I’ve used AT&T’s mobile phone service since 2009 on a 5 phone family plan. Their coverage area is great (for the most part, unless you live in rural North Carolina or Montana) and the per phone price for 700 shared minutes and unlimited mobile to mobile calling is hard to beat. However, you’ve got to watch your back (er, make that your bill) with these guys. The nickel and dime approach to additional fees is downright annoying at times. Yes, there are those pesky 911 and government tax fees that keep rising, but I’m talking about other little annoying fees, like data usage billed by the kilobyte for cell phones that don’t (or shouldn’t) have data access.
Lately, I was noticing that my bill was slowly creeping higher each month, with no additional services being added to my lines. So, yesterday morning, I gave them a call and spent exactly an hour and ten minutes talking (with many repeated questions and statements) to someone who’s first language was quite obviously not English. Through the course of the conversation, I was able to negotiate the removal of some ‘errant’ data fees as well as a $150 credit for my troubles. The total amount credited towards my bill was $170.07.
Not bad for an hours work, right?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s GREAT!!!
Not bad at all! Sometimes it pays to be the squeaky well – its the one that gets the grease!
Cool.
I read a post (Budgeting in the Fun Stuff I think) that talked about how they re-negotiated their bill once a year – spending about an hour on the phone and working their way up the food chain to re-instate the ‘low introductory rates’ for things like internet service or television programming….by threatening to leave and go elsewhere.
So,,, point being. You might be able to up your game and make even more!
Good job! It’s so annoying! Two tips for everyone: check your bills and negotiate with the company (remember that they want you!).