AT&T Go Phone Rant: Warning!

[Texas Star]

I've never bought a cell phone, as I don't want extra phone charges, and the threat of cancer from carrying one on or near the body worried me. Finally decided on the basis of latest info that if I carry in a coat, it's probably safe, and I need the phone in case of emergency away from home, etc.

My brother, who is an electronics buff and software engineer, told me that he'd get me a phone and pay the first period of use. (He's pretty well off, and I'm on a fixed income.) I said okay.

We bought an AT&T GoPhone at Target on April 7, but he had to get on home, so I left the phone in the blister pack box until he or one of my grown kids could show me how to set it up and select the calling plan. We bought the appropriate card, for $50 of air time.

Yesterday, my daughter came by for breakfast (IHOP) and to run a few errands with me. She had time to unpack the phone and get with AT&T to activate the unit and select the air time option. It worked okay.

But last night, I tried to make another call, and got an AT&T announcement that there was a problem at the point of purchase and that I need to call AT&T during normal business hours and deal with it. Reading the fine print on the box, I think the clerk in the checkout lane or in Electronics at Target failed to scan a code on the bottom of the box to activate the phone purchase.

Now, my brother will probably have to drive 20 miles back to that Target and prove that he paid for the phone and find some clerk who knows what to do so I can use the phone. I called Target tonight, and neither clerk I talked to had a clue. Said that the cashier was supposed to scan that code. This is evidently in addition to scanning the box for purchase.

If you are thinking of buying an AT&T cell phone, be aware of this situation. Just another freaking thrill from AT&T! I don't think the Target Electronics clerk was even in the dept. when we were there, and my brother was in a hurry and didn't read all the fine print on the box. Not being a regular buyer of electronics goods, I hadn't a clue.
Anyway, treat such purchases as potential adversary proceedings with an opportunity for lost time and added hassles, so that AT&T can enjoy their marketing schemes.

And don't trust Target clerks to know what to do, especially in the regular check-out lanes, where the clerk probably hasn't been trained to deal with this issue over and above simple purchase scans. I would hope that the purchase scan alone would solve any shoplifting issues, if that is what this is designed to prevent. Anyway, I'm an unhappy camper. And I'm not looking forward to dealing with AT&T about it on Monday.

I'm just glad that I didn't assume that all was well after the first few calls worked and go to a remote area where I'd need that phone for emergency help, only to find that it no longer worked!

Rant over, but be careful!

 

[matmat417]

Texas Star, first id like to say is that sucks! and sorry bout the problems.. If I may make a suggestion, If you want a cellphone that is cheap and reliable and also is bout 35-40 bucks a month, see if there is a Cricket Wireless in your area.. BY ANY MEAN I DONT WORK FOR THEM, ive just had them for about 4 years and havnt had any problems. They have regular phones, no smart phones. Thought I would throw that out there for ya.

Just my .02cents for ya partner.

Matt

 

[writerinmo]

That's done to prevent people from stealing the phones, it's a dig on Target, not ATT. If you could just pick up the phone and walk out with it and start using it, there wouldn't even BE any phones in there, all the drug dealers would have already stolen them. And you can get the phone activated at any ATT store, or Target, it doesn't have to be the one you bought it at if you have the receipt.

 

[Texas Star]

That's done to prevent people from stealing the phones, it's a dig on Target, not ATT. If you could just pick up the phone and walk out with it and start using it, there wouldn't even BE any phones in there, all the drug dealers would have already stolen them. And you can get the phone activated at any ATT store, or Target, it doesn't have to be the one you bought it at if you have the receipt.

Yeah, but I think the regular checkout lane scan should have sufficed. Now, we'll probably have to produce the receipt, or get a copy of the purchase from the credit card company.

 

[shaggist]

AT&T Flip phone

I have an AT&T flip phone that works just fine. My calling plan is the pre-paid one, where you give them $100., which buys you 1,000 minutes, and then they subtract $ .10 for each minute that you talk on the phone. This is good for a year, and, if you have any minutes left at the end of the year, they will roll-over when you buy another $100s worth. Since I only use mine when I want to make a call, and leave it turned off the rest of the time, unless I'm expecting a call, the 1,000 minutes are more than enough for a year's worth of service. Last year I used only 300 minutes of talktime, so I rolled over 700 minutes when I bought this year's plan. I am never going to use up that many minutes, but they are nice to have just for the feeling of being able to connect with someone when you have to do so.

 

[DeathGrip]

More detail is needed concerning breakfast at (IHOP).

 

[Texas Star]

More detail is needed concerning breakfast at (IHOP).

Okay: me, older, distinguished, if a bit professorial-looking. She's a hot blonde in her 30's. Looks about 25. Teaches for a living, but could easily pass for an actress or sleek pharmaceutical (sp?) sales rep.

Very snazzy in a dark sage green sweater and tight cargo jeans the same, but darker. (Her) Me, green, gold, and black plaid L.L. Bean shirt and tan Dockers and handsewn Timberlands. Tortoise-shell looking glasses.

Hair: her, lots, mid-dark blonde, shoulder length. Me, gray, much less.

Breakfast: Me, Rooty, Tooty Fresh and Fruity with strawberry topping on the pancakes and the eggs scrambled. Her, two med. easy eggs, toast, don't recall the pancake, but she had banana slices on it. Both, coffee. I got both bacon and sausage links. I don't eat there enough to fret over the chloresterol.

My eggs were a little past prime, but I ate them. Did send the pancakes back for fresh ones, which were excellent. Used maple syrup. Ordered an extra pancake, I liked them so well. It is my experience that if you order scrambled eggs out, they may have been sitting longer than if you order over easy, but I prefer scrambled. I send them back if they're too leathery. Mostly, they're fine.

I rather like going places with the daughter. She's smart and snazzy and impresses people well. I get occasional jealous looks from other men, and we get a few snarky ones from women who give her mean looks and who maybe think she's my trophy wife.

Great conversation, and I told her that I'd give her a detailed ceramic bobcat statuette that she's wanted since she was a kid. She produced a brilliant smile. And later, she set up my cell phone to operate, which it did for several hours until AT&T cut off service with the message discussed above. Not her fault; the store clerk forgot to enter some purchase data.

Then , she went home to care for a sick husband and three kids, all of whom caught something the kids brought home from school this week.

Our next planned dinner out is for the Outback near me for my birthday in a month or so. I'll probably order their Victoria's Filet of beef, medium, with broccoli and rice. Leslie will probably get her favorite sirloin with baked potato. But sometimes, we get the Alice Springs chicken.

I'm glad that she lives fairly near me, in a suburb. My son and his wife live about 250 miles away, and I see them only every few months. BTW, one of my grandsons is reading Jim Corbett 's, "Man-Eaters of Kumaon." I may make a hunter and naturalist and gun enthusiast of him yet. His dad's family isn't too keen on that, and the kids get a lot of anti-gun drivel from their schools, I think. But my daughter and her husband have sort of agreed that we can go to a range soon to teach them gun safety. I think that if the son-in-law actually shoots some, he may like it. And he does want to inherit some guns when his grandmother dies. But I ramble. You actually just asked for breakfast details.

Oh: I forgot to order orange juice, but had some when I got home. Florida's Natural, the Most Pulp variety. And I had more coffee.

 

[DeathGrip]

You do know that ain't real maple syrup......

 

[CJ]

My eggs were a little past prime, but I ate them. Did send the pancakes back for fresh ones, which were excellent. Used maple syrup.

I believe I would have asked for fresh syrup. ;>)

 

[Texas Star]

Yeah, I doubt it's real syrup, at least not maple. But that's what they call it. I like it better than their Blueberry, etc. syrups.

That IHOP is the best breakfast place near me. Usually busy, but good for the sort of establishment. I like it better than Denny's. I always get heartburn at Denny's.

 

[Texas Star]

I believe I would have asked for fresh syrup. ;>)

I caught the pun.

 

[4506517]

You know, I also used to fancy eating at Bob Evans. They tend to shoot up the IHOP around here quiet frequently.

I always liked the sausage better at Bob Evans. It seemed to be leaner and not cooked so tough.

 

[Texas Star]

You know, I also used to fancy eating at Bob Evans. They tend to shoot up the IHOP around here quiet frequently.

I always liked the sausage better at Bob Evans. It seemed to be leaner and not cooked so tough.

Never heard of Bob Evans. This IHOP is in a good area, not far from Highland Park, which is the local equivalent of Beverly Hills, laid out by the same architect. (Yes, literally.) You can see it (HP scenes) on a TV show called ,"GCB". Never gets shot up. And their coffee is usually good, too.

I do wish they'd offer sausage patties as well as the links. I like them better. Come to think of it, I could probably have had ham, had I thought to ask.

 

[blujax01]

Sorry to hear about your trouble. It can be the same if you buy gift cards, by the way. Anytime any purchase requires an "activation", no matter whether it's at Target, Wal*Mart, Best Buy, etc., I am always worried that the oh-so-caring sales associate forgot to do it.

 

[tork'd]

oooh thanx you guys...
i opened this thread to see what it was about, as i have had a "pay as you go " plan with ATT for over 5 years no problems..
as a result i am now hungry for pancakes and maple syrup with scrammbled eggs and sausage...
thanx....

 

[H Richard]

Being's as how I do travel kind of frequently, both within 100 mile radius of where I live, and out to SD, CO, and WA I have found that AT&T is very spotty in coverage in quite a few area's. The entire SE 1/4 of SD has no coverage at all, within 30 miles of my house there is large area's of no coverage. I switched to U S Cellular about 5 years ago and couldn't be happier. I have coverage everywhere. The wife and I split 550 minutes a month and have never reached our limit. It is rather nice to be able to sit at my portable shooting bench in the middle of a prairie dog field in rural SD and have excellent reception.

 

[Texas Star]

Being's as how I do travel kind of frequently, both within 100 mile radius of where I live, and out to SD, CO, and WA I have found that AT&T is very spotty in coverage in quite a few area's. The entire SE 1/4 of SD has no coverage at all, within 30 miles of my house there is large area's of no coverage. I switched to U S Cellular about 5 years ago and couldn't be happier. I have coverage everywhere. The wife and I split 550 minutes a month and have never reached our limit. It is rather nice to be able to sit at my portable shooting bench in the middle of a prairie dog field in rural SD and have excellent reception.

Yeah, and it's in remote areas where you may most need that phone!

That guy Aaron Something, who got his hand stuck under a boulder a few years back and had to amputate it with the knife blade on a cheap multi-tool should have had a cell phone that he could use.

Not to mention, a companion with a phone, and they'd do well to have decent knives! But anyone can have a car breakdown or fall or animal/snake attack and need help fast.

I may just need a taxi in town, but I want effective coverage on a phone that works!

 

[rcnixon]

Hey Tex, I'm a telephone man and an RF guy. Regarding your concern about cancer from the cell phone, the single conclusion was reached with faulty methodology. Avoid your next sunburn and you'll be ahead of the game on ionizing radiation exposure. This is totally aside from the fact that the 800 - 900 MHz RF coming from the phone at ~ 300 milliWatts is not ionizing radiation. It may do some tissue heating but the power level is so low as to be inconsequential. Use your cell phone and enjoy being in contact with your loved ones.

As for the activation problem, only the store where you purchased it can help you.

Russ

 

[DeathGrip]

Okay: me, older, distinguished, if a bit professorial-looking. She's a hot blonde in her 30's. Looks about 25. Teaches for a living, but could easily pass for an actress or sleek pharmaceutical (sp?) sales rep.

Very snazzy in a dark sage green sweater and tight cargo jeans the same, but darker. (Her) Me, green, gold, and black plaid L.L. Bean shirt and tan Dockers and handsewn Timberlands. Tortoise-shell looking glasses.

Hair: her, lots, mid-dark blonde, shoulder length. Me, gray, much less.

Breakfast: Me, Rooty, Tooty Fresh and Fruity with strawberry topping on the pancakes and the eggs scrambled. Her, two med. easy eggs, toast, don't recall the pancake, but she had banana slices on it. Both, coffee. I got both bacon and sausage links. I don't eat there enough to fret over the chloresterol.

My eggs were a little past prime, but I ate them. Did send the pancakes back for fresh ones, which were excellent. Used maple syrup. Ordered an extra pancake, I liked them so well. It is my experience that if you order scrambled eggs out, they may have been sitting longer than if you order over easy, but I prefer scrambled. I send them back if they're too leathery. Mostly, they're fine.

I rather like going places with the daughter. She's smart and snazzy and impresses people well. I get occasional jealous looks from other men, and we get a few snarky ones from women who give her mean looks and who maybe think she's my trophy wife.

Great conversation, and I told her that I'd give her a detailed ceramic bobcat statuette that she's wanted since she was a kid. She produced a brilliant smile. And later, she set up my cell phone to operate, which it did for several hours until AT&T cut off service with the message discussed above. Not her fault; the store clerk forgot to enter some purchase data.

Then , she went home to care for a sick husband and three kids, all of whom caught something the kids brought home from school this week.

Our next planned dinner out is for the Outback near me for my birthday in a month or so. I'll probably order their Victoria's Filet of beef, medium, with broccoli and rice. Leslie will probably get her favorite sirloin with baked potato. But sometimes, we get the Alice Springs chicken.

I'm glad that she lives fairly near me, in a suburb. My son and his wife live about 250 miles away, and I see them only every few months. BTW, one of my grandsons is reading Jim Corbett 's, "Man-Eaters of Kumaon." I may make a hunter and naturalist and gun enthusiast of him yet. His dad's family isn't too keen on that, and the kids get a lot of anti-gun drivel from their schools, I think. But my daughter and her husband have sort of agreed that we can go to a range soon to teach them gun safety. I think that if the son-in-law actually shoots some, he may like it. And he does want to inherit some guns when his grandmother dies. But I ramble. You actually just asked for breakfast details.

Oh: I forgot to order orange juice, but had some when I got home. Florida's Natural, the Most Pulp variety. And I had more coffee.

I really hope "a sick husband and three children" are better.
or
Your Son in law and three Grandchildren?
interesting

 

[Texas Star]

I really hope "a sick husband and three children" are better.
or
Your Son in law and three Grandchildren?
interesting

They're the same people. If you're trying to infer what I think, I know my own daughter and I know her family, and I knew they were sick. I probably have the same bug, and we're all taking the same antibiotic. I just finished my dose of it.

My daughter was coughing some, so I hope she doesn't get it, too.

There's no sleazy angle to the story, except probably in your mind. The girl is definitely my daughter. She spent most of the day with me, and eventually had to get home to her family. The maple syrup at IHOP may be phony, but the girl and her "story" are valid.

Frankly, I feel insulted by your apparent inference.