Canceling AT&T/Cingular Service

[natalie99]

Thought I would turn to the experts here for any tips/guidance.

I called AT&T yesterday to cancel my service after signing up with Verizon. (For the last 2 months I've been mostly unable to make calls from my house; they apparently "rationalized" their towers in the area.)

I am not on a contract, but about a month ago I called AT&T customer service to check into any issues with the timing of when I should cancel. I was told not to worry about it because I would only have to pay for the time that I used the service.

Of course, the customer rep at AT&T insisted that they (Cingular) has never pro-rated bills and that I would have to pay for the remaining 2 weeks on the current billing cycle. I told her to go ahead and cancel the service effective immediately (she wanted me to "wait"), thinking I would see how I might be able to find a way to avoid paying for two weeks that I won't be using.

Am I just out of luck because I got bad advice from the original rep? Any suggestions?

[TehJoE234797]

Originally Posted by natalie99

Thought I would turn to the experts here for any tips/guidance.

I called AT&T yesterday to cancel my service after signing up with Verizon. (For the last 2 months I've been mostly unable to make calls from my house; they apparently "rationalized" their towers in the area.)

I am not on a contract, but about a month ago I called AT&T customer service to check into any issues with the timing of when I should cancel. I was told not to worry about it because I would only have to pay for the time that I used the service.

Of course, the customer rep at AT&T insisted that they (Cingular) has never pro-rated bills and that I would have to pay for the remaining 2 weeks on the current billing cycle. I told her to go ahead and cancel the service effective immediately (she wanted me to "wait"), thinking I would see how I might be able to find a way to avoid paying for two weeks that I won't be using.

Am I just out of luck because I got bad advice from the original rep? Any suggestions?

The reason why they suggest you cancel the service at teh end of the billing cycle because [ unless you're billed in arrears] you've already paid for the service till the end of your billing cycle. If you were to cancel it out effective immediately then you'll get a prorated credit which would just stay on your account and you'd have to call back in to file a case to have that remaining credit issued in a check to you.

That's why they tell you to cancel it out at the end of the cycle.

[hf1khal]

I would say bad advice. As to moving to another provider, did you also move/port your number too or you took on a new numebr? If you took on a new number then cancelling is the right way and you would have to pay teh full month of service and not a pro-rated. If you ported, and you cancelled prior to the pot being completed you will most likely loose your number ue to you cancelling the account. The port proceedure automaticaly cancell the account when the port is compeleted.

[natalie99]

Originally Posted by TehJoE234797

The reason why they suggest you cancel the service at teh end of the billing cycle because [ unless you're billed in arrears] you've already paid for the service till the end of your billing cycle. If you were to cancel it out effective immediately then you'll get a prorated credit which would just stay on your account and you'd have to call back in to file a case to have that remaining credit issued in a check to you.

That's why they tell you to cancel it out at the end of the cycle.

Yes, I am billed in advance. The "prorated credit" is what I originally was told would happen, though they didn't use that term. The rep I spoke with to actually cancel the account said at&t/cingular has "never" prorated their bills and that I would not see a credit on my final bill.

[natalie99]

Originally Posted by hf1khal

I would say bad advice. As to moving to another provider, did you also move/port your number too or you took on a new numebr? If you took on a new number then cancelling is the right way and you would have to pay teh full month of service and not a pro-rated. If you ported, and you cancelled prior to the pot being completed you will most likely loose your number ue to you cancelling the account. The port proceedure automaticaly cancell the account when the port is compeleted.

At the advice of Verizon, I signed up with a new number and used the phone heavily for a day to make sure I could get service where I needed it. (That way, if there was a problem, I could just cancel for a full refund and not have to disturb my existing Cingular account.) I was told I could port my old number to Verizon at a later time if desired, but I decided to just keep the new number. (Thought it might reduce some of those wrong calls I've been getting!)

[TehJoE234797]

Originally Posted by natalie99

Yes, I am billed in advance. The "prorated credit" is what I originally was told would happen, though they didn't use that term. The rep I spoke with to actually cancel the account said at&t/cingular has "never" prorated their bills and that I would not see a credit on my final bill.

Oh okay, so if you're billed in advance and you cancel the account effective today for example then you would just get a small credit on the final bill that would be refunded to you for service that wasn't used.

[natalie99]

Originally Posted by TehJoE234797

Oh okay, so if you're billed in advance and you cancel the account effective today for example then you would just get a small credit on the final bill that would be refunded to you for service that wasn't used.

Well, this is what I was told originally would happen. But when I actually cancelled yesterday I was told "no credit for unused service." The rep was very firm about it. Is she just wrong?

[Simon5282]

Unfortunately no, she is not wrong. I don't think any of the big four (I may be wrong) credit for unused service. They call it prorate the last month, but I call it charging you for something you never used.

[hf1khal]

Originally Posted by Simon5282

Unfortunately no, she is not wrong. I don't think any of the big four (I may be wrong) credit for unused service. They call it prorate the last month, but I call it charging you for something you never used.

And in this case I would keep the service use it and tell them to shut it donw on the final day of the billing cycle.

[EdwardP]

When I canceled my (then) Cingular service, it was canceled that day and I received a pro-rated bill.

Then after it was paid, they sent another bill for $0.00.

[battielizard]

Originally Posted by TehJoE234797

The reason why they suggest you cancel the service at teh end of the billing cycle because [ unless you're billed in arrears] you've already paid for the service till the end of your billing cycle. If you were to cancel it out effective immediately then you'll get a prorated credit which would just stay on your account and you'd have to call back in to file a case to have that remaining credit issued in a check to you.

That's why they tell you to cancel it out at the end of the cycle.

yes, this is correct. proration is a big pain in the butt, any way if happens, beginning of service, end of service, feature or price plan changes. it can be done but it is best and easiest to make all changes on the last day of your billing cycle.

[natalie99]

Originally Posted by battielizard

yes, this is correct. proration is a big pain in the butt, any way if happens, beginning of service, end of service, feature or price plan changes. it can be done but it is best and easiest to make all changes on the last day of your billing cycle.

I appreciate everyone's replies. But everyone seems to have a different opinion or experience!

I did cancel before the service period was up, despite the customer service rep pushing me to keep the service until the end of the period. So, it will be interesting to see if a credit actually shows up on my final bill and if I can actually collect it. I would hate to pay for something I didn't use.

BTW, the Verizon network is so much clearer and reliable for me. I still have the same low signal as before (sometimes no bars or only one), but so far the call always goes through, I don't have the voice fade that was prevelant with Cingular, and I haven't had a single dropped call yet. Maybe part of that is due to changing phones again (although I tried three different phones while on Cingular) or maybe Verizon just does have a superior network.