I just want to throw it out of the window!
I rushed back home after I bought the phone to activate it on line - what a treat. It all was going oh so well until I got a message on the screen that read:
AT&T is now processing your activation.
You will receive an email confirmation once your activation is complete.
I subsequently received another e-mail, this time from AT&T asking me to call their customer care representative with the Activation ID attached to the e-mail. I have since called customer care 3 times, once Sunday night and twice today.
On Sunday night, the customer care representative told me that they were not able to get new numbers for Boston that night and I should call during business hours on Monday. The same person explicitly told me that I did not need anything make the second call (like the IMEIID or ICCID), I just had to give them the magic Activation ID. The customer representative during the “working hours” on Monday, said everything was all set and the only thing I needed was my IMEIID and IICID. Good thing I did not listen to that “extremely informed” service rep the night before, I had the numbers with me. Unfortunately, this time “the network” decided not to cooperate. The really slow computer system interferred with the activation and the sevice rep had no choice but to ask me to call later in the day and this time armed me with my account billing number and all the notes she wrote in my “record” for the next rep. She said, she really wanted the next person I talk to grasp the situation quickly and solve the problem with out any further frustration to me - their new customer who paid $599 for this gadget and was willing to sign up for the most expensive plan they had.The third phone call was to an equally nice and inept customer care person who this time could not find any of the records and informed me that I needed to get to the nearest AT&T store to get the issue resolved.
It was really hard for me not to take my anger out on my new iPhone which shall be once again yours since I will return it to the Apple store I bought it from along with the accessories - a $799 purchase in all. I don’t care how beautiful the phone is, I just don’t want it anymore.
I hope you considered carefully the perils of associating your brand with another, especially the “new AT&T”. These are the same genius’ that have branded AT&T Wireless to Cingular then back to AT&T twice and spent $1Billion each time! I have heard of other people that have had similarly dismal experiences. Considering the delay (and the horrible music), from the first prompt to “when a customer care representative gets on the line”, I suspect there are quite a few others like me.
I switched to Verizon from AT&T about 2 years ago, my wife and I both swore not to get back with AT&T - never ever again - because of their horrible coverage and even worse customer service. How did I forget? You know what, I gave you - Apple, the benefit of the doubt. I don’t know whose fault this is but now I have considerable ill will towards your company as well.
Yours truly
Santo
(via This and That)
