Bring It On
Bring it on, AT&T! I am deceased. My company doesn’t exist any more. My company phone line was canceled because someone else occupies that office now. Over two years ago, I signed a 24-month contract for phone service. Whoops. Did not see the word “renewable” in the corner at the bottom. Was never told that by the salesman, Mr. Ruffin. He slipped that in there somehow after assuring me the term would be up in 24 months. Acknowledged it in emails that are still on my computer from 2/10/06.
Alas, such integrity.
Now I — and mind you, I am ashes sitting on the end table in the living room — am getting a $360 bill from AT&T for contract termination fees. Too bad, they say. No such thing as extenuating circumstances. They’re sorry I am dead. But they don’t care. I’ve got to pay that fee. It’s a contract, after all. A contract is a legal document. Legal documents go with you to the grave and beyond. They wish they could help, but they can’t. AT&T is a big boy and they aim to keep their side of the bargain.
So folks, I’m back! At least according to AT&T. I’ve got to pay my phone bill till January of 2010. Now I’ve just got to figure out how to get my ass, uh, ashes up and together and get out and earn some money to pay that damn bill because, well, it’s a contract and AT&T really needs that $360!
All you other folks, if you think your phone contract expires after a certain time, you better look again. Or you better hope you’ve got a company that can bend with the wind and understand that death happens and companies go out of business because of it. And if you really want that contract to end, you’ve got to write them a letter and tell them to end it something like 180 days before it ends. Nevertheless, they’ve got so many “outs” in their contract wording that you are screwed any way you look at it.
Better to never, ever sign a contract with AT&T!
All those loyal years to AT&T and this is what they give me in return. UP YOURS, AT&T. And fuck your contract termination fees.
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I hate AT&T’s policies. And this just freaked me out a little to see a post by Winston in my google reader.
If this gets to Winston’s wife, I hope you’re doing well.
Go Winston! Even you ashes is a smartass! Er, smart ash.
Yeah, AT&T are ebil, vewy ebil indeed.
Hope you are doing as well as can be expected, Roomie.
Roomie, would you like to get our buddies over at News 2 on this? I’m sure Andy Cordan would love to be all over this like white on rice. It’s up to you…
Roomie thinks AT&T is bigger than News 2, but also has this feeling that something is rotten in all this on two levels and would like it exposed. Roomie thinks it’s one thing for a customer to drop their contract to go to another phone company and another thing entirely if a customer dies and can’t help not needing their phone service any more.
[...] Winston Rand, who passed away recently is still being held responsible for an AT&T contract. So he is posting from they heavens. (Or Roomie is) but despite it all, why is a dead man being held to a cell phone contract. Now I — and mind you, I am ashes sitting on the end table in the living room — am getting a $360 bill from AT&T for contract termination fees. Too bad, they say. No such thing as extenuating circumstances. They’re sorry I am dead. But they don’t care. I’ve got to pay that fee. It’s a contract, after all. A contract is a legal document. Legal documents go with you to the grave and beyond. They wish they could help, but they can’t. AT&T is a big boy and they aim to keep their side of the bargain. [...]
Wow…AT&T should be ashamed.
Sunday Links…
A team of paleontologists have discovered a huge Stone Age cemetery in the Sahara desert. This women and two children were found holding hands, arms outstretched toward each other, with evidence to suggest they were laid to rest on……
Unbelievable. And yet, being a disgruntled 25-year customer, I actually DO believe they’d stoop this low.
Assholes! Give ‘em hell, Roomie.
…. whatta load of shit!…… those bastards should be ashamed of themselves…….
When I saw this I think I defined the word ‘disconcerted’!
And yeah, never sign a contract with AT&T. I wouldn’t get their DSL until they offered it to me without one.
I know you’re there — I hope you are doing well!
Hey Winston, is that you? Can you believe this crap? Roomie’s taking care of things in case you’ve been distracted. Don’t you worry about a thing sweet guy….the whole gang says hi and sends their love…..gosh we miss you….
Roomie got the Tennessee Regulatory Authority on AT&T. Alas, AT&T snubbed its snotty nose at this agency, too. A contract is a contract, even though AT&T originally said the contract was over in 24 months and misrepresented that fact. Roomie has to pay $20 a month for the next 18 months — February of 2010 — because Winston canceled his AT&T business line early…due to his untimely, sudden death. How dare he die and offend this corporate giant by canceling his service!
I think some official out there needs his or her legs broken..
Oh, and yes.. we would like this on Channel 2 news…
I heard Andy Cordan had a fall from a ladder…hope he’s okay. Andy used to be Winston’s neighbor…he could see Andy’s house from the window by his blog computer. Roomie remembers the morning a hot air balloon descended on the neighborhood accidentally and Andy did a live report from the scene, which was the island in front of Winston and Roomie’s house.
Goodness. I kind of figured it was Roomie but for a moment, there…phew.
I hope you are holding up. And thanks for exposing those corporate fuckwads.
Kick AT&T ass, Winston and Roomie! This is outrageous. Hon, contracts are made to be broken - ask any lawyer. Expose AT&T for the evil company it is. Aaargh. (But I loved hearing from Winston again.)
Oh Winston! It’s good to hear you back and kicking ass! Don’t let the b******s get you down.