Charles Deus vs. AT&T

Over the course of the last 6 months I have been arguing with AT&T about erroneous billing on my account. I use AT&T for my home phone and DSL internet. I have had the same internet account for close to 18 years now. I have called AT&T directly numerous times about the billing issues. Each time that I call I'm told by an agent that my account will be credited and I'll see the credit on my next bill. I tell these agents that I will either make a partial payment or I will not make a payment until I see the credit on my account. I've been told that is fine and that my account will be notated. My account is never notated and the credits have never appeared, or at least not all of them.

So, as it stands my account is now past due. Of the $156.83 that is past due on my account, I calculate that about $130+/- is in erroneous charges that should be credited back to my account. Currently the past due amount is $91.50.

With no notice, AT&T has suspended my internet service. But, let me point out that at this moment, I am currently online posting this via AT&T DSL services at my home. It would seem that the extent of AT&T's suspension of my services is to block access to my personal email account. So, a suspension of service does not mean I can't go online, I just can't get into my email.

I have tried calling AT&T about this and I've been told that once I make a payment of $91.50 the block on my email will be lifted. Now this is not a work email, this is not a company email, this is my personal email account that I've had for 18 years.

I had a job interview on Monday that I was late too because I could not get into my email to pull up the details for the interview that had been emailed to me by the interviewing company -- probably won't get that job. I also have another employment option to which pertinent and required paperwork was emailed to me that needed to be filled out in a timely fashion that I now can't get to. That company won't allow phone calls about employment so I need to get into my email to get the paperwork. But, that job is probably lost now as well.

At this point I've been lied to by AT&T reps and even hung up on by one in my attempts to resolve my account issues. A year ago AT&T sent out a mass legal email to my account telling me that my email account was now legally mine and that even if I chose to discontinue service with them, I will still have access to my email. Apparently this is not the case.

AT&T cares nothing about my customer loyalty and I want nothing to do with them any further. My internet service is spotty to say the least and I can switch companies and get much better and faster service in my area. This is something I will be doing just as soon as I get the access to my email squared away.

I've ended up on this site because I'm wondering if AT&T can legally do this. This is my email account and has been for 18 years now and yet they can prevent access to my private information, that doesn't seem legal or right.

Hi Charles- Thanks for sharing your complaint. We have notified AT&T and will update you on their response.