Okay,
Please read this, and please make sure you are not a victim of this as well. I am sure I cannot be the only one that is dealing with this glitch.
So I got an iPhone 3G today. However, in the process, I discovered that AT&T has been overcharging me $20 a month for the entire time that I have been with them (June 29th, 2007... when I got my original iPhone).
At launch last year, June 29th, I purchased an iPhone. I went home, and I activated my phone using the iTunes store. It was a brand new, individual AT&T account. Here are the rate plans as they were advertised on AT&T's site for the past year (screenshot from AT&T site)
![rate-plans.jpg]()
I chose to go with the $79.99 plan (which included 900 anytime minutes, and unlimited data), plus unlimited text messaging for an additional $20 a month... bringing my plan to $99.99 a month without taxes.
Now, here is the problem. While I was purchasing my 3G phone, I discovered that AT&T has been charging me:
$59.99 for voice (note: AT&T sees the bundled voice/data as seperate units)
$40.00 for unlimited data (should have been $20 to make the bundle complete)
$20.00 for unlimited text
$119.99 Grand Total
When it should have been $99.99
Now, I need to reinforce what I said above. AT&T sees each portion of your plan as seperate... so even though the plan is marketed as $79.99 for voice/unlimited data, they (should) see it on their system as $59.99 voice plan, $20 unlimited data plan.
So... I got on the phone with AT&T while I was at the Apple Store and brought this to their attention. They maintained that the iPhone unlimited data plan was not included in the $59.99 voice plan, and was an additional $40.
Of course, I explained to them that voice/data should come to $79.99. Again, they denied that and said it was $40. After talking to her supervisor, I put an Apple Store employee on the phone so he could try to explain it to her... and since he had been selling the phones for the past year hopefully he'd have the credibility.
Wrong... again she denied it... as did HER supervisor. So, I activated my phone and left the store.
When I got home, I called AT&T again and I got stuck in an endless cycle of me trying to convince them the original iPhone data plans were bundled (seriously, I sent her to websites with screenshots of ATT's website with the rates... but she wasn't able to view them). Now, thankfully, and almost against all odds, I had gotten a girl who seemed like she actually cared about the situation I was in and was actually trying to figure it out and help... she spoke to 2 of her supervisors, who both denied the bundling and said the voice and data were sold seperately, data for $40, and then in a last ditch effort... she asked her 3rd, and last, supervisor.
The 3rd one actually did know they were bundled. She came back, got all of the notes from the account in front of her, and then told me that I was right.
She credited my account for the $250 ($10 extra)... and then fixed my plan so it was correct.
I urge everyone to call AT&T and MAKE SURE their plans are correct. As I said, I activated my phone and chose my plan on iTunes just like anyone else.
Just to confirm, here is what they should see for your plan (using a $59.99, 450 minute, plan for example):
$39.99 Voice
$20.00 Unlimited Data
$59.99
If you have unlimited text messaging, add $20 onto that.
I hope this helps save everyone the money I was almost out. If they made the same mistake on your account, and you need help convincing them, PM me and I can provide you with the info of the tech support girl who helped me and understands how to fix it.
Please read this, and please make sure you are not a victim of this as well. I am sure I cannot be the only one that is dealing with this glitch.
So I got an iPhone 3G today. However, in the process, I discovered that AT&T has been overcharging me $20 a month for the entire time that I have been with them (June 29th, 2007... when I got my original iPhone).
At launch last year, June 29th, I purchased an iPhone. I went home, and I activated my phone using the iTunes store. It was a brand new, individual AT&T account. Here are the rate plans as they were advertised on AT&T's site for the past year (screenshot from AT&T site)
I chose to go with the $79.99 plan (which included 900 anytime minutes, and unlimited data), plus unlimited text messaging for an additional $20 a month... bringing my plan to $99.99 a month without taxes.
Now, here is the problem. While I was purchasing my 3G phone, I discovered that AT&T has been charging me:
$59.99 for voice (note: AT&T sees the bundled voice/data as seperate units)
$40.00 for unlimited data (should have been $20 to make the bundle complete)
$20.00 for unlimited text
$119.99 Grand Total
When it should have been $99.99
Now, I need to reinforce what I said above. AT&T sees each portion of your plan as seperate... so even though the plan is marketed as $79.99 for voice/unlimited data, they (should) see it on their system as $59.99 voice plan, $20 unlimited data plan.
So... I got on the phone with AT&T while I was at the Apple Store and brought this to their attention. They maintained that the iPhone unlimited data plan was not included in the $59.99 voice plan, and was an additional $40.
Of course, I explained to them that voice/data should come to $79.99. Again, they denied that and said it was $40. After talking to her supervisor, I put an Apple Store employee on the phone so he could try to explain it to her... and since he had been selling the phones for the past year hopefully he'd have the credibility.
Wrong... again she denied it... as did HER supervisor. So, I activated my phone and left the store.
When I got home, I called AT&T again and I got stuck in an endless cycle of me trying to convince them the original iPhone data plans were bundled (seriously, I sent her to websites with screenshots of ATT's website with the rates... but she wasn't able to view them). Now, thankfully, and almost against all odds, I had gotten a girl who seemed like she actually cared about the situation I was in and was actually trying to figure it out and help... she spoke to 2 of her supervisors, who both denied the bundling and said the voice and data were sold seperately, data for $40, and then in a last ditch effort... she asked her 3rd, and last, supervisor.
The 3rd one actually did know they were bundled. She came back, got all of the notes from the account in front of her, and then told me that I was right.
She credited my account for the $250 ($10 extra)... and then fixed my plan so it was correct.
I urge everyone to call AT&T and MAKE SURE their plans are correct. As I said, I activated my phone and chose my plan on iTunes just like anyone else.
Just to confirm, here is what they should see for your plan (using a $59.99, 450 minute, plan for example):
$39.99 Voice
$20.00 Unlimited Data
$59.99
If you have unlimited text messaging, add $20 onto that.
I hope this helps save everyone the money I was almost out. If they made the same mistake on your account, and you need help convincing them, PM me and I can provide you with the info of the tech support girl who helped me and understands how to fix it.
