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for the AT&T customers... - 9/22/2009 4:21:08 PM

MsFlutter

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AT&T wants you to pay extra to fix their own failures

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/23/2009 10:11:45 PM

Termyn8or

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I don't think so much that your post fell on deaf ears, but more that you were preaching to the choir. In the end, in business, the customer pays for everything, even speeding tickets of those involved with the company. The money only has one source.

The customer is also the taxpayer and is frequently billed with the toll of maintaining those who could not make it on what they made. Y'know we could always have another ATT breakup ordered by the courts like we did a couple decades ago, but the results would be the same. In other words there is not supposed to be an ATT, they wre successfully ordered to dismantle due to the Sherman Antitrust act, a misapplication of same if I may add. And the fact that ATT exists is living proof that it really accomplished nothing but a bunch of lawyers getting rich. Remember that money came from one source and one sourse only, the customer. The money used to instigate this action was paid for by the taxpayers. So what don't we pay for ?

The fact is that we pay for everything in one way or another. Our selection of carriers for any utility should be based upon their ability to spend our money to the best advantage and therefore offer the best service per dollar. Fines do hurt the company's position in this if heavy enough, but look at Union Carbide in India back in the seventies. Their stock dropped like a rock. In that case who paid ? We paid, like we always pay for their poundfoolishness. And that is the way it will stay until true competition is brought back, and in utiities that is a very hard thing to do. If we could have any faith at all in the government I would advocate the nationalisation of any industry that got to a certain scale of operations, such as believe it or not GM, Ford etc. If you are indeed too big to fail, then you are not going to run it into the ground. If it is that important, do it. Other countries do it all the time.

Only we support the ogliarchy at the level which we do, only we are the country where they can sell you something for a few thousand dollars and have no customer support or service parts. Other countries are different. It is almost as if their governments really care, but we know better, it is only a facade. But this (US) government won't even do that.

So this comes as no surprise, not at all.

T

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/24/2009 6:16:13 AM

DomImus

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or
I don't think so much that your post fell on deaf ears, but more that you were preaching to the choir.

An accurate thread header might have helped. The article lists many carriers who are doing the same or similar thing.

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/24/2009 9:00:48 AM

Termyn8or

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They all do it. Choosing the best of such utilities is simply a matter of choosing the one that doesn't waste as much of your money than the next.

T

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/24/2009 5:44:18 PM

pahunkboy

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Their customer service can not override the computer to fix the account. What the crappy "gotcha" capitalism amounts to- is that the government regulatory agency, becomes the defacto customer service.

I went from a $42 a month plan- to the prepaid. But there is so many "if" "ands" and "buts" on the prepaid - that it becomes a rip off and not very valuable to my needs.

If a cell phone powers- you can get 911. In most locales 911 can send a tow truck. So I carry it in the car.

When I need to go cross country I will pick up a temp phone- just for the trip.

But in day to day life- it is not worth the $42 ish there abouts- for my needs at the current time.

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/25/2009 12:08:13 AM

MissSarahTS

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i only communicate via text message for 20 dollars a month. i'm happy with this i don't even use the phone for talking. 1 dollar a day is ridiculous. That'd make it 50 - 51 dollars a day on the prepaid plan if i decide to get my unlimited texting. But i can talk all night and day on my unlimited text plan for 20 dollars so i'm happy.

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/25/2009 8:25:29 AM

servantforuse

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If you don't like AT&T, switch to another provider. It's really that simple.

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/25/2009 8:41:11 AM

pahunkboy

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They all are the same. In general business practices in many areas are "gotcha". That may be good for short term profit- but it ruins good will.

There is only one way- vote with your feet/$$$.

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/25/2009 11:33:32 AM

servantforuse

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I don't think that AT&T is in business for the 'short term'. They started it all and are still here. I know. I worked there doing line repair and splicing for 33 + years. It's a great company, and profitable I might add...

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/26/2009 11:00:16 PM

Termyn8or

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33+ years ? By my math that takes you back to about 1976. The court ordered breakup was in 1984. Just a question, who was signing your paychecks ? Was ATT ever really broken up ? For some reason all I can envision is a bunch of suits with money in the pockets.

I quick wikied ATT and they say that the new ATT/SBC global is essentially the old ATT but "lacks the vertical integration". Lacks the vertical integration ? I know what that means, more chiefs and less Indians. What really was the net result of these actions ? Did everybody get a raise, or asked to take a pay cut. They are always temporary of course, but temporary might mean the rest of your life.

And we keep letting them stick it to us right up the ass, every day.

Business is business.

T

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/26/2009 11:46:40 PM

knees2you

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quote:

Dont torture yourself, Gomez darling. That's my job' Morticia Addams

That's where it's at!

Always, knees2you

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/27/2009 4:31:50 AM

MsFlutter

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I'm a Verizon customer so I wasnt bytching about the problem - just sharing a potentially interesting article :)

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/27/2009 8:09:31 AM

DomImus

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quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse
I don't think that AT&T is in business for the 'short term'. They started it all and are still here. I know. I worked there doing line repair and splicing for 33 + years. It's a great company, and profitable I might add...

Most of the folks I know who started their careers there in the "Ma Bell" days share your sentiment. Today's at&t could not be more different from the AT&T of old if it tried.

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RE: for the AT&T customers... - 9/27/2009 12:18:12 PM

pahunkboy

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I am not a fan of ATT. They shorted a family member out of a pension. (2 months- to vested)

I am thinking the other carriers are just as bad.

But aside from that - "gotcha" contracts- are - not that good for the long term. I think the practice will run its course.

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