A rarity......A lawsuit (against AT&T) that I actually agree with.

[bunker]

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/1215cable.html

It was almost midnight on a Thursday last May when a Marietta police officer and a representative of AT&T Broadband knocked on Carmen Gonzalez's door.

She says they accused her of getting cable service without paying for it. She told them she had a canceled check to show she had paid her bill; they disconnected her service anyway, she says.

The next day, Gonzalez called the cable company, which she says assured her it would correct the erroneous information and reconnect her service. A few days later, the police returned and arrested her, charging her with cable theft.......

 

[pulse8]

Yeah, I agree with that one, too.

 

[Adul]

I hope the win more then what they are asking for.

 

[Fastball]

I hope they get put out of business over this. They are a very shady company, to say the least.

 

[Grey]

That is pretty bad, the person who lost the job for jail time and now can't get another because of the 'record' deserves money. The rest of that is just insane beuracracy on AT&Ts part.

 

[Amused]

Good gawd that's outrageous. They should be suing the local police and prosecutor as well.

Here's another story just like it:

Get a Cable Modem......Go to Jail

 

[yakko]

I hope AT&T loses this one.

 

[MustPost]

<<She says they accused her of getting cable service without paying for it. She told them she had a canceled check to show she had paid her bill; they disconnected her service anyway, she says.>>

How do you pay your bills with a canceled check?

 

[Keego]

crap! uhh... I've never stolen cable...

 

[Viper GTS]

<< <<She says they accused her of getting cable service without paying for it. She told them she had a canceled check to show she had paid her bill; they disconnected her service anyway, she says.>>

How do you pay your bills with a canceled check? >>



For people that use checks, it's possible to have every check you write returned to you. You get a thick envelope every month with every cancelled check.

Viper GTS

 

[Amused]

<< <<She says they accused her of getting cable service without paying for it. She told them she had a canceled check to show she had paid her bill; they disconnected her service anyway, she says.>>

How do you pay your bills with a canceled check? >>



LOL. A "canceled check" is the original check you wrote that the bank gives back to you after it's been paid. You can use it as proof of payment.

 

[Brian48]

Well, I don't blame the cops. They're just doing as they're told. I would, however, sue the living crap out of AT&T though. This was clearly a mistake on their part with the billing and an even bigger mistake to not update the account information once they had done the follow-up with the customer.

 

[pulse8]

<< Well, I don't blame the cops. They're just doing as they're told. I would, however, sue the living crap out of AT&T though. This was clearly a mistake on their part with the billing and an even bigger mistake to not update the account information once they had done the follow-up with the customer. >>



Pondered that one for a while, didn't ya?

 

[goodoptics]

<< Tracey Massay was charged with cable theft even though she didn't have the service. AT&T Broadband tried to sell her the service even though cable theft charges were pending against her. >>:|:disgust:

 

[bunker]

Wow, thread back from the dead.

 

[clarkmo]

Combines with their current 6 months at $19.95 and the potential of a huge windfall from a night in jail, this makes this a HOT DEAL!!!. Mod, please lock and post in the appropraite forum.

 

[StageLeft]

<< Police handcuffed her and took her to jail, where she remained until she posted bond the next day. In September, she went to trial. It took the jury 16 minutes to acquit her. >>

16 minutes! Of course $50 million in damages is ridiculous. They were never caused $4 million in pain each (12 suing). Not even close.

 

[perry]

AT&T sucks in Atlanta. I cancelled my service in August, and I'm got bills for it until November. They said that they had an open work order, meaning the cable was still connected, but couldn't stop billing until the work order was completed. I told em I don't live there any more and I'm not going to pay the bill, they said that's fine, I should even get a check for a couple days that I was paid up for. No bills in two months, but no refund check either.

We had neighbors that had moved out two years prior, new people moved in, and never connected the cable, but they still had service. Then they moved out, and new people moved in, we told them not to connect the cable either, because they could (still) get it for free.

 

[Ameesh]

<< I hope they get put out of business over this. They are a very shady company, to say the least. >>




like that is gonna happen dumbass. :frown:

 

[Yeeny]

Normally I would agree with you Skoorb, except this part changed my mind.

According to the complaint, filed in Fulton County State Court, the cable company's agent and police officers also questioned children about their parents, tried to enter apartments late at night and ignored residents' claims that they did not have cable service, legal or illegal.

Thats harrassment, pure and simple, and backed by the biggest telephone company on earth? They need to pay, even if the people don't see the money, let it go to charity or something. That is just pathetic.

 

[pulse8]

<< 16 minutes! Of course $50 million in damages is ridiculous. >>



Since when are damages only awarded for the time it takes the jury to reach a verdict?

 

[StageLeft]

<< Normally I would agree with you Skoorb, except this part changed my mind.

According to the complaint, filed in Fulton County State Court, the cable company's agent and police officers also questioned children about their parents, tried to enter apartments late at night and ignored residents' claims that they did not have cable service, legal or illegal.

Thats harrassment, pure and simple, and backed by the biggest telephone company on earth? They need to pay, even if the people don't see the money, let it go to charity or something. That is just pathetic. >>

Well it is, but I'd willingly go through that for $4 million. Hell, where do I sign up for 1/4 that? $50 million will punish AT&T, but first we'd need to know if this sort of crap happens from the top down, and unless it is done to hurt AT&T I still don't think $4 million worth of hurt was put on these people. If you beat the crap out of me and send me to hospital I might only get $100k (maybe not even close?). These people were harassed a little bit and spend a night in jail! The person who lost their job with the criminal record...now I can see them being entitled to some significant cash.

<< Since when are damages only awarded for the time it takes the jury to reach a verdict? >>

These are separate issues. I should have put a spacer. 16 min was good for acquital, but the jury should not award $50 million on this new case - that's what i meant.

 

[Yeeny]

Well in a class action suit like that, wouldn't the ones who lost the most receive the most out of the settlement? Or is it split equally? I just assumed the worse you are treated, the more you will get in the end.

 

[StageLeft]

<< Well in a class action suit like that, wouldn't the ones who lost the most receive the most out of the settlement? Or is it split equally? I just assumed the worse you are treated, the more you will get in the end. >>

i dunno! I just don't see that the total pain of these 12 combined equals $50 million!

 

[Yeeny]

I don't think so much their pain deserves the money, as AT&T (at least the local branch) deserves to lose it for conducting themselves that way.