AT&T and the Microcell, or how to screw your customers even more.

[Lefty]

Well, we have never gotten decent reception on our 3g phones at our house ever since I made the mistake of switching all 5 of our lines to AT&T. It's totally been a disaster and my family gripes all the time. I have called AT&T multiple times, and they dutifully record the info and basically say sorry, but we can't help you........ but we are committed to building the best network in the country. It's been frustrating to say the least.
Anyway, I have been keeping an eye on the new Microcell device they have been test marketing in a couple of areas. So this week it lands in Tucson, and I call up to see if I can get one. Sure I can, but that will be $150.00 please.
So AT&T wants me to cough up an extra $150 so I can get the service I have already been paying for. Not only that, the Microcell works off my WiFi which in turn relieves their network of the burden. Needless to say, I was livid, but they wouldn't budge.
Next I called the Attorney General's office in Arizona and explained the problem to them, and they were willing to open a complaint.
So I call AT&T back and get a "supervisor". I tell her the whole story again, and she says she can't get me a unit, because they are only sold in the stores. What she does finally do is give me full credit for that months bill. That's actually more than the device itself, so I'm basically happy except for the aggravation of having to literally drag it out of them by force. This is something they should be handing out on the street corner to all the hundreds of thousands of pissed off customers, and not everyone is going to be as persistent as I am.
I'm trying to decide if I should follow through on my complaint to the AG, or leave it well enough alone. This is so typical of corporate America, that if they aren't held accountable at least to the extent we can, they will continue to beat us down at every opportunity and sit around and think of new ways to screw their customer base. Banks have always been the worst, but I'll leave that one alone for now.
As for the Microcell itself..........well, it works like a mother, at least within it's design parameters, so I'm happy with that at least. If anyone wants more info on that, speak up.
Thanks for listening,
r

[Loophead]

Don't forget they charge $19.99 per month to get unlimited talk over the Microcell.

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pi...rticleid=30685

[lennon_68]

Sounds like another case of capitalism at its' very worst! What a load.

We just (finally) switched from AT&T to Verizon so we can actually use our phones at our house now (Verizon has much better coverage in our area). Not sure why I waited so long! Hopefully the new phone works out :)

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

I see where you are coming form, Lefty, but I actually disagree with you.

You are not entitled to good reception form AT&T, although it is understandable that both you and AT&T would prefer it. There would be more entitlement to a complaint if you had signed up for service and then the reception got noticeably worse after you were locked into a contract, but since you never had good reception in the first place the fact that you signed with AT&T is your fault.

Whether AT&T should charge for the Microcell, a device which essentially makes it easier to use their product, is a separate subject.

[Lefty]

Of course I am entitled to good reception from AT&T. I was sold the service based on on it. They told me I was in an area that got good coverage, and their maps clearly show that it is. Why else would anyone contract with them? :wtf:

[Fancypants]

This is why I have (in my opinion HAVE to have) Verizon. While the AT&T commercials are true in saying they have the "fastest" network, Verizon's commercials are also true in that they have the "largest" network.

Where I live AT&T just isn't viable due to spotty coverage.

I tried Nextell for a while, got a sweet ass phone, etc... glad I had a 30 day trial because I canceled after only 3 days of not being able to call due to spotty coverage.

I know Nextell wasn't a part of the OP, just stating that it doesn't matter how cool your phone is, or what features you have, if you can't get service they are practically useless.

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

The cell phone covergae map is why thave gave your complaint some basis, but I think you're being pretty nieve if you base a multi-hundred dollar purchase off of the vendor's say-so. Anyone familiar with cell phones knows that coverage is variable (Sprint is great everywhere in my neighborhood, except for my house), so your best bet is to find a friend with the carrier you are thinking of using and see what kind of reception they get at your house.

[django1]

I think that if a company is signing you up to a long term contract they should be required to deliver the promised product/service. If they don't have to honor their half of the deal why should the client have to honor his half?

[dvenardos]

That would only be the case if you could try before buying or cancel within 30 days if the service was not acceptable.

I see where you are coming form, Lefty, but I actually disagree with you.

You are not entitled to good reception form AT&T, although it is understandable that both you and AT&T would prefer it. There would be more entitlement to a complaint if you had signed up for service and then the reception got noticeably worse after you were locked into a contract, but since you never had good reception in the first place the fact that you signed with AT&T is your fault.

Whether AT&T should charge for the Microcell, a device which essentially makes it easier to use their product, is a separate subject.