AT&T now shuts you off

[southpennrailroad]

I some times go over my allotted Gigs and have always paid my bill on time my penalty included every month. However AT&T is now shutting off access to the internet. This is new. I can see paying the penalty but shutting off is wrong unless I am not seeing the harm. Can someone explain?

[eamarquardt]

What is now called AT&T is, in reality, the core management of SBC. SBC is an evil company and is regularly and systematically cheating employees and former employees of the disability benefits these folks (your's truly included) earned, were promised, and legitimately deserve. I will be filing a lawsuit in Federal Court soon.

I am not surprised at anything evil this evil company does.

I use them for my land line as I get a discount being a "retiree" but we use Verizon for cell phones.

I recommend that you distance yourself from the "evil empire" and choose another carrier.

Now I'll tell you what I really think.

Cheers,

Gus

[southpennrailroad]

So I contacted AT&T and they shut down the block. I told the man that it was very inconvenient that they did this. He said that this was because I had high usage and that they thought I was unaware of the high usage. I told him to look and see if I was behind in my payments or was I ever late and whether I had overages before where I didn't pay. All no answers. I then told him how inconvenient this was and to pass on to the higher ups that I was leaving them because of the complaints I have read about and how they treat customers and my experiences with them as well.

I have just three months with them left and every time since December that I go to pay my bill on time they always want me to get into another contract with them but when I suggested that they re sign me for another two years when I still owed them six left on the contract, they said no. But Please buy the phone and a new plan when your completed with the previous contract.

So instead of getting me for two more years they get me not at all as of May.

Not as bad as Sprint doing me five years ago but 1/3 as bad.

I am going for a trac phone next.

Oh does anyone have one of those blue/black old router boxes. I can get my son to re program it and get the company signal as my boss is allowing me to use his signal. Trust me it works as my son did this once b4. That would save me a lot in internet fees. Sure would appreciate it. Willing to pay for it.

Thanks

Russ

[eamarquardt]

Not sure exactly what you are talking about re the "box". If your boss has a wireless network your computer (if wireless equipped, and if not using a wireless adapter and the s/w that comes with the adapter) should allow you to tap into his network. You're right that doing so would save you a lot of money and wouldn't cost him a dime. You'd have to be reasonably close to his wireless modem/router. These adapters are available at most electronics stores or on line. CHEAP!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Belkin-F5D705 ... er/3756936

Cheers,

Gus

[parnold]

He's probably talking about a linksys WR54G. My son has reprogrammed one to be a repeater. Takes my signal from upstairs and reamplifies it. they have better antennas than laptops, so you get a better end result.
You can get them pretty cheap on Ebay also, but some of the newer ones are harder to reprogram. SouthPenn: Have your son give you a list of actual models. There are plenty of brands besides linksys that work also.

[southpennrailroad]

He's probably talking about a linksys WR54G. My son has reprogrammed one to be a repeater. Takes my signal from upstairs and reamplifies it. they have better antennas than laptops, so you get a better end result.
You can get them pretty cheap on Ebay also, but some of the newer ones are harder to reprogram. SouthPenn: Have your son give you a list of actual models. There are plenty of brands besides linksys that work also.

When you know that something worked in the past you tend to stick with it. Yes it was a N series repeater I am pretty sure of it. Thanks

[eamarquardt]

I think my brother bought a repeater and we moved the modem so it's not required. He's away for two weeks but I'll call him and see if he still want's it.

Cheers,

Gus

[eamarquardt]

I heard it is because they are running out of bandwidth. I am sure if the CEO just took a pay cut they could buy more but I seriously doubt they would do that.

Agreed! Gus

[tonyj]

I just read in the paper that some guy in Simi Valley California was just awarded $850 in small claims court against AT&T for having his access throttled. AT&T hasn't decided if it will appeal.

[southpennrailroad]

I just read in the paper that some guy in Simi Valley California was just awarded $850 in small claims court against AT&T for having his access throttled. AT&T hasn't decided if it will appeal.

I read that article as well. Thinking of doing the same thing. They are suppose to provide service and charge extra if usage goes over. Cutting me off is not part of the contract. So they get to charge me for overage and cut me off ??? I didn't see that in my contract.

[eamarquardt]

I just read in the paper that some guy in Simi Valley California was just awarded $850 in small claims court against AT&T for having his access throttled. AT&T hasn't decided if it will appeal.

I read that article as well. Thinking of doing the same thing. They are suppose to provide service and charge extra if usage goes over. Cutting me off is not part of the contract. So they get to charge me for overage and cut me off ??? I didn't see that in my contract.

I live in Simi Valley and I'll have to look him up and shake his hand. I can't imagine that AT&T won't appeal as this is a bad precedent for them. I'm small claims no attys are allowed. The appeal is a different matter and AT&T can pull out their "hired guns".

According to an update AT&T is appealing. Not surprising! This sets a dangerous (for AT&T) precedent.

In the article the author refers to AT&T as Ma Bell. This couldn't be further from the truth. Ma Bell was a great employer, had great benefits, and took care of its own. AT&T is now, in reality, the core team of SBC. When SBC bought AT&T, as I understand it, they made a concerted effort to get rid of the AT&T managers they inherited. AT&T promises you disability coverage if you become ill, but they systematically and deliberately do their best to deny claims knowing that it is near impossible for employees and former employees to find an atty to take the case so AT&T wins by default.

My atty should be filing my lawsuit against them soon.

Gus