AT&T Yahoo Dish Network

In September 2006, I contacted AT&T to transfer my telephone service to a new address. The representative was helpful with the transfer but offered me the opportunity to subscribe to Dish Network in a bundeled offer through AT&T. The offer sounded appealing, and the charges appeared to be lower than regular cable service, so I agreed. I was told that there would be a 1-time activation fee in the amount of $49.99 which would require payment by credit card. I provided my credit card information for this amount and an installation date was set up.

The installation was completed in a timely fashion, but upon receipt of my first bill, I noticed a charge of $49.99 for activation fee. Knowing that I had paid this by credit card in September, I contacted the ATT Yahoo Dish Network customer service and informed them that this amount had been paid and I had received this billing on my credit card statement. I was told that it takes approximately 2 months for the credit to be applied. I informed them that this appeared to be unusual in that my credit card statement had already been billed. After getting nowhere, I asked to speak to a supervisor. The customer service representative put me on hold for an extended period and finally someone identifying themselves as a supervisor came on the line and basically told me the same story of "it takes at least 2 months to be credited to your account". When I asked why it took so long, I was told it was the usual procedure. I again informed them that I had never heard of such an accounting practice and I would appreciate them at least adjusting my account since they had confirmed receipt of the $49.99 activation fee. I was assured it would be taken care of. I paid my bill less the $49.99.

In November 2006, I received an e-mail informing me that my account was past due. I went online and sure enough a late fee of $5.00 had been billed to me. I called them again and was told my another customer service person that I should not have been billed for the late fee and an adjustment would be issued. When I asked why didn't they adjust my account for the $49.99 which I already paid, I was told this was not possible, they would have to wait for the credit authorization from my payment. I again questioned their billing practice and stated it was not legal to accept payment and not give credit for it. After getting no where I hung up. A few days later, I received my November statement, and the amount of $49.99 was still showing up as "past due - please pay immediately". I called again and again it was the same pitch -- "the credit should be applied by the next statement".

I am now in December 2006 and I have just received my statement. The past due amount of $49.99 (which I paid in September) is still there. I called again today, 12/14/06. I was fortunate enough to connect with a representative who called Dish Network while I was on the line. The Dish Network rep, who identified himself as Joe, was rude and claimed the credit had been applied to my bill. I asked him if it had been applied to please tell me where, because it had not appeared on any of my statements. He went so far as to say, it probably was applied to my August statement. I asked him how this could be possible to apply the credit to my statement in August when I subscribed to the service in September? The whole time the AT&T repr was on the line and she too informed him that no credit of $49.99 was on any of my statements. He reluctantly said he would foward this information to a supervisor and a trainer (??) and it would take several days to research this. I plan to call them mid next week to find out what horrendous excuse I will be told.

I informed them, that I have good credit history with AT&T and I will continue to call until this issue is resulved. I do not intend to let them get away with receiving my payment and not applying it as it should be. This could be a posting error, however none of the customer reps will even admit that the error is on their end. At this point, I am beginning to feel like something fraudulent is going on with this promotional offer and it should be investigated and stopped immediately. I intend to notify the BBB in my area, the local television stations and alert innocent consumers of this scam. I am sure I am not the only person who is a victim of this. Thank you for allowing me to post.

Mrs. Jo A. Rodgers

Jo Ann Rabb

Comment On This

Kudos to you Mrs.Jo A. Rodgers...

the only difference between you and me

are I have several hundered dollars more

and dozen more hours on hold and couple

more rude, smart ass mouth reps. I

wont give up. But they figure if this

keeps going on long enough the average

person will just give up. Got news for

them, im no more average than you appear

to be when taken for a ride. I am disabled& live on fixed income, every

pennie counts. To me that is. NOT TO

THOSE PEOPLE!!! I believe thats why you no longer can go to them face to face like you use to. With my short temper I would end up in trouble.