Cingular Pay-per-use text message rate increase

I noticed on my bill that they were charging 0.15 per incoming and outgoing text message now. I checked back on previous bills, and they have been doing this since Jan. 21st or so. I called them yesterday to tell them they can't change the rate of pay per use messages since I am under contract. He went on to say that wasn't the case and I got a notice in my December bill. (Which was 39 pages, and easily overlooked.) Then he tried to sell me the $5 message plan for 200 messages, to which I replied "but then I am spending even more money." and he replied "but you can use up to 200 messages." to which I replied, "I don't need to spend more money so I can send more text messages."
I was pissed and asked to speak to a supervisor, and he came back and said he would credit me the $12ish dollars for this months pay per use fees. I told him I was not interested in that. I wanted my text rate to go back down to .10 a message because I still have 11 months to go in my contract. I told him that Cingular changing my contractual rate was equivelant to me breaking my contract.
I counted up all the messages so far, and it only totalled $11.95 in messages sent/ received that you and Johanna have accrued over the 4 months. He then told me I had to write a letter on paper and send it to the main office. He never did let me speak to the supervisor.

Can they really increase my rate in the middle of my contract? I was told "Pay per use messaging was 0.10 per message." It's not the cost, it's the fact that they can change the cost of the services from when I signed my contract. I told the guy, "That's ridiculous. You could charge $5 per message on me, or even $500 and I'd be forced to purchase a message package."

They have the right to change rates at any given time. Directly from the TOS (Terms of Service)

CHANGES TO TERMS AND RATES
We may change any terms, conditions, rates, fees, expenses, or charges regarding your service at any time. We will provide you with notice of such changes (other than changes to governmental fees, proportional charges for governmental mandates, roamer rates or administrative charges) either in your monthly bill or separately. You
nderstand and agree that State and Federal Universal Service fees and other governmentally imposed fees, whether or not assessed directly upon you, may be increased based upon the government’s or our calculations. IF WE INCREASE THE PRICE OF ANY OF THE SERVICES TO WHICH YOU SUBSCRIBE, BEYOND THE LIMITS SET FORTH IN YOUR RATE PLAN BROCHURE, OR IF WE MATERIALLY DECREASE THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IN WHICH YOUR AIRTIME RATE APPLIES (OTHER THAN A TEMPORARY DECREASE FOR REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE), WE WILL DISCLOSE THE CHANGE AT LEAST ONE BILLING CYCLE IN ADVANCE (EITHER THROUGH A NOTICE WITH YOUR BILL, A TEXT MESSAGE TO YOUR EQUIPMENT, OR OTHERWISE) AND YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT PAYING AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE OR RETURNING OR PAYING FOR ANY PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, PROVIDED YOUR NOTICE OF TERMINATION IS DELIVERED TO US WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST
BILL REFLECTING THE CHANGE.

You were notified of the change, you basically agreed to the change by continuing service . so Cingular has not violated your contract in any way.

if you send and recieve more than 33 messages per month you'd benefit from the 200 package that's why he offered it to you, whether or not he looked at usage is unknown to me, and yes as it states they can change it, also you can cancel without ETF if you do within thirty days of the rate change I didn't know about that.

They did it to remain 'competitve' with other companies.

It is not a contracted service, but instead an optional service that you can opt in/out of at any time by either a.) not sending any text messages and requesting that others don't send them to you or b.) calling into customer care and requesting that text messaging be blocked. The "canceling without penalty" that is in the TOS is not even applicable since there it is not actually an item that is contracted.

The autopay is a great way to get people to not look at their bill.

Your txt msging charges CAN be increased because it is a FEATURE and not included in your contract. You probably received a text message regarding the 5 (oh wow, five cents) cent increase, or it was on your bill. Do you expect Cingular/AT&T to come to your house and tell you? Have some responsibility for your own actions.

Well, I noticed on my last bill that they are also raising international text messages from .20 to .25.
This is stupid, that I just have to accept this. Texting in Europe costs pennies, not quarters, why is it so expensive for U.S. companies to provide this "feature"?

They also let me know about their $9.99 feature for international messaging, but the incoming messages would still be charged at .15 each, unless I get 2 messaging plans for a total of $15, but then again, my wife hasn't come that close to spending $15 a month in text messages, more like $10. It's just an added expense they don't need to hit the customer with, but they do it because they can. How is raising the price of features "competitive"? Competition is supposed to lower prices, increase services, or increase quality.

I noticed AT&T dropped the minutes on their new family plan contracts. It's good to know they are giving people less for the same price on that one.

well first of all it cost so much because you sending a text INTERNATIONALY if you dont like the fee send a email or write a letter or call , oh wait then youll cry ans say " why does att charge so much to call to eruope?" secondly ft plans have not changed in almost a year

Cingular Pay-per-use text message rate increase

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