AT&T Wants $300 From Wildfire Victim

[Poke]

AT&T Wants $300 From Wildfire Victim - They didn't think to grab their Dish network receiver... - dslreports.com

I was hit hard by the floods in the Northeast last spring, effectively having everything I owned destroyed by eight-feet of raging mudwater. At the time, I was pleasantly surprised to find that neither Time Warner Cable nor DirecTV charged me for destroyed modems and/or DVRs. In fact, both operators were kind enough to reconnect my service high on a hill free of charge.


Unfortunately, for at least one California wild fire victim, they're not getting the same treatment from AT&T and Dish Network. Matt and Danelle Azola returned from a cruise to find their Ramona, California home burned to the ground. When they called to cancel their services, they were told they owed $300 for the receiver, non-negotiable. The company wouldn't even postpone the bill until the couple was reimbursed by their insurance.

 

[Poke]

But if this person has insurance they should pay for somethings.

 

[AT&TDishman]

AT&T Wants $300 From Wildfire Victim - They didn't think to grab their Dish network receiver... - dslreports.com

I was hit hard by the floods in the Northeast last spring, effectively having everything I owned destroyed by eight-feet of raging mudwater. At the time, I was pleasantly surprised to find that neither Time Warner Cable nor DirecTV charged me for destroyed modems and/or DVRs. In fact, both operators were kind enough to reconnect my service high on a hill free of charge.


Unfortunately, for at least one California wild fire victim, they're not getting the same treatment from AT&T and Dish Network. Matt and Danelle Azola returned from a cruise to find their Ramona, California home burned to the ground. When they called to cancel their services, they were told they owed $300 for the receiver, non-negotiable. The company wouldn't even postpone the bill until the couple was reimbursed by their insurance.

I'm confused. You live in OK, but your house is in the Northeast?

 

[Buzzdar]

ATT/Dish Network wants $$$$$

About This Video
This is a news report showing AT&T being totall...
This is a news report showing AT&T being totally insensitive to the victims of the devastating San Diego County fires. The Azola family lost their home and AT&T was only concerned about letting them know about the $300 they would owe for the fire damaged SAT receiver. This is a shameful display by a large company to victims of one of the worst fire in this Counties history.

YouTube - AT&T makes Azola couple a victim again -shame on AT&T

 

[mike123abc]

Unfortunately you are responsible for all items you lease. If your leased car was in the garage when it burned down you would have to pay for that also. Homeowners insurance covers this anyways. Your house burns down you still owe the mortgage too...

It just could probably have been worded better by the CS rep when the gal called in to disconnect the service. They probably should have worded it as you will need to make a claim for the property on your insurance when doing the rest of the house.

 

[RandallA]

I read something similar in the Installers forum about Comcast, they want to charge the customer for their equipment. Hope they have homeowners insurance.

 

[ptech]

Unfortunately you are responsible for all items you lease. If your leased car was in the garage when it burned down you would have to pay for that also. Homeowners insurance covers this anyways. Your house burns down you still owe the mortgage too...

It just could probably have been worded better by the CS rep when the gal called in to disconnect the service. They probably should have worded it as you will need to make a claim for the property on your insurance when doing the rest of the house.

Your right on the money and in addition, this is one side of the story. AT&T has sattelite dishes?

 

[RandallA]

Your right on the money and in addition, this is one side of the story. AT&T has sattelite dishes?

AT&T offers Dish Network.

 

[ptech]

AT&T offers Dish Network.

Oh yeah, I forgot, thanks.

 

[Jim S.]

The local cable company wanted to bill an entire apartment building full of people for their cable boxes which burned up. After much media attention I think they finally backed down, but I'm not sure to what extent.

 

[RedWings]

Who knows who is right/wrong in this situation. If we had a recording of the conversation, then I think we could draw better conclusions.

But if they think they'll not be liable for the cost of the receiver...they should think again. You signed a contract, the stuff is damaged, now you owe.

Hopefully the homeowners insurance covers the whole value. If not, get a new insurance company.

 

[okiekevn]

well, either way att loses on this one. what if att just decided to not tell them about the equipment, cause the csr does not have to as it is in the contract so the customer is already aware(they did sign it after all). then att bills the customer, customer never gets bill cause the mail box burned down. customer never files claim with insurnace for rec, and then time frame for filing claim passes(if there even is one), and now the cust is pissed at att for not telling them about the rec. att cant win on this one. i wish i could go down to san diego, and interview fire victems in hotels to see how outraged they are for having to pay for a hotel to stay since their home burned down. how dare (insert your favorite motel/hotel) charge a fire victem. i reckon wal mart should let them come in and rape the store, take all the food and clothes and electronics housewares they want without paying also, since they are fire victems. well, did the people in louisiana do that anyways without the stores permission? i remember seeing the news clips of looters carrying big screen lcd tvs. fools forgot they dont have electricity anymore lol. yeah i know hurrican victems got natural disaster assistnace from e*, they got services suspended reguardless of contracts and new equip when they got settled in their new homes. katrina was a natural disaster. the fires in cali are not natural disasters. it is arson.

 

[Dish-Direc]

Okiekevn, you should read your post and delete some stuff. There is freedom of expression, but calling victims fools, and not sympathising with their problems is not cool. Even Arson victims are victims. We are Satellite guys.....not goons.

 

[old corps]

I believe he called the looters in Louisiana fools. I don't have any problem with that.

Ed

 

[damjr]

Wow. And I'm sure their car, mortgage, credit card, etc.....payments were all waived.

It sucks that their Sat equipment is just one more thing those poor victims have to worry about, but such is life. This is what Home Owners Insurance is for.

 

[GeorgeLV]

They didn't ask for AT&T to take the loss, all they wanted was for AT&T to wait until they received their fire insurance money. I understand the front-line CSR being clueless, but the shame on supervisor.

 

[vurbano]

Wow. And I'm sure their car, mortgage, credit card, etc.....payments were all waived.

It sucks that their Sat equipment is just one more thing those poor victims have to worry about, but such is life. This is what Home Owners Insurance is for.

Bingo we have a winner.

 

[LASooner]

Here's the thing, it's not about the money, it's about tact.

AT&T could easily tell them, "your contract says you're liable for the damage and we understand it's going to be rough financially for you, so we'll suspend the account and give you 3 months to get your insurance money and pay for the damaged receiver."

At least that would show that AT&T is understanding about a difficult situation, even though they are saying the same thing.

 

[okiekevn]

Okiekevn, you should read your post and delete some stuff. There is freedom of expression, but calling victims fools, and not sympathising with their problems is not cool. Even Arson victims are victims. We are Satellite guys.....not goons.

i was infact referring to the looters as the fools. i was mocking how they are busy stealing electronics when they probably wont have electricity for quite some time. and yes the people in so cali are victims, but they arent victims of a natural disaster. im not saying its not a disaster. and remember, its not too late for the governator to declare it one. its just a matter of time most likely.

 

[chadzx11]

I read something similar in the Installers forum about Comcast, they want to charge the customer for their equipment. Hope they have homeowners insurance.

I posted that. Commcast MEMPHIS is a bunch of aholes. Previously, I regarded them higher than I did Time Warner. Now I want my time warner back. Currently, I am buttering up my wife for sprint EVDO.

I have had it with commcast, but by the time I buy dial tone and sign up with a dial up provider, I'm spending the same money, plus I have to pay them $47 to press the freaking button to activate my house (already have the lines). If it wasn't for work I would walk away from the internet today.