bills

$180 In Overages Waived By Staying Calm, Asking For The Supervisor, And Smart Negotiating

$180 In Overages Waived By Staying Calm, Asking For The Supervisor, And Smart Negotiating

By consumerist.com 1.25.08

Dave writes:

I just got a wireless bill from Cincinnati Bell with $180 worth of overages. Thanks to several of the articles I’ve read on your site, I felt confident that I would be able to get them waived. And I did. The one thing I did that I probably wouldn’t have done without your site was when the rep I was speaking with said that she “didn’t have the power” to grant my request (I wanted all of my overages waived if I upgraded my account), I didn’t lose my cool or get upset but calmly asked to talk to her supervisor. Her supervisor offered me what I wanted without ever having to ask! One hundred and eighty, thanks.

That’s the way to do it. If the customer service rep says they “don’t have the power,” then you just simply ask to be put in touch with someone who does. Remaining cool, calm and professional, you escalate to someone with decision-making powers. Also note his successful negotiation tactic…

Case Closed: Comcast Billing Gone Bonkers

Case Closed: Comcast Billing Gone Bonkers

By consumerist.com 1.23.08

After we posted SM’s battle with Comcast to stop fraudulently billing her for over a year, , Comcast took notice and asked to get in touch with SM. We played matchmaker and now Comcast reports that the problem is solved. The account is cleared and CMI has been notified to stop trying to collect on it. Inside is the letter they are sending to SM. Hooray, problem solved. Comcast’s billing system, however, remains a mess. Hopefully CMI won’t still try to collect, for CMI’s sake. Otherwise SM will now really have a very good basis for making quick and easy cash by suing them in small claims court for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Comcast Billing Gone Bonkers

Comcast Billing Gone Bonkers

By consumerist.com 1.22.08

SM writes:

This story starts in March 07 when my sister moved out of the country and canceled her Comcast account. I returned her modem, and they told me her account was settled. Then, my mom (who has power of attorney) gets a bill for around $193. Comcast customer service tells my mom that she really only has to pay around $35, so she sends a check for that amount, but another bill arrives for $135.35. Again, Comcast customer service tells her, no actually you only need to pay $43.86. My mom tries to dispute the bill, but Comcast sends my sister’s account to a collection agency called CMI…

By consumerist.com 1.18.08

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Some AT&T landline long-distance packages are going up a buck or two. [AT&T via TRACnotes]

Comcast Quietly Leaches $3/Month From Former Adelphia Customers

Comcast Quietly Leaches $3/Month From Former Adelphia Customers

By cwalters 1.10.08

A reader from Vermont writes in to let us know that he accidentally discovered Comcast has been charging him a $3/month modem rental fee for a modem he owned, because Comcast claimed that due to poor record keeping, it had no way of distinguishing between Adelphia’s modem renters and owners. This fee went on for months undetected because Comcast doesn’t itemize such fees on their online statements, only on their printed bills. (Well yeah, because including such details online would waste ink…wait, what?) When our reader called Comcast to have the fees refunded, he was told he’d have to provide proof of purchase for his modem.

Sprint's Special Low Price For One Month Of Mobile Broadband: $14,062.27

By consumeristcarey 12.30.07

Krystyl signed up for Sprint’s $59.99 unlimited Mobile Broadband plan and isn’t sure why she just received a bill for $14,062.27.

AT&T Overcharging For Sending Pictures?

AT&T Overcharging For Sending Pictures?

By consumerist.com 12.7.07

If you’re AT&T cellphone customer on a messaging plan and you like to send pictures, check your bills. After noticing he was getting overcharged for sending pictures, reader Robert says an AT&T CSR told him that AT&T is having a nationwide computer glitch that could be overcharging you too…

Just Because You Have Health Insurance Doesn't Mean Your Bill Won't Be A Million Dollars

Just Because You Have Health Insurance Doesn't Mean Your Bill Won't Be A Million Dollars

By 11.30.07

Here’s a scary thought: What if you have health insurance and still get stuck with a million dollar hospital bill? That’s what happened to Jim Dawson after a staph infection spread throughout his body.

Comcast Charges You For Service You Never Ordered, Threatens To Ruin Your Credit

Comcast Charges You For Service You Never Ordered, Threatens To Ruin Your Credit

By consumerist.com 11.29.07

Reader Allison wrote her Congressional rep in regards to Comcast defrauding her:

Dear Representative Snyder,

Consumers Cellphone Bills Up $13 From 2005

Consumers Cellphone Bills Up $13 From 2005

By consumerist.com 11.19.07

Consumer average monthly cellphone bills are up $13 from 2005, from $60 to $73, according to a recent J.D. Power and Associates survey. The growth is largely due to the cost of extra phone features like photos and video sharing, texting, and downloading songs and videos. However, only 34% of consumers say they use their phone’s photo features…

Verizon Will Waive Late Fee Only If You Pay Through The Automated Phone System

Verizon Will Waive Late Fee Only If You Pay Through The Automated Phone System

By consumeristcarey 11.17.07

Verizon was willing to refund the late fee on reader Steve’s bill, but only if he paid through Verizon’s automated phone system. Steve instead offered to give his billing information to the Verizon CSR to whom he was speaking, an offer that was refused. Steve writes:

I used to work at a call center for a certain mobile provider. I understand exactly what reps deal with. I’ve had my manager tell me I need to cut back on bathroom time. I’ve had them tell me I need to get my calls shorter. I’ve had them tell me I can’ waive reconnection fees. I’ve been there. I know.

Chase Changes Due Date Without Warning, Changes APR From 3.9% To 29.99%

Chase Changes Due Date Without Warning, Changes APR From 3.9% To 29.99%

By consumerist.com 11.1.07

Dan writes: “I was scammed big by JP Morgan Chase Credit Cards. They apparently have “floating due dates” that we had not encountered in our 10+ years as customers but somehow February of 2007 was the magic month. They moved our due date up by 3 days, our payment was two days late. They raised our interest rate from 3.99% to 29.99%…Amazingly enough, on our March bill the due date is exactly the same as January. They claim they sent us a notification letter, but I never received one. I spoke to the worst customer service person ever, Dennis Broyles, who claimed that no one in the company had the power to change my interest rate back and that he had no supervisor I could speak with. It was outrageous.”

$18 Fee For Pleasure Of Being Locked To AT&T For Two More Years

$18 Fee For Pleasure Of Being Locked To AT&T For Two More Years

By consumerist.com 10.24.07

Jack recently got a new phone for one of his AT&T cellphones. In the process, he of course had to extend his contract another two years. When he got his bill, he discovered a mysterious $18 “upgrade fee.” When he called AT&T, they told him it was the standard contract extension charge.

By cwalters 10.24.07

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Watch your cellphone bill for sneaky “premium text message” charges, which sometimes get applied to your account when you sign up for services through your phone or respond to unknown text messages, but sometimes simply appear even if you’ve done nothing at all. A Verizon spokeswoman is on record as saying, “If you’re getting unwanted (text messages), we want to hear from you and we’ll credit you.” [SeattlePI.com]

By cwalters 10.17.07

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Not freezing to death is expensive! SmartMoney offers up its own advice on how to cut heating costs this winter—mostly the usual stuff about shopping around for a supplier, upgrading old equipment, and winter-proofing your house. Also: new insulation may qualify you for a one-time tax credit of $500 if you do it before the end of the year. [SmartMoney]

Verizon Unleashes Zombie Debt Collector Scourge On Innocent Consumer

Verizon Unleashes Zombie Debt Collector Scourge On Innocent Consumer

By consumerist.com 10.11.07

Reader Kevin has a problem with Verizon and the zombie debt collectors they’ve unleashed on the account Verizon said was paid off and closed…

Validas Analyzes Your Cellphone Bill For Potential Savings

Validas Analyzes Your Cellphone Bill For Potential Savings

By consumerist.com 10.10.07

Validas is a new service that aims to help consumers save on their cellphone bills by analyzing their cellphone bills and providing suggestions about how they could adjust their plans and save money. To use it, you create an account, validate your email address, download your cellphone bill from your cell provider’s website, upload it to Validas for processing, then wait a few seconds for your report.

Tips For A "Greener" Autumn

Tips For A "Greener" Autumn

By 9.18.07

LighterFootprint has compiled a list of things you can do during the fall to help lower your impact during the winter. Lowering your impact usually means lowering your energy costs, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to these tips even if you hate the planet and want it to melt.

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