Howefitz Blog

As those of you that follow me on twitter and facebook know, I now have a long-standing full-on war with AT&T. This war is one of the major contributors to the sporadic blogging that comes from me. I thought that I would post what was going on here, so that it might serve as a warning for my readers…

So here’s the scoop: around November, I changed my unlimited mobile data plan to what I thought was an unlimited tethering plan, so that I could hook my Blackjack II smartphone up to my laptop and use it as my modem. Bear in mind the unlimited misunderstanding was not an oversight on my part, I was told that it was unlimited by an AT&T salesman.

Fast forward to Christmas time. I’m laughing it up with my family and having a good time. We’re listening to Pandora‘s holiday mixes (Having grown tired of my own), streaming  the newest Muppet holiday special on hulu (because I had yet to set up my cable since we moved in November), and generally taking advantage of my unlimited tethering from AT&T.

Little did I know that it was anything but unlimited. I started recieving texts that I was reaching my limit around Christmas time. I ignored the first couple, then curious, I called AT&T to see what this was all about. The person on the phone that day assured me that there was a ‘soft limit’ of 5GB, but that any overages I had would not be charged to me. My next bill was $1,600!!!

WHAT?!

So I called AT&T back. This person tells me absolutely, the limit wil result in fees and I will possibly lose service if I continue my hedonistic streaming of music and video. He said this limit is set by the FCC. I have done a few Google searches on this and have come up with zilch. If you happen to know any more about this limit, please comment below!

Anyway, so I look in to their plans, and yes, it does say there is a 5GB limit, but it still says unlimited for their regular data plan which is half as much. Hmmmm….

So I call again, trying to figure out what they’ll do about this $1,600 bill! The next rep I get ahold of goes through the notes and sees where I was told about the ‘soft limit’ and sends my account on to some other department for review. My bill goes back to the normal level. But, now I’ve lost data service four days after my billing cycle for exceeding my limit, the first internet exile of nearly a month.

The next month, $2,000 bill. I’ve stopped watching hulu, streaming XM and Pandora, and even YouTube. What the heck. I haven’t given AT&T another dime until this is resolved. They suspended my service, phone and all, last week. I got them to turn it on Monday, because I still have a dispute and it has yet to be resolved. They waived the $36 reactivation fee. Whop-dee-freaking-doo! I have a pregnant wife at home, and really don’t want to go without phone service again!

So, here I am, blogging on what feels like ‘borrowed time’. If my online persona once again goes silent, this will be the reason. I’m now two days past when the last person I talked to told me this should be resolved.

Cross your fingers for me, and please, when considering data plans through wireless carriers, read all you can about it first!

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