AT&T Review

I shopped around quite a bit before choosing Cingular Wireless last year. I like to get a good price, but I also value quality and great customer service. I talked to people, talked to multiple salespeople for each company and finally decided on Cingular.

 We chose our phones, paid for them, and were offered a $50.00 rebate on each phone. They were out of rebate forms, so I returned for them a few days later (as they suggested). Apparently, they gave me the wrong forms as the expiration date was later found to be incorrect. I sent it in at the last minute, only to be denied a rebate due to the faulty date.  Cost incurred: $100.00

We had signed up for a family plan with 1400 minutes, we had agonized over how many minutes to sign up for as we hadn't had a cell phone before. "No problem" assured the salesperson, telling us that we could change our plan at any time of any month to adjust our minutes. Months later, we were only using 500 or less minutes a month, so we went in to a Cingular store that had opened up closer to our home. We were told that the other salesperson had lied. They could only change the plans as of the first day of a billing cycle, if they attempted it now, it would charge a surcharge on my account and I would lose money. I complained about what I had been promised and the salesgirl said that I must have gone to a contracting store, not a Cingular owned store (beats me, but they only sold Cingular, and Cingular was part of their name...).  She said that the salespeople at those stores "can pretty much tell you whatever they want to sell you the phone" but that Cingular wouldn't honor that. I asked to where I could lodge a complaint as the situation seems ridiculous to me and Cingular should not be condoning this behavior by any representative. She said, "Well, don't complain to US or Cingular! It's not our fault!"

I finally asked her to at least change my plan as of the next billing date, and she agreed. She did something in the computer and gave me a reciept that said my plan had been changed. I can only wish I didn't lose it. 4 months later, Cingular still hasn't managed to change my plan and I'm still paying for a number of hundred of minutes I'll never use.

Cost incurred since the date we asked them to change our plan: $170.00 

In the meantime, small charges for downloads keep appearing on the bill. We don't download anything. Our phones don't play songs, we use pictures from our phone camera for a background, and we still use the ringtones that come with the phone.  So, why do I have to call EVERY MONTH to have the $1.99 + tax charges removed from my bill? I've given up as the 1/2 hour isn't worth $2.00

Cost incurred on 24 months of $2 charges: $48.00 or time spent calling the company to be re-imbursed based on my pay of $8.50/hr and 1/2 hour a month: $99.00

We hate Cingular (aka the new ATT), and are counting down the 13 months until our contract is over. I am tired of the poor customer service and over charges. 

Overcharges: $369.00