What is Digg?218 Comments
- digboy99, on 10/11/2007, -14/+195Look for something on your statements called "Apple fanboy tax".
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -18/+98Don't blame AT&T. Blame Apple for choosing such a ***** carrier.
- reeder, on 10/11/2007, -13/+90Possibly because AT&T is a scumbag, evil company that holds back tech progress to increase profits? I wish someone would drop a huge EMP blast on their headquarters. Maybe then they can use their chunk of the $200 billion they stole from the American Taxpayer.
- beelz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+55AT&T - 800-288-2747 - Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages.
- TommyT, on 10/11/2007, -0/+48Just an FYI. I used to work for customer service at a cell phone company, and I'm not standing up for them, but it could be pro-rated charges.
So lets say your plan is this.
36 Activation
70 Plan
10 text messages.
10.59 Tax
126.59 Total
Yay! That looks good, but why the 139.73 right?
Well. First lets get rid of the tax
139.73 x .089 = 12.43
So 139.73 - 12.43 = 127.29 without tax.
Now lets figure out what it costs a month on this plan..
70 + 10 = 80.
80 / 30 (assuming it's june) = 2.6666... a month.
Ok.
Now take the amount of his bill without tax 127.29, take away the activation fee - 36 = 91.29
take the 91.29 take away a month of billing
91.29 - (70 + 10) = 11.29
and divide that by the cost per day.
11.29 / 2.666666... comes to (rounded) 4 days.
So that mean this guy bought his phone 4 days before his official bill date.
So his bill is for 4 days + 1 month.
That's proration. When i was working CS. I would say 15% of all my calls were about this.. and some reps NEVER want to explain all that, so they say call back..
But it was EASY!
I'm sure the bill noted this in a very confusing manner. - Chineyz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+49Where did you get that 8.9% tax figure. As a wireless employee I know that cellular taxes Nationwide range from 15-23% when the regulatory fees are included. It would never just be sales tax.Your tax looks to be around 17.9%..That is about right.
- angusm, on 10/11/2007, -4/+43Mystery solved: the extra $23 is a TicketMaster "convenience charge".
- Jescro, on 10/11/2007, -2/+40I used to work cingular wireless customer service center.. I saw crap like this on people's accounts (non iphone related) all the time. it's ridiculous .. i just gave lots of people discounts, sometimes paid their whole bill for them, and some times gave out free razr's to people who were nice.... oh, and i got fired
- cliffzdude, on 10/11/2007, -0/+31From AT&T's website: "Your first month's statement will include a one-time activation fee, prorated monthly charge, as well as one month's charge in advance."
- timusca, on 10/11/2007, -3/+31Actually, they chose Verizon, and Verizon didn't want to follow Apple's rules. So Apple had to settle for the retarded little sister.
- mjflagg15, on 10/11/2007, -3/+30Strange because I just checked my statement and theres an extra $23 or so dollars. Ill be calling tomorrow for sure.
- Scribblargh, on 10/11/2007, -3/+25Don't be an idiot, you know Apple can't do anything wrong !
- Hellmark, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15The AT&T that nabbed all the money from the gov't is no more. It was floundering and was bought out. The one that exists now, is a different company, who does not have those funds. They were long gone by the time AT&T was bought.
Still, its a company that does what ever it can to make abuck. - j4son, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15Does AT&T wireless charge in advance, or arrears? The charges might be prorated for a partial month plus a full month.
- ohhush, on 10/11/2007, -2/+17weird I noticed this yesterday but couldn't find a number for them
- colonelDebugger, on 10/11/2007, -4/+18I will explain it nice and easy.
1. you signed a contract for the service that you have to pay hundreds of dollars to get out of
2. at&t never agreed anywhere in that contract to provide you with adequate, reliable or even accurate service
All those contracts gots you people by to bawls. - cliffzdude, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13From AT&T's website: "Your first month's statement will include a one-time activation fee, prorated monthly charge, as well as one month's charge in advance."
- fant0m, on 10/11/2007, -2/+14the only bar thats raising is the one that im gonna smack upside AT&T's head!
- jeffeb3, on 10/11/2007, -1/+131-800-ATT-HATES-YOU
- RAiNsTorm, on 10/11/2007, -3/+14Everyone was quick to brush right over the fact that AT&T was the carrier because the tunnelvision was squarely on the iPhone. The company you have the 2-year contract with = AT&T, Your business with Apple has already ended. When will people learn.
- senixon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11Have you accounted for the B.S. FCC/911/Etc taxes? those could really easily reach around $20...
- slimothy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11Is the amount high because of the pro-rated first (partial) month plus a full second month? Additional "taxes" will also boost the bill--those extra $1-3 in taxes in fees per month across tens of millions of customers is a great way to increase AT&T's profits.
- heifetz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10I just called AT&T regarding my bill, because I found a charge of $18 for "promotion for upgrade fee". I upgraded my phone to a new blackberry. The CS told me that this was a one time charge for the phone upgrade, even though I've already paid for the phone, and a new account activation. Sounds like a bs fee that they're charging, but I didn't bother to argue. This is probably the same fee that they're charging all the current customers who upgraded their phones to the iphone.
- DonCarcharo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10Several months ago AT&T (or whatever they were called that month) accidentally charged me $700+ instead of my normal $79, which for what it's worth actually comes out to $139 after taxes and such. AT&T had no explanation for the charges.
In the summer of 2006 I moved from Pennsylvania to Florida. Before I left I cancelled my DSL account. However several months late rI learned that my ISP had continued to bill me throughout most of 2006 (to my old address). They had no explanation of why my account was never cancelled. I eventually paid out over $300 in charges and late fees and was ultimately forced to let the account go into collections just so they'd close it.
This month Verizon charged me $146 in past due long distance charges for a Pennsylvania phone number and reported me to creditors. I don't use Verizon long distance, heck I don't even have a phone, and I haven't had a Pennsylvania phone number since 2005. Verizon had no explanation for the charges.
I could go on and on but the basic point here is, in America big companies can do pretty much whatever they want. - Wilddigi, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11Apple didn't choose AT&T, Nobody elese wanted Apple's iPhone, so AT&T was the last choice
- daleeburg, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10Cingular Wireless (AT&T) 800‑331‑0500 Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages.
Taken from the GetHuman Database - hightower77, on 10/11/2007, -3/+12Explain the amazing perks of verizon wireless again?
Wait, that's right, ***** ui raping all the phones. - BufordT, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10Those Goddamn evil corporations are just forcing you to buy an iPhone, and also not letting you read the fine print on the contract. And I bet they also wouldn't let you ask any questions about the charges on your first month's bills either. Some adivce: If you don't want to get the shaft, don't bend over.
- cliffzdude, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9AT&T Charges the rest of the current billing cycle - prorated, plus all of next month's billing cycle. Since about everybody got their iPhone and signed up with AT&T on the same day or two, the bills will be very similiar. I used to work wireless years and years ago, this is nothing new, but a GOOD sales rep will let you know you'll get hit with a month plus a partial month from the get-go. Note I said GOOD sales rep.
- Hellmark, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8I have AT&T for my cellular service, and their billing is so incredibly ***** up. These unknown extra charges are common.
I just added an additional line to my account, and there was an unaccounted for $36 slapped on, not to mention $5 for text messaging that I specifically did not want. When all was said and done, they had my bill for that phone alone as being $62 before rebate. Nutty when considering that it was supposed to be a $10 a month phone. - DerekS, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Yow! My first-month bill is $172.89, and I can't see why either.
I opted for the $79.99 plan (900 mins) and $10 for 1500 text messages. It was a partial month too, only the time between June 29th and July 6th when it rolled over.
I didn't blow my minute limit during that time, nor did I blow the text message limit.
Maybe what they do is bill a month in advance? So what we're seeing is the NEXT months' bill, plus the partial month which was extended to us on credit, plus the activation fee and all the taxes/BS charges. - TommyT, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7The first time I calculated the taxes, it was just based on a month of what he was claiming he should pay, the second time I calculated, it was based on the amount he actually paid. Sorry, I know it's all a little confusing.
- adammerkley, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Never. Aero347 must be thinking of MCI/Worldcom.
- insomniac8400, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6When did AT&T go bankrupt?
- Braxo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6The extra $20 bucks is because you have to pay a pror-ated amount for half a billing period or so. Everybody who activated on the first day will probably have the same pro-rated amount. Plus you have to pay around 8 more dollars in various government fees
- Ductapemaster, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5AT&T needs more people like you...
- deronsizemore, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5It's because AT&T is Cingular just with a new name, and Cingular's customer service has always sucked and their service plans have hidden fees that no one has been able to explain. I used to be a rep for T-Mobile and have heard all kinds of horror story's from Cingular customers about how their bill was really high yet no one from Cingular can tell them anything except "sorry about your luck"
Had one customer come in and show me their bill with their calls and it said they made one call starting at 12:00pm that lasted for around an hour and then started a second call at 12:30 or so that lasted about another hour and there was more than one occasion this happened...how the hell can you start one call and it last and hour, and start a second call before the first call ever ends? Cingular's response was basically "sorry, pay your bill or we'll send you to collections" - meamog, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5yeah, funny how that works. I'll bet any carrier would really, relly like 1,000,000 new 2-year contracts in a week. Seems like those that passed got the shaft.
- bsolidgold, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6I pay LESS now that I have an iPhone... unlimited Texting and all.
- Hellmark, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4AT&T didn't. They were sinking fast, and probably would have if SBC didn't buy them out.
- The_Dude, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4They've been fired.
- piper999, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Even with a theoretical 50% reduction in 'freedoms' we're still 50% ahead of you, euro boy.
- 98acura, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4...Or a howard stern listener. Howie Math! hoohoo
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -8/+12***** at&t
- abrezinsky, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4AT&T makes you pre-pay for the next month the first month you have service plus your pro-rated amount. Given the release date it's not surprising that the charges are almost double. I had this exact same problem when I first signed up with Cingular. Remember this when you go to cancel, you have already pre-paid for the next month's service minus your overage charges.
Plus there's that whole 11.5% Universal Service Fund charge, and other taxes. - darienphoenix, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5If you could read, he was writing a "you should have known", because everyone was so blinded by the hype surrounding the iPhone, they didn't bother thinking that they'd be stuck with AT&T for 2 years.
- fantasticjon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I am sure there is some Vice President at ATT patting him self on the back.
That "promotion for upgrade fee", I made that one up. The revenue that generated the company almost covers my 7 figure salary. I'm taking the day off and going golfing. I've earned it. - eybear, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@TommyT
numbers check out on a 129.76 bill (36 activation + 60 plan, purchased 6/29). Days are rounded.
thanks for the explanation! dugg up - airwalkery2k, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5Don't say the "m" word next to an Apple product. It makes people equate it to Microsoft, and fanboys will have none of that.
- colonelDebugger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3So all you Wile E. Coyotes paid $600 for a cell phone that you can make calls on and use for text messaging? Only to get hosed by your service provider? Wow, I guess the free Razr phone I just got that can do the same things just isn't good enough anymore.
Good job outta you retarded sheep jumping on the marketing hype wagon so you can so gosh darn über cool. Yeah, and I laugh at everyone of you who also paid $300 for your Razr that's sitting in a desk drawer now. -
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