#AT&T how not to change cell service providers

We have had #ATT&T for most of the last 25-30 yrs… even back when they called it #Cingular. People use to make comments about #MA-BELL and her “it my way or the highway”.. which was probably behind the government causing her to be broken up into “Baby Bells”.

It would seem that #MA-BELL is back with her old attitude.

Recently, I tried to login to my #ATT&T online account and couldn’t get in..  after a phone call I was told that if I hadn’t logged into my on line account in the last 30 days they would have DELETED my on-line account.. So I had to create a new account.. and once I got into the account, I found out that last month.. something happened with the processing our our charge card and the account was a month pass due..  So I arranged for both the past due and current amounts to be taken care of.. This also paid off our two Iphone 6S.

Both phone paid off, account current, no contract… maybe it is time to look elsewhere. After paying off the phones our monthly bill would be $80 + fees/taxes

I keep hearing the Consumer Cellular… and with a little investigation.. it would seem that they use #AT&T and T-Mobile’s towers.. they are nothing but bulk reseller of cell service…

Come to find out that for the same service.. Consumer Cellular would charge us $52.50 + fees & taxes.

I call Consumer Cellular to start the process and a few days later I get two new SIMS cards for our phones… then the FUN BEGINS…

They start “porting” the numbers over and my phone will not update… it is DOA.. according to Consumer Cellular website if you have a AT&T or T-Mobile phone and/or your phone is “unlocked”… the transfer should be “a piece of cake”…

Come to find out, Consumer Cellular send me a T-Mobile SIMS card.. and not a AT&T SIMS card … which means that my AT&T phone has to be UNLOCKED… call AT&T and they give me a website to request it to be UNLOCKED… filled out the online form and I am informed that it takes TWO BUSINESS DAYS for them to process my request.. since the request was done on Thursday.. it would not be finished processing until MONDAY – still have TWO DOA cell phones.

I go to the Consumer Cellular website… and I find a address to send a email… after filling out the email …  and got a response – we will respond to your email WITHIN 5 DAYS…

I did a web search “how to make a phone call with laptop over internet”… found GOOGLE VOICE 🙂

Call Consumer Cellular again..  I can go to the nearest Target and get the correct phone calls… drive 8 miles to Target – don’t have any AT&T SIMS cards in stock.

So back home and back on the phone with AT&T… they ported my numbers and left our phones LOCKED ???  Spent a hour on the phone with AT&T … including talking to a supervisor… mentioned that I had a disabled wife and having only GOOGLE VOICE was not the best situation…  “sorry… we have a processes… it will be MONDAY “

Called back to Consumer Cellular.. and the person I spoke with offered to send out the AT&T Sims cards… and when would I get those – THREE TO FIVE DAYS !!!

So it would appear that with AT&T cellular… even after you have satisfied your contract, paid all outstanding bills… they maintain a “tight hold” on the equipment that you have paid for.

Once we get on Consumer Cellular service… I will update…

3 Responses

  1. Sorry to hear this but you know the old saying… u get what u pay for? Not that u deserved this by any means, but I worked for a cellular carrier for over 16 yrs. I heard horror stories that u wouldn’t believe like this, as well as people buying phones (cheaper) off of ebay, craigs list and “unlocked” sims from other retailers. Att used to sell sim cards but of course now that you are going thru Consumer Cellular, its doubtful they are willing to help you. Whats crazy is that if they are using ATT network, why did the phones come with Tmo sim cards? I’m all about getting a bargain but what they also don’t tell you is that although these other carriers (Straight Talk Boost etc) are using one of the top 3 Cellular companys Towers, You are getting the crappy old network speeds (ie 2g vs 3g, 4g and LTE) they will throttle your internet speeds and ..as you found out the hard way- are not available to help you like the carrier would (in most cases)
    My advice when dissatisfied and fed up with anything ? Go on social media and complain in detail. I know it works for me. The other day I was fed up with no return call (weeks) from a major Spine Institute. Guess what.. minutes after my post I got a call! go figure. I wish you the best of luck and success with this.

    • I got the correct SIMS cards today and everything is working as designed… We had owned the phones for 2.5 yrs and used them on AT&T.. Consumer Cellular uses both ATT & T-Mobile networks.. they just sent me the wrong SIMS card for T-Mobile service and AT&T was dragging their feet to unlock our phones… In general, it seems like the lower unemployment goes.. customer service from all industries is degrading.

  2. Wow. Sorry to hear of all the problems.I hope they get this resolved ASAP for you both.

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