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From: gil@limbic.ssdl.com (Gil Kloepfer Jr.)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Information Needed on AT&T Select Saver Plan
Message-ID: <15642@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 23 Dec 90 06:22:22 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 901, Message 9 of 12


In article <15486@accuvax.nwu.edu> Dan writes:

>     Recently I received in the mail a "Request for Change in Billing"
>from AT&T (my default LD carrier), and would like to get the opinion
>of the readers of TELECOM Digest.  The letter begins:

What I think is interesting is what happens if you DON'T select this
calling plan. Here's one that borders on being as bad as slamming"...

On the outside of the envelope:

	"Decsision requested concerning your long distance account.

	 Second Notice-
	 Please read and respond promptly."

Inside the envelope is the same stuff as the last time, with no
opportunity to *respond* "NO" to the mailing.  I know some sleezy
credit card protection companies who do the same thing.

The really bad thing about this is the way they determined the area
code of choice in this case.  Two isolated calls were made to
California one month to place an order for some electronic parts.  In
general, no calls are made outside the area code.

Lastly, the calling plans AT&T is now providing are so confusing to
the consumer, it is now truly difficult to decide WHICH plan to get,
and what savings you will really obtain from that plan.

It took me nearly four months to get my AT&T long distance service moved
properly from NY to Texas, and a friend of mine had the same problems
three months after my move.  AT&T will not put your account "in writing",
making it impossible to track the various credits being applied to your
bill when various calling plans are "turned back on."

I'm not saying that any of the other LD companies aren't doing this
too -- I'm sure they are.  However, if AT&T really wants to keep my
business, and claim to provide better service, then I'd like to see
them concentrate on "providing me with excellent service" and leave
the sleezy solicitations out of it.


[Moderator's Note: For reasons unknown to anyone, Illinois Bell
recently dumped me from AT&T's Reach Out America program. It took me
two months to merely get it back on again. AT&T kept saying they were
telling IBT about it; IBT kept saying they were not, etc. Meanwhile, I
got the very same form letters you mention.   PAT]