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Call to get activation fee removed!
- Thread starter Dizle
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I told the rep that I was under the impression my FAN discount meant I didn't have to pay an activation fee, which I was. She explained to me that it didn't apply for the iPhone, and I told her that was fine and left it at that. After she got done taking care of some other stuff for me, she told me that she'd credit the activation fee back, even though I was willing to pay it. I thanked her, and ended the call.
So no, lying is definitely not required in every case.
No, but the OP talked about lying about being double billed, and I have seen this elsewhere where you had to lie to have it removed. If you can remove it legitimately, then by all means, you are entitled to have that money back
You should investigate more before accusing others. I read this thread (and others) today because I got my first iPhone bill today and was kinda shocked, so I did the forum thing and decided to see what others experienced. Then I saw the "activation fee removed" threads and it became clear (with a modicum of reading comprehension) that people were simply asking.
And so I tried it. I called and said "Hi, I got my first bill today and was wondering if you might be able to waive the activation fees". I had two fees on a family plan. He said he'd be willing to wave one of them. I asked if they'd wave the larger one? He said OK. I thanked him and that was that. It took longer to post this than it did to have the conversation. I - and many others - didn't have to do anything other than ask. They could have said no and I would have accepted it. But I asked and I saved $36 in a 2 minute phone call.
You might be surprised at what you can get in life by simply asking people directly for what you want.
Edit: I see that you were in part responding to the OP. I don't see the merit in lying or in this case, the need to. He might learn the same lesson about asking directly (and politely) for what you want.
I was responding to the OP mostly, if you get the fee removed without lying then great. I have nothing wrong with talking to someone and asking politely. I apologize if it sounded like I was accusing you of wrongdoing. I just dislike people who lie and cheat to save money, it's low, greedy and selfish
HILARIOUS... funniest thing I've read in a long, long time. I love it when people dole out morality on the web and try to pass it off as law.
Even if you did tell them you had been charged twice and knowingly had not, you've still not committed a crime. If ATT chooses to give you the benifit of the doubt and not enforce your agreed contract, then you are the benifactor of either their goodwill or disorganization. Either way no "Crime" was commited.
I called them and told them that when I purchased my phone on launch day I couldn't get my phone activated in the store and I didn't think I should have to pay for the activation of a phone that couldn't be done at the store. She agreed with me and removed the activation fees. Both of them. I switched from verizon and started a family plan. She was very pleasant. It took my bill down 65 dollars!!
PAY THE $18.
It's people that lie to customer service who make companies not believe consumers when there really is a problem wrong.
It's people that lie to customer service who make companies not believe consumers when there really is a problem wrong.
Here's the thing. If you go by the dictionary definition of the word, yes, it's fraud. But nobody, and I mean nobody, cares if you "defraud" a multi-billion dollar behemoth like AT&T out of $18 or $36.
If people think it is worth their time to come up with stories and try and get CSRs to believe them, all just to get a few dollars credited on their bill, I say more power to them. I have a really hard time caring about this sort of thing when it's done to a company as big as AT&T.
Yes, go talk to a lawyer and ask, "Hey, is fraud still a crime if I do it to a multi-billion dollar corporation?" I would stake money he would say that it still is. Committing a crime, is committing a crime, whether it's against a little old granny or ATT. It's not the money, yes ATT will live without their 18 dollars. However, it shows the morality of people, and the fact that someone would commit a crime and just laugh about it disgusts me completely
$18=upgrade fee (new phone for existing customer)
$36=activation fee (new account for new customer)
Both are rubbish, but what are you going to do? It's just a "hidden" charge, like paying to check luggage.
I tried this line of reasoning too, and she basically said tough, the fee was set in stone. I might try again with a different rep.
Yes I agree. If you cannot afford to pay the ACTIVATION FEE, you shouldn't be buying a phone, you should be out working and trying to make some more money.
I dont see what this fuss is all about. I just called up and said "hey, i've been an AT&T customer for a few years..can you waive the upgrade fee?"
and she said "yes, but only this one time"
and I said "OK, thanks!".
sorry, but I don't think I'm being "cheap" by trying to save 18$. I see no reason anyone should have to lie to them, but if a 3 minute phone call can save you 18 dollars, why wouldn't you do it?? seems pretty logical to me.
and she said "yes, but only this one time"
and I said "OK, thanks!".
sorry, but I don't think I'm being "cheap" by trying to save 18$. I see no reason anyone should have to lie to them, but if a 3 minute phone call can save you 18 dollars, why wouldn't you do it?? seems pretty logical to me.
A three minute phone call saved me $36. If that's not worth it to you, then you must be making more than $720 per hour, in which case you should have better things to do with your time than berating people for making too little money.
Nobody is saying they can't afford the fee, but for those of us who aren't rich, every little bit helps and it would be silly NOT to ask. Buy hey, congrats on being rich - now you can go back to looking down on those of us who don't have tons of disposable income.
so, while i do not at all condone lying to to cust. service about why removing the upgrade/activation charge should be removed, i'd like to ask you all what you consider an acceptable 'upgrade fee' before you would complain? apparently, from what I understand, an $18/36 upgrade/actiavation (for the ATT network) fee is acceptable to most people. If AT&T were to charge $50 for an upgrade, would you still hold your stance? what about $100? $150? is it that absurd an idea that they could do this someday?
I just find it ridiculous that people take an abritrary value like $18 and start accusing people of being cheap or immoral. $18 is currently 25% of the least expensive data and voice plan available. but the dollar value, I think, is irrelevant.
it's not about the monetary value. it's about the principle. i dont condone lying but i was able to get my fee waived without any hassle, and i was honest about it. (I said I had been a customer and I dont' deserve a fee) i was more happy about the fact that I COULD call and ask that and be received well, moreso than the idea of saving any money.
anyway, I can see how a phone comapany can charge a NEW user, though I don't agree with the idea of such an 'upgrade fee' for existing users.
I find it ludicrious that a phone company should charge anyone an 'upgrade fee' when nothing really happens to a person's account. and the fact that company will waive it without too much of a reason (i said I've been a longtime customer, which is true), makes it seem even less valid. it makes the whole thing seem more arbitrary.
Finally, I feel that it's really unfair the way people have been treated on this thread, and the way people have been treating others. I'm all for holding your principles and being honest with one another, but if you don't find the upgrade fee to be a crime to loyal AT&T customers, especially at 18 dollars (or more) to be an outrage, then I think you are probably too complacent in our current western culture.
I just find it ridiculous that people take an abritrary value like $18 and start accusing people of being cheap or immoral. $18 is currently 25% of the least expensive data and voice plan available. but the dollar value, I think, is irrelevant.
it's not about the monetary value. it's about the principle. i dont condone lying but i was able to get my fee waived without any hassle, and i was honest about it. (I said I had been a customer and I dont' deserve a fee) i was more happy about the fact that I COULD call and ask that and be received well, moreso than the idea of saving any money.
anyway, I can see how a phone comapany can charge a NEW user, though I don't agree with the idea of such an 'upgrade fee' for existing users.
I find it ludicrious that a phone company should charge anyone an 'upgrade fee' when nothing really happens to a person's account. and the fact that company will waive it without too much of a reason (i said I've been a longtime customer, which is true), makes it seem even less valid. it makes the whole thing seem more arbitrary.
Finally, I feel that it's really unfair the way people have been treated on this thread, and the way people have been treating others. I'm all for holding your principles and being honest with one another, but if you don't find the upgrade fee to be a crime to loyal AT&T customers, especially at 18 dollars (or more) to be an outrage, then I think you are probably too complacent in our current western culture.
I say lie your ass off, I think companies are getting out of hand with their fees. I just paid it because the $18 is just not worth the headache of talking to them, but trust me when I was younger I called and bitched them out for charging me these BS fees.
This is just as sad as ticket master charging you a convenience charge of like 40% of the ticket value, then they charge you to print you own tickets with you own paper and ink and then charge you an order fee for the privilege of placing an order with them...
I know att isn't as bad as TM, but its just the most extreme example of how things are getting out of hand!
This is just as sad as ticket master charging you a convenience charge of like 40% of the ticket value, then they charge you to print you own tickets with you own paper and ink and then charge you an order fee for the privilege of placing an order with them...
I know att isn't as bad as TM, but its just the most extreme example of how things are getting out of hand!
Yeah, and then ask him if he would advise AT&T to take their criminal customer to court over it. Double or nothing says that he wouldn't.
The penalty is non-existant, the defrauded party doesn't care, and the criminal is happy. You can continue on with your pedantic little argument, but it's moronic. I'm sure when a cop pulls you over for speeding, you tell him exactly how fast you were going.
Wow. No bitching required!
I said "Hi, I was told my activation fee would be waived..." It also appeared that my FAN discount was not applied on the first bill so I mentioned that...
My bill dropped from 136 --> 60 something!!! That's going to be cheaper than my normal monthly bill!!!
Of course ATT won't take you to court. They prefer sucking you dry through the data plan as opposed to taking $18 on a one time fee. It's the morality and the principle of the idea