AT&T Universal Card ripoff Jacksonville Florida

I accepted a Master credit card offer with The Universal Card that consisted of: 0% Introductory Offer On Purchase for 12 months. Moreover, I would receive $100.00 of free ATT long distance calls as a Free Gift.

After I sent in my application, I received an ATT Universal Master Card with a calling card number imprinted at the bottom of the credit card. I called in to confirm the free gift and was told to use the calling crad number for my free $100.00 of calls, but no explanation of specific calling charges, surcharges, basic rate and rate plan. Each time I used the Card, I was prompted by a voice that briefly stated that "You have free minutes remaining" but without details of total available minutes. Under the impression this was true, I continued to use the calling card. Each time I used the Card, it continue prompted me that there were free minutes remaining.

After several attempts, I finally spoke to AT&T Customer Service in August 05, 2002. When I asked how many FREE minutes are still available for me to use? The Customer Service Representative briefly informed me that I was just a little over run but given no other details.

When I received my August 2002 statement, I was shockingly discovered that I was not only credited $100.00 at a charge rate of $0.89 per minutes, (this rate was never fully nor specifically explained) for my Free calls, I have also charged a $1.25 service charges for each "free call", and had an additional charge of $358.05 in long distance calls on One Rate Calling Card Plan for the "little over run" of 1023 minutes for a total charges of $444.89!

How could I be charged this amount when the (phone card) message operator prompted me that I had free minutes remaining?

I have called Customer Service many times. Every times I call, each Customer Service people either told me something different or transfered to a different numbers, different departments. But they all end up telling me that I am the only person who has had this situation and I am fully responsible for the full amount of $444.89. I have explained that the calling card had a phone prompt which continued to prompt me with "free minutes remaining" that misled me to believe the calls were still free; that I was not fully aware of the Basic Rate charges nor Calling Plan to be applied.

The Customer Service Department acts as it is not possible (in a sense that I was a liar). After all, per my request, the Customer Service Deptartment sent me a dispute form and an expalanation letter of the basic rate and all other rate charges (isn't it a little bit too late?). I am now writing letters to Customer Service, and filling dispute for a balance for the call charges.

In the summary,
1) I was misled and prompted to freely continue using this card by the message operator.
2) I was not fully informed of the basic rate of $0.89 per call.
3) I was converted to One Rate Plan w/o my acknowledgement.

The ATT Universal Card Calling Plan's Customer Service number is 1800-423-4343 and the address is: ATT Universal Card,Attn: Customer Service Center,P.O. Box 45218, Jacksonville, FL 32232-5218 -- No physical adress available to my knowledge.

Diep
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma