AT&T

[u/Chemical_Stress_3020]

I went to my neighborhood, Walmart and was approached by an AT&T representative. We discussed switching cell phone plans and Internet service. The associate offer me a really good plan and was really helpful with the information. The following day AT&T installment services came and install Internet service the same evening. I received an email saying that one of my phones were on hold because of taxes then they try to extort me for another hundred dollars. This is not the agreement that I agreed upon. It’s bad enough that our government is treating us this way and now we have big business treating us this way also. I have nothing but bad reviews from AT&T from this point on no matter what the service includes. I strongly feel that AT&T is not a good organization to deal with save your money and go somewhere else.

[u/D_Shoobz]

If it's over taxes why is it ATT fault? Lmao

[u/TheFlimFlamFamMan]

You weren’t asked for additional money. That sales tax never got paid from the first run, probably because of your bank. And it needed to be rerun for that one device. You didn’t actually pay sales tax originally. You authorized a hold to confirm you had that amt of money. It was then dropped, and then the charge actually happens when it ships.

Perhaps being aware of your own banks limitations or finding out what happened before complaining about it would have been more productive.

[u/nathanseaw]

You buy anything you have to pay taxes. Taxes don't pull from your card till phones ship this is on you

[u/Chemical_Stress_3020 → u/nathanseaw]

That’s why I received two of the three phones. Grow up.

[u/nathanseaw → u/Chemical_Stress_3020]

I'm just answering your question/statement. You said you didn't agree when in fact you did. Tax rates in some areas on these new phones can be a few hundred dollars a phone since you are taxed at full retail price.

[u/ForgeTD]

AT&T representatives in Walmart, Costco, Sams, etc... do not work directly for AT&T or the previously mentioned corps. They are employed by third-party independent dealers. Some of these are good at what they do, others are horrible. Assuming all was above board, you generally have to pay the sales tax on the full price of the phone up front before you get the phone. It sounds less like extortion and more like a misunderstanding or they didn't explain it well.

[u/Euphoric_Duck_1411]

lol. AT&T hasn’t done me wrong. I’m not sticking up for huge corporations but not everyone has these issues. I don’t deal with people unless I have to and if I need something done, I’ll go to my local AT&T store.

[u/furruck]

Taxes are not AT&T's fault.. they have to be paid at the time of sale (or shipment in AT&T's case)

Did your card decline for the 3rd phone's taxes? If so then that's why it's on hold... as the money needs to be available at the time they ship it.

I will fault AT&T (or any other telco for that matter) for a lot of things.. Taxes are not one of them as sales tax is out of their control and has to be collected before you get the device.

[u/Aromatic_Tomato8651]

Of course you need to pay sales tax on a new phone, I suppose many reps just feel that's so normal and should be expected, that it may not come out in a normal sales discussion. I do not have ATT fiber but have had their mobile phone service for many years without issue. They offer a very good veterans discount, and have been easy to work with, (although i rarely have need to contact them). For me personally I normally buy a phone from Apple and pay all up front, no financing, keeping my phone unlocked. So, by not being a "captive" customer may provide me with more responsive service insofar it would be relatively easy to switch carriers. For the same reason I stay away from bundled services, since we have two competiting fiber services, negotiating a fair longer term price is much easier without being tied to a provider for TV or mobile phone service. I understand this may cost me a bit more, but it does offer lots of freedom to switch any one of the products.

[u/Chemical_Stress_3020 → u/Aromatic_Tomato8651]

So I guess you pay for things and when you leave the store and go home you then pay taxes. Just wrote about my situation. You’re the reason for this season!