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hectorb21's profile

Contributor

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17 Messages

Friday, September 4th, 2020 10:31 PM

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System incorrectly claims my tradein is damaged

So, I failed to check the forums before I decided to take advantage of AT&T's current Samsung Galaxy Note20 promotion on new lines or upgrades.

I was supposed to receive $1,000 in trade-in credits at $30 per month per 30 months as long as my phone had a value of at least $60.
Well, today I checked the status of my trade-in and the system shows a trade-in value of $0.00 because my phone according to AT&T had a screen blemish and/or burn-in.&n(Edited per community guidelines)p; THIS IS TOTALY A LIE!!!!!!
My phone was in flawless condition before I sent it in. I even included the case just as an extra precaution.

This is total (Edited per community guidelines). Because without the $1,000 credit there is NO WAY I would have purchase this phone especially now during the pandemic. I'm actually going file a complaint with the BBB. I've been an AT&T customer for over 20 years and this is how they treat me?

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

Community Support

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230.7K Messages

4 years ago

Hello @hectorb21,

 

Thank you for reaching out to us. For questions about lower than expected trade-in value, please contact our Trade-in Support department at 888-445-6005. Hope this helps!

 

Sean, AT&T Community Specialist

New Member

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4 Messages

4 years ago

I am about to undergo the same thing. I sent a perfect s8 to them and now it shows $30 value. They claim the screen is broken. I have 18 pictures to prove otherwise, as well as video proof before sending it. I also show the IMEI in the pics to prove identity of the device. They sent nothing but a white sleeve and a shipping label. That in itself is just asking for it to be broken, which it seems ATT wants. I put it in the pouch, bubble wrapped the pouch, and then put it in the same box At&t sends new phones out in. There is NO way this phone arrived in any other condition but perfect to them.  It certainly gives the appearance they are trying to weasel out of the promotion. If that remains the case, I will be escalating this to the New York State AG, as well as some very close contacts I have in the media related to consumer fraud. As a customer of theirs since 1994, I expected more. 

Contributor

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17 Messages

4 years ago

At least you got $30 value, I got ZERO!

 

I tell you. You google AT&T trade-in scam and you'll see. I failed to do that prior to falling for their deceptive business practice. 

 

So I found out that we need to document all the communications with them.

 

The next step is to file a BBB complaint for which I can tell, all complaints get submitted to the office of the AT&T president. I read at the BBB forums that most of the time the situation gets resolved to the customer's satisfaction.

 

The second step is to file at a Small Claim which costs around $50 do to so. (Which I will do if I need to) I would love to do this and have them explain to a judge how they operate their trade-in scam. This is going to be priceless!

New Member

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4 Messages

4 years ago

When I saw the assigned value, that's the first thing I did. Apparently, these types of practices are nothing new. Either ATT does the right thing, or I will escalate the issue to people and places they certainly do not want to hear from. Consumer fraud, especially under the current circumstances, is a welcome subject in the courts, and the media.

 

 

New Member

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18 Messages

4 years ago

I've worked for at&t for 20 years and they just did this to me too!  I sent in a perfectly mint condition Note 8 and took pics from all angles with screen on and off.  Is the person checking the phones not smart enough to hold the power button down long enough to turn the screens on after the phones are powered off for shipping?

 

I have a hunch it's a third party vendor handling the valuation and maybe they are allowed to throw away broken phones so when they see a mint condition phone they mark it as broken and keep it for themselves.   It wouldn't be the first time something like this has happened. I worked in IT and we would order new laptops with DVD writers and when the IBM tech took them away to put the company software on them they magically all came back with CD ROMs instead of DVD writers!   The guy knew exactly what I showed up at his office for and put in an order for a DVD writer as soon as he saw me. Bunch of crooked vendors!

 

 

New Member

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18 Messages

4 years ago

I have heard the $0 value is because it will be applied as credits. 

New Member

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4 Messages

4 years ago

That is incorrect. They are specifically saying things are broken when they are not. The value must be 60 or you do not get the promotion. This is a purposeful act and will be dealt with accordingly. 

New Member

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11 Messages

4 years ago

I'm having the same problem with my note 8. Sent in a mint phone double boxed with bubble wrap. It even had a bodygaurdz screen protector on it. They said the screen was broken and only value it at $32. The $1000 promotion requires that your phone has to be worth $60. Don't know what to do. 

 

 

New Member

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2 Messages

4 years ago

Same thing happening to me as well at this moment. I recorded my phone in perfect condition, and turning on with the id number visible on the back prior to me shipping it out for this very reason.

Online it says, screen not working, burn in....

I am more than glad theres others here with the same issues and I'm not alone sounding like I'm crazy... 

My S8plus was paid off and I was more than happy staying with it until I saw the note 20 promo for $1000 off.

There is no way I am paying 33 a month, I was content with my paid off s8plus.

Everyone else please keep us posted as to what goes on so we have all this information for eachother to use.

New Member

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11 Messages

4 years ago

 finally after being transferred around I got the att trade in office and they took down all my info and supposed to email me back in a few days. Maybe if enough of us call they will do something for us. The telephone number is. 877-244-9829

 

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