I've been getting calls from a collections agency demanding I pay them $490 for an ATT phone bill. This is incredibly embarrassing in front of my friends and family. It started with emails, which I ignored thinking they must be spam, then I began receiving actual letters. Then the phone calls started.
I spent literally hours arguing with them over the course of weeks, saying that I don't owe AT&T money, I always pay my bill on time, etc, and they'd call back the next day. ATT had no idea what was going on when I called.
Finally, after the 5th call, they realized that two accounts had been mistakenly opened the same day I got AT&T service but they would cancel this mysterious second account and the money owed. They promised it would be resolved.
A week ago, the harassing phone calls started again. It took two calls to ATT to explain (the first was disconnected after 20 minutes on hold "investigating" and no call back was made). I called back, another lengthy explanation, and the rep told me they were very sorry, and were trying to call the collections agency, but hadn't talked to anyone. The rep promised to call back a little later. Its now 9 hours later and no call. But guess who did call? You guessed it, "Diversified Consultants" Collections Agency asking when I was going to pay, that my credit score is suffering as a result. This is beyond insane.
I'm highly regretting choosing ATT when it was time for a new contract. My mom, dad and sister all have AT&T as well. I think AT&T has fantastic coverage and speeds, but after the display of incompetence and harassment, and humiliation of getting calls from collections at all hours, that I've had to put up with over the last few months, why shouldn't I switch? T-Mobile is running ads promising to buy out your contract. I don't know how good they are, but at least the collections agency will no longer have my number! Awaiting your response.