crooks

If you're read thru the many posts here about Sam's Club you'll know that they are an AT&T Retailer, not AT&T. AT&T does not own or operate them nor do they have AT&T employees. AT&T has little to no control over their business practices. They just make the sale, sometimes unethically, and then pass the info on to AT&T, who has no way of knowing what was said and or promised to the customer. You should have received some sort of paperwork that describes what you are paying for or what the promo/deal was. However, if the promo or deal is not listed in detail on AT&T's website, AT&T won't honor it. The same is true if you go into an Authorized AT&T Retail Store. They look exactly the same as an AT&T Corporate Store but they operate the same at the retail outlets (Sam's Club, Target, Costco, etc).

As far as any legal action, you are bound to Binding Arbitration and maybe Small Claims Court. You can always file a complaint with the BBB, who won't do anything directly but they will pass the complaint on to AT&T Corporate and a Senior Manager will contact. Just have any paperwork you have in order. They may be able to work something out with you.

And yes, some of the retail outlets and stores are crooks. It's a shame too because that does nothing for AT&T's reputation which has issues without the "help" of some of these retailers. Unfortunately, these contracts are long term so I don't know what AT&T can do about some of these stores at this point in time.

No service provider guarantees service everywhere.   It's 100% on us customers to select the service provider that works.  It's not AT&t's problem to fix. It's yours. Go back to your previous carrier.

It's why all service providers have a return window.  Don't these big box stores give you an extended return window of 90 days?  Yes?  Use it.

There is always been a restock fee for all service providers because you now are returning a used phone. It can't be resold as a new device.  

If you would lied to by someone at Sam's club, Costco, or BJ's, that's not AT&T. That's a retailer called small circle that rents a space in those stores. 

Activation fees are $35 per device. Sales tax would have been required up front per your state law.   Restock fees would have been deducted from any refunded sales tax.

Whenever you mail a package, you get a receipt as proof of shipment. AT&T has you mail packages back through the postal service. When you take patlo's packages to the postal service you hand them over the counter and you get a counter receipt. That's your proof. Where are those receipts?

Much of this process is the same no matter which service provider you use including activation and restock fees. It would have been presented to you in writing when you signed up at Sam's club or Costco or BJ's or an AT&T store. If you didn't read it that's on you.

If you do have receipts proving your returns, file a better business bureau complaint online.  Someone from AT&T will contact you.  They'll tell you how you can send copies of those receipts via email to someone who contacts you

Sam’s Club kiosk?  Not AT&T employees.

No receipts?  Big problem

Restocking fees?  Yes there is

Collection agency?  You apparently still owe money

Court?  Not an option and highly ill advised since AT&T did nothing wrong (all policies are published online).

@skeeterintexas 

Love a bullet point type reply.  

Sometimes less is more.  😉

I talked to sams club and lo and behold they have a written contract with AT&T to allow this AT&T promotion at their retail locations, .... surprise surprise.... got receipts...  just did not get acknowledgement of receipt of the phones shipped... got a post master general that will attest to my shipment of products, receipts for that too.... anyway not looking for legal advise... just hoping to educate people contemplating giving this company business....    

@wildma1046 

Well if you're going to educate people why did you leave a whole bunch of stuff out?

Read everything you sign because it's a legal obligation.

Any offers or deals made by AT&T are published online for anyone to read. It does not matter whether you're buying from Sam's club, it still has to be published on AT&t's website or Sam's is lying to you.

Cancellation is 3 days, to owe only restock on open phones, nothing $0 if the box is returned still sealed.

After day three you owe activation fees on all devices, restock fees on any open box devices a full month's service charges.

You must return phones within 14 days or they are yours and you must pay for them.

You must get a receipt when you ship anything. 

You also need to track your packages online.

@wildma1046  If you want to educate people then advise them not to purchase a phone from an AT&T Retailer (store front or kiosk) without getting a detailed printout of the deal or promo, or a receipt that says as much. Make sure the receipt details all that you purchased and question anything that doesn't quite look right. If they promise to email you a detailing of your plan later on be wary. Pay close attention to the return policy and window and double check the AT&T website to see if what you agreed to is actually listed and carefully read the TOS.

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