Thanks for visiting UCAN.org! Please remember our services are available because of grassroots donations from people like you. Please help us continue our work with a donation of any amount. Click here to visit our secure donation page.
New AT&T Residential Service Agreement --What does it mean?
UCAN News
UCAN found a good CBS5.com story from the San Francisco area about the new AT&T long "legaleze"-type contracts recently sent to AT&T residential service customers. Read More.
What does it mean? It means that after January 1, 2009, AT&T
can raise your rates as high as it wants and whenever it chooses to do so.
There is a two-sided cover that comes with the AT&T written service agreement. Read it here. Finally, attached is the 16-page contract for your review. Read the full agreement here. UCAN encourages you to post your questions on our web site. We will do our best to answer each person in the state of California.
UCAN is reading the new AT&T contract to provide you with a breakdown of its contents well before the deadline of October 1, 2008. Watch for UCAN's breakdown of the "gotcha" areas--coming soon. UCAN also measured the length of the AT&T fold-out service agreement and it is close to 1 yard long. UCAN has found an Indemnification Clause, a possible statement meaning that AT&T is holding the customer responsible for all charges on the phone bill including unauthorized charges, and is wondering if AT&T is asking customers to sign that they agree to allow 3rd parties to monitor their services---Does that sound like giving permission to wiretap to you?
Again, watch for updates on this contract and UCAN's dissection of it.
Like what you see? Go ahead and show your support! UCAN is a truly independent non-profit watchdog organization, dependent on grassroots donations like yours!
Utility Consumers' Action Network
(619) 696-6966 or file a complaint about a company online.
Terms & Conditions
UCAN.org is made available by the Utility Consumers' Action Network to assist you in becoming what you always knew you could be, a consumer ROCK STAR! We take no corporate money, and are beholden only to you, the consumer. As such, the site is here for educational, advocacy, and empowerment purposes, as well to to give you general information and a general understanding of the law. Just remember this site is NOT here to provide specific legal advice. By using this web site you of course understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the Web Site publisher, UCAN. The Web Site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.
That said, get to digging on the site, inform yourself, speak your mind, and earn Watchdog Bones! This is YOUR site, and we mean it. So comment on any of the content, discuss the latest issues in the forums, file a complaint on a company with the fraud squad, and generally cut loose.
See our Privacy Policy and Copyright Policy, Some Rights Reserved
- Remember, if you have any questions about copyright law or need legal information regarding intellectual property, the internet, or new technologies, visit our affiliate New Media Rights at www.newmediarights.org. If you are in the San Diego region, you can also can apply to use our multimedia studio and equipment for free.
Switch to cell phones as
Switch to cell phones as fast as you can. Land phone costs are becoming unfair day by day.
Tower Defence Games
I bought my car a year ago
I bought my car a year ago and after own it the car for a year I found out that it has been in a accident I paid 20,000 for the car iand the dealer didn't tell me that if has been involve in a accident I would like to know what can I do can I take the car back or what can I do thank you.Thanks for sharing.
regards,
wine clubs|free music
Same plan has been
Same plan has been introduced in our state bercelano.
we are happy that this plant can produce more than 14000MW of power..
regards,dating services
This is absolutely
This is absolutely outrageous.
"AT&T can raise your rates as high as it wants and whenever it chooses to do so"
What a ridiculous clause to have in a contract. For this reason alone I wouldn't sign up with the company, but then in addition to being tracked by some 3rd party service is a further reason why I will certainly be avoiding AT&T
Tim
- fireplace designs and gas fireplaces.
I don't know if the same
I don't know if the same would be true for digital telephone service to a land-line - e.g. Cox or Verizon - so I'm left with nothing but electricity-dependent telephone service as an alternative to AT&T, and the possibility of having no telephone at all in a serious emergency.
regards,
Tower defence
unauthorized charges ??
I really dont understand what is the unauthorized charges for the customer. The AT&T as a well reputed company in US may consider this kind of charges as people will start liking it more than what they do now.
Sniper games
Then there's the potential
Then there's the potential for lack of service for cell phones in an emergency that can result from a disaster that damages or destroys cell towers....
regards,
BMW speakers
dsafdasf
Without a doubt,Game Reviews Mages are a necessary part of almost any group. This Game News is Free WoW Gold Those specializing in the Arcane talent tree Wow Tips can go all out on damage, annihilating even the strongest opponents Races within a matter of seconds. Mages seeking survivability at the cost of Battlegrounds Damage-Per-Second instead go with the Frost talents, Lore armoring themselves in solid blocks of ice that render them Burning Crusade completely immune to damage, while also slowing PvPdown their opponents so that they have more time to nuke them down. PvE Mages specializing in Fire are a CHEAP WOW GOLD dangerous breed, burning their opponents World to cinders in a matter of FREE WOW GOLD seconds with their awesome Pyroblast spells. Items One of their key features though, WOW GOlD GUIDE is Polymorph. This function is Basics a major part of the success of adventuring bands, as it helps Wow Gold Crowd Control a situation and ensure the survival Cheap Wow Gold of the party.free world of warcraft Free Wow Gold rank free Cheapest Wow Gold wow gold Wrath of the Lich Buy Wow Gold King Page Updated free wow gold; WoW Gold Guide, Sell Wow Gold We supply cheap wow gold to our WOW GOLD loyal customers that you can buy cheap BUY WOW GOLD wow gold on our website WoW Gold
To me, the most outrageous
To me, the most outrageous terms are:
7a. YOUR ONLY AND SOLE REMEDY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY OPERATION OR USE OF ANY SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR THE DELAY, MALFUNCTION OR AT&T’S PARTIAL OR TOTAL FAILURE TO PROVIDE OR PERFORM ANY SERVICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE APPLICABLE CREDIT SPECIFIED IN THE RELEVANT AND APPLICABLE TARIFF OR GUIDEBOOK, OR, IF NO CREDITS ARE SPECIFIED, SHALL BE PAYMENT OF AN AMOUNT THAT DOES NOT EXCEED THE CHARGES PAID OR OWED BY YOU TO AT&T FOR SUCH SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD SUCH DELAY OR FAILURE TO PERFORM OCCURRED.
(Isn't it funny that AT&T itself determines how much it's willing to compensate customers for it's "partial or total failure to provide or perform any services"? And mentioned guidebooks are still not available at this time)
7e. YOU AGREE THAT THE OPERATION AND USE OF ANY OF AT&T’S SERVICES ARE AT YOUR OWN AND SOLE RISK. AT&T SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OPERATION, USE OR MALFUNCTION OF ANY OF ITS SERVICES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AT&T HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARE FORSEEABLE TO AT&T.
(Isn't this called willful and gross negligence?)
and, of course the whole
and, of course the whole sec.5:
5. INDEMNIFICATION
YOU AGREE THAT AT&T, OUR EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, ASSIGNEES AND AGENTS, SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION, SUITS, PROCEEDINGS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, COSTS AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES, ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO ANY USE OF ANY SERVICES, .... INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MATTERS RELATING TO: INCORRECT, INCOMPLETE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION; DEFAMATION, LIBEL OR SLANDER; INVASION OF PRIVACY; IDENTITY THEFT; .... ANY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT OR SERVICE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTED ....
YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS AT&T, OUR AFFILIATES AND SUBSIDIARIES, AND OUR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, ASSIGNEES AND AGENTS FOR ALL SUCH LOSSES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEES, UNLESS SUCH CLAIMS ARE BASED ON OR ARISE FROM OUR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE. THIS PROVISION WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY AFTER THE CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT
and if you consider sec.7e ("AT&T SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY ... REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AT&T HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES ARE FORSEEABLE TO AT&T") -- what would constitute "AT&T's willful misconduct"??
(Isn't it funny that AT&T
(Isn't it funny that AT&T itself determines how much it's willing to compensate customers for it's "partial or total failure to provide or perform any services"? And mentioned guidebooks are still not available at this time)
Sociology Dissertation | Philosophy Essay | Media Dissertation
AT&T Residential Service Agreement
Thank you, UCAN. As soon as I opened this mailer from AT&T, I put it aside so I could check with UCAN - I wonder if the implied permission for "monitoring" is the primary purpose for this unprecedented mailing to subscribers?
Old-fashioned land-lines vs. portable phones or cell phones
RE: new AT&T "Residential Service Agreement"
If I don't agree with certain terms, most especially the implied permission to wiretap if asked to by the Federal government, I have no choice other than to cancel my AT&T service. The biggest problem that I see is that, without a land-line hardwired into a hard-wired telephone - that is, not a portable handset with a base, which depends on electricity - I would completely lose home telephone service in the event of an outage.
A phone with a fixed base & portable handset will no longer work. And a cell phone is only a temporary substitute, still dependent on a means to charge the battery. If you don't have a generator or don't want to use your car battery to charge the cellphone using the cigarette lighter connection, you're out of luck when the cell battery runs down. Then there's the potential for lack of service for cell phones in an emergency that can result from a disaster that damages or destroys cell towers....
The historical "old-fashioned" land-lines - the kind where you have to stay by the telephone base because you're tethered to it - will continue to work if the electricity goes out - if you have kept an old-fashioned telephone and subscribe to the old-fashioned telephone connection.
I don't know if the same would be true for digital telephone service to a land-line - e.g. Cox or Verizon - so I'm left with nothing but electricity-dependent telephone service as an alternative to AT&T, and the possibility of having no telephone at all in a serious emergency.
I have been bothered for some time now by advertisements for cell phones that encourage consumers to use a cell phone as the only phone - I doubt that even many people my age (early 60s) know about this. Most people younger than 30 or 40 very probably have never heard of this. I think it is a mistake to rely exclusively on telephone service that requires electricity and/or vulnerable above-ground transmitters/receivers, creating the potential for many people to be cut off from communication in certain emergency situations.
Not mentioned in the
Not mentioned in the aforementioned summary was.....
1. The right to perform credit checks.
2. The right to require a security deposit.
3. Resolution of complaints through arbitration.
4. The right to discontinue service at the Company's discretion.
Post new comment