SBC Ameritech rip off Poor Processing of payments, late fees assessed. Pain in the a*s customer service Cleveland Ohio & several other states

I have had a problem with SBC Ameritech's billing 3 out of 4 months of service.

My first problem was that I went to pay my first bill through automated phone system and it didn't accept my (valid) credit card number. So I went to use another. They processed that one immediately. Then they later verified the first credit card I tried (though I don't know why since payment was obviously received) and then I had to deal it out with my creditors.

Not only this, but the inconvenience of not being able to get online statements AND paper statements in increasingly annoying.

I switched to online billing since I travel extensively and cannot pickup my mail for weeks on end. I got my first e-bill, went to pay it... and now apparently that payment didn't go through either. When I was online I signed up for automatic pay (through THEIR system. I figured it wouldn't give them an excuse to have the payment post late.)

So I get a call this morning telling me that I'm scheduled for disconnection because my last bill has (supposedly) not been paid. Late charges have already posted.

I have never been late on ANY bill.

I listen to their speal about being disconnected and I remembered I put in payment for it. I also remember signing up for automatic pay. They (their collection representative) told me I cannot dispute it with them and would have to call back 1-800-634-4948. I get my records together, but cannot locate the confirmation number of the payment.

I checked my credit card statements and it didn't show up. So apparently they didn't process the payment as they were SUPPOSED to. I just didn't notice it on my credit card bill that it didn't appear.

So, after only four months of service I am already fed up with this company. Their payment processing is obviously not reliable and the customer service, in my experience, has been lacking.

I am now setup for automatic payments. I will monitor closely that they don't try to overcharge me.

And if they continue doing this, I guess this will be the ONLY bill I will have to pay by check and certified mail, just so they don't try to pull anything else.

Preston
Cleveland, Ohio
U.S.A.