So At & T Refuned my 3GS....twice

[samcraig]

does it really cost att anything for me to send text messages? NO not really but they charge 20/per message comming in and out ... yeah if were getting stolen from its not cool.. but if i had BILLIONS of dollars and someone took 600$ i could give a F less...

LOGIC FAIL


First - It does cost ATT for you to send information to and from their network. And it ESPECIALLY cost them if you are sending to a number outside their network. They charge for services because it cost money to maintain their networks, employees, etc. Every time you call - even if it's just to ask a question, it costs the company money on some level.

Second - if the error was on AT&T's behalf - that they failed to add your texting plan - then you can speak to a CSR rationally and I am SURE you would be credited. They LOG every call on your account. So if you did, in fact, add the service and they failed to put it into effect - they can see and make the adjustments.

and Third - EPIC FAIL on logic again - It doesn't matter if you're poor, rich or whatever. Stealing is stealing when it comes right down to it. I'm not saying the OP is stealing. Or not stealing. But the value of whatever is being taken or the financial position of the person being stolen from doesn't count. It's still theft.

 

[Tumi 07]

i am unhappy with att. BUT i have an iphone and love it. So i will not switch carriers.. how come you are defending a multibillion dollar company who could care less about you ?

does it matter that i am 21 in college and never "ran" a company no

does it really cost att anything for me to send text messages? NO not really but they charge 20/per message comming in and out ... yeah if were getting stolen from its not cool.. but if i had BILLIONS of dollars and someone took 600$ i could give a F less...

First of all, I love it when people try to justify their wrong actions by saying how the company screws them. You know the old saying, two wrongs does not make a right. It saddens me that there are so many dishonest adults in this country that always try to justify their wrong actions. I applaud the OP for at least calling AT&T to get this problem remedied, which is something half of you low life people wouldn't have done. Don't mean to sound harsh but I just hate opportunistic thieves who try to justify their wrong doings.

 

[jlwillia]

You should really learn to read the entire thread before you post things like this. I DID contact AT&T. Because of the nature of the return not being through an actual account customer service doesn't even know anything about it.

I did read the entire thread. I was mostly referring to others' comments about how you should just keep the money and run without looking back. I stand by everything in that post.

 

[RetiredInFl]

So if a bank accidently deposits $10,000 in your checking account instead of the $10 you actually gave them, it's not your problem? WRONG! Guess you don't watch the news.

Okay legally Im not supose to say a word, and just tell you to talk to a lawyer (Paralegal Law stated by the BAR) BUT...

Id keep it.. you can NOT get into trouble for their slip up. Its not fraud, and it is not your fault. You have no control over what they do.. not to mention the millions they rape from the population of the world..

So, I say keep it. I would.

 

[JennaLDS]

You guys really need to read some law books before you start spewing that he is going to be prosecuted.

There are limit laws on slip ups with banks and billing companies. They are different in every state. Go to a law library and look them up yourself. Get in the Code of your state, and look in the index (which will be about 3 or 4 books by themselves) and look up key words to your situation. Lean more towards banks messing up, because you will find more that way. Then you can find a statute against getting prosecuted. There are ALWAYS loop holes. Trust me, in every legal memorandum I have ever done there was always a loop hole for the case.

Dont get so hyped up, its just a forum.

 

[samcraig]

You guys really need to read some law books before you start spewing that he is going to be prosecuted.

There are limit laws on slip ups with banks and billing companies. They are different in every state. Go to a law library and look them up yourself. Get in the Code of your state, and look in the index (which will be about 3 or 4 books by themselves) and look up key words to your situation. Lean more towards banks messing up, because you will find more that way. Then you can find a statute against getting prosecuted. There are ALWAYS loop holes. Trust me, in every legal memorandum I have ever done there was always a loop hole for the case.

Dont get so hyped up, its just a forum.

In the OPs scenario - no one is going to get sued. The very worst/likely scenario is that at some point AT&T would recognize their error and they would bill accordingly. If you had the iPhone and it was still boxed, I am sure they would take it back and remove the charge. If the phone was used or sold, then the person would be liable for the cost of the phone.

And if the person refused to pay for the phone, then it's most likely AT&T would terminate service and send it to collections which would begin a downward spiral on your credit rating.

Pretty much the way something like this would wind up in court is if the end user tried to sue AT&T for rightful ownership. Which - no doubt - would lead nowhere.

 

[JennaLDS]

In the OPs scenario - no one is going to get sued. The very worst/likely scenario is that at some point AT&T would recognize their error and they would bill accordingly. If you had the iPhone and it was still boxed, I am sure they would take it back and remove the charge. If the phone was used or sold, then the person would be liable for the cost of the phone.

And if the person refused to pay for the phone, then it's most likely AT&T would terminate service and send it to collections which would begin a downward spiral on your credit rating.

Pretty much the way something like this would wind up in court is if the end user tried to sue AT&T for rightful ownership. Which - no doubt - would lead nowhere.

Exactly.

 

[HBOC]

i find the replies funny. "Return the money, it isn't yours". Id say keep it. THIS IS NOT A PERSONS" money. Rather a Corporation that doesn't give two rats' asses about anyone, just their bottom lines. If it was from a small company or local company, that is one thing. But this is AT&T we are talking about. My service went out for 2 weeks at my house (before i had the 3G) what did they do for me? increased the amount of minutes on my plan for the next month! I already have 100000000 rollover minutes, i dont need anymore. I just wanted the money that I PAID for a service THAT WAS NOT rendered.

 

[samcraig]

i find the replies funny. "Return the money, it isn't yours". Id say keep it. THIS IS NOT A PERSONS" money. Rather a Corporation that doesn't give two rats' asses about anyone, just their bottom lines. If it was from a small company or local company, that is one thing. But this is AT&T we are talking about. My service went out for 2 weeks at my house (before i had the 3G) what did they do for me? increased the amount of minutes on my plan for the next month! I already have 100000000 rollover minutes, i dont need anymore. I just wanted the money that I PAID for a service THAT WAS NOT rendered.

Logic Fail.

Whether you're stealing from a small company or large company it's stealing no matter how you look at it. I'm not talking about the OP - I'm talking about YOUR logic.

As for your incident with AT&T - that was your failure to negotiate better. I've had outages before (cable, cell, etc) and the CSRs never offered me minutes or additional services. I've always politely asked if I can be credited back for the days I lacked service. And it was NEVER a problem.

Don't blame others for your own failures or lack of ethics.

 

[megadon]

I had a canceled order on a 3gs and AT & T accidently refunded my money twice. Should i inform them? I don't want to get in trouble for fraud anything but I had no say in this. Is it worth calling them up?

only banks are allowed to ask for money back if they deposit extra money into your account...

everything else is legit..

it's like buying miss priced items online... everyone looks for them, and it's not illegal..
I got a ticket to mexico for 80 bucks like that..

keep the money..

 

[samcraig]

only banks are allowed to ask for money back if they deposit extra money into your account...

everything else is legit..

it's like buying miss priced items online... everyone looks for them, and it's not illegal..
I got a ticket to mexico for 80 bucks like that..

keep the money..

Source of your information?

Because it's not accurate. As a SUBSCRIBER, ATT has the ability and right to request a return of the equipment and/or bill appropriately. I.E - if you decide to tether and they catch you? They can bill you. Period.

It's not the same as paying LESS for a device. The iPhone wasn't marked down and the OP got a "deal" - an additional phone was acquired. Apples and Oranges.

 

[Bigyella]

Please tell me How much a corporation must gross, in order for it to be okay to steal from them? Is it 250,000... or 250,000,000, or does it have to be in the billions? I want to be clear, as to when I am allowed to be a thief, and when, I am not! Please, enlighten me???

 

[samcraig]

Please tell me How much a corporation must gross, in order for it to be okay to steal from them? Is it 250,000... or 250,000,000, or does it have to be in the billions? I want to be clear, as to when I am allowed to be a thief, and when, I am not! Please, enlighten me???

+1

 

[megadon]

I'm not trying to get into a silly debate with you two.. just pointing out that ive been in both situations, (banks giving me extra money, and being refunded twice for a cable box)

1. the bank told me in a letter that legally, I had to return the money.

2. I never heard of the cable company again and kept the money.. no letter, no phone call..

just sharing my experience ..

 

[samcraig]

I'm not trying to get into a silly debate with you two.. just pointing out that ive been in both situations, (banks giving me extra money, and being refunded twice for a cable box)

1. the bank told me in a letter that legally, I had to return the money.

2. I never heard of the cable company again and kept the money.. no letter, no phone call..

just sharing my experience ..

"only banks are allowed to ask for money back if they deposit extra money into your account...

everything else is legit.."

Your words right? Very different than what you are saying now.

a) the bank sent you a legal letter that you had to return the money
b) the cable company never contacted you

HAD the cable contacted you, you would have been liable. They either chose not to or never discovered their error.

Don't give legal advice based on your experience. Your experience doesn't equate to what is actually legal or not.

 

[megadon]

"only banks are allowed to ask for money back if they deposit extra money into your account...

everything else is legit.."

Your words right? Very different than what you are saying now.

a) the bank sent you a legal letter that you had to return the money
b) the cable company never contacted you

HAD the cable contacted you, you would have been liable. They either chose not to or never discovered their error.

Don't give legal advice based on your experience. Your experience doesn't equate to what is actually legal or not.

it is real life experience that you're lacking on this issue..

 

[samcraig]

it is real life experience that you're lacking on this issue..

Are being serious?

Read back both of your posts for ACCURACY.

Stating your personal experience does not make your statements "the law"

"only banks are allowed to ask for money back if they deposit extra money into your account...

everything else is legit.."

Is your experience. It is NOT the law.

edit to add: I speed beyond the limit and I don't ever get pulled over. So speeding is totally legal. Right? By your logic - I have had real experience with the subject so I can say it's so!

Thanks and have a nice day.

 

[Bigyella]

I think what he is really trying to say, is that, its only stealing if you get caught!

BTW, I am still waiting on my dollar amount?? Anyone??

 

[samcraig]

I think what he is really trying to say, is that, its only stealing if you get caught!

BTW, I am still waiting on my dollar amount?? Anyone??

That makes perfect sense.

"it is real life experience that you're lacking on this issue.."

You're right. I don't have real life experience scamming companies. My apologies.

 

[jlwillia]

only banks are allowed to ask for money back if they deposit extra money into your account...

everything else is legit..

it's like buying miss priced items online... everyone looks for them, and it's not illegal..
I got a ticket to mexico for 80 bucks like that..

keep the money..

This is absolutely false. The difference is that the incorrectly priced item online has been advertised falsely. Therefore, if they advertise it lower than they expected, they cannot claim the difference after you purchase it.

In the current scenario, AT&T never advertised getting a free iPhone (which is essentially what happened). Because it was an accounting mistake, the OP could be prosecuted IF he attempted to cover up the error.

 

[charliehustle]

I had a canceled order on a 3gs and AT & T accidently refunded my money twice. Should i inform them? I don't want to get in trouble for fraud anything but I had no say in this. Is it worth calling them up?

thats weird, the exact thing happened with AT&T to my sister with the 3G when it came last year.. she kept the money and nothing happened...

it actually costs them more to follow legal action in order to get the money back...

if you know anything about financial analysis, you'll know they have money allocated for these purposes so they can take a loss without it actually hurting their balance sheets and earnings per share..

 

[-aggie-]

thats weird, the exact thing happened with AT&T to my sister with the 3G when it came last year.. she kept the money and nothing happened...

it actually costs them more to follow legal action in order to get the money back...

if you know anything about financial analysis, you'll know they have money allocated for these purposes so they can take a loss without it actually hurting their balance sheets and earnings per share..

With a name like you have, they're going to love you on this thread! Next, you should go to the "water sensor tripped" threads. Oh, the carnage.

 

[charliehustle]

With a name like you have, they're going to love you on this thread! Next, you should go to the "water sensor tripped" threads. Oh, the carnage.

haha..I'm not saying I would keep the phone.. just pointing out that it would cost AT&T thousands in legal fees to recover around $700 bucks..

if any exec finds out that a manager allowed that, they'd be tossed.. instantly..

all these corps are about is meeting earnings estimates..

 

[JennaLDS]

Yes I do watch the news.. banking is differently, they DO have the right to request the money back. This is 500 bucks we are talking about, and just like the posts before this, it would cost ATT or Apple more to legally do anything.. they are not going to waste their time and money on one phone.

 

[deafboy]

I bookmarked this thread just to watch people go back and forth


As for my situation, i at least gave it an honest effort so the money is going to sit in my account for now.