AT&T Price Hikes: Price Dripping

AT&T recently announced a series of cost increases that will show up on bills received Jan. 27, 2013. They list individual plans that will see a $2 increase, but honestly they could have simply said all plans, as it affects all current plans, as well as any of their grandfathered plans.

If you are a High Speed Internet customer, you’re going to get hit with the price hikes too, to the tune of $3. That and if you’re not currently paying a High Speed Internet equipment fee, you will be to the tune of $2.

Furthermore, beginning Feb. 1 there will be a $1.99 Broadcast TV Surcharge, which they justify as an attempt to recover a portion of the fees they are charged for carrying local broadcasting channels.

Ultimately, this should surprise anyone. Fees always go up, and service providers will ultimately do what they can to bring in the maximum amount of income while providing the least amount of service. As such, don’t be surprised to see your bill jump up nearly $10. And if you’re thinking about jumping ship to another provider, well, it’s much the same. If you get Comcast service in the Twin Cities, you’ll see your prices have increased by 3.3 percent across the board. DirecTV customers might have noticed a new $3 “Regional Sports Fee.”
The term for this is “drip pricing.” What companies do is they advertise one price, but as you go through the buying process you see more fees pop up, changing the final price from the advertised one.  To help with your purchase, use an AT&T Uverse coupon code.

If it bothers you, and it should, speak to someone. Call your provider and complain to someone of authority, and let them know this practice will cost them a customer, and you’re more than willing to file a complaint.

They may have the service we want, but we have the money they need. We need to remind them of this.