Chick in a Pod

Chick in a Pod: My difficult breakup with AT&T

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Updated: 3/03/2010 7:10 am

Dear AT&T Wireless,

I normally find break ups very difficult. I don't like to have them happen because I normally have some sort of connection to the "other side" of the break up. However, in your case, I am making an exception.

I am so glad to be rid of you.

Less than two weeks before I was eligible for a phone upgrade, my phone broke. I called to see if there was any way I could go ahead and get a better/new phone and apply the insurance I had been paying. I wasn't trying to get a free phone, but you refused to work with me.

As your employee could see, I'd been an AT&T customer for more than five years; I repeatedly saw 'new customers' get great deals, including new phones. Silly me, I thought being a loyal customer would count for something, but it did not.

So, when my contract ended Dec. 23, 2009 I gleefully went to your store and canceled; paid what I was told was my final bill and ended our relationship. Imagine my surprise to get a bill in January for some random 'fee.' Then, after getting that cleared up, think of how shocked I was come February, when I get ANOTHER email saying my statement was ready! I called, spoke to a very rude employee and got it taken care of. I'm sure I was a little short with him, but SERIOUSLY! It was like six weeks after I broke up with you and you were still calling, still wanting to see me!

I'm hoping this is it and we are done. I'm sure AT&T is a great company, but we are just not meant to be.

Thanks, The Chick.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of News 4 WOAI (WOAI.com)

textransplant - 3/8/2010 12:43 PM
AT&T is the worst of a terrible bunch. Their basic product wouldn't be bad if they didn't grossly overcharge, and if they provided even mediocre customer service. I had service with them for nearly five months, recently, and literally the only thing they didn't manage to screw up - REPEATEDLY - was my disconnect request. GOOD RIDDANCE!

scandals - 3/8/2010 1:08 AM
all I can say is that since Randall Stephenson took over things have gotten worse. They look at graphs and flow charts, numbers drive this company now. They say they preach customer service but outsource the work to other countries where you have trouble understanding the rep and who has next to no knowledge on the products. How on earth can you help someone if you don't know what the hell you are doing or how to fix it. Sell sell sell is the mantra now and reps are being hammered for taking to much time on the phone to dare I say it... Help the customer.... some won't even do that and just blind transfer the customer somewhere else, which just upsets the customer even more. People with the knowledge and the know how are getting tired of the bull and are either retiring ( if they're lucky ) or moving on to something else. I can safely say that if everyone was in a position financially/medically to keep it together while they were out of work until they could secure another job. over half the work force would give their two weeks notice in a heart beat.

whocares - 3/7/2010 9:19 PM
as an employee, i can speak from experiance ed whitacre was the best president a company could have, why you think GM asked for him by NAME. What ever he touches works. As soon as Randall took over, its a slow downhill slope, trust me, all 300000 of us regret. We tried to vote him out in the union vote but to no avail

john1schn - 3/6/2010 10:21 PM
AT&T caused my breakup with them. They wouldn't work with me when the sold me a mobile phone that was not designed to last the length of their 2 year contract. They told me they couldn't help me. I had 8 months to go on the contract, and as soon as it was up, I get rid of my and my family's AT&T phones, and went to a different carrier, and dropped their landline service as well. Been free of AT&T for 5 years now, and don't regret my decision one bit. My current wireless carrier welcomes me into the store, and makes the extra effort to make me a satisfied customer. When was the last time you heard "satisfied customer" and "AT&T" in the same sentence?

vampyreofsa - 3/6/2010 10:17 PM
I have been with AT&T for about 5 years now and my contract us up in June. This article has given me something to think about.

Gingerbread - 3/6/2010 12:02 PM
Randall Stevenson is ruining AT&T. It's a shame that Ed Whitacre retired and that idiot was named CEO.

dltyler - 3/5/2010 5:26 AM
Takes my mind back a couple of years when I finally made the break from /Time Warner, those peoplle lie better than anything I have seen in my life. Now I am constantly getting ads wanting my buss. back. I do not even want to goto my recall moments with the oh so great ATT, they also were something else, period . Now just live witth a cell phone and all is GOOD. Have not tried the Magicjack, but it is next, just to see if it is alright....If you live in Kirby, and have ATT and are constantly having problems, it is because there juncion box is in the ditch at swann ln and allan sheppard under the bridge. When it rains , there box fills up with water, there goes your phone and all things electric. Have a good one to all. dlt

Wolfie - 3/4/2010 7:35 AM
So far I really love my magicjack!

Wonder - 3/3/2010 4:23 PM
i've been with at&t for 9 years. i havent had any real issues. then again i dont use up too many minutes. less than 450.. i text and check email and internet stuff a lot. the iphone is great.

jessmcrae - 3/3/2010 3:50 PM
The same thing happened to me but with their home service not cell service. I could not get my home phone/internet installed they kept pushing back my installation date further and further but expecting payment in the meantime. I had enough and for a releationship that was just blooming I felt this was uncalled for. So I ended it before we were too attached.
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