Why is the first AT&T bill so high?
You are an AT&T customer who has recently subscribed to wireless, internet service, TV, or a package of the two. It is usually the case that you were tempted by promotional prices that appeared rational, if not even low. Then that first full bill comes and it is much, much higher than what you thought would be reasonable. What happened?
There are several reasons why your initial AT&T bill is likely higher than the promotional rate you saw advertised.
Activation and Setup Fees
Any time you begin a new service, especially if you buy new equipment such as phones, tablets, or receivers, you may experience activation, upgrade, or setup costs. Such one-time charges include the activation of the devices on the network, or having a technician come to install the network. Depending on the type of services you offer, such as call or messaging services, these fees can start from $15 and may go up to more than $100 per line or device. It is an added expense immediately and that is not a good place to be in.
Partial or Prorated Bill
If your billing cycle begins mid-month, then your first bill will be for partial months of service. This could involve pro rata charges for the service you used before the subscription, plus the full first month’s charge, which will be more. The bills that are going to follow will just have your regular monthly fees.
One-Time Service Credits Expired
Promotional pricing normally has some fine print, namely temporary service bill credits. For instance, you could have been given $5 to $10 in credit for three months. However, once that credit is used up, you are back to the normal price of the service immediately. The first complete bill would be the initial one where the charges are standard.
Included Trial Periods Ended
Some of the AT&T Internet plans offer a free trial or a trial without subscription fees for a limited period. For example, one may provide a free trial of 3 months with no more early termination fees or a year with no overages. When that set trial period is over, you begin to incur charges for those items and notice a rise in them.
Unwanted Premium Services Added
However, the bills of AT&T are notorious for sometimes adding third-party premium texting services, ringtones, or game subscriptions that the customer did not approve. Go through the list of all the services charged every month to ensure that they are the ones which you subscribed to. If not, request immediate removal Of course, there are other characteristics of the communication that might be changed, depending on the situation.
Promo + Monthly Plan Upcharge
Many initial promotional offers have detailed terms stating that there will be a change in the prices after the promotion period expires. For instance, the $35 per month wireless plan may be $50 per month after 3 months of usage. The higher full price for the calls is applied to the fourth bill.
Higher Data Usage Further Busted the Bill
If you are on an AT&T unlimited data plan, this wouldn’t be an issue. However, should you be using metered or shared data, which means that your price per month depends on the amount of mobile data you consume, an increase in utilization could significantly increase the amount you pay. Smartphones and tablets for instance are relatively new gadgets that make it very easy for one to use even more data than they planned to.
Extra Device Connections Added
If you’re signing up for new devices or that you have new lines of service, make sure that you’re not being overcharged. It is normal for them to bill for two of the same devices/lines if they were added mid-month or to have charges for connecting a wrong device on the first bill containing the additions.
Account Changes Backdated
Every time you make any changes to your AT&T services – add-on features, data allowances, device upgrades, and the like – be sure that those changes are indeed reflected and only starting from the specified date. Regrettably, accounts are sometimes backdated which leads to increased retroactive charges.
The improper plan charges or rates
They occur from time to time, and wrong monthly plan rates shock customers on their bills all the time. If for instance, the billed plan charges are higher than the published rates you saw in adverts, ensure you are billed the agreed amount for your services.
To sum it up, that first higher AT&T bill is usually a result of temporary credits expiring, short-term proration, temporary waivers ceasing, or one-time fees being charged all at once. Be cautious regarding the bill charges mentioned and contact AT&T customer service if the bill charges include any unauthorized charges. Be ready to challenge any expenses you did not authorize. If that first bill shocks you with its total, you may want to set up bill payment reminders or automatic payments.
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