quest about wireless phone billing

[crystal]

Do they usually charged 1 month ahead?

I just start a family plan with them last month. Got a bill today for cycle 1/08/07 - 2/02/07. But I also got another charge for period 02/03 - 03/02. Is this normal with cingular?

thx.

 

[mugs]

How would they know your usage in advance?

 

[Aikouka]

I've never had a bill from Cingular that went two months ahead. On the first bill they do charge all those extra set up fees and junk that literally double the cost, but it was still for a single month.

 

[crystal]

Yeah, it was really weird and I suprised by the amount. After looking at the bill, it makes me ???. BTW, free activation fees when I set up the plan.
Started plan around 1/11/07.

Bill stated.
Bill cycle 01/08/07 - 02/02/07
Period:
01/11-02/02 - $xx.00 (prorated charge)
02/03-03/02 - $yy.00 (monthy charge)
total charge - $xx.00 + $yy.00
and you get one confuse constomer.

 

[erub]

that's correct. you always pay a month in advance, for all recurring monthly charges. that way they hold your money in advance. your due date is in the middle of that time period. then they'll bill you for all overages, ringtones, and anything else on the next bill

 

[lobbyone]

Call them up and ask them whats the deal with that advanced bill, otherwise they will send you another bill. And isn't it AT&T now?

 

[crystal]

Originally posted by: lobbyone
Call them up and ask them whats the deal with that advanced bill, otherwise they will send you another bill. And isn't it AT&T now?

Yeah, it is AT&T now. Wish I knew before hand when I did the switch over. If I had know, I would never choose them. Can only blame myself for that.

Thanks erub for the clarification. Kinda weird way to bill a customer.

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: erub
That's correct. You always pay a month in advance, for all recurring FIXED monthly charges.

Then they'll bill you for all overages, ringtones, and anything else on the next bill...

FTW

i.e. your plan is 100minutes / $30 per month.

They will bill you the $30 ahead of time since that is the MINIMUM that you will be paying.

If, during the month that you have paid ahead for, you go over your alotted 100 minutes and incur some per-minute charges during that month, those per-minute charges will show up on NEXT MONTH's bill, along with another $30 for NEXT MONTH.

Make sense?