DESPERATE for help with ATT Wireless dilemma!

[razorweb]

So, I am located in Michigan, and typically have a regional plan, in which I had night and weekend minutes included as part of a contractual obligation I signed up for when I first got the phone. When I temporarily moved to California this summer, they told me I could suspend my plan and go on a national plan for the summer, with a new number, and revert to my old plan when it was over. I did this, because otherwise I would have had exorbitant roaming fees.

When I returned to Michgan, I found out that my nights and weekends benefit that I had from the original plan I wanted to revert to had expired. So while the plan was on hold, my night and weekend minutes included as part of that plan expired in the normal course of time. I accrued hundreds of dollars in added charges because, unbeknownst to me, they were charging me for all the minutes I thought were night and weekend minutes.

I called them up, to rectify the situation. They told me that they had sent me warnings (which I have never seen) and that in any event, they could only do anything for me if I agreed to another 1 year contract.

This seems to me to be extortion! not only are they reaping the benefit of putting my contract on hold, they seem to be trying to coerce me into another contract when I should have had those minutes for free in the first place! I have tried talking to CS reps, but they are all telling me I'm screwed. I am hoping some wonderful person here has an answer to my problem. Am I really stuck between the rock of a contract and the hard place of coughing up the hundreds of dollars they want from me?

Thanks for all your help! post here, pm, or email.

 

[dabuddha]

well one way to get out of a contract is by telling them that you're moving out of the country. They won't charge you a cancellation fee because they usually can't provide service to the "destination" country.
as far as your situation though, i'm not sure what to tell you but ask to speak to the CSR's supervisor.

 

[ScottyB]

Tell them you are going to take them to small claims court if you don't get this fixed be the weekend. They will get a manager, who may be able to help you, on the phone really quickly.

 

[razorweb]

can/should the manager do anything?

 

[ScottyB]

More than a lowly CSR can do.

 

[rahvin]

If your contract is up politely ask to talk to a manager. Tell them that if they dont' remove the charges you will cancel the phone and use another provider. If they don't do what you ask do what you threatened, walk away and cut your losses and then tell everyone you know how much you hate ATT.