Oregon Family Receives $19,370 Cell Phone Bill

My, my, my... How in the hell did this world possibly exist, say, before 10 or 15 years ago? BEFORE ALL OF THESE STUPID DAMNED CELL PHONES AND OTHER GADGETS WERE INVENTED??? God forbid people can't wait to get to a regular telephone to communicate with someone else. Nowdays, one has to text while sitting on the crapper!!! Disgusting!!!

Yep, more proof that cell phone companies and their reps are in the same bed as used car companies and their sales people.

Idiots. Understand your contract fully, especially if you're going to be travelling internationally. These fools need to fork over the money and shut up. Maybe they're not intelligent enough to have a cell phone in the first place?

I've always been a verizon fan, but when the new Iphone3G came out. I was excited to switch over to At&t. When my S.O and I went into an At&t store, the associate that we worked with stated to us that they were sold out but will be getting a shipment in three to five business days and would call us the when our new phones arrived. After waiting three weeks for our new phones had not arrived..and dealing with the other associates at this At&t store was just a pain in the rare. No one was helpful or even willing to help look into the problem, but was just rude and wanted us to leave the store because we had a problem. It left a really bad impression on us. The phones came in a week later after we visited the store. We refund the phones and took our business somewhere else. Yes, it was probably my fault for believing and being naive... BUT its also misinformation that he told me. And for a company to stand behind people who do that just tells me a lot about their company standards.

I have to say that there is something to be said for being naive, but I had a similar problem with At&T when travelling overseas. Upon landing, I realized that they had completely shut off my service and transferred it to a "Go Phone" account. When I finally got ahold of someone at their offices (which cost me 35 dollars on a pay phone) they re-set my phone and my international service. The employee MISQUOTED me on my service charge AND on rates causing a 900 dollar error. Yes. You heard me right. 900 dollars. I spent almost 90 dollars in phone calls to AT&T, alone and that doesnt include the free calls.I have an iPhone so I was using it for all of my communications: phone, e-mail, text. They also managed to charge me TWICE, for the international service, for each month that I had it. It took a month to fix and AT&T eventually prorated everything, with an appology. So, in defense of this family, I can sympathize. PLEASE DONT MAKE THE BLANKET QUOTE THAT ALL OF US ARE IDIOTIC.
It is not unheard of that a retailer is at fault.
If I didnt have this phone, I would switch services in a heartbeat and Ive been with AT&T for over 12 years.

SPRINT/NEXTEL SUCKS!!!!!!!!!! STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS

AT&T, as a company, doesn't disclose everything. I had to switch long distance carriers, after being with AT&T for over 10 years. I had a long distance plan for my business, and 2 years ago, without warning they tacked on a surcharge every month that equaled about 60% of the long distance bill. Anyone dealing with AT&T needs to be very careful. The extra they sneak in on you helps pay for their monopoly.

Throw those cell phones away. They are microwaving your brains. Their use should be illegal while driving a car and no one really has anything that important to say anyway. Turn off your TVs too! If you saw any of the republican convention, you witnessed what mindless, drooling idiots many Americans have become. Go hang out with your friends and family. Play some sports. Go to the theatre and watch a play. Read a decent book. The typical AOL employee must have an average IQ less than W's. What drivel they produce and promote! Like anyone would pay this ridiculous bill anyway.

I HATE AT&T!!!! I will never, never, NEVER do business with them again! I can't believe how much they screw with people and in the end reverse the charges. I'm surprised they don't have any recent lawsuits for deceptive practices considering that's how they run their business. I'm not going to get into my sob story with AT&T, however, I will say that it has been 8 years since I've been a customer of theirs, and I couldn't be happier that I switched companies. I have stayed with my current provider since leaving AT&T and have NEVER had any of the issues that I have had or people currently have with them. All I can hope for is that there is a God that takes the company down! I know, it's a large corporation and that probably will never happen, but it does in my dreams and I remain hopeful.

I just feel real sorry for this family and of course, AT&T know what they and their employees did was wrong so they are going to end up reversing all of the charges AND most likely losing the business of this family. They get what they deserve!

AT&T is not an honest company. I had a problem with them regarding a $400.00 month bill. The telephone number that resulted in this bill was one number. When I checked it out, it was a number in Maryland and was assigned to a fax machine. I informed AT&T of this fact and stated that I nor any member of my family faxed $400.00 worth of faxed materials and, as a matter of fact, I did not have a fax machine in my home. They did not want to hear it, I did not pay and I changed to verizon. They attempted to collect, sold their paper to a collection agency and the item has been sold several times. The last time to a company in Canada, HA HA HA. This horror began five years ago(statute of limitations has run for a suit in my State) and they are still trying to collect. On the otherhand, I signed on with Verizon and had a similar problem. I contacted them and they said that it appeared to by glich in the system and I will not be charged.

HEY FOLKS, REMEMBER JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, WE ALL SURVIVED without ANY CELL PHONES. YOU ARE ALL PRETTY CRAZY PAYING THOSE EXTRAVAGANT BILLS - and for what, to TALK WHEN YOU NEEDN'T TALK? GET YOUR LIFE STRAIGHTENED OUT AND GET BACK TO THE old-fashioned land lines. THROW THE CELL PHONES AWAY - WE DID 2 MONTHS AGO AND GUESS WHAT? WE ARE STILL SURVIVING WITHOUT A CELL.

This is a disgusting and usurious problem with every wireless service we have ever used ... they lie, they promise, they tell you what they know you want to hear. Then, after 30 days (your "trial period") you get your bill and have to deal with it. They are not bound to their promises and seem to be able to lie with no consequences ... it's just a way of "business" with these people. In my opinion, your "trial period" should extend past 2 billing periods so that you can make changes/solve problems before you are hooked into a contract. If they were an ethical service, they would work like this, but .....

hUh ! , what now - - - - - these people need help , surprised they're alowed out in the public sector .

I certainly won't be using ATT for my cell phone, even though they are all pretty sleazy and crooked. Must be hiring from credit card companies. Morals and ethics don't apply at any of them.

I HAD ATT AND WENT TO VERIZON. ATT AND THEIR IPHONE SUX....VERIZON IS A LOT BETTER TO DEAL WITH, AND ATT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A FREAKING JOKE.....I HAVE NEVER BLOGGED OR SENT COMMENTS ONLINE, BUT IT IS TIME EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE WAY ATT WORKS.THEY DO NOT TELL YOU EVERYTHING AND THE ONES WHO SEE THE BILL QUESTION IT. WHAT ABOUT THE POOR OLD PEOPLE WHO PAY IT AND GO ON, THAT IS WHAT ATT HOPES WILL HAPPEN.ANGAIN. THEY SUCK

Our daughter goes to school in the US but borders Canada. We were considered about international roaming and did ask. We asked both ATT and Verizon. Both companies told us there would be no problem. there was - with both companies - one time had a bill over $850. While they did work with us on the bill, these cell companies really need to be more forthcoming and honest with their customers. They use very unethical and deceitful tactics to get customers and it is a shame that they get away with it.

I agree with ATT being thieves. I have to go over my monthly bill line by line and have yet to have one month that I didn't have to call customer "care" to get a cedit for inaccurate billing. Anyone who is signed up for their "auto pay" is NUTS!

I work for sprint/nextel customer care. we have a data unlimited roaming plan, even for gsm data, for 69.99 a month.

I was a cutomer for sprint for about 1 year.When one day my service was cut for no reason at all. I called to see what was the problem and was told I had to have a differnt number issued to me due to a mistake on their part. I told them I wanted the same number or would cancell their service. I was then informed that I signed a contract with them and was obligated to an early termination fee which made me furious. To this day although it went on my credit report they are still trying to collect a huge sum from me. This was a matter of principal to me. I like the saying goes cut off my nose despite my face.
Sprint in my book stinks!!!!