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cmpage
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3 Messages

Thursday, January 21st, 2016 3:47 PM

Need help with my suspended account

Hi, Offered to pay all I could right now (about 1/2 of what is owed unbenounced to me as none of the warnings came to me) but ATT will not restore service untill full pay of past dues even if I give the hardship temporary family constraints we face. We've been customers for many years. Here is a transcript of my chat. I need help and compassion. I am really at a loss. so many I depend on and that depend on me on my phone at ***** Can you help? What can I do to let ATT take my hafl payment for a few days of restored service until my husbands next pay check Jan 30 when we will pay the rest in full????? Christiane (cmpage) ___________________________________________________________ Transcript Reference Number: ***** DATE/TIME: 2016-01-21 06:03:22 Your chat transcript: PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE - All replies are automatically deleted. AT&T : Thank you for using AT&T Chat Services. May I please have a moment to review your reason for chat today? Christiane : Hello, We are a family of 6 with 5 phones on account ***** under my husband’s name Dennis *****. Undenounced to me our phone bill is passed dues 2 payments. As you can see our services have been suspended. We had a number of family emergencies last month—our home computer died completely, and breaks and other suspension issues on a car had to be taken care of. Like most large families we have a lot of bills. With four kids, we do our best but live pay-check to pay check on one salary. I didn’t realize my husband had not been able to pay last cycle and now we are completely cut off from everything and the kids have no phone services and ride city buses. I can’t call school, carpools, emergencies, etc. We will not have the full $xxx.70 amount dues until later next week. I tried to pay a partial on payexpress but your system can’t let me (only the full amount). In the mean time I have left $60 in my husband account and moved the rest of all cash we have for the next 10 days in my account. There is $xxx there. Can we pay that much and have our phones restored and pay the balance next week when my husband gets paid? We would be very very greatful… Christiane Jessica E. : I see that you have described your concern. Please give me a moment to review, so I am able to assist you. Christiane : thank you Jessica E. : You are very welcome. Christiane : I am trying to get our service back on and will try anything you suggest Jessica E. : I can certainly understand your frustration. Jessica E. : Please give me a minute or two to review your account. Christiane : Ok. Thank you. Jessica E. : I understand that an interruption of service is upsetting. Please give me another moment to review your account to see what I can recommend. Christiane : please and thanks Jessica E. : You are very welcome. Christiane : while you review Jessica E. : Ma'am? Christiane : yes? Jessica E. : I was making sure that I did not lose you as the above statement did not seem completed. Christiane : ok. Thanks for double checking on me. I have no other mode of contact so I am jus at my laptop while you review. Thanks Jessica E. : I understand completely. Christiane : great Jessica E. : Thank you for patiently waiting.Christiane, I was able to speak with my management to see what options we may have available to restore services. I was advised that as the account is now fully suspended in order to restore services the total past due balance of the $666.06 is required to post to the account. Christiane : But that is what I can't do. I only have $xxx now and no more for the next ten days. Can you restore conditionally for 10 days is I pay att the $xxx I do have? We are in serous hardship and we've been ATT customers for a long time. Christiane : I may have $xxx on anoth credit card, but my card is nearly maxed out. That is it Christiane : Maybe because of the account set-up, but I had zero warning that the phne service was about to be suspended Christiane : Can you please talk to them some more? Jessica E. : I do completely understand how important it is to hjave the account active. I myself, also have children. I show that we were calling and texting *****. Christiane : I think that's my son's account. He would have no clue to tell us Christiane : The main account holder is my hasband Dennis at *****. Why would calls and text reminders not go to him? Christiane : Or to me, at *****... we've had to numbers for years Christiane : Sorry Dennis is ***** Jessica E. : I show that the 5694 line has been the primary contact number for quite sometime. Jessica E. : It is possible that this was a mistake. Christiane : Yes that's a mistake Jessica E. : I do show that it was changed via the website. Christiane : if is was, that was also a mistake Jessica E. : *****-Is this the correct email still? Christiane : not really. It's ***** the other once you typed in is no longer in use Jessica E. : Okay he will need to contact us to make that change. Jessica E. : What about the billing address? *****? Christiane : that's correct. the reason you may have ***** may have to do with the in store time we added him to our account about 4 years ago Christiane : My 16 year old son is what I mean Christiane : I will make sure Dennis contact you about the email address Jessica E. : That would be wonderful so that we can make sure you are getting the notices that are being sent out. Jessica E. : Christiane, I have provided the only option available at this time, would you like to confirm this with my supervisor? Christiane : yes please Jessica E. : Absolutely, please allow me just a moment to initiate the transfer okay? Christiane : thank you and if you could have him or her read the conversation I would appreciate it. I am trying to negociate a partial solution. We are really stuck anf I am not sure what else to do at this point. I am hopeing for some flexibility and compassion since we've been customers for many years. Jessica E. : I totally understand and will send enough information so that they know what is going on with this situation. Christiane : thank you Jessica E. : Not a problem! Jessica E. : It has been a pleasure chatting with you today. AT&T appreciates your business. Have a wonderful day! MST Julie H. : Hi Christiane, thank you for patiently waiting. I am the Manager of Jessica and I understand that you requested to speak to me with regard to the account. MST Julie H. : I understand you are needing services restored. Please, allow me a moment to access and review the account for available options. Christiane : yes. Thank you for taking my chat. I don't know if you see my described situation but we have hit some financial hardship in the last couple of mouths and since we had to make hard bill and tuition payment and mortgage choises, we fell behind on the phone plan MST Julie H. : Please give me a minute or two to review your account. Christiane : And it's no excuse on my part, but with 24/7 family and work work, I was not aware. The messages were going to my son. Christiane : Thanks for reviewing MST Julie H. : You are very welcome. MST Julie H. : Thank you for your patience, Christiane. I have reviewed the account and due to it suspending for non payment, the full past due balance must post to restore the services. MST Julie H. : The account will restore once a payment of $666.06 has posted to the account. MST Julie H. : Are you able to make a payment today? Christiane : I realize that, but we only have xxx and maybe xxx$ to put on the bill. And that will realy be extreme hardship. Dennis does not get paid again untilmthe end of the month. Christiane : No I can only pay $xxx from my debit, which will leave us exactly $60 for grocceries for the 6 of us for the next 10 days MST Julie H. : I understand. The account has not had a payment since 10/30/15. The full balance would need to post to restore. Once the payment has posted the account will restore immediately. Christiane : I can max out the only credit card we have left for an addtional $xxx so total $xxx MST Julie H. : You can definitely make the $300 payment today which will make it easier to pay the full past due balance sooner. Once it posts in full the services will resume. We are not able to restore the account without the full payment. Christiane : Yes I tried to explain to Jessica that I did not know that because the reminders were sent to my son and my husband never told me he had not paid since the date you mention probably because with the computer breaking and the breaks on the car needed replaced, he either didn't know what to do or didn't want me to freak out. Christiane : Is their not anything we can do? Some partial 10 day restoration until he get paind if I pay some today? Christiane : My aging mother, the 4 kids car pools, their schools, ect. I am in deed trouble MST Julie H. : I understand it can be difficult when unexpected expenses happen. I am sorry we do not have an exception to restore with a partial payment. Christiane : I don't know what to say. What do you suggest? MST Julie H. : If you post the $300 today then you would only have half the balance remaining. Once it posts the account will restore. MST Julie H. : Do you have any other concerns that I may assist you with? Christiane : It's a huge gamble for me to even pay partiallty so no, I can not pay anything if nothing is going to be restored. And I don't know what we are going to do when we are able to make the full payment end of next week. We will definitely pay what we owe, but this makes for a very strained customer relationship with AAT. Christiane : Can text with someone else? What I am supposed to do? MST Julie H. : I am the only manager available in chat at this time. You can chat back in a couple of hours if you would like to chat with a different manager. Christiane : How can I save this conversation? And is there a complaints department that I can chat with since I have no phone? Christiane : Can you give me the contact for your supervisor? I'll have to go a buy a disposible phone which is also not going to solve my problem at all MST Julie H. : You can e-mail it to yourself, there is an icon in the lower left hand side of the chat window. The complaint would need to be in writing and sent to AT&T Attn: Felecia ***** Christiane : OK Thanks for that. Can the complaint department be reached by email? MST Julie H. : I am sorry, we do not have an e-mail address for that department. MST Julie H. : Do you have any other concerns that I may assist you with? Christiane : Is there any person I can talk to with my phone as is? With no service I mean. Like a #611 type number that would still be connecting me to ATT while the service is suspended? what about 611? Would my phone still connect with 911? Christiane : or a bill pay number. I use to have those in my automatic ATT phne device contacts but I don't anymore MST Julie H. : Yes. you can reach AT&T by dialing 611 and 911 will go through as well. Christiane : ok. Thanks. Well this has been very depressing. I am completely distott and can not believe this inability to treat customers like the real flesh a bone suffering and loving human beings that we are. Have a good day MST Julie H. : Thank you for contacting us today and for using AT&T chat support. Christiane : Yea and I am trying 611 and it just loops me in the complete balance is due loop. I cant' talk to a person

[edited for privacy-please do not post personal or unique information such as but not limited to full names, employee ID numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, etc.]

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

Community Support

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2.7K Messages

11 months ago

Hi all,

We see that this thread is getting a lot of views and wanted to add more info. 

When an account is suspended for non-payment, the entire bill has to be paid off until services can be restored

The best way to prevent a suspended account is to place your bill on autopay

If you need assistance with your bill, check out the Affordable Connectivity Program. It is a federal program available to qualifying households. 

-AT&T Community Team

Accepted Solution

ACE - Sage

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105.4K Messages

7 years ago

Those rules can't be changed.  You can temporarily use a Gophone SIM card with a new number to make and receive calls.  

You can use your current number and can't unlock the phone to use with another carrier.

https://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/planconfigurator.html?tab=gophone&plan=basic

 

 

Anonymous

New Member

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25.7K Messages

7 years ago

That's very unfortunate. I know times are difficult for many families.

Unfortunately once the account has gone into suspension there's not much any manager can do. The account can only be restored when the past due balance is paid.

 

That's why it's best to contact them before the suspension to work out a payment arrangement.

Mojojo2004

New Member

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21 Messages

Making payment arrangements are easy by dialing *729 from any AT&T Cell.

cmpage

Tutor

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3 Messages

7 years ago

Thank you. It's our own internal family problem. We have sepparation of jobs and I don't pay the bills as I only contracts here and there while I finish my PhD and raise 4 teenagers, The messages were going to my 16year old, not to my husband or I. My husband got stuck with paying repairs on the car and buying a new home computer for kids homework after our othjer one fried. So missed opportunities for us to get to ATT before the suspension. 

 

Thanks for the help. I got another sims card a few days ago. 

ACE - Sage

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105.4K Messages

7 years ago

@cmpage

 

Understood.   I took on the cell bill when I got divorced, including keeping my ex on the bill.   I was afraid the kids would never hear from him if I didn't keep him on.  

 

My rule is you want a new phone, you buy it.  I only pay for service.

 

 

cmpage

Tutor

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3 Messages

7 years ago

?That makes good sense. Thanks

Contributor

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2 Messages

7 years ago

can you make partial payments on a suspended at&t account in order to get it restored?

Mojojo2004

New Member

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21 Messages

Making Partial payments can be done on the MyAt&t app or website. Click on make a payment. There will be a pop up that states your are paying less than the minimum payment do you want to reconsider? i think that is the message. but you will be able to continue with payment.

ACE - Sage

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105.4K Messages

7 years ago

You can make partial payments, but your service will not be restored until the account is paid in full.

 

 

Contributor

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2 Messages

7 years ago

Ok, but where and how can you make them because I spoke with two different operators over the phone and one at our local at&t store and they all said they do not accept partial payments it has to be paid in full I really appreciate your help because there is no way I will have $1000 at any one time to hand these people but I can do it in payments
Mojojo2004

New Member

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21 Messages

Making Partial payments can be done on the MyAt&t app or website. Click on make a payment. There will be a pop up that states your are paying less than the minimum payment do you want to reconsider? i think that is the message. but you will be able to continue with payment.

iphoneguy86

Mentor

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96 Messages

6 years ago

Liz do you honestly believe in the nonsense you spout and can you honestly tell us all here your a non-paid non-employee just doing a good deed by responding to people's complaints and concerns with text book answers the company would give? No offense Liz but give me a break.

So I make very good money-not rich by any stretch but I make good money. Regardless of your relationship with AT&T, they are relentless about extending you any kind of leniency with payment beyond the normal parameters of what's in the app which isn't much. Your car breaks down or you run into a medical emergency or any other kind of urgent situation you can count on AT&T telling you to kick rocks. And that's exactly why I left them and moved my 13 lines over to Verizon on the new Unlimited Plan and cancelled my DIRECTV package. Done. I called once or twice to rectify the situation with them and they had very ignorant people with attitudes trying to tell me how irresponsible I was to be in the financial situation I was in. Well now I have Verizon and I haven't had a problem with them
and my rep told me to give him a call if I need my collection activity suppressed for any reason and they won't shut me off.

That in of in itself will be a reason Verizon will sail and AT&T's greed will cause them to fail.

Best part of it all-I called in another time when there was a service outage. I stated to them since their flexibility with payment was very limited my flexibility with being without a phone because of a service outage was also very limited they offered me a $5.00 credit and told me it's in the contract that service outages may occur as normal part of any cell phone agreement and they will not financially reimburse you if they do happen. We were out for like 3 days. Cool so if I've been a customer for years with a solid payment history you can't trust me for 7 days to make a payment but if service is out for 3 days at your fault you have no liability at all? Lol that seems about right.

AT&T also restricts upgrading if you have a suspension impact your account. No other company does that-that's just corporate greed.

That's ok tho AT&T will continue losing customers based on greed and when they are number 3 behind T-Mobile then they will learn.

And one last thing-the cancellation department or retention department. They're terrible. They sound like McDonald's drive Thru employees. They didn't say anything to try to keep my business they tried to argue with me and they got told I cancel adios.

Just my thoughts and I'm someone that worked in the wireless industry in sales; B2B, management, call center, and tech support-for every company except AT&T and as a customer I was just completely shocked by some of their nonsense policies. Unreal.
Mojojo2004

New Member

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21 Messages

At&t and many other carries offer payment arrangements prior to be suspended. But the thing is , treat the company good and they will treat you good. Logically thinking if you have two customers, 1 that pays on time and no arrangements and the other always paying late and setting up arrangements. you are going to award the customer that treats the company better. If you can afford your bill monthly and need to setup arrangements every month , then you need to find another carrier or not have cell service.

Also no carrier can guarantee service all the time , and rarely do make adjustments for outages because the credits are not worth the time. For example if you paid 90 dollars for service and the voice was out for 3 days. The way the calculate an adjustment is to take the 90 dollars and divide that by 30 days , and then divide that by 3 (voice ,text, and data) and then times that by the number of days of outage. so in that instance your out of voice for 3 days that is only a 3 dollar credit.

Finally why would a company want to save a customer that does not pay their bill? Put yourself in the company's shoes for a moment. If you worked for an employer, any company, and they told you its going to be 3-4 weeks before they can pay you for the work you have done. How many bills would you have to move around and the financial burden it would but on you and your family? How long would you allow them to do this monthly? Now bringing that back to att , you have thousands if not millions of customer not paying on time .

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