Posted: 3 years ago

Normally, our telephone bill is somewhere around $96 per month so it was a shock to see the January 2009 bill be $1457. I thought that it was a misprint until I explored the bill more closely. My son, Christopher, who is mentally retarded, has learned to access the Internet on his cell phone (obviously, and ran up a billing of over $1300 in one month). I called AT&T and they were sympathetic but it was a real bill with real expenses. My son had learned to listen to 'ring tones' and had listened for hours on end. In fact, until I talked them out of it, he had already in ten days in February, ran up a bill of an additional $2000 (that one we negotiated down to a $15 unlimited access billing for this one month). The man at the customer service telephone was understanding and will try to make that $1400 plus bill a little less but that I will not find out for several weeks. This all happened over an hour telephone call where I could access my computer and read all the comments on our weekly eMeeting and the Forum, while a recorded voice told me all the things that our cell phones could do (as if I did not know the cost for those technological miracles, all those add-on's). All I can say is: 1) it is nice to find an ear of a real human being who will listen at customer service and try to remedy an impossible situation and 2) technology, bah, humbug!!!!! At least I got caught up on our eMeetings and the Forum for Rotary eClub of the Southwest, USA. And there were no eExpenses for that website! At least until my yearly dues comes around.

Posted: 3 years ago

Watching our youngest granddaughter punch buttons, i am surprised that we have not had any problems with long distance, etc.

Joe we have cell phones that access the internet with a set fee per month. We are with ATT. You might look into that. At the time my Husband got the i Phone and the internet connection I thought he was crazy, but now I am the one always checking e-mail, googling locations, finding directions, etc. I am hooked.

Carol Anderson

Posted: 3 years ago

Quite a story - I hope they aren't so greedy as to feel the need to hold you to those charges.  I have a half-brother who is severely autistic, and I can imagine his doing something quite similar.

On the other hand, if they come back and forgive the charges, we should all remember that company.  I tend to think of the cell phone companies, as a group, being rather far down the ethical ladder.  But perhaps they are a highly noble crowd I have simply misunderstood.

One of two possibilities, there.  ;^)