I called ATT to see if I could get a better rate after my 2 year contract expired, explaining to them that my cell phone does not work at my home, so I am forced to have both landline and cell phone, but did not get a discount. Instead, they gave…
Phone
Ever gotten a cell phone bill that you just couldn’t believe–data charges that you couldn’t track to any service, overages on minutes or texts that cost you hundreds of dollars? We want to give you more control over your service and your bills.
Consumers Union Documents
- AT&T/T-Mobile Fact Sheet
From a consumer standpoint, it’s hard to see much of anything to like about AT&T’s proposed purchase of T-Mobile. The $39 billion mega merger would create the country’s largest wireless company, which along with Verizon – the other big national player in wireless – would control nearly 80 percent of the U.S. marketplace. Consumers Union Continue Reading
- Wireless Device Freedom
What is wireless device freedom and what does it mean for consumers?
Consumers Union News Releases
- FCC reports all participating cellphone companies have fulfilled “bill shock” agreement
Consumers Union says report is good news for consumers after years of complaints about surprise charges on wireless bills
- CU urges FCC, lawmakers to dial back rules against unlocked phones
This is an important opportunity to empower consumers with greater choice in how they obtain mobile devices and wireless service
- Bill shock: FCC reports progress
Consumers Union says alerts help wireless customers avoid costly surprises
- Consumers Union: Now is the Time to Extend Cramming Protections to Wireless Users
Consumers Union continued to call on the FCC to block third-party billing on all phones
- Rockefeller introduces anti-cramming legislation
June 14, 2012 Rockefeller Introduces Anti-Cramming Legislation: Consumers Union Statement WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Jay Rockefeller today introduced new legislation aimed at protecting consumers from “cramming”, or unauthorized third party charges that appear on telephone bills. Rockefeller’s bill would ban third party charges for traditional wireline telephone users and VoIP internet phone services, while directing Continue Reading
- CU launches “bill shock” web page on CRO
Friday, May 4, 2012 Consumers Union launches “bill shock” web page on ConsumerReports.orgSite provides information from FCC on carriers’ compliance, consumer tips WASHINGTON – Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, has launched a new web page on ConsumerReports.org about cell phone “bill shock,” the surprise charges that appear on your wireless Continue Reading
- FCC Launches New Consumer Tool to Curb Bill Shock
Friday, April 20, 2012 FCC Launches New Consumer Tool to Curb Bill ShockWASHINGTON, DC – Consumers now have a new place to turn when trying to avoid cell phone “bill shock” — the unexpectedly large fees that pop up on your wireless bill, often due to exceeding usage limits. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has Continue Reading
- CU: Verizon-Cable deal puts competition at risk
March 20, 2012 Consumers Union: Verizon-Cable Deal Puts Consumer Pocketbooks, Competition at RiskWASHINGTON, DC – The proposed spectrum deal between Verizon Wireless and several cable companies would jeopardize competition and put consumers at risk of paying higher prices, says Consumers Union. As the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust prepares for a hearing Wednesday on the Continue Reading
- Consumers Union opposes House FCC bills
News Release Consumers Union – Policy and Advocacy Division of Consumer Reports Wednesday, November 16, 2011 WASHINGTON — As a House subcommittee prepares to mark up two bills to restructure the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, is urging members to oppose the legislation. The House Continue Reading
- Consumers Union on FCC Vote to Overhaul Universal Service Fund
News Release Consumers Union – Public Policy and Advocacy Division of Consumer Reports Thursday, October 27, 2011 WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today voted 4-0 to approve an order to overhaul the Universal Service Fund to help expand the availability of broadband service. Parul P. Desai, Policy Counsel for Consumers Union, the public Continue Reading
Blog Posts
- Wireless Agreement Could Make Bills Less Shocking
“Bill Shock”—those unexpected and often-quite-large charges that suddenly pop up on cell phone bills – are consistently one of the top complaints from consumers about their wireless carrier. That’s changing, however. Spurred by aggressive lobbying from Consumers Union and other public interest groups – including petitions signed more than 62,000 CU activists – wireless companies Continue Reading
- DOJ Lawsuit to Block ATT-T-Mobile Deal is Great, But the Fight is Far from Over
In a major win for consumers, the Department of Justice recently filed an antitrust lawsuit aiming to block the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. The complaint points to substantial concerns regarding marketplace competition and the elimination of T-Mobile as a low-cost option. For those reasons and others, Consumers Union strongly opposes AT&T’s $39 billion Continue Reading
- A Bad Deal: What Consumers are Saying about the Proposed AT&T/T Mobile Merger
Consumers Union has received thousands of comments from consumers like you who are concerned about the proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger currently under consideration by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and want to have their voices heard. Take a look at what current customers have to say, and share your comment about the AT&T and T-Mobile merger. Continue Reading
- Tell the FCC to Reject AT&T’s Purchase of T-Mobile
The fight to stop the AT&T and T-Mobile merger isn’t over. If you haven’t submitted a comment you can still join the thousands of consumers who have spoken out urging the FCC to protect consumers and deny the request for a merger. This is a bad deal for consumers, but it can only go through Continue Reading
- AT&T Systematically Overcharges for Data, According to Lawsuit
An NBC news report about a lawsuit brought against AT&T Mobility over alleged, systematic overbilling on iPhones and iPads points up yet again the need for careful government scrutiny and rejection of that company’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile. It also drives home the need for the Federal Communications Commission to expeditiously put in place proposed Continue Reading
- Congress to Hold First Hearing on Proposed AT&T Takeover of T-Mobile
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold the first Congressional hearing on AT&T’s proposed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile this week. Consumers Union, the publisher of this blog, is strongly opposed to this deal, which would create the country’s largest wireless company. Together with Verizon, the other big national player in wireless, AT&T/T-Mobile would control nearly Continue Reading
- AT&T and T-Mobile File Merger Documents With FCC
AT&T and T-Mobile have filed their initial round of documents about their proposed merger. For your convenience, we have posted a PDF of it here. Please be aware that it totals 381 pages.
- Blogging to You Live from the National Conference for Media Reform
Good morning everyone. We are blogging for you live from the National Conference for Media Reform in Boston. We’re just getting started on the session we are co-sponsoring called “Mobile Phones, Mobile Justice.” Things are cranking up now and we will be your eyes and ears here for the next three hours. Here we go…. Continue Reading
- HearUsNow.org Will be Live Blogging from NCMR
HearUsNow.org is heading up to Boston this weekend and will be live blogging from the 2011 National Conference for Media Reform. If you can’t be there, we hope you will follow the action on our blog. We will be focusing on a panel we are co-sponsoring on Saturday morning titled “Mobile Voices, Mobile Justice: A Continue Reading
- The Facts About AT&T/T-Mobile Merger
From a consumer standpoint, it’s hard to see much of anything to like about AT&T’s proposed purchase of T-Mobile. The $39 billion mega merger would create the country’s largest wireless company, which along with Verizon – the other big national player in wireless – would control nearly 80 percent of the U.S. marketplace. Consumers Union Continue Reading
News Articles
- Apple iPad 2 supplies 'threatened by Japan disaster'
The Japanese earthquake and tsunami are threatening supplies of iPad 2 components as Apple prepares to launch the device worldwide.
Tell Facebook to strengthen privacy!
Busy people can still keep up with one another, thanks to tools like Facebook. But managing relationships and managing privacy have always gone hand in hand. Companies like Facebook must create easy to use privacy tools so consumers know how to control who sees what.
Creator Mark Zuckerberg hopes investors will pay $100 billion for Facebook. While the IPO spotlight is on the company, act now to improve privacy. Take action now!