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AT&T Adds Two More Customer-Friendly Policies

Discussion in 'Wireless News' started by Ironwalt, Oct 16, 2007.

  1. Ironwalt

    Ironwalt Junior Member
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    Press Release Source: AT&T Inc.


    AT&T Adds Two More Customer-Friendly Policies
    Tuesday October 16, 8:00 am ET
    Industry Leader Provides Greater Flexibility When Customers Change Calling Plans or Exit Contracts Early


    SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AT&T (NYSE:T - News) today announced two customer-friendly policies that provide greater flexibility for customers who are changing calling plans and for those exiting contracts early.

    Beginning in November, customers who change to any one of the company's standard wireless calling plans during the course of their contract will no longer be required to extend their current contract or enter into a new one.

    In addition, those customers who choose to exit their contract early will no longer be required to pay a flat early termination fee. Instead, that fee will be progressively lowered during the term of the contract. Beginning early in 2008, this early-termination policy will apply to new and renewing wireless customers who sign one- or two-year service agreements. More details will be forthcoming at that time.

    "AT&T leads the wireless industry in the flexibility, friendliness and fairness of its practices, and the new policies we have announced today are the most recent examples of that leadership," said Paul Roth, president of Sales and Marketing for the company's wireless unit. "Customers have told us they do not like one-size-fits-all approaches. They are right, and that is why we have made these important changes."

    AT&T also continues to retain its strong commitment to customers who prefer not to sign a contract at all. For example, the company's GoPhone prepaid offers provide an array of attractive options to meet a variety of customer needs.

    Other examples of AT&T's flexible, friendly and fair customer policies include:

    30-day return policy, the first of its kind when it was introduced, is a no-questions-asked grace period for service and equipment.
    Street-level coverage maps, an online interactive mapping tool that lets customers view AT&T wireless coverage down to a neighborhood street level. It can also estimate the likelihood of coverage inside a building or a vehicle and outdoors.
    Rollover® Minutes, unique in the wireless industry, lets the customer carry over unused anytime minutes and use them in any month they want to for up to a year.
    Customer Service Summary, a personalized, easy-to-understand overview provided to the customer at the time of purchase. It shows the calling plan and its selected features, plus estimated first bill and ongoing bills so that the customer experiences no surprises.
    Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at AT&T Corporate Information - News Room.

    About AT&T

    AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T - News) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at DSL Internet, Phone, Wireless and Satellite TV Services | AT&T.

    © 2007 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Knowledge Ventures. For more information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at AT&T Corporate Information - News Room.



    Contact:
    AT&T Inc.
    Mark Siegel, 404-236-6312
    Mobile: 404-345-3673
    mark.a.siegel@att.com

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Source: AT&T Inc.
     
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    #1 Ironwalt, Oct 16, 2007
  2. tyler101868

    tyler101868 Junior Member
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    Gee, where did they get these "ideas" from??!! ((cough, cough)) Verizon perhaps??

    Still a good move in the right direction for customer service. I would expect the others to fall in line by the end of the year.
     
    #2 tyler101868, Oct 16, 2007
  3. jimbo

    jimbo Member
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    Oddly enough, both Verizon and At&t (or Cingular, I don't remember for sure) both used to pro-rate ETF fees. I'm talking like 2001 or so. May have been limited to certain states though. I know Verizon did it before they went to the flat fee because I had to pay them for canceling two lines in the Fall of 2001. Around the same time, I seem to recall Cingular charging $20 per month remaining, at least in the Bellsouth states.
     
    #3 jimbo, Oct 16, 2007
  4. Jay2TheRescue

    Jay2TheRescue Resident Spamslayer
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    When was this ever a policy? I've been a customer of theirs for over 7 years and I have never had a contract extension with a rate plan change.

    -Jay
     
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    #4 Jay2TheRescue, Oct 16, 2007
  5. Jay2TheRescue

    Jay2TheRescue Resident Spamslayer
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    Nope, I'd say if anything it was last month's Alltel ad campaign.

    -Jay
     
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    #5 Jay2TheRescue, Oct 16, 2007
  6. Ironwalt

    Ironwalt Junior Member
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    Jay, I think your right.
     
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    #6 Ironwalt, Oct 16, 2007
  7. Fire14

    Fire14 Easy,Cheap & Sleazy
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    I am glad they are going back to the Pro-Rated ETF they had up till shortly after the merger with AT&T Wireless & I don't remember if Cingular had the contract extension policy but AWE did.

    It's good to know they are following Alltel & Verizon on these policies & think it's the right move to make.
    I wonder which ETF policy they will end up doing? Guess we will find out sometime in 08.
     
    #7 Fire14, Oct 16, 2007
  8. Jay2TheRescue

    Jay2TheRescue Resident Spamslayer
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    I started in 2000 as a CellularONE customer, and ended up in CIngular when Cingular was formed. I have made rate plan changes under CellularONE, and Cingular, before and after the AWS merger and never had a contract extension with a rate plan change. Maybe this was only done to new customers who signed up for higher rate plans to get a better deal on the phone, then a month or 2 later dropped down to a cheaper plan. I remember when I bought my StarTac with CellularONE the higher the rate plan, the lower the cost of the phone. In any event, I was never forced into a contract extension with a rate plan change.

    -Jay
     
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    #8 Jay2TheRescue, Oct 16, 2007
  9. Andy

    Andy Diamond Senior Member
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    AT&T definitely is feeling the heat from Verizon, hence they are "copying" them with those consumer friendly policies. iPhone or not, AT&T is still worried about their number one spot.
     
    #9 Andy, Oct 16, 2007
  10. Fire14

    Fire14 Easy,Cheap & Sleazy
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    Good they need to be worried & hopefully they will do more and stop with the "We are #1" attitude that Verizon use to have. I would like to see AT&T stop copying what others do & be a leader in some fields like this.
    Gotta love competition, these are the benefits of it.
     
    #10 Fire14, Oct 16, 2007
  11. Simon5282

    Simon5282 Senior Member
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    I think this sudden change comes not so much from the "competitive market" but more from their fear of congress stepping in and changing the rules. I am generally against government regulations, but I do think that there are times when it is needed for consumer protection. We always need a balance.

    Yes, competition has a little to do with it, starting from Alltel, but the past two years the carriers have gotten a bad rap and Congress has been taking notice. If Congress steps in, it could be bad for the carriers. Now they can say that no more regulations are needed because they are playing nice, and blah blah blah. When everyone turns their back and all this blows over, it is back to their dirty tricks.

    One more thing, I would like to start to see the carriers start to offer plans like T-Mo's Flex Pay. A hybrid plan with any plan, and contract free with a phone purchase. Maybe it will happen, but it just might be wishful thinking.
     
    #11 Simon5282, Oct 18, 2007
  12. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    Gee, Verizon and AT&T are just the bee's knee's...:inlove:
     
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    #12 M in LA, Oct 19, 2007
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