Isn't AT&T hike in rates a violation of my contract (lease)

[salilsurendran]

Hello,
Recently AT&T hiked my internet rates by $5. When I contacted them they told me it had been hiked for all customers. I told them I was under contract for 8 more months and they told me that it didn't matter it was for all customers. Isn't this a violation of my contract and can I switch providers without paying the ETF?

[ccm123]

I've been an AT&T UVerse customer for many years and think that their pricing gimmicks and customer service sucks. But, I have never seen a clause in my contract where they said they would not raise rates during the contract period.

The thing is, which other provider will you go with? There are not many around, and believe me, the rest are all pretty bad also.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Good question. You might try contacting the CA Dept of Consumer Affairs:

Contact Us - California Department of Consumer Affairs

If it's not legal, you could talk to an attorney who handles class action lawsuits.

Here's one who has sued ATT before:

AT&T Class Action Lawsuit | ATT Unauthorized Charges Lawsuit | Girard Gibbs LLP

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by salilsurendran

Hello,
Recently AT&T hiked my internet rates by $5. When I contacted them they told me it had been hiked for all customers. I told them I was under contract for 8 more months and they told me that it didn't matter it was for all customers. Isn't this a violation of my contract and can I switch providers without paying the ETF?

Read every word of your contract and see what it says. I seriously doubt you will find any statement in the contract that says you are locked into the rate you currently pay for the remainder of your contract.

You can switch providers any time you want to however, you will be paying the early termination fee because that is in your contract.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by CSD610

Read every word of your contract and see what it says. I seriously doubt you will find any statement in the contract that says you are locked into the rate you currently pay for the remainder of your contract.

You can switch providers any time you want to however, you will be paying the early termination fee because that is in your contract.

Then it's not an enforceable contract, IMO. If one side can change the terms at will in their favor, yet the other side is bound by the terms or they pay a penalty, that's not a contract that's enforceable. And even if you sign a contract like that, you can get out of it.

So, something's off.

[jk88cal]

You are not alone. I had Directv previously, and they raised the rates during my 2-year "contract" period.

By the way, I don't believe this is a contract where they offer you service for set price for the period. The reason for the "contract" is that that the provider gave (or leased) free hardware to you and paid for installation charge. So to offset the price of the hardware and installation, you are required to pay for 2 years of continuous service. And the price of the service is whatever the market rate they dictate.

Even Comcast play this game. I remember they advertised locking in the rate. The fine print said you get locked (and reduced rate) for the 1st 6 months. After that, you have to pay whatever the monthly charge is.

Is it fair? No. Is it worth getting a lawyer for $5 per month? No. Not much you can do. Talk to customer service to see if there is anything they can do to waive this $5 for 6 months or 1 year. It is unlikely, but you never know.

This is problem with lack of competition. And it will get worse now that Comcast buying Time Warner and talk of AT&T buying Directv.

[ccm123]

Yep, lack of competition and crappy service (no incentive to provide real customer service) in the industry is why they can charge what they want to and hike prices when they want to.

Originally Posted by jk88cal

You are not alone. I had Directv previously, and they raised the rates during my 2-year "contract" period.

By the way, I don't believe this is a contract where they offer you service for set price for the period. The reason for the "contract" is that that the provider gave (or leased) free hardware to you and paid for installation charge. So to offset the price of the hardware and installation, you are required to pay for 2 years of continuous service. And the price of the service is whatever the market rate they dictate.

Even Comcast play this game. I remember they advertised locking in the rate. The fine print said you get locked (and reduced rate) for the 1st 6 months. After that, you have to pay whatever the monthly charge is.

Is it fair? No. Is it worth getting a lawyer for $5 per month? No. Not much you can do. Talk to customer service to see if there is anything they can do to waive this $5 for 6 months or 1 year. It is unlikely, but you never know.

This is problem with lack of competition. And it will get worse now that Comcast buying Time Warner and talk of AT&T buying Directv.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by jk88cal

This is problem with lack of competition. And it will get worse now that Comcast buying Time Warner and talk of AT&T buying Directv.

What this says is "We clearly are no longer interested in preventing monopolies in this country."

Which doesn't help my friggin $300+ Comcast bill.

[ggcd951]

you all know that the companies like at&t and the likes are suckers. if you want a good cause sign up for smaller wireless companies i.e. virgin mobile, metropcs to support small business.