http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/ Engadget Mobile Comments for AT&T gets slapped for deceptive third-party charges http://mobile.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://mobile.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/Mar 3rd 2008 10:16AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/Mar 3rd 2008 11:50AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/
Oh, wait - I forgot. No one's held responsible for their own actions anymore.]]>Mar 3rd 2008 3:30PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/Mar 3rd 2008 3:55PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/Mar 3rd 2008 6:57PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/
Then on the tv you can't read it at the bottom of the screen these companies shouldn't be allowed to charge you and they all say free they don't vivdly say there gonna charge you for a service.]]>Mar 3rd 2008 7:30PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/
I mean what kind of idiot is going to think they arent getting billed for that? Oh, wait, we're in America, that's right.

I miss the days when cell phones were a luxury item and never had to see a douschebag wannabe on his bluetooth headset or some loud woman on her break from mcdonalds talking about some fat man she likes and how "he so fine" to her other girlfriend that is on her break from burger king or quite possibly Sbarro. THESE are the types of people (along with 12-16 yr olds) texting this garbage and getting billed, assuming they arent on prepaid.]]>Mar 3rd 2008 10:00PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/
if someone tells me to send TONE to 12345 for a free ringtone, then why should i be charged? the problem is that the ads focus on the free item but dont mention any charges. they should instead tell you about their service & charges, then position the value of the free item, i.e. send TONE to 12345 to sign up for our monthly 9.99 ringtone service and get a free bonus ringtone.

the problem with that is they know they wont make any money. all their profits are coming from tricking people. that is deceptive and therefore illegal. these people are entitled to their refunds. if the businesses can't be tracked, the carrier is responsible for allowing these businesses to make charges to their clients' bills. that is the position you put yourself in when you allow a third party to bill to your clients' accounts. if the charges were billed to a credit card or bank account, then there would be no one else involved except the third party companies.

i worked for a personal assistance company before that made charges on behalf of its clients. for example, a client could've called us and to say they wanted us to order flowers and have them sent to their mother for her birthday. many times our clients were not satisfied with the service the third parties provided. lets say the flowers were a day late so the client wanted a refund. well if the flower company didn't provide refunds and refused to give one, we ate the cost.

carriers have two choices. dont be involved in third party transactions. or, tighten control on charges because if they get involved then they are putting themselves in the middle.


]]>Mar 4th 2008 12:44PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/
I think that sums it up perfectly. ]]>Mar 5th 2008 4:00AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/but usually it was their first time and we would credit the charges back (1 time courtesy credit) and if we were slow help unsubscribe them.

the worst part of the whole thing was that as soon ans the charges appeared on the bill these fly by night companies already got their money, and the courtesy credit came out of ATT's pocket

also just before i left ATT implemented some parental controls that allows them to assign a PIN to the account, and the PIN is required if there is to be any charge to the account.

At the very least ATT should have a process that a vendor has to get approved before it can place charges onto someones bill]]>Mar 3rd 2008 3:10PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/03/03/atandt-gets-slapped-for-deceptive-third-party-charges/
If the State of Florida was going to be fair they would have gone after all the cell phone companies, because they all do this. Or better yet, they wouldn't have gone after any telcos at all. With the attitude that it is too hard to go after the culprits themselves, this issue will never go away.

Stuff like this happened when I was working for Alltel, and my cousin who works for Sprint says it happens all the time. And to top it off, did anyone see how much AT&T has to pay the State of Florida?

What a joke.

]]>Mar 5th 2008 9:52AM