var json_comments = new Array("

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 1:54 AM

Moderate | Flag for review

I got a free AT&T \"spam\" message on my phone for something, I don't remember what exactly. But it sent to text back if you didn't want to recieve them in the future. So I did. And then they charged me for the text message to tell them I don't want any more text messages!

5 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

TVarmy

January 15, 2009 10:04 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Bramble73: Me too. I've gotten it since day one, told them to stop. I never use all my text messages anyway, and I use Twitter with device updates. But I can see how it would be annoying if you had no plan for text messages.

I think they wanted me to sign up for a ring tone or something.

$\"user-pic\"$

sixseeds

January 15, 2009 8:50 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Bramble73: I've been with AT&T longer than I'd like to admit. My latest phone, an LG Shine which replaced my 'defective' Samsung Sync ('defective equipment' being AT&T speak for 'defective network') comes with an option to block all PUSH messages, PUSH being a poor euphemism for text spam. You might have the option too. Try the Messages menu.

Me, I'm out as soon as this contract is up. Scum sucking bastards.

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 2:47 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Bramble73: Oh, that's rich. They send out spam in order to get people to send text messages telling them to cut it out, for which they get to charge a fee. That's about as free as \"freecreditreport.com\".

I would say AT&T customers should call customer service instead. When the wait time reaches an hour, you know the spam-ees have done their job.

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 11:16 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Bramble73: ...and this is on TOP of charging you for text messages which are FREE to transmit for AT&T.
Top notch AT&T, top notch....

$\"user-pic\"$

Jonbo298

January 15, 2009 4:29 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Bramble73: Similar to what I had with a \"Premium\" service I never agreed to. It said to text back STOP to stop receiving them. They (not cell provider) literally charged me $2 for every text saying STOP stop STOP or any variant of the damn word STOP. Needless to say after endless fighting, they refunded it all.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

krispykrink

January 15, 2009 1:54 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I've got AT&T with no text plan what-so-ever, I don't use it. They spammed me yesterday.

10 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:53 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@krispykrink: You could try calling AT&T and asking them to reverse the charge for the text message and the one you had to send asking them to stop. I'm on T-Mobile, and when I got a few spam text messages a few months ago (from an outside party) I asked them to waive the charges on those texts, which they did. I know, different company, but they might have the same policy.

$\"user-pic\"$

Captain Sassypants

January 15, 2009 5:35 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@krispykrink: I'm definitely what AT&T could consider a \"heavy texter\": I have a texting package for 1500 messages per month, and I do go over it on occasion. I'm always over 1000 messages per month.

I did not receive the spam message yesterday.

$\"user-pic\"$

calquist

January 15, 2009 4:26 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Captain Sassypants: Yea, I have that same plan and embarrassingly used 1690 texts last month.. and I didn't get it! Don't you love me AT&T?

$\"user-pic\"$

Andalucian Chic...identity crisis possibly resolved

January 15, 2009 3:27 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Captain Sassypants: I am also a heavy texter with AT&T. I did not receive the spam yesterday. (confession: I have texted American Idol in the past)

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 1:59 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Captain Sassypants: I have a 200 message plan, only use about 100 a month. I definitely did not receive the spam text, but I've also never voted for american idol, and actually refuse to use txting for anything other than personal communication.

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 8:20 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Captain Sassypants: I'm with you. I'm on a family plan, with unlimited messages, and my family is a texting heavy family...between me and an all of my family we send almost 15,000+ messages (no, not a typo, I said 15 THOUSAND messages) each month. We also have 5 lines on the plan.

I don't think anyone on our family plan got the message.

$\"user-pic\"$

Fenders-Stratosphere

January 15, 2009 1:49 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@RandaPanda0283: I've got the family plan also with 5 lines and at least 2 of them kids' lines with tons of texting going on. Not one of the 5 lines got the text message about Idol.

$\"user-pic\"$

krispykrink

January 15, 2009 6:51 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Captain Sassypants: The geniuses at AT&T sure do know what they're doing, don't they? HA!

Update to me being charged: I called AT&T and a CSR refunded the text charge after I told them that I was charged for this bunk.

$\"user-pic\"$

blueneon

January 15, 2009 5:57 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

whew! I'm glad you got that 20 cents credited back to your account.

$\"user-pic\"$

kathyl

January 15, 2009 7:36 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@blueneon: It's all well and good to be snarky about one person caring about a single 20 cent charge, but when you consider how many people sent the opt-out response and got charged for it, I hardly think anyone would think it appropriate for AT&T to get a windfall from all of those 20 cent charges once they added up together into a much more significant amount.

By calling to get the charge reversed, the affected subscribers got much more than the bogus 20 cent charge removed. They made their voice clear to AT&T that they didn't appreciate the unsolicited spam, they don't have to pay for something they shouldn't have to, and they took up paid time of an AT&T CSR, further making the point to AT&T that what they did was asinine.

$\"user-pic\"$

krispykrink

January 15, 2009 2:01 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@krispykrink: Forgot to add: In order to opt-out, you have to reply with \"stop\". Since I don't have a text plan, they charged me for it. Just found out this morning when I checked my acct online.

They spam me, then charge me money to opt-out from receiving future spam.

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 4:35 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@krispykrink: I also got this spam and and also wondered if I would be charged for the txt message. It doesn't matter too much because I'm under my monthly message limit, but it still irks me.

$\"user-pic\"$

dweebster

January 15, 2009 2:42 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@krispykrink: Step three: PROFIT!!!

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Preyfar

January 15, 2009 1:58 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Hrmm. I'm on AT&T on my Aircard and iPhone, and didn't get a text message to either. I must be lucky. I'd probably have called up, pissed. I don't tolerate spam.

(And yes, aircards can still send/receive SMS texts!)

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 2:01 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

American Idol is worse than Spam.

3 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Brian Westermann

January 15, 2009 6:08 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Triborough: I also agree. Pure marketing scheme and instant bound and gagged contract from the record company for the contest \"winner.\"

$\"user-pic\"$

TheSpatulaOfLove

January 15, 2009 3:26 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Ugh, I agree. I can't wait until that American Idol shit runs its course. I've had enough of everyone fawning over the results, including competing networks. Why is anything American Idol considered news now?!

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:03 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@TheSpatulaOfLove: Remember when someone floated the idea to have an American Idol type competition for an alternative presidential candidate??? That was quickly shot down by the powerfull business owned political parties as they absolutely did not want to have political competition from someone outside the mainstream who might actually have a chance in winning...

$\"user-pic\"$

calquist

January 15, 2009 4:27 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@econobiker: We have an American Idol competition at work. There is no escaping it.

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:24 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@econobiker: You mean that's not how Sarah Palin ended up on the ticket?

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Scott Newman

January 15, 2009 2:03 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I've never sent a text message on my iphone, nor have I ever watched, let alone voted for anyone on American Idol, yet I recieved the text message. Mr. Siegel's explanation sounds bogus to me.

5 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 5:28 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Scott Newman: I'm a Jehovah's Witness who refuses to even say the title of that show you refer to, and I got it! What's up?

No, kidding aside, I didn't get a message. Very glad, too. I watched that show for a couple seasons, but now hate it with a passion because it's not a talent show. It's not about talent and never has been. It's about Coca-Cola and Ford ads. And enabling stupid people.

$\"user-pic\"$

robocop is bleeding

January 15, 2009 2:52 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Scott Newman: Ditto this. I use texting maybe once a month and have never watched American Idol.

I did the 'stop' reply, which sucks as it counts against my text message usage, but given that I don't use all my allotted texts anyways...

$\"user-pic\"$

Real Cheese Flavor

January 15, 2009 1:53 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Scott Newman: Thirding this. I don't even know what network the show's on. I also haven't even had an AT&T account for a full month and have sent maybe 2-3 text messages.

Still, there seems to be a lot of raging over what's really not much of a big deal.

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 4:41 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Scott Newman: ditto, I've never even watched American idol let alone voted for it.

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:38 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Scott Newman: same here! never ever ever. Why on earth send that to me?

","

$\"user-pic\"$

evilmage

January 15, 2009 2:07 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Screw their explanation its spam. Bring the noise.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

menty666

January 15, 2009 2:10 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Does anyone else ever go to the customer service form for folks that do things like this and just enter some random made up ad for Snickers, Trojans, a competing company or the like, or is that just me?

I used to do that with Charter when they kept sending me marketing emails. Finally I just created a filter on the web interface that caught them and emailed them back to the support address :D

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 2:13 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Glad to see this post. I got the text and (i) figured it was spam and (ii) didn't respond to cancel under the \"don't respond to spam\" rule. I can now.

I have never sent or received more than ten text messages in a month. Hardly a heavy user. What a fatuous explanation.

I do look forward to the follow up sorry-for-spamming-you message.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

dweebster

January 15, 2009 2:43 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@thufir_hawat: Yes, they'll be sending it via a text message. And to be sure you KNOW they're sorry, they'll repeat it a few times.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Leith Speights

January 15, 2009 2:16 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Wow , Great Feature Thanks ATT - NOT !

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Gokuhouse

January 15, 2009 2:35 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

If you have to use their service to stop the messages from coming and in doing so many people would have to pay money to send the text message; I would say this constitutes spam and maybe even a scam.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

dweebster

January 15, 2009 2:45 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I smell a class action lawsuit, the numbers add up to pretty major defrauding by the new Ma Bell.

Of course they'll hide behind some subsection that says they can do anything they want to you even when it's illegal (they have a congress already willing to rubber stamp their crimes), they can change the terms of the contract anytime they feel like it, and if you don't like that then speak to their arbitrator's hand....

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

thrid001

January 15, 2009 4:21 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dweebster: Ok Mr Lawyer, what law was broken? You will also need to define how you plan to class action this and define damages. AT agrees to refund the 20 cents for the text, end of story.

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:25 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dweebster: Depends on who they've pissed off with the spam, though...

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:21 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I got the AT&T text. I've NEVER voted for an American Idol contestant,nor any contestant on any show. I text about 10 messages a month max. I don't fit EITHER profile, so why did I get it?

Unsolicited text messages from AT&T are irritating. Unless something earth shattering is going down in the world (i.e., aliens have landed, David Hasselhoff gets sold to the Germans), don't text me AT&T!

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 4:04 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@porschegal: Yea I have ATT also and got that same text yesterday, my friend didn't. I never voted for American Idol. About 500 text a month.

I replied for it to stop but I don't remember my contract stating that I am signing up for marketing messages with my service.

I decide not to contact ATT because I know the CSRs wouldn't know that there was a text sent out and it would be a waste of my time. But I am a little upset also.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

missdona

January 15, 2009 3:35 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I have a corporate account with AT&T and did not get the text. They may have purposefully excluded the corporate (and non-texting) customers. Maybe?

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 4:43 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I'm wondering about that myself. I use the corporate discount and, though I've never texted AI, I would certainly qualify as a heavy texter. I have the unlimited text plan and send and receive anywhere from 500 to 1000 texts a month, yet I didn't receive this spam.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:37 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Okay, so I'm reading all your comments and it seems like they must have gotten their numbers backward. No, I have never voted for American Idol (I've never even seen it) but I am an EXTREMELY heavy texter. I send and receive a hundred messages a day, more if I'm using AIM from my phone.

I did not receive any spam.

Go figure.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Andalucian Chic...identity crisis possibly resolved

January 15, 2009 3:29 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Paperclippe: I have voted for American Idol, and I text more than I make calls. (at least 1,000 a month) I also did not receive the message.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

ajlei

January 15, 2009 4:00 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Man... I'm a heavy texter too, and with AT&T, and I never got one... damn.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

nybiker

January 15, 2009 4:02 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Makes me glad I don't watch the show, don't have ATT, and I never text. Of course, just because of their 'sponsorship' connection, I stay away from them.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

leejames

January 15, 2009 4:06 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

He said the message could not be classified as spam because it was free and because it allowed people to decline future missives.

Hmm, free messages that offer you the option to opt out of future messages?

Isn't that every piece of spam you've received ever?

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Gokuhouse

January 15, 2009 4:06 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@leejames: Yes, it is.

","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

Anonymous

January 15, 2009 4:40 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

To say this backfired is laughable - This from my perspective this worked out better than ATT probably could have expected- The fact that people are blogging, commenting, and even talking about this proves that the message they were sending has gone viral and will reach far beyond the 75 milion spammed.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

nsv

January 15, 2009 4:49 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Oh man, I miss AT&T.

/yeah, right

","

$\"user-pic\"$

SacraBos

January 15, 2009 5:12 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

The solution to this is to call them up and complain. To a real human being. Be polite, but take as long as you need to insure they understand why you are upset. If even 10% of the people did this, a significant portion of 7 million customers calling in for a 1-2 minute complaint would apply an effective clue-bat to the side of the head (as well as the bottom line).

And let them know they can opt-out of these complaints by not text messaging you again.

My iPhone is tied to a business account, so maybe that's why I didn't get it...

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

blueneon

January 15, 2009 6:04 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Please do call and tell us *politely* how upset you are. As an AT&T customer service rep I'd love to have a day filled with just empathizing to customers about how inconvenienced they were by a text message. That sounds like an easy day to me. Although, I don't think it would affect their bottom line too much, I'd have to say. Don't forget to check your bill and call back for a 20 cent credit if the system accidentally charges you for it.

","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

karlsl

January 15, 2009 6:51 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

AT&T isn't smart at all. who cares about the official definition of spam. When its majority of 75 million customers say it is spam, IT IS SPAM! When they are trying to justify their action is going to alienate its customers. I think all 75 million customers should punish AT&T by not text to vote in American idol. It is time for AT&T to know the power of its customers.

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Gokuhouse

January 15, 2009 4:08 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@karlsl: I would say to punish them by all 75 million customers reducing their plans and or switching carriers. That would be a real punishment.

$\"user-pic\"$

RurouniX

January 15, 2009 3:08 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@karlsl: No...let's not text to vote in American Idol so Fox will finally kill this mindless drivel of a show.

\"Punish\" AT&T...man I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Good one.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 7:28 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I received the spam message on my iphone and I rarely use the text messaging on it. Their full of it.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

INsano

January 15, 2009 9:14 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I like to push the PRAM-a-lot!

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

Anonymous

January 15, 2009 12:19 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I received the text. Checked my account settings, no spam. Do very little texting,

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 12:43 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Recently a similar thing happened with Optus and a promotion for a new service: [www.news.com.au]

Basically because Optus didn't identify themselves properly the SMS that were sent out had been classified as spam and subsequently the provider was fined.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

hi

January 15, 2009 1:05 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

One good thing is I found out how to opt out of marketing messages from at&t by texting back 'stop'.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Dirk

January 15, 2009 6:21 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@hi: But you get charged for this text message (or it's deducted from your plan). Sure that's only 10¢, but it's the principle of it...

","

$\"user-pic\"$

squikysquiken

January 15, 2009 1:09 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

How is it not illegal spam if you have to pay (they charge for the stop sms) to opt-out?

My understanding is not enough to be free and have an opt-out method if it ends up costing you money anyway. A spam-fax is also free and can have an opt-out method, it's still illegal (because if cost the receiver money). A telemarketer calling a cellphone can offer you to opt-out, it still costs you minutes.

AT&T's new business plan, send 75M spam sms, wait for 50% to answer STOP and charge 20cts each. That's $7.5 million.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

chiieddy

January 15, 2009 1:52 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

John Hodgman tweeted about getting this. He said if you reply back with 'stop' they'll stop. No less annoying.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

Southern

January 15, 2009 2:03 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Something doesn't sound right to me.. According to Nielsen, the ratings for American Idols opening night were 30.07 million viewers. Yet AT&T sent the text to 75 million?

Does AT&T even have 75 Million cell phone customers? That's like 1/4 of the population of the entire United States (303 Million as of 2008 census).

Hmm.. interesting. According to AT&T's own web site, [www.att.com] they only have 70.1 wireless customers.. Those are 2007 figures (they probably haven't finished 2008's yet), but even if they did add 5+ million customers last year, that would mean that they had to have sent the text to every single customer.. :)

Something ain't adding up.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Fenders-Stratosphere

January 15, 2009 2:18 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Southern: Remember that a customer is one acct. but there can be up to 5 phones on each acct. for \"non-corporate\".

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 2:25 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Charging pay-as-you-go text-messaging users for the STOP messages is clearly out of bounds for a company that should be looking out for its customers, even if it's not technically illegal...

...but perhaps it should be?

Perhaps Senator Kohl should take a look at this when/if he resubmits his text-messaging bill?

","

$\"user-pic\"$

qwijybo

January 15, 2009 2:30 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Is the opt out option before or after you get the message?

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

segfault

January 15, 2009 2:56 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

There's nary a mention of it on AT&T's support forums:

[forums.cingular.com]

Think they might be censoring the forums?

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:05 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

A few weeks ago I got a message about something football (that's American football, for the pendants out there) from Sprint. So far as I know, I've never looked at anything even remotely sports related on my phone or requested that they send me any messages about offers or anything.

It's stupid that they think offering an opt out is acceptable for something like this, since I think we've all been trained to realize that most spam opt outs is just a way to signal that you've got a valid account. Why would I think differently about a text message? Moreover, how do I know it's really coming from who it says it's from, anyway? For all I know the opt out option is some sort of phishing attempt.

Poor form, Sprint and AT&T. Poor form.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 3:08 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@concordia: Er, football related, even.

","","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

Andalucian Chic...identity crisis possibly resolved

January 15, 2009 3:32 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

The pattern that seems to be appearing to me is this:
AT & T sent the text out to people who either a) don't have a text messaging or b) use very few text messages. I am a heavy texter and have (ashamed to admit) voted for AI in the past. I didn't receive the message.
Perhaps it's AT&T's skewed way of marketing a text plan and/or AI? Totally lame.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

SpdRacer

January 15, 2009 3:34 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Have AT&T, didn't get any stupid message (I send/receive anywhere between 300-500 text messages a month, not heavy enough usage I guess)and they should be glad I didn't! American Idol is the stupidest thing in the history of television.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

SharkD

January 15, 2009 3:50 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I've never voted for American Idol (I find the show revoltingly bad.) I send maybe 10 texts a month (and receive 40-50, mostly Tweets and Yahoo sports notifications) and yet I got SMS spammed by AT&T, whilst in a meeting with my Vice Provost, no less.

Thanks, assclowns, I'm glad I didn't replace my 1st Gen iPhone with a 3G, thus extending my contract for another year.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 4:05 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Isn't AT&T the same Company that spies for the NSA? I used to be a Cingular customer and hated every last minute of it. The very minute my contract ended, I left. Now AT&T is the same as Cingular.. a match made in hell. Even with the Jesus phone, I will not be an AT&T/Cingular customer.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

P_Smith

January 15, 2009 4:13 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Funny, that...when I have said in the past that all unwanted advertising is spam, I've encountered idiots - some of them posters (posteriors?) on this site - who said I was \"unreasonable\". It seems a lot of people agree with me after all.

Unfortunately, government is in the pocket of big business and/or they are technically illiterate and out of touch with reality. Whenever you hear about a law regarding spam, it always - and I do mean always - revolves around \"opt out\" for the victim of spam, and never puts the onus on the sender. I don't care how often I buy from a particulare company, unless I ask them to contact me they have no right to do so, and they can only call me in regard to what I contact them about.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

3drage

January 15, 2009 4:33 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I don't consider myself a heavy texter, and I sure as heck haven't voted via text for this horrible show, yet I still got the stupid spam message.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 5:16 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Have AT&T. Didn't get spammed.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 5:57 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Cricket, my soon to be ex phone provider, would constantly send text adverts. There would at times be five messages in one day, and they always came at the worst possible times. I'm leaving for T-Mobile later and we'll see if they do it.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 6:18 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

It's spam. Plain and simple. Technology in the future will open these kinds of doors for this to occur but at the same time close them with increased digital security sophistication. It's just a matter of keeping up with the growth of it all.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

valthun

January 15, 2009 6:19 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

hmm, i have ATT and an unlimited text plan. I didn't receive that message though. So this is news to me. I guess that is a good thing.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 6:40 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

If they'd only sent it to customers who had voted in the past i'd see this as a non-issue. if you applied the same rules as CAN-SPAM for email, those people would have established a prior business relationship and AT&T could message them. But AT&T had to go and include \"heavy texters\" as well, so that argument flies out the window.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 6:46 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I got that text yesterday in the middle of a nap and had completely forgotten about it until just now.

I'm a brand new customer to AT&T— haven't even paid my first bill yet, actually— so I'm curious about why they targeted me as a \"heavy texter.\"

Also, I have never watched a single episode of Idol, nor do I wish to. Perhaps I was targeted because I'm a twenty-something?

Say what you will about Verizon, but at least they never sent me spam.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Anonymous

January 15, 2009 7:34 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

The AT&T spokesperson lied. I received the their American Idol text and have never voted on American Idiol and I average no more than one text message a month.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

Nidabriz

January 15, 2009 7:46 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Weird. I've got the 200 txt plan (which I go over constantly *facepalm*) and I did NOT receive any spam from AT&T.

Although I should add that my brother is the manager of the local AT&T store -- he may have taken us off of the 'spam list'.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 8:13 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

The best thing to do is go into your account online (I'm not sure where exactly for AT&T customers as I have Verizon) and block texts from web sources and email addresses. That way people can only text you from a phone. Verizon had a problem with spammers sending texts to a ton of their subscribers (I think it was last summer). I called customer care, they credited me and explained what happened. Basically, some spammer figured out the email adresses for text (yourphonenumber@vzwpix.com) and would just plug in phone numbers and send out millions of texts to Verizon customers. The rep also told me how to block those messages. If you set up an account online, you can manage your texting preferences- you can block up to 15 phone numbers or email addresses, block all web messages or block all messages from an email address. I wet in and did this and haven't gotten any spam since, but can still get texts from people I know. I would imagine that AT&T would have something similar to this available to their customers.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 8:27 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

The only appropriate response I would accept is to a) Stop doing it and b)fire the marketing idiot who thought this was a good idea in the first place.

Why are marketing people so removed from reality? My sister in law has a marketing degree and every idea I have ever heard her present to me sounded totally idiotic.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 15, 2009 11:30 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

How do I opt out of receiving their messages before I recieve the messages that I didn't know I was going to recieve?

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 16, 2009 1:07 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I got a message from them over a year ago and replied STOP and I never got another one. Ever.

Stop crying.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

StreamOfConsciousness

January 16, 2009 1:08 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Man, I freaking hate American Idol...it has set real music back decades.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 16, 2009 2:44 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Do what I did TRACFONE comes to $15 per month for both me and my wife. I just want a phone for a reasonable price!

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Anonymous

January 16, 2009 1:53 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

We've got to stop this practice of over-intellectualising the bad things that large institutions do, where we get into arguments with them about what is technically right and what is technically wrong. If we keep doing this, instead of taking action with real effect, they will always have power to brush us off, whilst maintaining the appearance of taking the high road. So if you're going to be relegated to the low-road anyway, you should REALLY go low-road and raise some hell. If not this is what sorts of dialogues will ensue between people with power and those without it:

Customer: You just bent me over and screwed me.
AT&T: We recently made it our policy to call \"bending someone over and screwing them\" as \"super-happy-fun-time for the customer\".
Customer: Well, I'm not paying for \"super-happy-fun-time\".
AT&T: I'm sincerely sorry sir, the invoice has already been entered into our system. In any event, it is also our policy to screw people when we screw them.
Customer: Well if screwing me is policy, then thanks for your time.
AT&T: You're welcome sir. We here at AT&T value your business. Thank you for choosing AT&T today. Can I transfer you now to our survey department where you will asked to participate in a quick 3-minute survey in which you will give us for free, information that has great commercial value to us? It will be super, happy and fun!

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Anonymous

January 16, 2009 2:26 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I'm no where near a heavy texter. I send maybe 10-20 a month. And I got American Idol spammed. And believe me ATT, I will cancel you in a heartbeat is this keeps up.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

January 16, 2009 9:03 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

There are a lot of things I hate about AT&T, but I'm actually a bit envious of their coverage area and their selection of GSM phones. I'm a rural Alltel U Prepaid customer who is dreading what Verizon is going to make poor Chad do.

I'm thinking about going with Net10 or possibly signing up with O2 Wireless, where I can use AT&T towers without directly giving my money to AT&T.

");