Second iPhone Bill...BEWARE OF AT&T!

[nevesis]

Ok, here it goes...

I bought my beloved iPhone on launch day and was activated and running a couple days later on July 1, 2007.

After about two weeks I finally received my 1st bill in the mail which covered the first month of service, activation fee, etc. It totaled $136.00, not bad and around the amount I was expecting.

Fast fwd to today when I get an e-mail saying my AT&T bill is ready for viewing.

As I load up my bill online I see that balance now is $230.00 for the 1st month of use, which is basically $79.00 plus $10 extra for 1500 txt messages plus all the taxes and surcharges, etc.

But, now AT&T is saying I went over my alotted 900 minutes and they are trying to charge me $104.00 for over 300 extra minutes that I never used.

The most I could have gone over is 30 minutes because the day before my monthly plan started again I checked on my iPhone how many overage minutes I had used and it specifically said 30, not anywhere over 300.

In a nutshell, AT&T is acting like they never received my first payment, and are trying to charge me again PLUS overage fees that I never used.

Please all iPhone users out there, make sure your bill is correct, AT&T's billing is obviously flawed and don't let them try and take advantage of you.

If any of you have similiar problems, please post in this thread, and keep your eyes peeled.

 

[scaredpoet]

Uhh, have you looked at your bill to see where the overages are coming from?

Also, what did your usage estmate say prior to the bill being printed?

 

[nevesis]

Uhh, have you looked at your bill to see where the overages are coming from?

Also, what did your usage estmate say prior to the bill being printed?

The problem is, all the overages are documented on the online bill, but I was not aware of how much I was going over because when I checked my minutes using my phone it said I was only over 30 minutes. The next day my new month started and I had 900 remaining.

The reason I am going to refuse to pay any overage amount over 30 minutes is because AT&T's service was not notifying me correctly of my overages.

 

[Flowbee]

The reason I am going to refuse to pay any overage amount over 30 minutes is because AT&T's service was not notifying me correctly of my overages.

Yeah... good luck with that.

 

[diamond.g]

The problem is, all the overages are documented on the online bill, but I was not aware of how much I was going over because when I checked my minutes using my phone it said I was only over 30 minutes. The next day my new month started and I had 900 remaining.

The reason I am going to refuse to pay any overage amount over 30 minutes is because AT&T's service was not notifying me correctly of my overages.

Hmm, from AT&T's OLAM:

Important Information: There are delays in reporting and processing call records. It may take up to two to five days for airtime usage on the AT&T wireless network to show up in any Minutes "Used" category. Additional delays may occur due to technical difficulties. Further delays may apply to roaming usage, which is based on call records received from other carriers. A delay of a minimum of two to ten days for roaming usage is usual and up to 60 days or longer is possible. During the time your invoice is being processed, you may not be able to view your usage or you may experience additional delays in reporting of usage. Minutes used in excess of those available will either be deducted from available Rollover or from another category of usage for which that call is eligible. Minutes "Used" may reflect airtime for unanswered voice mails, administrative calls, and other calls for which you are not billed. This usage information is only an estimate and, regardless of what is shown, your next invoice will be determined by the information contained in our billing system, not this usage information.

I dunno, they could reverse the stuff, but if it actually shows up under detailed usage you may not have a chance.

 

[nevesis]

Hmm, from AT&T's OLAM:


I dunno, they could reverse the stuff, but if it actually shows up under detailed usage you may not have a chance.

Interesting bit of information, but I never had this problem with Verizon.

How do you continue to track your minutes since you can't see how long you've been on each call on the iPhone, the only thing you can rely on is the "View My Minutes" feature of the iPhone or check the AT&T website, and if THATS not accurate then we are going to be looking at alot of pissed off people.

 

[joeconvert]

I've been back on AT7T since February, and nearly a month with the iPhone. Based on what I have seen through the web site and my first iPhone bill, the minutes are spot on.


Just as they have been since Feb.....

Since you're thinking 30 and they are saying 300, are you absolutely certain of that count? Seems more likely you misread something than an enterprise billing system being off by 270 minutes.

 

[fozo]

You have to check with them online too... not just from the iPhone.

 

[synth3tik]

The problem is, all the overages are documented on the online bill, but I was not aware of how much I was going over because when I checked my minutes using my phone it said I was only over 30 minutes. The next day my new month started and I had 900 remaining.

The reason I am going to refuse to pay any overage amount over 30 minutes is because AT&T's service was not notifying me correctly of my overages.

Chances are they were, you just over looked it. They are not going to call you and let you know that you are X over your minutes.

 

[mkrishnan]

I'm sorry, but... 300 minutes is five HOURS, and a third again of your allocated minutes. How do you do five hours of extra daytime talking and not realize it, report from AT&T's usage summary or no?

 

[cmschmidt]

this sounds like your problem...not AT&T...

 

[runplaysleeprun]

your best bet is to ask them to retroactivly change ypur plan to one with more minutes

 

[Cybergypsy]

Prepaid priceless.....LOL

no activation charges and no crazy taxs.....

 

[megfilmworks]

Ok, here it goes...

I bought my beloved iPhone on launch day and was activated and running a couple days later on July 1, 2007.

After about two weeks I finally received my 1st bill in the mail which covered the first month of service, activation fee, etc. It totaled $136.00, not bad and around the amount I was expecting.

Fast fwd to today when I get an e-mail saying my AT&T bill is ready for viewing.

As I load up my bill online I see that balance now is $230.00 for the 1st month of use, which is basically $79.00 plus $10 extra for 1500 txt messages plus all the taxes and surcharges, etc.

But, now AT&T is saying I went over my alotted 900 minutes and they are trying to charge me $104.00 for over 300 extra minutes that I never used.

The most I could have gone over is 30 minutes because the day before my monthly plan started again I checked on my iPhone how many overage minutes I had used and it specifically said 30, not anywhere over 300.

In a nutshell, AT&T is acting like they never received my first payment, and are trying to charge me again PLUS overage fees that I never used.

Please all iPhone users out there, make sure your bill is correct, AT&T's billing is obviously flawed and don't let them try and take advantage of you.

If any of you have similiar problems, please post in this thread, and keep your eyes peeled.

Thanks for the heads up, but you should know exactly how many minutes you used and then just tell them you want an adjustment, it may be a pain, but it's done thousands of times a day.

 

[nevesis]

Most of you should realize that I paid my 1st AT&T iPhone bill $100 (minus $36 activation fee) toward my first month of service which AT&T is NOT crediting toward my second bill.

As well, a day before my monthly minutes started again at 900, it said I had gone over my alloted minutes by 30.

How could there be that much of a delay in giving me an accurate count of my minutes remaining?

 

[nevesis]

Thanks for the heads up, but you should know exactly how many minutes you used

Thats the problem, I knew I was getting low a few days before my monthly period ended on August 1st, because when I would check my minutes I was right near 900, and then the day before August 1st, I checked my minutes knowing I went over and it said I was over by 30 minutes.

From then on, I didin't talk during peak times, and then three days later I get the bill online saying they want to charge me $104.00 in overages.

 

[Sean7512]

While it is possible that you read 30 instead of 300, i dont that it is likely. Two things to consider:

1. Did you travel this month? Because i know firsthand that minutes used say on tmobile's or cellular one's network is very delayed with the reporting.

2. How did you pay for your first month, by bank card? The bank should have a record of it so you can show AT&T.
Hope all works out for you though!

Side note: why doesn't iPhone want to fix spelling while typing posts here? It only seems to correct spelling sometimes and it is annoying

 

[nevesis]

While it is possible that you read 30 instead of 300, i dont that it is likely. Two things to consider:

1. Did you travel this month? Because i know firsthand that minutes used say on tmobile's or cellular one's network is very delayed with the reporting.

No, I was here in NY. As well, the reason I know I read 30 on the last day before the bill period ended was because a day earlier it was around 15, then 25, and then 30.

According to my bill, its saying I went over by 300 minutes. But if thats the case, how could the "View My Minutes" feature on the phone be so delayed as to give you a completely skewed report of your minutes.

Since that, or checking the website about your minutes are the only ways to keep track, if that does not work correctly I feel as a customer I shouldn't have to pay for AT&T's problem.

Now, putting that problem aside for a minute, no one still realizes that I sent and paid for the first month before the actual first month bill came.

I got the phone on launch day, got a bill the second week of July for $136.00 ($79.00 plan + activation fee) and paid it when it was due on July 24, 2007.

Now today I get a bill for the first month with a detailed list of my calls and I owe $240.00? Minus the $104.00 in overages they are trying to charge me with, why hasin't the $136.00 been credited toward that bill yet?

Huge discrepancies.

 

[bostonte]

Now, putting that problem aside for a minute, no one still realizes that I sent and paid for the first month before the actual first month bill came.

I got the phone on launch day, got a bill the second week of July for $136.00 ($79.00 plan + activation fee) and paid it when it was due on July 24, 2007.

Now today I get a bill for the first month with a detailed list of my calls and I owe $240.00? Minus the $104.00 in overages they are trying to charge me with, why hasin't the $136.00 been credited toward that bill yet?

Huge discrepancies.

Is this $240 on your first or second bill you received from AT&T? You say second bill in the topic, and above, yet then refer to it as the "first month" bill in the same sentence -- just after you say you sent and paid the first month bill before this one came. I can't follow when/where you received the bills (first or second, real bill or email notice).

Putting the overage to the side, the "why hasn't the $136 been credited" is confusing me the most...

You do realize that you're always paying a month in advance, right? So your first received bill would have included a partial service (between half a month and a few days most likely, depending on your cycle) AND the next month (this one should have been the one due mid July if you bought on Launch Day). The one you just received an email for includes the monthly service for the NEXT month in advance and any incidentals (like odd overages) for the just ending cycle.

I bought on launch day, had a bill due July 23rd for a month and almost a half of service. And received my email the other day that my second bill is ready for the next cycle, for a month of service -- due late August (and likely to arrive with the next week or so in paper form).


Maybe your previous cell carrier didn't bill in advance, so the advance billing combined with the overage error is compounding the problem and making it feel messier?

 

[nevesis]

Is this $240 on your first or second bill you received from AT&T? You say second bill in the topic, and above, yet then refer to it as the "first month" bill in the same sentence -- just after you say you sent and paid the first month bill before this one came. I can't follow when/where you received the bills (first or second, real bill or email notice).

Putting the overage to the side, the "why hasn't the $136 been credited" is confusing me the most...

You do realize that you're always paying a month in advance, right? So your first received bill would have included a partial service (between half a month and a few days most likely, depending on your cycle) AND the next month (this one should have been the one due mid July if you bought on Launch Day). The one you just received an email for includes the monthly service for the NEXT month in advance and any incidentals (like odd overages) for the just ending cycle.

I bought on launch day, had a bill due July 23rd for a month and almost a half of service. And received my email the other day that my second bill is ready for the next cycle, for a month of service -- due late August (and likely to arrive with the next week or so in paper form).


Maybe your previous cell carrier didn't bill in advance, so the advance billing combined with the overage error is compounding the problem and making it feel messier?

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Now that I know I am paying in advance it makes it easier to understand.

I personally don't like paying in advance, but its a small price to pay to have an iPhone.

The only issue now is the overage fees I am being charged with. Only a few days before my billing period ended, I checked my minutes using my iPhone and it told me I was over by 15, then I chatted some more and by the last day before the cycle ended I was at 30 overage minutes. When I got my bill today, it said I went over 300.

I will stand firm in refusing to pay more than 30 minutes, because it is not my fault the AT&T service of checking your minutes is obviously flawed.

 

[nospleen]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Now that I know I am paying in advance it makes it easier to understand.

I personally don't like paying in advance, but its a small price to pay to have an iPhone.

The only issue now is the overage fees I am being charged with. Only a few days before my billing period ended, I checked my minutes using my iPhone and it told me I was over by 15, then I chatted some more and by the last day before the cycle ended I was at 30 overage minutes. When I got my bill today, it said I went over 300.

I will stand firm in refusing to pay more than 30 minutes, because it is not my fault the AT&T service of checking your minutes is obviously flawed.

I am afraid if that is your stance, you will only have a month or two to enjoy your iPhone before they cancel your service. I hope they take care of you, but, I seriously doubt it.

Good luck...

 

[nevesis]

I am afraid if that is your stance, you will only have a month or two to enjoy your iPhone before they cancel your service. I hope they take care of you, but, I seriously doubt it.

Good luck...

Would you have the same attitude if you were enjoying your iPhone the first month and periodically checked your minutes to make sure you were not going over, and then when billed, realize its 260 more minutes then it said you were over when you checked the day before your billing cycle ended?

Probably not.

Remember, I am not trying to get out of paying for overage use. I knew I was over by about 25-30 minutes because thats what it said the day before my billing cycle ended.

If AT&T can't offer a service that works appropriately to show us our minutes used, how are we supposed to tally and keep track without going over?

 

[nospleen]

Would you have the same attitude if you were enjoying your iPhone the first month and periodically checked your minutes to make sure you were not going over, and then when billed, realize its 260 more minutes then it said you were over when you checked the day before your billing cycle ended?

Probably not.

Personally, I hope they do take care of you. That is why I posted. However, I doubt they will. This does not mean that I agree with their stance or their decision. It simply means that I think they will make you pay your bill or stop your service.

Have you told AT&T your stance yet? I am anxious to hear what they have to say.

 

[nevesis]

Personally, I hope they do take care of you. That is why I posted. However, I doubt they will. This does not mean that I agree with their stance or their decision. It simply means that I think they will make you pay your bill or stop your service.

Have you told AT&T your stance yet? I am anxious to hear what they have to say.

I am going to be calling them tommorow to hopefully work everything out. I will post in this thread the outcome.

Again, if anyone else who reads this thread notices a similiar problem with the view my minutes feature on the iPhone, let it be known.

 

[SheriffParker]

Wow that sucks I hope you get it worked out ok.