Signing In to Email

This worked for me a couple of weeks ago:

Enter a dummy cell phone number, like 512-555-5555

On the next screen, instead of entering the code they sent, look for a link "Take me to my account" and click on it.

We understand, IvaProblem.

If you don't have a cell, you can enter your home phone number or a friend's cell number. You can also go with the suggestion to enter a dummy number.

Thanks again for reaching out. If you need help with anything else, let us know.

Aminah, AT&T Community Specialist

@IvaProblem 

I'm glad it still works. 

A cynic might say that if you found the correct person in ATT they would tell you the whole ridiculous process is just a ruse to harvest cell phone numbers for marketing purposes.

We understand not wanting to share personal information, IvaProblem.

At this time, we don't have a workaround for the phone number request, but we'll be sure to pass along the message that some customers prefer not to provide that information.

If you need help with anything else, let us know. Thanks for visiting the AT&T Community Forums.

Aminah, AT&T Community Specialist

You can use any number of free services to send and receive texts on the internet. https://www.alphr.com/receive-text-messages-pc-without-phone/

It is useful to have a text capable phone number for a lot of things, and it is also helpful to have if you don't want to use your mail cell phone number.

If you have a landline, you can use Google Voice to tie a second free phone number to your landline that can send and receive text messages.

lem3,

I like your solution.  I haven't tried it yet to see if it will work for me, but it's easy ... I hope it works.

IvaProblem

ATT Help,

You misread my concern.  It's not that I don't want to share my cell #, it's the fact that I don't have a cell phone # to enter in the blank.  I'm being asked for information that I don't have and there's no way to explain, so I'm stuck and can't continue with my emails.

IvaProblem

@lem3 Most big companies don't do marketing by phone anymore. Too expensive. It's all email and web ads.

Even if they did, companies don't use the 2-factor authentication information for marketing.

If you think AT&T has too much information about you, there are lots of options to protect your data from misuse by AT&T at https://about.att.com/privacy.html

They are transparent about their marketing policies, because they are  BIG target to be sued if they run afoul of laws. https://about.att.com/csr/home/reporting/issue-brief/responsible-marketing.html 

@lem3, just wanted to tell you that I tried your suggestion this AM and it worked.  I'm wondering if I have to do that every time I sign in or if it's now taken care of.  You don't have to reply to this ... I'll find out when I sign out of my mail and sign back in.  Thanks for your good advice.  And, I like to give ATT, Google, Facebook, etc. as little personal info. as possible.  IvaProblem

@ATTHelp 

I'm glad you confirm the use of a dummy number as lem3 suggested.  It's gratifying to know that I'm not being deceptive by trying to squirt thru the holes in policies.

IvaProblem

@phillipremaker 

Went to the website you suggested.  Boy does that stuff sound chaotic.  And susceptible to violating a person's privacy.  Plus, it sounds like, as others commented, that you need a phone number to use the services and I would use the service because I didn't have a cell phone.  Thanks for all the info. anyway.  I had never heard of these services before, so it was very informative.

IvaProblem

This is absurdly short-sighted of ATT to not consider that many people don't have a cell phone number to enter, or simply don't want to share their personal info. 

The levels that corporations are stooping to in an effort to invade our privacy is disgusting. Might be time to dump my ATT email that I've had since the late NINETIES!

It’s not just AT&T. Every major email service (and just about every other online service) is adding SMS as a second authentication factor. This is an import way to stop hackers and allow easy lost password recovery.

It would be helpful to get a free texting/SMS service if you don’t get a cell phone. There are also free mobile phone services like FreedomPop that allow 10 tests and 10 calls a month…

@phillipremaker 

In regard to using another service for a 2nd phone #, or some other alternative solution, I feel ATT is making us jump thru hoops to try to provide this to them.  It may be for our benefit (?), but why should we have to go thru a big hassle like this.  I'm using a phony number as Lem3 suggested.  You have to enter it every time, but it does get you to your account.

IvaProblem