AT&T's rate plans suck

I’ve been an “AT&T” wireless customer for about 10 years now. I started with PacBell Wireless, which got acquired by Cingular, then AT&T. I’ve had no reason to switch things up.

During that tenure I’ve had many different phones, mostly Palm Treos. The service has been great, working pretty much everywhere – even the internet connection.

I recently upgraded to an AT&T Tilt which has been working wonderfully with my existing AT&T service. (The iPhone just isn’t for me. Lack of tactile keyboard is a deal breaker.)

Since I’ve been a customer so long I guess I have an older data plan, called the “Media max 200”, which gives me unlimited data and up to 200 text messages a month. This plan has worked great with my new phone – 3g data, gps, texting, mms – no problems.

Attempt to upgrade

Last month I went over my text messages, and decided it was time to upgrade to an unlimited messaging plan. I called AT&T customer service wanting to upgrade to their “Media max unlimited” plan, which offers unlimited internet and messaging for $35 a month.

Their customer service rep told me that the plan I wanted “wouldn’t work for my phone” since I now had an AT&T Tilt. This was obvious bullshit since the plan was just like the one I was on, except it had unlimited text messages.

Imagine my surprise then when he tried to force me into upgrading to their “PDA Personal Bundle” plan – which was $50 a month. This was $15 a month more for a plan that did exactly what the “Media max unlimited” bundle would do for me.

When I pointed this out to the rep he stammered and stumbled over his words, unable to offer me a concrete reason why I had to have the PDA plan, instead of the Media max plan I requested. He went so far as to tell me that it was impossible to upgrade me to the plan I wanted, because of the phone I had.

Even his supervisor wouldn’t budge, and I ended the call then and there.

Upgrading online wouldn’t work either, with AT&T’s web site giving me this error page…

AT&T FAIL

Are you serious???

I’m still stewing on how to get properly upgraded to the plan I want. Any ideas on the subject are welcome…

Don’t fuck with your customers

It’s amazing to me how companies get away with obvious rip off tactics like this. I could see paying an increase if I received some value for the rate hike. AT&T is offering no added value, but increasing their rate plans. Why is this acceptable?

If I were to do the same with Cashboard I’d have no customers. We’re constantly adding value, and the prices have remained the same since going out of beta.

This isn’t to say in the future that the prices might increase for some plans, but we add value to the service constantly.

What has AT&T given me except a sour taste in my mouth from this experience?

seth, Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:59:00 GMT
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  1. foxsea27@gmail.com 9 days later:

    Aint that a bitch !!!! and bitch I will .. I was thrown the same line of shit when I went to upgrade to unlimited . I said ” OK …you expect me to beleive hat the same text message going from the same cell tower the the same phone works fine.. but when I want to do the same thing but in an unlimted plan it will not work with my device” ?? I dont even know how or who to complain to , but I will figure it out .

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