible was previously uninsurable. If you already had insurance on a phone that now has a $125 deductible, it was in error and you would not have been able to file a claim anyway.