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 | | | Re: hmmm Cox charges $4.95 here for paying over the phone.
Honestly, I wouldn't give payment information to somebody in India.
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Saving the world keeps me busy. However, I find Earth very primitive from my home planet of Krypton.
-Supergirl | |
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| |  telcolackey5The Truth? You can't handle the truth
join:2007-04-06
Death Valley, CA | Re: hmmm Can someone post the BBR tech support telephone number? | |
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| | |  53059959Temp banned from BBR more then anyone
join:2002-10-02
PwnZone | Re: hmmm you mean justins telephone number? i'm sure the post would be removed almost immediately if I did, will you take a pm? | |
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| | | | Reviews:
 ·Mediacom
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: hmmm said by 53059959:you mean justins telephone number? i'm sure the post would be removed almost immediately if I did, will you take a pm? LOL I believe it was a rhetorical question, to point out that Broadband Reports also believes that live telephone assistance is a costly resource, despite their mockery of AT&T for believing the same. | |
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| | | | |  jgkoltPremium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
1 edit | Re: hmmm But att is a business selling itself. BBR really isn't aimed as a normal business. but good point non the less.
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3 free for you/3 free for me: Free Stock Trades : PM Me | |
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| | | | | | Reviews:
·Mediacom
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | Re: hmmm said by jgkolt:But att is a business selling itself. BBR really isn't aimed as a normal business. Thanks, Mr. Buzzkill.  It was supposed to be FUNNY. Not a perfect little gem of a debate point. I laughed when I saw it, anyway. | |
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| | | | | | telcolackey5The Truth? You can't handle the truth
join:2007-04-06
Death Valley, CA
1 edit | What is a "normal" business? Only one that takes phone calls? | |
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| | | | | | | jgkoltPremium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH | Re: hmmm Established business I guess? I normally think of att as big business and think of dsl reports as organization. But BBR does have 4 or so employees i think i remember reading. A lot of people here volunteer their time such as the mods.
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Learning how to invest. Sign up to get 3 free trades for you and me each. Personal Message me. Thanks | |
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| | |  ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 | said by telcolackey5:Can someone post the BBR tech support telephone number? Tech support is a service. Paying/receiving bills is an incorporated "cost" of doing business.
Its a good point you're trying to make, but you're comparing apples to oranges here. | |
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| | | | | | Re: hmmm said by Thaler:Tech support is a service. Paying/receiving bills is an incorporated "cost" of doing business. Its a good point you're trying to make, but you're comparing apples to oranges here. Perhaps, but everything Internet needs some sort of tech support. More direct services (ISP, VoIP, etc) vs high touch content (Amazon, E*Trade) or even ad revenue based forums (Digg, BBR, etc).
Some have a phone system due to a close customer relationship (Broadband, E*Trade) and some choose to have a cheaper email based interface like Google, ad supported BBR, etc. The later have cheaper costs due to the lower support costs. Basic business decisions.
Welcome to America. Have a nice day. | |
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| | | |  DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | All expenses are a cost of business.
Some dumbass telcos and cable operators just choose to itemize their overhead.
With your logic they should also charge for ANY customer service call. It should also be $5 to add features to my account. But no, they just want to cherry pick what overhead to itemize. | |
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| | | | | ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 | Re: hmmm said by Dogfather:With your logic they should also charge for ANY customer service call. It should also be $5 to add features to my account. But no, they just want to cherry pick what overhead to itemize. They'd probably cherry-pick everything they could come across as fees, if given the option. However, I think they'd be hard to make tech support a similar pay-per-call basis. Why? Well if your internet connection doesn't work, then what incentive do they have to keep paying monthlies for "faulty" services? That's why they have customer tech support, and additionally why ISPs don't commonly troubleshoot customer's PCs for them. (Its outside their job scope, and a different product market alltogether) | |
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| | | | | | DogfatherPremium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA | Re: hmmm It's all about telcos wanting to mislead customers in their advertising.
They want to sell you on $15 DSL that is $22 or $30 phone service that's really $45. | |
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| | | | ATT wireless is also back to charging 2.00 for detailed billing. | |
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| | |  morboComplete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000 | Re: hmmm what a horrible company. | |
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| Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
1 edit | It's because of junk "news" like this that I place so little credibility in BBR's "reporting" and mostly hang out in the social/tech support forums.
Ironically, another story is also being pushed off as legitimate journalism today:
»FBI Gets DS3 Backdoor Into Verizon Wireless Network?
They accept at face value the word of every unnamed disgruntled employee...anonymous sources...unknown bloggers: Does BBR bother to independently verify anything or do they just cut-and-paste any vaporous rumor that fits their "all big companies & the government sucks" bias?
I'd probably not be as cranked if BBR would be honest enough to post these items as editorials and not factual news reports.
mocycler | |
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| |  SrsBsns
join:2001-08-30
Oklahoma City, OK
1 edit | Re: hmmm This story is fact because I work for the company and I know its real. What did you think BBR was going to do? Im sure screen shots of proprietary information would not bode well. | |
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| | | Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
| Re: hmmm said by SrsBsns:This story is fact because I work for the company and I know its real. What did you think BBR was going to do? Im sure screen shots of proprietary information would not bode well. So it's a "fact" because DevineDark from Oklahoma says so?
What I expect BBR to do is what any legitimate journalist would do: Verify the information. For example, a comment from a company spokesperson (not some service rep at an 800 number), or an actual customer bill showing the charge.
And why not a screen shot? So what if it's proprietary? They can be submitted anonymously. If some nameless "disgruntled employee" is going to make the claim they could at least have the balls to back it up with something.
If you want to be in the "I saw it on the internet so it must be true" crowd, then that's your business. I prefer to get my news from sources that at least put half-assed effort into validating the "facts" they are reporting.
mocycler
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| | | | SrsBsns
join:2001-08-30
Oklahoma City, OK | Re: hmmm I was just about to post you a screenshot but then I got a better idea. Since all employees are being instructed to educate customer on the payment administration fee you should just call that 800 number. Its 800-331-0500. Ask if the bill payment fee is going to happen. Then call back until your heart's content.
This is already happening in the southeast market which is in line with the memo and verified by one of BBR's users.
said by cleezee:This is already happening, not waiting until May. I track ATT voice tariffs - it was just filed yesterday for Ohio (effective as of 3/3). Other states filed and listed effective dates as early as last year. But, you can still pay online, at the 1-800 #, or by mail, all without the Convenience Fee. So remember before you call BS on something please take the to understand it just may very well be true. Have a wonderful day! | |
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| | Really? I cannot say that I'm surprised by this. I've long abandoned "in person" dealings when possible, as I wound up paying more to do so (Mediacom, AT&T/Cingular, etc.) This goes for purchases, account activation, payments and pretty much everything else.
I pay bills online but if there is a disputed charge, I phone in. So now what? I'll have to call to get the bill corrected and then go online to pay it to avoid a charge eventhough I was already on the phone with a rep?
Gotta love it. This is exactly why the employees (and business owner) here have already left AT&T. Our business is pulling the plug at the end of this quarter.
Sayonara AT&T.
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I would like to change the world but nobody will give me the source code. | |
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| Reviews:
·Mediacom
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Really? said by NicoleDiana:I pay bills online but if there is a disputed charge, I phone in. So now what? I'll have to call to get the bill corrected and then go online to pay it to avoid a charge eventhough I was already on the phone with a rep? No, they will credit you on your next bill. You don't have to pay over the phone to dispute a charge. I've done this myself.
I am careful to make a note of the date, time, person, person's phone/extension, and what credit they promised, because sometimes it doesn't show up on the next bill. Then you just have to call again.
And, sometimes, oops, you get double credits that way! I retain these as inconvenience fees for making me call twice. | |
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|  AuthorityObama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Woodland Hills, CA | I rarely need to talk to a live person, but for the few times I do I'd happily pay to speak to someone in the US. I hate out sourced third world support to India, Canada, Philippines, etc. Who can understand those people?
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Installing OS X on PC hardware is not a "illegal"! | |
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| |  trebzon
join:2001-09-03
Grandville, MI | Re: Really? Yes. Those crazy Canadians are so hard to understand. | |
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| | | AuthorityObama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Woodland Hills, CA
1 edit | Re: Really? said by trebzon:Yes. Those crazy Canadians are so hard to understand. Ya, eh? | |
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| |  en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
2 edits | I'd hardly call Canada third world, especially since its a G8 country. Mexico might be closer to what you're think of as 'third world'.
Last time I looked, the Canadian dollar was worth more than the U.S. dollar.
CAD to USD (YHO:CADUSD=X) Delayed quote data Edit
Last Trade: 1.0142 USD
Trade Time: 3:19PM EST
Bid: 1.0142
Ask: 1.0145
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | AuthorityObama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Woodland Hills, CA
2 edits | Re: Really? said by en102:Last time I looked, the Canadian dollar was worth more than the U.S. dollar. Who would care?
Let's remember... Canada is smaller than California. It's not exactly relevant in the world. They don't have a unique culture, cuisine, or anything that makes them more than just another state.. except that annoying accent.  | |
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| | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
2 edits | Re: Really? Canada is actually much larger than than the U.S., although it may have less population than California. You were the one that brought it up... I'm just correcting it.
Those that would 'care' are those that would want to invest in the U.S.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | | | AuthorityObama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Woodland Hills, CA
1 edit | Re: Really? said by en102:Canada is actually much larger than than the U.S., although it may have less population than California. Not "may", DOES. Canada is just another state for all practical purposes. IMHO of course. | |
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| | | | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: Really? and Beverly Hills is just a part of the City of Los Angeles for all practical purposes.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | |  CheesePremium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
kudos:1 | said by Authority:said by en102:Last time I looked, the Canadian dollar was worth more than the U.S. dollar. Who would care? Let's remember... Canada is smaller than California. It's not exactly relevant in the world. They don't have a unique culture, cuisine, or anything that makes them more than just another state.. except that annoying accent. Are you serious? I would like some of what you are smoking please  | |
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| | | | | | Spoken like a true ignorant yank. The last time I checked the only unique culture in the US was obesity with a cuisine of bad steask and cheeseburgers. | |
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| | | | |  wanabegeek1917-1987Premium
join:2007-06-11
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:8 | Re: Really? Anyone heard of Hughes net? | |
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| | | | | Really proud of that fact eh? I mean since the US $ has been worth more the rest of the last 100 years | |
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| | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: Really? Not really.. I wish the Canadian dollar was back around $0.70
It used to be worth more than the U.S. dollar back in the 50's-1960 and during the 70's as well, if I'm not mistaken.
Oil prices are keeping Canada's dollar high.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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 rcdaileyDragoonflyPremium
join:2005-03-29
Rialto, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| AT&T: Human Contact Costs Extra I pay my bill electronically via my bank. My mother still pays hers by mail, and probably couldn't figure out how to pay it over the phone. Of course it's more expensive to provide a live contact person than an automated system. That's always been true. So why is it only now that they are deciding to charge for the service? Maybe because the cost of fuel is going up?
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No one is always right or always wrong, unfortunately. | |
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| | This doesn't... ..surpirse me at all. Should of figured AT&T was going to do this. I'm surpised they didn't implement it when they merged with SBC. I'm just waiting for the other charges like paying in person or by mail like comcrap and just leaving only internet pay available. | |
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approval from:
Cabal 
| Re: This doesn't... comcast does not charge to make payments my mail. next time get your facts straigh. poeple like you are spreading stuff around that are not true. comcast charges to make payments over the phone with a live person or at the cable store. you can pay your bill for free by mail,auto pay,through you bank,website, and their phone system allow you to make payment without getting a live person on the phone. | |
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| SrsBsns
join:2001-08-30
Oklahoma City, OK | Paying in a store will also cost 5.00 too. the story failed to mention that. | |
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Reviews:
·Mediacom
·RoadRunner Cable
| I'm actually all for this If you take off your "greedy evil corporations" blinders and actually break it down, it makes sense for people like us.
If you're like me, you almost always do routine transactions over the Web. And, the service provider saves money on transactions like this, because they don't have to pay for the human in the loop (who simply inputs what I tell them on the phone into the same system, after all).
If the service provider rolls the cost of human customer service evenly across all their subscribers, then I am paying extra for those subscribers who aren't like me.
Therefore, AT&T charging extra for paying your bill by phone actually benefits me by keeping my subscriber price down. | |
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See 6 replies to this post |
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cacoPremium
join:2005-03-10
Whittier, AK | Lather,Rinse,Repeat If the company provides you a fee-free alternative to paying in person then what is all the crying about.
Free alternatives-
Company website
Company IVR
Mail
Your bank's online billpay area
I'll help grandma pack her bags!
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»www.seabee.navy.mil | |
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| Reviews:
·Mediacom
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Lather,Rinse,Repeat said by caco:If the company provides you a fee-free alternative to paying in person then what is all the crying about. Free alternatives- Company website Company IVR Mail Your bank's online billpay area Actually the easiest is autopay from your checking account (or credit card). You just give AT&T your account info and authorize it, and your bill is automagically paid on the due date. Easy as pie. This how I pay all my bills. | |
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| |  dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | Re: Lather,Rinse,Repeat said by MyDogHsFleas:said by caco:If the company provides you a fee-free alternative to paying in person then what is all the crying about. Free alternatives- Company website Company IVR Mail Your bank's online billpay area Actually the easiest is autopay from your checking account (or credit card). You just give AT&T your account info and authorize it, and your bill is automagically paid on the due date. Easy as pie. This how I pay all my bills. Works fine until some disgruntled employee takes your info then drains your account!
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth | |
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| | | Reviews:
·Mediacom
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Lather,Rinse,Repeat said by dvd536:Works fine until some disgruntled employee takes your info then drains your account! Well, first, I don't give the information to a person on the phone, I enter it on their website. This is a lot safer than when you buy gas and hand your card to the attendant, or give your card to a waiter in a restaurant! They can easily swipe the info off of it while it's in their possession.
I've been doing autopay for years now with many providers. I do it with mortgage, electricity, gas, water, trash, phone, DSL, cell, Web hosting, newspaper, student loans, car loans, and credit card monthly payments. I have *never* had an issue with fraud, late payments, missed payments, or anything like that. Occasionally there's a billing error, but I just get them to credit the next bill in that case.
I am confident, since all my suppliers are reputable corporations, that if they did have a problem with employee fraud that caused a fradulent charge to my account, that the corporation would make good on it.
In addition, I check my checking account daily online just to make sure nothing untoward has hit it. That way, if something bad does happen, I can deal with it right away. | |
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 jtudorXm 60's On 6 FreakPremium,MVM
join:2002-12-07
Morganton, NC | AT&T Charges for everything - nothing new there! AT&T's policy of charging for everything is why I took my long distance service away from them about 4 years ago. They were charging a fee for everything including a fee for having the LD service billed to me by BellSouth.
The last straw was when my Long distance service for one month cost me $17.95 in fees and I made NO (0) long distance calls that month.
What a rip off, $18 just for the privilege to dial long distance!
AT&T is evil!
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Best of luck
"Do, or Do not, there is no try!" Yoda
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| lesopp
join:2001-06-27
Land O Lakes, FL | Re: AT&T Charges for everything - nothing new there! Look into Total Call International, I had the same experience with Verizon Long Distance and decided to bail. In the past 7 years my largest LD bill was $11 for a little over 180 minutes to Korea and around 60 minutes for domestic calls.
»www.totalcallusa.com/ | |
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| | | I dont even bother with a landline anymore. Not worth the cost. Its easier since most people i know use verizon and my incalling time is huge but very little outside the network. | |
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| | only saving their profits... The problem with this is that even though they implement this to "save money" and prevent passing higher fees off to their customers, they raise their prices anyway. | |
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Dydion
join:2001-03-07
Baton Rouge, LA | Want to cut costs, AT&T? Then quit making your management multi-millionaires!!!
Another sellout of America by an American company. | |
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| | Another rumor How is this a news article? This is a rumor started by an unnamed (alleged) AT&T employee. How can we call it news without substantiation??? | |
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| | Another reason we'll never go back to AT&T (or Comcast) | |
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| | English Speaking? could this mean english speaking people? if i'm paying i want English speaking people | |
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 jester121Premium
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL | wtf... Like grandma, who's failing eyesight makes her prefer a live agent to paying by mail or Internet. Well she can move to France if she doesn't like it! And Karl once again raises the bar in sensationalistic reporting editorializing (by shoveling on the BS).
Pray tell, how is "grandma" going to read the numbers off the bottom of her check for the telephone rep, with her failing eyesight? My goodness, she probably can't even read the numbers on her touch tone phone. | |
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| ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 | Re: wtf... said by jester121:My goodness, she probably can't even read the numbers on her touch tone phone. I have a family relative with this problem. He can't see fine detail for squat, but large, large print is just fine for him.
That's his phone...and he writes all the numbers he has to dial (billing lines included) large, across entire sheets of paper - one page per number. Should he have AT&T, I'm sure he'll have to shell out the extra $5, or whatever they ask of him...or leave his limited home finances entirely to someone else's care to manage. (He has some help, but he likes to stay independant/active as much as possible) | |
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| | jester121Premium
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL | Re: wtf... hehe I was picturing the novelty remote controls with buttons that size... whatever works I guess.
I'd also suggest large Ed McMahon sized checks so your relative can mail his checks in and pay bills on time. But the extra postage for mailing a 4 foot long envelope would probably make it a wash. | |
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tron3
join:2007-12-03
New York, NY | Its ridiculous to charge someone for paying their bill, regardless if it is thru a human or automated. | |
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| | save your self a headache get rid of at&t's services, then you won't have to worry about nonsense such as this.. just make sure to tell them when you cancel the account that they now have one less customer to nickel and dime ($5, $10 service charges)! | |
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| | AT&T Like AT&T doesn't have enough fake "government fees" hidden by calling them taxes already on their bill, these fees are nothing more then more money in their pocket.
They are such a JOKE. Every time you turn around the phone company wants to charge you for something yet they give you worse and worse service with every passing day.
Why not cut the salary of the CEO who isn't worth $50 a year let alone what he makes. AT&T = WORST SERVICE EVER! | |
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cleezee
join:2007-10-24
Charleston, SC | Already happening... This is already happening, not waiting until May. I track ATT voice tariffs - it was just filed yesterday for Ohio (effective as of 3/3). Other states filed and listed effective dates as early as last year.
But, you can still pay online, at the 1-800 #, or by mail, all without the Convenience Fee. | |
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 CabalPremium
join:2007-01-21
Austin, TX
·Suddenlink
| If only... ... AT&T had a way to pay your bills quickly over the web, for free, with the potential for automated billing.
Oh, wait.
--
Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru? | |
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| |  Unforseen charges
We're thinking of starting to use the same tactics with our customers (not really). Who knows to what depths one can sink when trying to keep a business afloat!  | |
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 93388818It's cool, I'm takin it backPremium
join:2000-03-14
Dallas, TX | Bad Idea IMO, it's a bad idea. I'm all for cost savings, but one thing a business should always do, is make sure your customers have no hassle when it comes to paying you. | |
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