Teacher
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3 Messages
Signed a 1-year contract and then AT&T raised price
I was going to cancel my service in December last year, but when I called to cancel, AT&T offered U200 for a certain rate for 12 months in exchange for me signing a contract for one-year. So I agreed to keep AT&T U-Verse for 1 year and pay that set price.
Subsequent to our agreement, AT&T raised the bill by ~$4 in February (yes, the notification was in the December bill but that bill was generated after I entered into the one-year contract).
I had an online chat with customer care and I was told that it is AT&T's policy to apply the rate increase even to customers who are under a contract. I sent a private message this past weekend but I have yet to hear back.
It is absurd that AT&T thinks this is okay:
1) If I cancel the service before December this year, I have to pay a penalty.
2) Yet AT&T can raise the rate at any time without my consent.
3) If I don't like the rate increase, I can cancel the service but I still have to pay the penalty.
Is anyone else having this same issue (i.e., those who have to pay a penalty if they were to cancel within the contract period, similar to how cell phone contracts work)? Please share your experience here. Thanks.
oufanindallas
ACE - Master
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6.9K Messages
10 years ago
ROFLMAO. Do you really think the BBB cares? Businesses pay to be a member of the BBB and the BBB looks out for businesses. If you don't like rate increases on your services, cancel everything and get a rooftop antenna and a vcr.
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JefferMC
ACE - Expert
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34.7K Messages
10 years ago
That is the nature of an expiring discount. You had a very good limited-time discount. It expired. You can either pay the new amount, downgrade to a lower service tier, or possibly upgrade and get a new package. Or you can really take it to AT&T and go elsewhere.
All these providers do the same thing. Charter advertises a $99 triple play constantly. Guess how much that costs when the introductory period is over? Guess how much luck you have extending it?
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Trone121
Contributor
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1 Message
10 years ago
I thought I was the only person this has happened to. My bill was stated to me to be 105/month for 12 months.. the first month I had an issue so they deducted me to 77 bucks. that was fine. Next month. I saw 100.36 charge. also fine. the next month, 134 and change. Ever since I've had uverse every month my bill is different in price. it's very irritating. it almost makes me want to cut it completely. I called to complain and they gave me a $200 credit. On top of this I was promised a $200 gift card for keeping the servie when I moved into my new house. I can't stand the inconsistency. It's irritating.
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hweisber
Contributor
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1 Message
10 years ago
I signed up in late November 2013 for a U-Verse package with a fixed "total monthly reoccurring charge" listed for a "promo length term" of 24 months. By February 2014, they increased the monthly charge. They are now saying that my agreement did not cover the receiver charges, so they can increase the monthly charge for the receivers whenever they want. There is nothing in the agreement I signed to that effect - it clearly states the total monthly reoccurring charges and the promo length period without any proviso for the charge increasing. But they increased the charges 2 months into the contract without any change in my services. That is deceptive, plain and simple.
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dydxlnx
Mentor
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75 Messages
10 years ago
You are correct. I misread the question, assuming his experience was similar to my own--i.e. the fixed for a year price going up the next month. How does your response apply to that?
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oufanindallas
ACE - Master
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6.9K Messages
10 years ago
You were given a discount on the package price, fees and taxes are not included in this promo price. Every February prices go up, regardless of whether you are in a promo price or not.
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dydxlnx
Mentor
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75 Messages
10 years ago
It is, indeed. You will soon get a response stating the ATT policy that the promo price applies only to the basic rate--not to equipment--and that you should have known that.
My basic cost went up, not equipment rental, since I am not renting equipment, but that doesn't matter to them.
Good luck on getting any satisfation.
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dydxlnx
Mentor
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75 Messages
10 years ago
And here it is, the explanation that despite the fact that we are told--and sometimes get in writing--that the price is fixed for a year, it really isn't. We should have known.
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oufanindallas
ACE - Master
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6.9K Messages
10 years ago
If you have it in wrting and you look under the terms you will see that fees are not covered.
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JefferMC
ACE - Expert
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34.7K Messages
10 years ago
It did not need to apply to your issue. My response was appropriate to the post I was replying to.
I am not fully conversant with the details of your situation, I wasn't there.
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