AT&T is going to send me 2 phones I don't want, then charge me $35 each restock fee

[getbush]

I wasn't sure if this should go in off topic or here so if it needs to be moved go ahead.

I'm a current verizon customer who was sold off and picked up by at&t. The short version of the story is that at&t is going send us phones (2 on the account) when they are ready to transition us. If you cancel the at&t service within 30 days of the switch you pay no etf, but they are charging a $35 restocking fee for each phone.

This whole thing is a mess and I would have liked to just chugged along with verizon, but we have to go through this divestiture BS. I think I have one line in, and one line out of contract. Should I just eat one ETF and switch up before the AT&T thing hits? I really hate AT&T and they blow in northern Michigan. I asked if I could not receive phones and they said that's not an option and that the restocking fees are still less than an ETF, which is true. I'm not giving them $70.

Is anyone else in the same boat? I know a few million accounts were sold across the country.

 

[LikeLinus]

I wasn't sure if this should go in off topic or here so if it needs to be moved go ahead.

I'm a current verizon customer who was sold off and picked up by at&t. The short version of the story is that at&t is going send us phones (2 on the account) when they are ready to transition us. If you cancel the at&t service within 30 days of the switch you pay no etf, but they are charging a $35 restocking fee for each phone.

This whole thing is a mess and I would have liked to just chugged along with verizon, but we have to go through this divestiture BS. I think I have one line in, and one line out of contract. Should I just eat one ETF and switch up before the AT&T thing hits? I really hate AT&T and they blow in northern Michigan. I asked if I could not receive phones and they said that's not an option and that the restocking fees are still less than an ETF, which is true. I'm not giving them $70.

Is anyone else in the same boat? I know a few million accounts were sold across the country.

Wait, what? You were sold off by Verizon?? Why the hell would Verizon sell off a customer to AT&T. Maybe I'm missing something. lol

 

[getbush]

It was required as a part of the merger/buyout approval of the 2008 acquistion of alltel by verizon.

FCC OKs AT&T buy of assets from Verizon
Tue, Jun 22 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday approved Verizon Wireless's $2.35 billion wireless spectrum license sale to AT&T Inc.

Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc, is selling the assets as a condition for regulatory approval of its own purchase in January last year of rural provider Alltel.

AT&T said last week it expected to be able to close the purchase by the end of this month. The FCC confirmed the deal in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

AT&T said the deal would bring it 1.6 million new customers and expand its network in 79 primarily rural service areas across 18 states including Alabama, Arizona, California Colorado, Iowa and Kansas.

It said it plans to integrate the new customers onto its network over a 12-month period and promised that for now customers would not see any changes to their coverage, rate plans or existing service contracts.

As the network is integrated the company said that consumers will be able to choose a new phone comparable to their existing phone at no extra cost.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Andre Grenon, Bernard Orr

 

[LikeLinus]

It was required as a part of the merger/buyout approval of the 2008 acquistion of alltel by verizon.

FCC OKs AT&T buy of assets from Verizon
Tue, Jun 22 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday approved Verizon Wireless's $2.35 billion wireless spectrum license sale to AT&T Inc.

Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc, is selling the assets as a condition for regulatory approval of its own purchase in January last year of rural provider Alltel.

AT&T said last week it expected to be able to close the purchase by the end of this month. The FCC confirmed the deal in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

AT&T said the deal would bring it 1.6 million new customers and expand its network in 79 primarily rural service areas across 18 states including Alabama, Arizona, California Colorado, Iowa and Kansas.

It said it plans to integrate the new customers onto its network over a 12-month period and promised that for now customers would not see any changes to their coverage, rate plans or existing service contracts.

As the network is integrated the company said that consumers will be able to choose a new phone comparable to their existing phone at no extra cost.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Andre Grenon, Bernard Orr

Oh ok, gotcha. I did not realize they had to sell off part of the customer base. Interetesting.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Wow that would suck.

 

[tdawg]

Since this change wasn't your choice and they're making you take the phones, I'd think that if your argument is loud enough, you can get out of your contract and not pay anything for either the phones or the ETF. A change in contract requires you to sign in agreement, right? So if you don't, you should be able to get out of it.

 

[kaerflog]

I don't know the details of it but you should easily be able to get out of your contract.

 

[sourceninja]

Since this change wasn't your choice and they're making you take the phones, I'd think that if your argument is loud enough, you can get out of your contract and not pay anything for either the phones or the ETF. A change in contract requires you to sign in agreement, right? So if you don't, you should be able to get out of it.

Exactly, I would refuse shipment on the phones and tell them that I did not enter in a contract with them and I do not want their service. They can't charge you a fee for not excepting products you did not buy or want.

Let them take you to court and prove it.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Definitely refuse shipment on the phones, if you do that there's really nothing they can do. At least I don't think so. And of course, call and bitch. Move up the chain, bitch some more.

 

[rudeguy]

refuse shipment and port out your numbers.

Don't use either one of the phones on ATT's service. If you do, that will make you an ATT customer. If you don't ever use the phones, you can dispute anything they do try to charge you.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

ATT has by far the worst customer service I have ever seen. My friend had his iphone stolen and reported it and they were still charging him the monthly bill. He called in and asked them what was going on and they said they never received his call before. They even looked at the usage from it being nearly maxed out to completely 0 and they refused to acknowledged that it was stolen and wanted him to pay 3 months worth of bills.

 

[Cobalt]

Only phones purchased at a B&M at&t location have the restocking fee, not phones sent through customer service or online purchases. Go into your local store to verify. But that is how it is in my market. (at&t corporate retail store employee)

 

[swerus]

What sucks is you don't have a say in being moved to AT&T. I can't believe that you aren't given a choice to stay with Verizon.

 

[rudeguy]

What sucks is you don't have a say in being moved to AT&T. I can't believe that you aren't given a choice to stay with Verizon.

that kind of thing happens. It does break your contract and gives you a chance to cancel without an ETF.

 

[gsaldivar]

I agree with the others - dump AT&T without delay...

There is a clause in all wireless contracts that allows the customer to cancel the account, without an ETF penalty, if the carrier makes any material changes in the pricing or features of the plan that was agreed to by both parties.

This is the reason why AT&T is not changing any of the pricing for the customers received under the FCC ruling. If they were to raise the price of any part of your old Verizon contract - text messaging, for example; they would activate the clause in the contract allowing all the customers who disagree with the higher price to cancel without paying ETF penalty. However, a change of phone can certainly be considered a material change, despite AT&T's argument that the phone they are offering you is "equivalent" to the phone you had with Verizon.

The truth of the matter is that the phone only becomes an equivalent replacement if you accept it as such. As the owner of the phone, you alone have final say as to whether or not AT&T's phone is equivalent to your old Verizon one. If you are colorblind, for example, maybe the screen colors on the new phone are not acceptable because the old phone was more legible!

At the time you accept the shipment, AT&T can say that you accepted the phone as an equal replacement and they owe you no further compensation. Furthermore, as the owner of your old Verizon contract, AT&T may at that point they try to hold you to that contract and charge you an ETF fee if you later decide to cancel, because you agreed to accept AT&T's equipment and service in lieu of the remainder of your Verizon one. This is the reason AT&T is in such a rush to ship you a new phone, and they are willing to use a few "white lies" and scare tactics to keep you from canceling that shipment with their customer service reps...

So...

Cancel your AT&T contract. Cancel or refuse any AT&T shipments. Claim that the phone being offered is absolutely not equivalent to the one you have with Verizon, therefore the carrier has made a material change to the contract that you agreed to, therefore you will not be paying any ETF. Additionally, you owe AT&T no restocking fees since you did not request or order any equipment from them.

If they give you any problems, just Google up the FCC contact information and ask for the name and id# of the rep you are talking to, as well as the name and id# of that rep's supervisor - then tell them you will be filing a formal complaint with the FCC against AT&T for lying to you about your rights to cancel your old Verizon contract without any penalty. Be polite and persistent, keep calling until you get the answer you want. Keep the Verizon phone, eBay it, etc. Use the money to buy beer and/or aspirin. Sign a new contract with whoever you want.

Be aware that Verizon may no longer be allowed to offer you an account if they have divested service rights to your area. You *may* be able to get around this by having a relative or friend purchase an account for you from a different billing address.

Good luck!