I would like to know if anyone else has been hood winked by at&T with there low cost phone service?

Question

I signed up with at&t for 14.76 per month for my phone and 19.95 per month for my internet connection. I was told that all local calls were included in this "package" I did sign up for voice mail seperately for 10.95. Here is my problem. I am the only person that uses my land line, I only call my parents in area code 847, friends in 630 where I am- I am not home all day I do not call my parents but once or twice a week for 10 mins. They are only one hour away. I call my sister in 847 once a week.

How is it that I have a 455.00 phone bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My phone bill from this "package" is over 175.00 per month.

How is this possible- can someone please answer this question.

Answer 1

Sounds like alot of long distance charges to me. Is your internet going to a long distance number?

Answer 2

your right. that shouldn't be.

CALL THEM with your bill in hand and find out what's going on.  

see what you need to do to change this!

they're usually very responsive..    no i don't work for them, but have usually had good customer relations with them when i've had a problem.

be prepared to be on the line to wait your turn.

ask how much it would be to get the plan with rollover minutes.

good luck to ya

find out what's wrong and get them to fix it.

you may need a different package, ask for advice

Answer 3

It sounds like you must be getting charges for "local long distance" or "local toll calls." Strangely enough, these calls can actually be more expensive than state-to-state long distance calls with some plans.

You should look into changing your long distance plan asap. There are a ton of cheap plans out there for both long distance and "local" long distance.

Answer 4

call AT&T explain what you singed up for, and what you are being billed for, you may need to adjust your calling package again, i just did

Answer 5

Carefully read your bill and figure out exactly how much you're being charged and for what... and when you figure out what the problem is, call up AT&T and try to resolve the issue with them.

Answer 6

That is quite disgusting how much the big Bells charge for phone calling these days.

- Yes, call them and ask for a detailed report of your long distance calls.  Actually, I would think all LD calls should already be outlined on your bill.  

- Make sure those are actually your calls you made and not fraudulent charges.

- Verify what the actual LD rates you are paying for are.

- Something is obviously very wrong, based on your calling patterns....

- In my opinion, $10.95 is highway robbery for voice-mail...

Once you get the billing issues sorted out with AT&T, here is how you can save money on all future phone calling:

- Only use AT&T for "local" phone calling & 911 access

- I would suggest that you try using VoIP as a means of reducing LD calling costs.

My website, "CQ VoIP Call" , explains about the Many Ways to VoIP (check my profile for link).

The following example VoIP services can be used for LD calling from your PC, at Very Low Rates (compared to AT&T):

- Skype, - Gizmo Project, - MediaRing Talk, - Yahoo Voice, - MSN Windows Live Messenger, - T-Pad, - Raketu, Efonica, CallCentric, InPhonex, PcCall, Hotfoon, etc...

If you don't want to be tied to your PC for LD calling then sign-up with a "home phone" VoIP service.  Most home-phone VoIP services sell you the VoIP ATA adapter that plugs directly into your modem or Router.  Then just plug your regular telephone into the adapter and now you make all calls at very low rates.

Here are some examples:

I have InPhonex Liteline for $7.95/month.  Liteline includes 1 phone number, unlimited incoming calls, all outgoing calls are 2.5 cent/min local and long-distance to anywhere in North Amreica.  All the bells&whistles + 911 and voicemail included.  No contracts, no commitments, no hidden costs.

I also use CallCentric as my backup service.

Packet8 is a good service, but a little more expensive.

Bottom line.... if you want to cut long distance phone call bills, learn how to use VoIP... you will save tons of money if you do... it doesn't matter which company you use... Anything is cheaper than AT&T....

Answer 7

IS this new service where a tech had to come out to put in the box and service..if so..this FIRST bill will be high due to the charges a tech possibly charged you with out you knowing..example..charges 110.00 for drilling out you inside wires thru a wall....RWW(raarranging your outside interface and wires)..techs love to charge when its applicable..believe me ...I DO IT..