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Topic: Smartphones

Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

Summary: AT&T acquires T-Mobile. AT&T might be happy, but not everyone else is.

Scott Raymond

By Scott Raymond for Tech Broiler |

Image originally from Gizmodo

Image originally from Gizmodo

Dear T-Mobile: Thanks for nothing.

If you haven't heard yet, AT&T has acquired T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion in cash and stock. It's been presumed that AT&T had done this to buy a 4G network rather than spend more effort building out its own.

There's just one problem for me. I left AT&T last year because I was fed up with the terrible AT&T service, along with poor customer support. When I moved to California in 1999, I switched from my analog AT&T service to AT&T's GSM service. In 2004, Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless. I was quite happy with it, although some other people had issues with the service. Things were fine until the SBC/AT&T merger. The service immediately began to suffer in terms of quality.

After being overcharged for handsets, call waiting, text messaging, and various other forms of being nickel-and-dimed to death, I chose to switch to T-Mobile. Their coverage wasn't as good, but the phone service quality was excellent and the customer support was excellent. They always went the extra mile for me.

With AT&T, I can expect the T-Mobile service to degrade, customer support to be switched over to one that doesn't care, and billing options being changed and costs increased with little warning once the contract ends.

Considering that I was willing to eat an early termination charge from AT&T to switch my cell number over to T-Mobile, this acquisition should be considered a violation of my user contract with T-Mobile. I deserve the option to be let out of my contract with T-Mobile.

Hello, Verizon? Can you hear me now?

Update:

T-Mobile posted a Q&A about the merger on their website. Basically it boils down to them claiming that T-Mobile will remain an independent company. If that were so, then there would be no need for a merger.

Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless in 2004. They originally shared the GSM 1900 network with T-Mobile--an arrangement which was dissolved after the AT&T acquisition. With the merger of SBC and AT&T, the wireless company was transitioned to AT&T Mobility.

Topics: Smartphones, Mobility, Networking, Wi-Fi

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65 comments
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  • Not Quite

    "AT&T has acquired T-Mobile USA"

    Uh, actually they haven't. They announced their intention to do so. We'll see how it all shakes out. (I left AT&T for Verizon.)
    davezatz
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

      @davezatz Except for the regulatory approval, this is already a done deal. Read the Business Wire link again.
      Scott Raymond
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

        It's a done deal only after regulatory approval. Which may or may not occur. And surely won't be measured in days or weeks. You've got plenty of time to work on your exit strategy, should you need one.
        davezatz
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

        @Scott Raymond
        "Conditions

        The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals, a reverse breakup fee in certain circumstances, and other customary regulatory and other closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 12 months. "

        Hmmm. Doesn't look done yet and if it closes in 12 months and if it then takes 6-12 months to integrate the businesses you'll have plenty of time to fulfill your contract and switch without dishing out any more cash.

        I don't think the sky is falling yet, chicken little. However, I do agree with your not wanting any part of AT&T. I have been free of them since 2001.
        Freddy McGriff
        Reply Vote

      • NEVER be an ATT Customer!

        I refuse to be an ATT customer. Its the WORST COMPANY from a customer stand point of view.

        Deuttsche Telelom sold us out! We should all leave TMobile asap. Unless you want to be charged extra for an inferior service.

        ATT provides the following benefits to its customers:

        -- A service so poor, that is not even allowed in third world countries
        -- You will pay dearly
        -- You wont be able to user your hotspot unless you pay up what ATT wants.
        -- Your Android cap will be limited to make iPhone look good so your speed will drop from 5K to 0.5K Mbps
        -- You stand a good chance of been overcharged without noticed for services you dont comsume.
        -- You will have to review your bill every month to see if its accurate.

        Advice to ALL TMobile customers, LEAVE while you can!
        Uralbas
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

        @Scott Raymond I also left ATT for T Mobile. ATT was always shady with extremely horrible customer service, while T Mobile always treated us well and offered good pricing. Well those days are over. So enjoy your good rates and customer service now, because we are about to get raped by ATT. The bunch of crooks.
        j-mccurdy@...
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

      @davezatz
      I was in BellSouth when acquired by AT&T and I doubt that this acquisition will be different. Within weeks, special team managers from both companies will begin working together on every aspect of the purchase: finance, inventory, vendors, contracts, operations, data centers, IT, infrastructure, etc. Everything will be ready once approval from Feds is received and T-Mobile customers can expect to receive a welcome message on day 1. This is how it is done. Changes will come on day 2... lots and lots and lots of changes. As I was told by an AT&T manager when I was working with BellSouth, "We bought you..." So clearly, T-Mobile being independent and working outside of AT&T is a fairy tale.
      Of course, this is just my opinion.
      Ray Burne
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

      @davezatz: I think it is just a matter of "how much the government can get" out of the deal at this point. They won't stop it because the government just looks to feed the greed... I will leave T-Mobile as soon as possible. Unfortunately I just signed a 2 year so I am stuck!
      No Thanks, Just Lurking
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

      @davezatz
      Actually, if you have a national plan with no roaming charges on a GSM phone you are ALREADY and AT&T and T-mobile customer without knowing it.
      kd5auq
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

        @kd5auq But it wasn't cheap enough for companies like StarTek to build call centers in the boonies and pay Americans and Canadians next-to-nothing, they had to "grow offshore" while "decreasing their footprint in the US and Canada." Translation: Lay off hundreds of North American workers (330 in Alexandria alone last month) and outsource the jobs even further to countries like Costa Rica and the Philippines. <a href="http://www.sanjosedentistdds.com">dentist san jose</a>
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        samjenko
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        lucky2288
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    • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

      @Scott Raymond I have been reading with bemused interest the comments of T-Mobile customers about how they have remained loyal for many years because of the great customer service. The truth is, whether T-Mobile and AT&T merge or not, the quality of service which T-Mobile customers are experiencing has already nosedived because of both carriers' outsourcing practices. If you want to know what's really going on with the lousy call center experiences common to customers of both AT&T and T-Mobile, spend a few minutes looking into an outsourcing company called StarTek Inc. based in Denver. You may have thought you were getting great service from real T-Mobile employees, but instead you were most likely talking to underpaid/undercompensated StarTek call center employees in middle-of-nowhere locations such as Alexandria, Louisiana (roughly 100 miles from the nearest T-Mobile tower or dealer, so much for the employees having any actual hands-on experience with the device you were calling about). But it wasn't cheap enough for companies like StarTek to build call centers in the boonies and pay Americans and Canadians next-to-nothing, they had to "grow offshore" while "decreasing their footprint in the US and Canada." Translation: Lay off hundreds of North American workers (330 in Alexandria alone last month) and outsource the jobs even further to countries like Costa Rica and the Philippines. T-Mobile customers noticed the difference immediately, especially those long-suffering people stuck with FlexPay accounts, and now AT&T customers are hearing those undeniably robotic Filipino accents as well. T-Mobile customers who became angry enough to cancel their accounts got transferred to the "Customer Loyalty" retention department, which suddenly became a "blended queue" with Spanish customer care, so these already-agitated customers were often greeted in Spanish after waiting on an extended hold. So, to answer your rant, no matter where you run, you're going to be stuck with the same lousy "offshore" service anyway.
      natalie@...
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  • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

    This deal still has to pass through regulatory scrutiny but given recent events, I doubt that ATT will have too many problems pushing this deal past US regulators. I also escaped to T-Mobile from ATT because of horrific billing practices, terrible customer service and lackluster network connectivity that I experienced with ATT. I've been very happy with T-Mobile, their phones and customer service are top-notch but their network can be weak in some places. I escaped from ATT by using cellswapper.com instead of paying an early termination fee. I was a Pacific Bell Wireless/Cingular/ATT customer for almost 10 years, looks like all good things do come to an end.
    aphilipoff
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

      @aphilipoff This is why I'm saying it's a done deal. When was the last time you saw a big merger like this get turned down? Keep in mind that these are two US-based companies, so the EU won't be getting involved.

      I have a trip to Europe coming up in June. After that, I'm giving serious consideration to moving my mobile service to Verizon. There should be a new round of world-capable phones by then.
      Scott Raymond
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

        @Scott Raymond
        I suggest you to consider Sprint instead of Verizon. Right now they are the best with cheaper plans. IMO both Big Red and Blue eats lot of money for little service. Of course, if the place where you are doesn't get good sprint then you have no choice though.
        Ram U
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

        @Rama.NET Normally I would, but Sprint has no global-capable phones in its current lineup. The next batch of phones to Verizon will likely have both 4G and world-roaming.
        Scott Raymond
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Rant: I switched to T-Mobile to get AWAY from AT&T!

        @Scott Raymond
        I agree with you on Global roaming. I would love if Sprint can get its hands on LTE. If they do that my business with AT&T will be permanently moved to Sprint.
        Ram U
        Reply Vote

      • Bear in mind that T-Mobile's infrastructure will not go away, it will stay

        @Scott Raymond: ... the very same as it is now. Existing working system is not bought to all of these done investments be thrown away. <b>No one is going to turn your local T-Mobile equipment/service to "worse"; nothing will happen to it.</b>

        So while on emotional level your worries are understandable, on level of reason there is nothing to fear about AT&T-T-Mobile merge -- at least for any near future.

        You can stay with T-Mobile easily for a quite long time before any changes would become reality. And if these changes will go to worse, then only it will make sense to move.
        DDERSSS
        Reply Vote

      • They are owned by Deutsche Telekom

        @Scott Raymond
        so the EU may want to jump in on some grounds. Don't know what or how, but they could still mess it up somehow.
        John Zern
        Reply Vote
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