Today I have spent more than an hour talking to AT&T about extra charges they imposed on me without my consent, and actually agains my explicit instructions.
The situation:
- I have bought unlocked iPhone from private party
- Called ATT and instructed them to block data and messaging usage on my line zz37;
- Disabled ability of my iPhone to use 3G by specifying non-existent carrier;
- Put my old SIM-card from no-so-smart clamshell phone in iPhone;
hurray! I got all working fine: phone can make and receive calls, data is only over wifi, great.
All was well for few months till yesterday when I got bill that is $60 higher than usual! Upon examination I have found that ATT has added unlimited data plan to my zz37 line!!!
So I called and learned that ATT has policy to add data plan automatically when they sense that phone in use is a smart phone!!! Talk about big brother!
In other words they impose tax on type of hardware they do not own and did not subsidize in any way. They claim that smart phone uses data anyway, which is bogus - bill for the ‘service’ shows ZERO use of data - so they can meter usage, but claim that it is used anyway. Whatever - I signed contract for VOICE service, and they added data service and charge me it even I explicitly said I do not want it, and I do not use.
What is next? Cable company sensing that your TV has HD capabilities and automatically add charges for all the HD channels you did not subscribe to?
Police sends speeding tickets because your car is capable of driving faster than speed limit?
I seriously think about challenging AT&T in the court for breaking contract, charging me for something I do not use, and preventing me from using hardware I like.
August 10 2010 Update: I was traveling abroad and my iPhone was laying at home without SIM and without power, and still ATT automatically added that data plan. I stopped by Redmond retail store and one nice knowledgeable guy (thank you Peter) told me that actually it is possible to add exclusion on my line that I can use iPhone - grrr.
August 18 2010 update: bill still was not adjusted, so I called again... they made adjustments, but their payment systems do not see that yet.... even she told me that she pressed magic button 'apply immediately'.
September 20 2010 update: left AT&T - happy now! Stay away from that company if you want to save
August 10 2010 Update: I was traveling abroad and my iPhone was laying at home without SIM and without power, and still ATT automatically added that data plan. I stopped by Redmond retail store and one nice knowledgeable guy (thank you Peter) told me that actually it is possible to add exclusion on my line that I can use iPhone - grrr.
August 18 2010 update: bill still was not adjusted, so I called again... they made adjustments, but their payment systems do not see that yet.... even she told me that she pressed magic button 'apply immediately'.
September 20 2010 update: left AT&T - happy now! Stay away from that company if you want to save
