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AT&T Local Sales Guy Telemarketing To My Cell

zentec

Nov 10, 2009, 9:52 AM
What genius at AT&T is permitting a local AT&T cellular sales agent to look through the customer records and call them about adding a text messaging plan?

I receive enough text messages per month to equate to a $2 charge, and this guy thinks it's a good idea that I spend $5 so I can have up to 200 "free" messages.

Is this common practice? Why are they not using a number that doesn't eat my minutes for *their* sales pitch?
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acdc1a

Nov 10, 2009, 10:35 AM
This is common practice. I don't agree with it, but calls for sales add-ons happen regularly.
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zentec

Nov 10, 2009, 11:14 AM
Nice. At least Verizon never pulled that stunt with me.
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james_ryan_johns

Nov 10, 2009, 6:21 PM
I work for Verizon and we do the same thing. Its a common practice. However, I wont call someone if they are not using more than what a plan would cover.
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attcares

Nov 11, 2009, 2:36 PM
Call ATT Customer Care for wireless and let them know you do want to opt out of telemarketing to your cell (or any other marketing for that matter). We are legally required to abide by our internal do not call lists, so that will stop the action, since you have advised us accordingly.
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Azeron

Nov 13, 2009, 7:44 AM
Yeah, Verizon did it, too. When I worked for them it was called 5 Star. However it would only pop up customers who had paid text overages in the past three months. Ah! That's it! Because you paid any text overages at all, your name populated on the list. Apparently, the rep was too LAZY to pull your account up and review it to determine what text bundle would benefit you. Had he done some research, he would have realized that you did not need one and never called you. You would not be irritated with him, the guy who called you out or AT&T. I do not work for AT&T but I apologize for you getting handled in that manner by a poor excuse for a sales person. He obviously has no pride in his career. He likely will not be there for long.
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wizardofCroz

Nov 11, 2009, 4:33 PM
It's so people like you don't rack up a 600 dollar phone bill because you want nothing but minutes on your plan, then get and send two thousand text messages, then come to a store and say, "I never text message!!!" We have a system that pulls up customer accounts and shows overage charges. Please excuse us for trying to save you money. 🙄
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zentec

Nov 11, 2009, 5:25 PM
People like me? Nice representation for AT&T there. I have never gone over any account with any cell provider, nor I have never come into any store complaining. I know my use better than your software package.

Since you've objectively generalized me as your baneful customer, feel free to:

1. Tell your employer to knock off the abusive rate plans and obscenely complex contract language so people understand them. That should make your life easier.

2. Find a new job if you don't like retail sales and dealing with the public.

3. Piss off.

How am I saving money by spending $5 on a text messaging plan when I rarely spend more than $1 a month on the obscenely priced individual messages? The most I've ever spent is $3. I r...
(continues)
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mosco27

Nov 12, 2009, 10:41 PM
Dude chill out, yes the above post was a little uncalled for. But I don't think he meant you personally.
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Azeron

Nov 13, 2009, 7:35 AM
Sure he did. He didn't say customers... He said "people like you". Dude has every right to be miffed.
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zentec

Nov 13, 2009, 11:13 AM
Ok, deal.

Sorry.
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Azeron

Nov 13, 2009, 7:34 AM
Uh-oh. He should not have riled you up, huh?
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zentec

Nov 15, 2009, 5:29 PM
He came off as "this was necessary to help you over your own stupidity" and quite frankly, the stupidity was trying to say that I'd save money by spending more of it.

Sometimes these cell phone sales guys need to take a breather and listen to what they're saying.
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Azeron

Nov 13, 2009, 8:02 AM
By the way... Did you know that SMS and MMS cost the carrier nothing to provide to you? That's right. Zilch. So why did the pay per use rate increase from $.10 to $.15 to $.20? They want to FORCE you to subscribe to a text package so that their ARPU will increase. ARPU stands for 'average revenue per user' It is one of the metrics by which carriers measure their profitability. Verizon was once the king of ARPU (but then before Sprint grabbed Nextel; Nextel was) but AT&T was in the third quarter (iphone data plan maybe)? This is why I am so irritated by some idiot Senator making a fuss about the ETF increase for advanced devices at Verizon. Lady, if you want to investigate something, investigate why the carriers are screwing customer...
(continues)
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wirelessbox

Nov 15, 2009, 3:41 PM
I would not call this telemarketing. If you actually needed the messaging you would appreciate this. Its actually some form of customer service. I think your just whiny.
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GraGG

Nov 15, 2009, 4:31 PM
amen
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zentec

Nov 15, 2009, 5:34 PM
No, I wouldn't. If I "needed" the messaging, I would have added it.

Don't think for a moment that you're doing anyone any favors by sucking their voice minutes trying to pitch them services they may or may not need. There's nothing altruistic about trying to earn a commission. Your job, sure. For the benefit of the customer, probably not.
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Azeron

Nov 16, 2009, 12:30 AM
There you go! Don't back down! You had me worried with your earlier meek response. It's like I said previously, the fact that you have some overages means your name popped up on a list. BUT it is this rep's responsibility to review your account and at least your past three bills to determine if you need a messaging plan or not. How can he sell you a feature without doing his homework first? The answer: He cannot. In fact, I'll bet he was not the only rep to have your name populated on such a list. The other rep(s) probably determined that you were not using enough texts to justify a call. You did nothing wrong by posting here.
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llama

Nov 15, 2009, 4:44 PM
It's not telemarketing because you have an established business relationship with at&t.

But as others said, contact care to opt out/do not call.
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zentec

Nov 15, 2009, 5:32 PM
In the state of Michigan it is illegal to telemarket to a cellular phone. Period, end of story.

AT&T should know this is my wireless number.
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wirelessbox

Nov 16, 2009, 12:19 PM
When someone says telemarketing I think of someone cold calling and selling a random service the consumer is probably not interested in. If your sales rep calls you to check up..its him trying to provide you some sort of customer service. Did you know this sales rep?

I agree that it is not helpful to you to have someone sell you services that you don't need, but if you were a person who was not capable of managing their wireless account you may appreciate this call. Again, call care and get on the DNC list. But don't post on a forum comprised of mainly AT&T sales reps about how irritated you are. Its pointless and irritating.
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wizardofCroz

Nov 16, 2009, 3:52 PM
😢 BUT I NEVER SEND MESSAGES!! People text me and I don't think i should be charged! Blah blah blah, people eating up my minutes. 🤤 mmmm... minutes
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zentec

Nov 17, 2009, 1:42 PM
No, I have no idea who this sales rep is. I know the call is from a local AT&T store although I'm not sure if it's this town or downriver Detroit.

Explain to me how my post is more pointless and irritating than having someone call up and suggest I spend $5 for a text messaging plan when I rarely spend more than a $1 a month on text messages @ 20 cents each? Talk about pointless...
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Azeron

Nov 17, 2009, 8:46 PM
Again. Posting here was the right move. You learned that you can call care and have thm place you on a Do Not Call list.
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texaswireless

Nov 16, 2009, 4:41 PM
#1 - It is not telemarketing if you have an established business relationship. Did you tell him to please not call anymore? As suggested by others that would be the solution if it has continued to happen.

#2 - Overages are like gateway drugs. Sure, you are just doing a little puff-puff give on overages but most customers call up a few months later with a full blown crack-pipe of overages. Whether you like it or not MORE customers appreciate being notified of their overages and a way to keep their bill a set amount (even if it just a starbucks coffee increase in their bill). If you have a handle on it they politely say you are good. No reason to has such a bitter mentality about it all.
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