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I wasn't sure where to put this, but in involves some psychology so this looked appropriate.
Background:
Several years ago I had AT&T Internet, cable TV, and cell phone service. I don't know how I ended up with them in all three but it was probably just convenience. The company kept asking me to "bundle" my services and that it would save me money, so I relented. Once I had my utilities "bundled", my monthly bill was higher every month. The bill that came in was so convoluted that I couldn't unpack it to see where I was being overcharged. I had to call AT&T every month to complain and get the bill adjusted back to where it was supposed to be, which often took 1-2 hours per call (with all the hold times and battling doubletalk).
I finally had enough and cancelled all of my services. AT&T claimed I owed them an early termination fee on my contract, that they claimed was around $1200. I told them "No way. The contract was terminated by them by overcharging me month after month." They sent a collection agency after me and reported me to the various credit agencies. Once I explained the situation to the credit companies, my credit rating was restored. The collection agency backed off when I asked them to provide a copy of the "contract" and they couldn't. I had washed my hands of AT&T for good. They used to solicit me constantly for services up until that time, but they stopped when this all happened and I hadn't heard from them since. Until...
Fast Forward:
I got a notice from AT&T that they were installing fiber optics in my neighborhood and they needed to dig up my yard to install it. I said "No way. Stay off my property." With their usual arrogant, pushy attitude, a lawyer called me and started saying "easement ... easement" like a mantra at me. I told him I would sue them if they came on my property without permission, started digging holes, and I would park vehicles all along the "easement" and dared them to touch any of those vehicles.
Today, I took "before" pictures of my property on where they planned to dig. They had utility companies flag and paint stripes where existing pipes and cables were buried, and I threw the flags in the street and removed the paint stripes. An AT&T contractor was down the street watching me. I guess he got nervous. He walked in front of my house and made some phone calls. Then he called me and asked me to meet him in the street. He said (verbatim) "I understand you don't like AT&T - that you hate AT&T." I acknowledged, and he said he was going to by pass my property. I could tell by his demeanor that he was afraid I might to do something violent and crazy. Although I wanted to put his mind at ease, I just blankly acknowledged what he was saying. His nervousness was working in my favor so I figured it was best to let him think I might be nuts.
End Result:
No AT&T fiber optics installed in my yard - but I would never been able to use them anyway. I was able to stare down the goliath AT&T and made them blink.
Background:
Several years ago I had AT&T Internet, cable TV, and cell phone service. I don't know how I ended up with them in all three but it was probably just convenience. The company kept asking me to "bundle" my services and that it would save me money, so I relented. Once I had my utilities "bundled", my monthly bill was higher every month. The bill that came in was so convoluted that I couldn't unpack it to see where I was being overcharged. I had to call AT&T every month to complain and get the bill adjusted back to where it was supposed to be, which often took 1-2 hours per call (with all the hold times and battling doubletalk).
I finally had enough and cancelled all of my services. AT&T claimed I owed them an early termination fee on my contract, that they claimed was around $1200. I told them "No way. The contract was terminated by them by overcharging me month after month." They sent a collection agency after me and reported me to the various credit agencies. Once I explained the situation to the credit companies, my credit rating was restored. The collection agency backed off when I asked them to provide a copy of the "contract" and they couldn't. I had washed my hands of AT&T for good. They used to solicit me constantly for services up until that time, but they stopped when this all happened and I hadn't heard from them since. Until...
Fast Forward:
I got a notice from AT&T that they were installing fiber optics in my neighborhood and they needed to dig up my yard to install it. I said "No way. Stay off my property." With their usual arrogant, pushy attitude, a lawyer called me and started saying "easement ... easement" like a mantra at me. I told him I would sue them if they came on my property without permission, started digging holes, and I would park vehicles all along the "easement" and dared them to touch any of those vehicles.
Today, I took "before" pictures of my property on where they planned to dig. They had utility companies flag and paint stripes where existing pipes and cables were buried, and I threw the flags in the street and removed the paint stripes. An AT&T contractor was down the street watching me. I guess he got nervous. He walked in front of my house and made some phone calls. Then he called me and asked me to meet him in the street. He said (verbatim) "I understand you don't like AT&T - that you hate AT&T." I acknowledged, and he said he was going to by pass my property. I could tell by his demeanor that he was afraid I might to do something violent and crazy. Although I wanted to put his mind at ease, I just blankly acknowledged what he was saying. His nervousness was working in my favor so I figured it was best to let him think I might be nuts.
End Result:
No AT&T fiber optics installed in my yard - but I would never been able to use them anyway. I was able to stare down the goliath AT&T and made them blink.
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