A Word on Customer Abuse, Telecom Style
Memo to the new AT&T powered by SBC:
Get your facts straight and your systems aligned before you trumpet exciting service offers or incredibly low pricing. And spare me the bit about excellent customer service.
As a loyal DSL customer, you offered me favorable renewal rates if I upgraded my service online. In a letter from SBC Yahoo! Marketing: “in celebration of your anniversary and to show gratitude for your continued membership we’re offering you several renewal options.” However, comma…
Due to “unique” circumstances, I am not able to access the offer online. In fact, I am in a gray zone, geographically, from my server and therefore ineligible for any favorable renewal pricing whatsoever. A policy decision, made roughly a year ago, means that the best rate I can get is substantially higher than my current rate for the same level of service. If I wanted to upgrade, it would cost even more, not to mention installation fees.
This important information is mine after more than 20 attempts over a period of weeks—and endless time-wasting interactions with SBC’s automated service—to take advantage of my special anniversary status.
This is customer abuse. I resent the waste of my time. I resent being charged higher rates for a service I already have, especially when I was offered lower rates “to show gratitude” for my continued loyalty. I resent your cheerful promises of better service, better rates, and more satisfied customers. Most of all, I resent being held hostage without proper information to make an informed decision about your service offerings and your rates.
I know I am not alone in my frustration. I know that you, as a company, are far from being alone in this customer abuse. We call this progress?
Categories: General AdviceAbout Susan Marshall
