lesmcf
Full Member
Posts: 221
Jul 10, 2014 0:50:47 GMT
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Post by lesmcf on Jul 19, 2018 19:25:38 GMT
I am shaking angry. We lost everything in a fire in August. For some reason we didn't cancel the ATT lines and internet that I used in my home office. I paid $122 a month for 10 months when I had no service. I finally cancelled the account and now they want me to ship the equipment back or I will be charged $150. They said since I had insurance I had to pay the amount in full. This is for a 7 year old router that they would probably toss in the trash.
45 minutes on the phone with people that said, sorry pay up.
Please check your insurance coverage. I guarantee you do not have enough coverage. Check how much rebuild coverage you have. Then check what it costs per square foot to build in your area. Again you probably do not have enough coverage.
Trying to rebuild your life after this is the worse thing imaginable. I'm not being overly dramatic when I say I'm sorry I woke up in the fire. I spent months wishing I never woke up. I would never harm myself and we are in therapy but it would have been easier to not survive. Of course I would have hated that for my children but really this is unimaginable.
So, ATT a corporation, must have $150 from me in order to survive. Corporations are not people, contrary to Supreme Court opinions. There is not an ounce of compassion there.
I'm sorry for this rant but this has been the most humiliating and isolating experience of my life. I never thought I would start my 60's like this. We finished paying off the kids college loans the month of the fire. Life was suppose to be good now. As of September 8 our rental lease is up. The rebuild is probably 8 to 10 weeks out. I'm well educated, have a well employed husband and had good insurance. I don't know how people do it who don't have those things. I'm not ungrateful, I'm just whipped worn and weary.
I should delete this but I hate ATT.
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Post by yodutchess on Jul 19, 2018 19:29:40 GMT
Oh my goodness. I hear your frustration and sorrow. I am so sorry you are going through this.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,905 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Jul 19, 2018 19:32:14 GMT
A friend of mine had a small house fire. Like it was contained to one room. The amount of time and money it has cost to fix it is crazy. All the carpets. All the ceilings. All their stuff had to be put in storage. It's been four months and they still aren't able to move back in yet.
I am sorry you are going through this. I hope things get better soon!
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,368
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Jul 19, 2018 19:32:33 GMT
I am sorry. I hate ATT for you. They should know better!
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Post by Saff on Jul 19, 2018 19:32:35 GMT
Sorry you are having all these problems.
Could you not buy a second hand router at a charity shop and ship that to them? I'm not sure how it works there but I would try to do that.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 19, 2018 19:32:46 GMT
I'm so sorry. If you have the energy, call your insurance company. Maybe they can help with AT&T. I'd be tempted not to pay it. Do you need to use them again when you are finally in the new house? If not, I'd be tempted to just walk away from that bill.
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 19, 2018 19:33:48 GMT
Oh my.... that just SUCKS... I would almost refuse to pay them for that.. Seriously..
My dad and stepmom lost their home in the 90s... it was awful. I don't remember them not having enough insurance but that aside it does turn your life upside down. When I drove home to see the damage there isn't a word for that feeling.. and still to this day when something will come across my mind, first thing I think, did I lose that item in the fire (I still had a lot of stuff at home even though I had moved out).. of course it doesn't sting like it is doing to you now.. but there some little black hole that just makes you feel sick... which doesn't help when your own dad throws everything out even if it could have been saved. That is a whole other drama!
Don't let AT&T drag you down.. they are not worth it.. and hopefully you will never have to use their services ever again!
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Post by melanell on Jul 19, 2018 19:35:04 GMT
My first thought was to see if your insurance company could help as well, or your local news station. But I understand feeling too worn down to attempt either of those ideas, too. hugs to you! I'm so very sorry you are going through this.
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Post by myboysnme on Jul 19, 2018 19:37:47 GMT
You have experienced one of the most traumatic losses imaginable, and to find anyone that doesn't have the utmost compassion is jarring. I am so sorry and I thank you for sharing this information. I know the pain you are experiencing is unimaginable.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 12, 2024 19:28:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2018 19:39:11 GMT
I'm sorry you are going through this. I'd be tempted and post your story to their Twitter/FB pages and see if someone from AT&T will reach out to you. I remember when FIL was being billed for a Xfinity device that he didn't own. I explained to the rep that he's elderly and didn't realize he didn't have that device. Xfinity removed the charges from his account. AT&T should be able to tell that you had no activity for that router on your account. Hopefully, they will have some compassion and credit you back for the months on non-use or at the very least, waive the return router fee.
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Post by katlady on Jul 19, 2018 19:40:50 GMT
I am sorry for everything you have to go through!! Fires can be so traumatic! Hope everything gets better soon!
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momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,151
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
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Post by momto4kiddos on Jul 19, 2018 19:43:38 GMT
That really sucks! Not anywhere near your level of reason to complain, but yeah I spent some time on the phone with them today and i'm ready to switch cell phone carries because of the call.
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gloryjoy
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
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Post by gloryjoy on Jul 19, 2018 19:44:39 GMT
I'm so sorry, you sound so upset and frustrated.
I wouldn't be paying them $150, and I would be posting on their FB page, Twitter, wherever else I could.
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Montannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,486
Location: Big Sky Country
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Post by Montannie on Jul 19, 2018 19:44:59 GMT
Yeah, I'd be tempted to give them the number of the insurance adjuster and call it good. Admittedly, however, I have never given a close reading to the various contracts for service from providers, so they've probably got this buttonned down that they look to you. Hugs.
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grammad
Junior Member
Posts: 81
Apr 10, 2018 20:57:02 GMT
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Post by grammad on Jul 19, 2018 19:52:41 GMT
Consider this a lesson. Don't lease a router, buy your own. I agree turn this issue over to your insurance company. Let them handle it. Good luck.
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Post by jenjie on Jul 19, 2018 19:54:32 GMT
I am so sorry. I have no words. I’m just going to sit with you awhile.
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Post by mikklynn on Jul 19, 2018 19:55:56 GMT
I'm so sorry. I am not surprised you are exhausted after all this.
Vent away!
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Post by kernriver on Jul 19, 2018 19:56:09 GMT
At this point I would just pay the 150. You said you paid 120 for 10 extra months. This will be like paying it one more time.
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Post by padresfan619 on Jul 19, 2018 19:56:15 GMT
Contact your local news and share your story, they should be able to help.
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IAmUnoriginal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,894
Jun 25, 2014 23:27:45 GMT
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Post by IAmUnoriginal on Jul 19, 2018 20:12:42 GMT
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this on top of everything else that went with the fire. I work in the insurance industry. My boss used to be a large loss adjuster before he moved to the sales side. Large fires are amazingly expensive. It's nuts what it costs to rebuild and replace. That said, if your claims adjuster has been good to you, give them a call and see what they can do.
Or, if you're tired of dealing with insurance (I don't blame you. I don't like dealing with us, either, some days.), take this to ATT's social media page. Give it to them on FB. Blast them on Twitter. I think that $150 charge threat will disappear.
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Post by Menjiness on Jul 19, 2018 20:13:31 GMT
Your insurance company should handle this, please call them and let them handle this. We had a house fire 12 years ago and I completely understand and feel your pain.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Jul 19, 2018 20:21:53 GMT
I tried to cancel my internet after I moved 500 miles away as well as a suicide attempt. They would’t Let me out of my contract. I told her the reasonover the phone why I was canceling and too effing bad. I was on the hook for $1000. I showed up at Shaw’s office near home and said I am returning this stuff I don’t need it. I told her the reason and about the d-bag on the phone in the other city over the phone. She apologized up and down. She was visibly upset for what I had gone through and apologized for the other person’s poor behaviour. Moral of the story is to take a photo of the house after the fire and show them. They are told to only do one thing no exceptions. They hire the most difficult people over the phone, but if they see the problem they will likely forgive it. There are too many assholes in the world. You just met another one of them.
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AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,502
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Post by AmandaA on Jul 19, 2018 21:02:08 GMT
I would be tempted to box up a box of ashes and random burnt stuff (from any source  ) and ship it back to them as requested. Because I am spiteful like that when I hear stories like this. |
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,950
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Jul 19, 2018 21:08:15 GMT
I hate any communication company. They all have us over a barrel and the FCC does nothing to support the customer. Wonder if you could find a used one on ebay and send that in. Maybe still cost some but cheaper than the $150.
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Post by #notLauren on Jul 19, 2018 21:21:04 GMT
If you can afford it, just paying the $150. You’re going through enough right now that you don’t need the nonsense of dealing with AT&T, the newspapers or anyone else
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,706
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Jul 19, 2018 21:21:35 GMT
Ugh! AT&T is the worst! I'm still fighting them over an early termination charge. They sent a VERY inexperienced technician to install my alarm system. I was in another room and my power went out. I went in to check on him, and he had tried to install the main control box directly underneath my fusebox and ended up drilling through the wires for my washer and dryer. I had a small fire and it knocked out my power for 5 days. When I told them to forget about the installation, they charged me an early termination of $400. I hate them.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jul 19, 2018 21:27:03 GMT
At this point I would just pay the 150. You said you paid 120 for 10 extra months. This will be like paying it one more time. I took her post to mean she paid them $150 for each month for 10 months before she cancelled. OP, I am so sorry for all you have been through.  |
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Post by katlaw on Jul 19, 2018 21:28:50 GMT
Sending you big hugs. I am sorry you are dealing with so much crap. A close friend of ours lost her home to a fire back in 2010 and she was like you, she had a good job, she had what she thought was more than enough insurance and she is still out $1000s of dollars that she lost in equity in her home.
There was not enough insurance for alternate living during the rebuild because the rebuild took way longer than it should have. And not enough insurance to replace her belongings because the insurance company nit picked everything she lost.
Plus the hours and hours of documenting what was lost and arguing with the insurance company over every little thing. She nearly had a nervous breakdown.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,732
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Post by purplebee on Jul 19, 2018 21:30:59 GMT
Unbelievable.... so sorry for all the stress you have been dealing with. I'm another who will hate ATT for you! Hugs and good luck.
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ginajo15
Junior Member
Posts: 93
Location: Southern California
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Post by ginajo15 on Jul 19, 2018 21:50:01 GMT
I am so sorry you have to deal with AT&T. We had a hard time getting them to cancel service to our landline after our home burned down in 2003. I think the advice to vent your frustrations on social media is a great idea. It will certainly feel good to vent on a public forum where someone from the company might actually see it.
We were lucky we had recently adjusted our coverage before our home burned down, but it was such a difficult time emotionally. Big hugs to you...
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) and ship it back to them as requested. Because I am spiteful like that when I hear stories like this. 
