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Final billing from AT&T? (cancelled service)

S

speekez

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 19, 2003
350
2
Hey gang,

Wondering if anyone has insight on this. We no longer are in a contract with AT&T and ported over our two numbers to Tmobile. AT&T service is now considered cancelled, and I'm trying to get clarity on what the final billing should be, and the Live Chat folks are confusing me.

We cancelled on 1/25. The current bill of $167 is due on 2/6, and it has a "billing cycle date" of 12/17/14 - 1/16/15, BUT the "monthly charges" are for 1/17 thru 2/16. Basically, with AT&T, you are paying for a month in advance. Shouldn't this bill be recalculated/prorated since we ended 1/25? If I understood the Live Chat person, they would not prorate it because I ported out service. Huh?

Anyone have clarity on this sort of thing from your experience?
 
I bought contract-free phones off of ATT's website which forced you to buy service with it. Needless to say I cancelled service within 3-days so I didn't get any charges whatsoever (or so I thought).

It ended up being a nightmare of "Oh no sir we can't waive that" (yes they could) or "Oh no sir don't worry it shows you having a zero balance on my end" (still ended up getting bills).

My personal advice? Call again... and again... and again... and again until you are 100% sure the rep has waived (or prorated) the charges and not charged you in advance for a month worth of service you haven't even used yet. Sounds like a pain in the *** but that is exactly what AT&T billing is designed to be for customers.
 
speekez said:
Hey gang,

Wondering if anyone has insight on this. We no longer are in a contract with AT&T and ported over our two numbers to Tmobile. AT&T service is now considered cancelled, and I'm trying to get clarity on what the final billing should be, and the Live Chat folks are confusing me.

We cancelled on 1/25. The current bill of $167 is due on 2/6, and it has a "billing cycle date" of 12/17/14 - 1/16/15, BUT the "monthly charges" are for 1/17 thru 2/16. Basically, with AT&T, you are paying for a month in advance. Shouldn't this bill be recalculated/prorated since we ended 1/25? If I understood the Live Chat person, they would not prorate it because I ported out service. Huh?

Anyone have clarity on this sort of thing from your experience?
Click to expand...

I did something similar with Sprit early this month. I cancelled service with Sprint on 1/11th. My billing cycle was from 12/19th thru 1/18th. Essentially, I had 1 week left remaining (12th.-18th.) and their CSR agent said, I had no proration due back to me, as she tried to retain my business. Basically, a complete loss of 1 week which I paid in advance.
 
AT&T doesn't prorate ****. If you're only one day into a month, you have to pay for the whole month. That's just the way they do it.
 
Just wait and see, You'll see what your final bill will be, once they cut it.
 
maflynn said:
Just wait and see, You'll see what your final bill will be, once they cut it.
Click to expand...

This. They will send you a final bill. I wouldn't overpay AT&T and bank on a refund. I had uverse and they still owe me $205 for service I cancelled in September!

I called yesterday to inquire about my refund again. They promised someone would call me last night....no call.
 
Last edited:
They do the same in the uk and usually when you cancel you get what you think is a final bill then a last one comes in with money back. My advice is pay the bill THEN argue after if no refund is seen.
 
It took me a while to get my final bill. I can't remember where in the cycle I was but my bill was in the 80's normally and my final bill was in the 50's. I switched from postpaid to prepaid gophone.
 
Since you canceled on the 25th, you're technically into the next billing cycle already, thus you'll be billed for the whole month. I know it sucks, but that's how they do it.
 
Since you canceled 9 days into a 31 day cycle, I would pay 9*$167/31=$48.49 and see how the final bill works out when it comes.
 
I switched last month, this is how it went down for me. my billing cycle ended on the 12/25 (had already paid earlier in the month for this cycle).

i switched on 12/24.

final bill was $0.00 with bill cycle statement of 11/26-12/25.
 
noobinator said:
Sorry it's because it has a bad word in the link that get's filtered out.

Someone canceled so on the final bill they changed his name to a hole brown.
Click to expand...

That's awful. I don't think ATT has sunk to that level of customer service.
 
AT&T does not prorate. You pay the full month regardless of when in the billing cycle you cancel, so it's smartest to cancel during the last week of the cycle, leaving a couple of days in case there's any issue with porting your number.

Had this confirmed by of one of AT&T's better CSRs last fall when I switched away from them as well, and it's been verified by many people here over the years.
 
Pay the current bill due. That is what you are obligated for, and wait for the final bill to arrive. What matters, is what is printed on the bill, not what some first name rep says on the phone, who may claim to take care of a dispute or inquiry for you, and never does etc.
 
Isn't it part of your contract somewhere?

When I left TMO, they dropped my Military Discount I had received every month with them on my final month. The CSR I complained to was very rude and finally offered to split the difference. When I asked to speak to her supervisor, she said I could, but her supervisor may nix her offer and not give me anything. I said the hell with it and kept the split. Wasn't worth another conversation with a potential idiot. They are all nice till you leave then they could care less. All IMHO--
 
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