Problems with AT&T -- both it's wireless and u-verse divisions

All:
Has anyone had this issue with AT&T?
First, I sent my first wireless smartphone check to them on 07/23/2011 -- a good three weeks before it is
due. Then, someone from their system went ahead and electronically transfered the amount from my
checking account to the (allegedly) AT&T account. Even though AT&T wireless has no record of this
happening; frankly, that is what is showing up in my bank account statement.
Second, I send a new check to AT&T U-Verse to pay for this month's U-Verse bill of internet and TV
usage. According to AT&T U-Verse, that got there fine; but, now my bank states that it didn't get there at
all.
Now, has anyone had these types of issues with either AT&T wireless and/or AT&T U-Verse? If so, is
there a special email address, phone number, and/or person I may address in order to alleviate this
situation?

On 7/31/2011 5:53 AM, Keith D. Lee wrote:
> All:
> Has anyone had this issue with AT&T?
> First, I sent my first wireless smartphone check to them on 07/23/2011 -- a good three weeks before it is
> due. Then, someone from their system went ahead and electronically transfered the amount from my
> checking account to the (allegedly) AT&T account. Even though AT&T wireless has no record of this
> happening; frankly, that is what is showing up in my bank account statement.
> Second, I send a new check to AT&T U-Verse to pay for this month's U-Verse bill of internet and TV
> usage. According to AT&T U-Verse, that got there fine; but, now my bank states that it didn't get there at
> all.
> Now, has anyone had these types of issues with either AT&T wireless and/or AT&T U-Verse? If so, is
> there a special email address, phone number, and/or person I may address in order to alleviate this
> situation?

The problem is that they have a difficult time dealing with checks. I've
never heard of anyone trying to pay for their cell phone or cable
service with a paper check, though you're probably not the only one.
Most people have the service automatically billed to a credit card, not
just for convenience, but to earn whatever rewards the card gives you
(my Visa card still gives 2% cash back though I doubt they'll continue
this for long since they no longer offer this card to new accounts).

Checks are dangerous because anyone you give one to now has your account
number and routing number. You should also never let any company
automatically debit funds from your checking account, if you pay from
your checking account use push payments.

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:53:42 -0400, Keith D. Lee <keithdlee2011@gmail.com> wrote:

> All:
> Has anyone had this issue with AT&T?

No. But I phone in credit card payment for my at&t bill each month.

> First, I sent my first wireless smartphone check to them on 07/23/2011 -- a good three weeks before it is
> due. Then, someone from their system went ahead and electronically transfered the amount from my
> checking account to the (allegedly) AT&T account. Even though AT&T wireless has no record of this
> happening; frankly, that is what is showing up in my bank account statement.

Of course, I have no way of knowing what actually happened in your case, above, but:
many vendors indicate they *may* deal with checks by treating them as authorization
to carry out an EFT draft on your checking account, which could explain the electronic
transfer you report seeing.

> Second, I send a new check to AT&T U-Verse to pay for this month's U-Verse bill of internet and TV
> usage. According to AT&T U-Verse, that got there fine; but, now my bank states that it didn't get there at
> all.

All your bank can possible know is whether or not the check's been presented for payment yet,
or whether an ETF has been requested in the amount that check represents -- they can't know
whether the check "got there fine" or not (that's a postal fact, after all, not a banking one).

> Now, has anyone had these types of issues with either AT&T wireless and/or AT&T U-Verse? If so, is
> there a special email address, phone number, and/or person I may address in order to alleviate this
> situation?

One AT&T number that's been surprisingly helpful over the years, even though it's now
only staffed 9-5, M-F, is: 1-800-555-5321.

HTH. Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:19:32 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:

>
>The problem is that they have a difficult time dealing with checks. I've
>never heard of anyone trying to pay for their cell phone or cable
>service with a paper check, though you're probably not the only one.
>Most people have the service automatically billed to a credit card, not
>just for convenience, but to earn whatever rewards the card gives you
>(my Visa card still gives 2% cash back though I doubt they'll continue
>this for long since they no longer offer this card to new accounts).
>

I pay my AT&T bill via Quicken bill pay & all they will accept from
Quicken is a check. Most go with EBT but AT&T wants a check

All:
A big thank you to all those who answered my initial issue. AT&T Mobility got a hold of me yesterday
and stated that they found the mistake and corrected it.


Keith Lee

On 8/3/2011 4:07 AM, Roughrider50 wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:19:32 -0700, SMS<scharf.steven@geemail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>> The problem is that they have a difficult time dealing with checks. I've
>> never heard of anyone trying to pay for their cell phone or cable
>> service with a paper check, though you're probably not the only one.
>> Most people have the service automatically billed to a credit card, not
>> just for convenience, but to earn whatever rewards the card gives you
>> (my Visa card still gives 2% cash back though I doubt they'll continue
>> this for long since they no longer offer this card to new accounts).
>>
>
> I pay my AT&T bill via Quicken bill pay& all they will accept from
> Quicken is a check. Most go with EBT but AT&T wants a check

I paid my AT&T bill for years electronically from my checking account
and AT&T was never one of the few payees that required an actual check.
Must be something to do with Quicken.

On Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:07:41 -0500, in alt.cellular.attws Roughrider50
<corkyf56@hotmail.com> wrote:

>On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:19:32 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>
>>The problem is that they have a difficult time dealing with checks. I've
>>never heard of anyone trying to pay for their cell phone or cable
>>service with a paper check, though you're probably not the only one.
>>Most people have the service automatically billed to a credit card, not
>>just for convenience, but to earn whatever rewards the card gives you
>>(my Visa card still gives 2% cash back though I doubt they'll continue
>>this for long since they no longer offer this card to new accounts).
>>
>
>I pay my AT&T bill via Quicken bill pay & all they will accept from
>Quicken is a check. Most go with EBT but AT&T wants a check

Odd. I use online bill pay exclusively (although not through Quicken)
and both my AT&T land line and my AT&T Mobility payments are always
accepted electronically.

The thing I really like about my online bill pay is that, even when a
merchant gets a check, that check is drawn on the service provider's
account, not my personal account. Thus, nobody every gets their
incompetent little hands on my DAN and RTN in order to make
"erroneous" withdrawls from my checking accuont.

Lester:
I will start using my credit card this month so no one can do that.


Keith Lee

On Sun, 07 Aug 2011 11:32:21 -0700, Lester Green
<address_is@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>On Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:07:41 -0500, in alt.cellular.attws Roughrider50
><corkyf56@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:19:32 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>The problem is that they have a difficult time dealing with checks. I've
>>>never heard of anyone trying to pay for their cell phone or cable
>>>service with a paper check, though you're probably not the only one.
>>>Most people have the service automatically billed to a credit card, not
>>>just for convenience, but to earn whatever rewards the card gives you
>>>(my Visa card still gives 2% cash back though I doubt they'll continue
>>>this for long since they no longer offer this card to new accounts).
>>>
>>
>>I pay my AT&T bill via Quicken bill pay & all they will accept from
>>Quicken is a check. Most go with EBT but AT&T wants a check
>
>Odd. I use online bill pay exclusively (although not through Quicken)
>and both my AT&T land line and my AT&T Mobility payments are always
>accepted electronically.
>
>The thing I really like about my online bill pay is that, even when a
>merchant gets a check, that check is drawn on the service provider's
>account, not my personal account. Thus, nobody every gets their
>incompetent little hands on my DAN and RTN in order to make
>"erroneous" withdrawls from my checking accuont.

I'm going by the fact that a check number is assigned to the
transaction, all others that get their payments have an EFT indicator.
AT&T Mobility, Along with the gas company & city water have check
numbers assigned. I know the gas & water recieve a paper check so I'm
assuming AT&T does also.