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Carrier Careful AT&T About to Double Charge Customers

ggibson913

ggibson913

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 11, 2006
1,122
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Just got a notice that AT&T will be changing my auto pay date from two days before the bill is due to two days after the bill is presented. This means in my case for the month of June, they are gonna hit me up for my full wireless bill at the end of May then again at the beginning of June
 
Are you sure this scenario isn't just specific to you?

I foresee SIGNIFICANT backlash if they are doing this to all of their customers.
 
Sorry forgot the link ATT.com/autopaycc . The rub is that this is obviously a quick easy way for them to make a cash grab. For a one month period they get two payments. Oh forgot to mention that they say I can keep my current date if I supply them with my Debit Card number or Checking account number which I think wisely, I don't let any other company but my bank have.
 
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I’m considering opting in for auto-pay for the $10/month discount. These are exactly the type of shenanigans that make me hesitant to do so. It’s technically not double charging, but still not cool.
 
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fred98tj said:
Yes, it’s not double charging you. What’s the big deal?
Click to expand...
Some people keep a pretty tight budget, so $200(what I pay monthly)leaving your bank account when you hadn’t counted on it could be a big deal.

...and yes, if you can’t easily afford it, you probably shouldn’t set yourself up like this...
 
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Many prepaid services charge every 30 days, rather than once a month. That has caused some issues for some people because it can result in 2 charges in one calendar month. Also, if someone has things scheduled so a payment is done AFTER a paycheck or monthly deposit, this can result in it being debited before the money is deposited.

Ideally, people will keep enough money in their checking account so a couple hundred dollars don't cause issues. But in the real world...

A workaround is to manually charge it (or all but a couple dollars) to a credit card before the autopay. If there is no balance being carried on the credit card, the credit card can be paid later on schedule.
 
Moving auto pay date for people using a credit card. NOT “double charging”. Could some people get 2 bills on one credit card statement for one month? Sure. But at the end of the day, you’re still only getting billed 12 times for the year.
Deceptive thread title.
 
That's interesting they changed your billing date, I'll have to check mine as well. I know what you're saying here, not a double charge itself but 2 charges in a short period of time due to a change in dating. So your bank account is hit twice.
 
I have AT&T and got the same notice, and it didn't really bother me.
I am on auto pay to a credit card, which means it will just change the date it hits my card and isn't really a big deal. As stated with others, if it were coming out of a checking account and it came before a payday meant to cover it, yeah, that's not cool, but they do give you other options. And if you are really bothered, you can just manually set up a reminder to electronically pay when you want.

This isn't unusual, other companies make changes internally and move to reconcile billing and receiving. I have had dates changed with other payments as well. Just something you are aware of, and you adjust and move on. It isn't double dipping as it evens out.
 
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ggibson913 said:
Just got a notice that AT&T will be changing my auto pay date from two days before the bill is due to two days after the bill is presented. This means in my case for the month of June, they are gonna hit me up for my full wireless bill at the end of May then again at the beginning of June
Click to expand...

I was in this story b4 this way they will have 13 bill in one year, if they will do it again I will just move my account
 
AttilaTheHun said:
I was in this story b4 this way they will have 13 bill in one year, if they will do it again I will just move my account
Click to expand...
You’re still only being charged for what you owe. They’re not mysteriously charging more than what your monthly service costs.

I really don’t understand the outrage.
If you don’t like what they’re doing, you’ve got at least 3 choices.
1. Change your auto pay to debit card. Payment day stays the same as now.
2. Change your auto pay to directly from your bank account. Payment day stays the same as now.
3. Don’t auto pay. Pay it yourself.
 
Phone Junky said:
You’re still only being charged for what you owe. They’re not mysteriously charging more than what your monthly service costs.

I really don’t understand the outrage.
If you don’t like what they’re doing, you’ve got at least 3 choices.
1. Change your auto pay to debit card. Payment day stays the same as now.
2. Change your auto pay to directly from your bank account. Payment day stays the same as now.
3. Don’t auto pay. Pay it yourself.
Click to expand...
Wonder why they're changing the policy specifically for credit cards. Too many chargebacks?

Anyway, it's just one CC billing cycle with double charges. I'd still rather use my CC (better protection plus extended warranty for mobile phone) than give AT&T my debit card/bank account.

Edit: Thinking about it, this actually doesn't change anything for me. The previous charge date was almost at my CC's closing date. AT&T's new charge date would just be near the beginning of the new CC billing cycle.
 
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Phone Junky said:
You’re still only being charged for what you owe. They’re not mysteriously charging more than what your monthly service costs.

I really don’t understand the outrage.
If you don’t like what they’re doing, you’ve got at least 3 choices.
1. Change your auto pay to debit card. Payment day stays the same as now.
2. Change your auto pay to directly from your bank account. Payment day stays the same as now.
3. Don’t auto pay. Pay it yourself.
Click to expand...

that what I did no autopay.
 
Maybe to encourage some people to switch from autopay with a credit card to autopay with a debit card or their bank instead in order for them (AT&T) to save money.
 
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