Unauthorized Long Distance Billing Charge [ Edited ]

[SaundraN]

This month, July, 2011, There is a $4.82 charge for long distance billing which I did not authorized. There is also an unauthorized $2.00 Minimum Usage Charge listed under Long Distance Service. These charges have not been on my bills in the last seven (7) years and you must remove them.

I refuse to pay for a long distance plan I did not authorize. When I called I was told it is a government charge. No, it is not.. This is the second time I have caught your company putting unauthorized charges on my bill.

If you do not respond and take these charge off of my bill, I will call local news channels in Daytona Beach. Do the right thing AT&T. You already have a bad rep. Don't make it worse.

Saundra {Personal content removed for your safety}

[SaundraN]

It took 1-1/2 hours to get the unauthorized charges deleted from my bill, which is now back to normal, along with my blood pressure.

[JFizDaWiz]

firstly at&t doesn't really read the forum.
secondly, at&t only charges you for things you do. you must have made a long distance call even if it meant that the local number you called was actually out of the country

[aristizzle]

Im sure the news team in daytona beach would make such a huge story off your one phone call....

[reabrown]

It is called CRAMMING and they did it to our bill also.  I will NOT pay for services I did not ask for or receive.  I deducted the amount from my bill and paid it.  If they insist I pay the $4.77 that they illegally added to my bill - we will just eliminate the land line.  Don't use it anyway so it doesn't matter.

[Kay2]

Here is what I found when the charge appeared on my bill today:

http://www.att.com/public_affairs/long_distance_news/product_reference_and_pricing_guide/VoiceSectio...

So it looks like they have a new $2 minimum usage on any line that you have listed with AT&T for long distance even if you make 0 long distance charges.

I will telephone tomorrow and have long distance removed from my land line. 

I cannot find a way to do so online.  My account current features under long distance lists a Bell South calling card only, no long distance access. 

I may have listed AT&T when we stopped using the land line for long distance because we had to list someone if we wanted the possibility of long distance, but we will just use one of the other services if ever needed on that line or just sign up when actually needed. 

No need for $2 monthly charge for something we do not use.

[bdixon42]

Sorry, but removing long distance support from your land line won't help.  I don't have long distance service with AT&T, and just got off the phone with one of their reps.  This is a new "feature" for people without long distance service *or* who do but don't use it.

There's now a minimum $2.00 fee, plus about $2.50 taxes for long distance service.  It's possible that if you call and complain, they *might* take it off your bill.  But you would have to call and complain each and every month.

I know it's to cover their overhead costs, since so many people are using their cell phones for long distance.

But wait.  I USE AT&T WIRELESS FOR MY LONG DISTANCE CALLS!!!!!!!!

I'm tempted to send them a $5 bill for cashing my check, since they haven't deposited any money into my account.  Isn't that pretty much the same principle?

[G6x]

I dont understand this. What about people like myself on the All Distances package? I pay $35/mo (normallly $40 but discounted $5 for having combined billing with my cell) I use local as well as long distance but of course the charges under long distance for every call say $0.00 since I just pay the $35 flat rate.

I have not noticed any additional junk fees on my bill but did notice they changed the wording of the long distance service listed, but I did not care since the billing amount remained the same.

I would love to dump the landline but have a senior in the household that insist on using it instead of a cell.

[UnhappyCustomer…]

I'm getting the same bogus minimum usage charges on my land line bill too plus some garbage called AT&T LD East Carrier Cost Recovery charge.

I live with a senior citizen who needs the land line for medical testing and needs a phone with large numbers on it as she is legally blind.  I also have AT&T wireless for myself.  We never make long distance calls on either line. 

So, here I am a loyal customer of AT&T since 1973, having a land line, wireless and DSL all with AT&T getting punished because I don't make long distance calls.  There is something very wrong with this picture.  This blood thirsty practice should be illegal.

I am now looking for a new land line & internet provider.  My wireless contract is not up yet but as soon at it is I will be dumping my AT&T wireless too.

So after over 37 years of being an AT&T customer it's time to say bye-bye to the AT&T crooks.  You have gone too far this time.  

[indaoffice]

This has just been brought to my attention with an additional $8.12 charge on my phone bill.  The worse part is my payment due in Sep has the long distance charge from 6/27-7/26.  Therefore I'll receive another charge from 7/27-8/23.  And 8/23 is the date I have DISCONNECTED SERVICE WITH AT&T.  I only had home phone service for my alarm system, which is being upgraded to "wireless" as we speak.  Bye Bye AT&T.

[Putosone]

If peoplelike u would read the bill correct about this charge other custumers like me would not have to wait in line for 30 minutes to make a payment u guys call acting like u dont nw about the charge traying to get credit pay attention to your bill

[7patmh]

Eh duh? AT&T doesn't charge you for something you did not use/ask for? This is so not true!

Of course I thought the same thing until I started questioning a particular charge on my bill. It was called a Transaction Clearing Fee @$8.89/month. When I first noticed it, I had assumed it was just one more fee AT&T was adding just 'cause they knew they could, probably something to do with long distance or internet use. But after deciding to inquire, what I learned surprised the heck out of me.

 I was told AT&T sometimes contracts with outside entities to provide "billing services" for them i.e. their bills are added to your AT&T bill! Furthermore, I was told AT&T was in no way responsible for this charge, would not remove it nor credit my account. This, for a charge added to my bill without permission or prior notice nor even know what it was! Their suggestion: to contact Transaction Clearing directly for help. After quite a few attempts to reach, talk to a real person, & make known my wishes, the charge was finally removed & my AT&T account credited but over a 3 month period! Took a lot of my personal time to do this which I did not appreciate!

If you still believe AT&T doesn't charge you for something you did not use/ask for, maybe you better check your bill! No telling what you might learn!

[jamileh]

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7patmh wrote:

Eh duh? AT&T doesn't charge you for something you did not use/ask for? This is so not true!

Of course I thought the same thing until I started questioning a particular charge on my bill. It was called a Transaction Clearing Fee @$8.89/month. When I first noticed it, I had assumed it was just one more fee AT&T was adding just 'cause they knew they could, probably something to do with long distance or internet use. But after deciding to inquire, what I learned surprised the heck out of me.

 I was told AT&T sometimes contracts with outside entities to provide "billing services" for them i.e. their bills are added to your AT&T bill! Furthermore, I was told AT&T was in no way responsible for this charge, would not remove it nor credit my account. This, for a charge added to my bill without permission or prior notice nor even know what it was! Their suggestion: to contact Transaction Clearing directly for help. After quite a few attempts to reach, talk to a real person, & make known my wishes, the charge was finally removed & my AT&T account credited but over a 3 month period! Took a lot of my personal time to do this which I did not appreciate!

If you still believe AT&T doesn't charge you for something you did not use/ask for, maybe you better check your bill! No telling what you might learn!

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I understand your frustration but it needs to be directed toward Transaction Clearing and whatever service they offered that was billed to your phone. The charge did not originate at AT&T. 

There are a lot of companies out there that offer monthly subscriptions for joke, background images or ringtones that directly bill your wireless account when you sign up. 

I had a situation a couple years ago where my son signed up for something and I didn't know until I saw the charges (to the tune of $60!) on my bill the next month. 

You may want to check out Parental Controls (if that's applicable to your situation) - http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=60608#fbid=JksbCLIT7p8

[judget]

where can i speak to someone regarding my long distance service that i do not use but am paying for... this is for my land line... there has to be something cheeper then the 12.00 per month i am paying...  i can use google voice for free long distance or my cell phone...  please advise

[MicCheck]

You can call 800 288-2020 and talk to a representative. They will be happy to help you find a long distance plan that better fits your needs. Alternatively, if you send a message to AT&T customer care (http://forums.att.com/t5/notes/privatenotespage/tab/compose/note-to-user-id/192773) someone will be in touch with you.