AT&T’s secret f*cking loophole: If you want out of an Internet contract, just curse

[Playinghardball]

Source: Raw Story
By Stephen C. Webster

With telecom giant AT&T rolling out limitations and additional fees on how much information its Internet users can access, it seems the company is bracing for an influx of anger.

In a little-noticed contract tweak recently, AT&T customer service representatives have been empowered to cancel the contract of any customers who behave in an abusive manner towards them.

In other words, when those top two percent of users get massive bandwidth bills at the end of May, and they call in with full-bore nerd rage, AT&T will have an easy solution: cut them off entirely, and waive the cancellation fee.

Read more at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/31/att-secret-fcking-loophole-if-you-want-out-of-an-internet-contract-just-curse/

[ChromeFoundry]

1. They are not going to have any customers left...

Their bandwidth metering tool has been proven to be broken and it is doubtful they will have it fixed by May 1st.

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Taking-A-Closer-Look-At-ATTs-Inaccurate-Usage-Meters-113442">Taking A Closer Look At AT&T's Inaccurate Usage Meters

When I cancel my DSL/Phone/Long-distance services all at the same time.. I'll be sure to tell them to F-Off to avoid any cancellation fees!

[OhioChick]

5. Inaccurate Usage Meters?

That's fucking nice....

[Sherman A1]

6. Where are you going to go?

I am wondering about options myself.

[ChromeFoundry]

8. Cox Communications - TV/VoIP/HSI

I'll actually be saving about $75/mo. by switching and consolidating my services.

Once AT&T loses all their customers, they will be forced to play competitive.
By that time Cox will probably be as corrupt as AT&T... Then I'll switch back or find someone else.

For now.. AT&T can go pound sand.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

15. I have Cox. We've had them for over ten years now.

They are great. And always helpful.

[onehandle]

2. That's true of many service contracts. And you don't even have to be abusive.

Call several times a day. Argue or question anything.

They will mark you as a 'nuisance account' and let you off, scot free.

[uppityperson]

3. Excellent news, thank you. k&r

[no limit]

4. Although I feel bad for the people working at those call centers this is awesome!

[snappyturtle]

7. Which internet activities are considered intensive? I Googled.

Didn't come up with much but Netflix. Is general web searching intensive? Anyone? Thanks!

[Leftist Agitator]

9. In general...

In general, Bittorrent, Netflix or other streaming video applications, and heavy console gaming are all considered "high bandwidth".

General Web browsing is not.

[snappyturtle]

13. THANK YOU! I'm doing research for a blog and when I read this

I got very nervous. I think MA BELL is coming back in full glory!

[ChromeFoundry]

10. Quite a few...

BitTorrents.
Video Streaming, the higher quality the more bandwidth. (Not only Netflix - ABC Episodes, Hulu, SlingBox)
Occasionally, Microsoft Patch Tuesday.
PS3, XBox, Wii games.
VPN connections back to work. (Editing office documents over remote shares with autosave can crush utilization)
Remote Desktop (MS RDP)

Last but not least... your neighbor using your open WiFi. Lock your access point down now (use WPA2 and not WEP).

[snappyturtle]

14. Even more! Thank you. Sorry to see the movie sites etc, included.

Hulu has been a godsend for me at times....guess not any more!

[jwirr]

11. Could they cancel someone for going to a site they disapprove of

such as an anonymous download? We just got rid of Media Com for the same reason. They are trying to censor us.

[dembotoz]

12. i am having fun with this

i work in telecom and have sent this all over the place.


Now if we can get this to go with att other contracts........

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. I really hope the Tmobile purchase DOES NOT go thru...

We've had TMobile for years because they are cheaper than everyone and we've never had any trouble with them. I'm just not convinced AT&T is a better choice. They said there are going to be big problems soon if they can't buy TMobile. Well, yeah. You're losing profits because you have a crappy company and your network is old and slow!! I just reupped my contract for two years back in December. I really do not want to be stuck with AT&T for a year or more.

[Dawson Leery]

17. AT & T is moving backwards.

Charging for internet services based upon usage is well outdated.