AT&T Doesn’t Prorate Your Final Bill Unless You Call and Ask
I cancelled my AT&T phone service last month because I switched to a much better plan from Virgin Mobile. I didn’t call & cancel, but instead ported my number to Google Voice, at which time the cancellation happens automatically.
Before doing the number port, I logged in to my AT&T account and cancelled the automatic monthly billing – I suspected that I might run into problems with AT&T continuing to charge me, and I didn’t want to deal with it.
I’m glad I took the extra step of removing auto-billing, because I just got my final bill in the mail. AT&T didn’t prorate my final bill, but instead billed me for an entire month of service. They wanted me to pay $80, when my final bill should have been around $30.
I called customer service and a very helpful CSR calculated the prorated amount and told me he’d be sending a revised bill in the mail.
I couldn’t believe that AT&T doesn’t automatically prorate a customer’s final bill, but a little internet searching told me that it wasn’t a mistake – their company policy is to only prorate the final bill if a customer asks.
Now doesn’t that policy just sum up AT&T’s views on customer care incredibly accurately?
If you’re looking to port your number to another carrier, be sure to first log in & turn off any auto-payments that you have set up. Once you make the number switch, you won’t be able to log in to your AT&T account anymore. (They cut you off immediately.)
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:11 pm
I just transferred my AT&T services to Boost Mobile and called to request that my last month be prorated. At first, they told me that the prorated credit would be reflected on my final bill… but when my final bill came, all it contained was my early termination fee. I called to check the status of the prorated credit, and they told me they will not be prorating my last month. I’ve been talking to many people at the company, trying to find someone to help honor the initial response, but now that one person said no they are all saying the same thing.
TLDR… AT&T “denied my request” for a prorated final month because I was being billed in advance. It’s unfortunate, but I’m glad I’m finally pushing away from the greediest company on the planet.
November 7th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
I am in the same situation. I moved to virgin mobile and cancelled ATT. The person on the phone said, you don’t have to pay anything, you have a zero bill… but wtf happened to my 98 bucks i paid for my next month’s service. I am pissed! I hate them with a passion. I filed a complaint with bbb.org. Please go and file it for your situation as well. This is not worth my time but I am doing it since it is utterly wrong! These guys are lieing scoundrels. Do not let them have it their way.
November 24th, 2011 at 3:35 am
I called to cancel my att plan during the middle of the billing cycle last month but was talked out of it by the person on the phone. I finally switched to a different carrier 2 days into the new billing cycle without knowing they were going to charge me a full month without prorating. I completely wasted my time talking to ATT for the past half hour and getting the complete bs about no prorating for the last month as it’s on the contract. They have the right to shut down your wireless service 2 days into the bill cycle and charge you a full month of usuage. This is complete robbery and I am completely disgusted how unethical AT&T can be.
November 28th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Same experience for me. They prorated the first month of my service, but refuse to prorate the last month. I am surprised at the level of anger I feel within me over this seemingly trifling matter.
December 15th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
I just ran into the same problem, I just filed a complaint with BBB.org and tweeted about it
December 28th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Same lies here! They said I will receive a final settlement bill with refund and now I didn’t get any refund, they sent me a $0 bill! Thieves!
On a positive note their bid to buy t-mobile and control the spectrum went bust, so, yes they stole $50 from me, but they lost $4 billion in penalties. Ha-ha!
March 8th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
I have the same problem. Att charge me the full month for only 4 days of use into a new bill cycle. I looked thru my contract and nowhere on the contract said that I will be charged for full month when I am porting my number. I asked the ATT reps and she told me it was their policy. I asked her to show me where she find that on the contract. She told me it on her system but was not able showed me where she find it on the contract. I got rob by ATT. Is there a way that we can stop ATT for do this kind of practice?