I can't believe that there are so many people out there with the same story. Here's mine:

I left on Jan 2, 2008 for Hong Kong on business. I carried with me the Blackberry my firm provided for my use and my husbands iPhone as a 'back up'. I wanted to use the iPod and take pictures with it.

Imagine my surprise when I received a text from the Data Alert Center. I called the number and was informed that my current data usage on my line had exceeded my existing data plan. What? I didn't understand. I had maybe used my phone once to make an emergency phone call (when my Bberry charge had died) and browsed the internet about once or twice (again for emergency purposes). I explained this to the person I spoke to at AT&T and she explained that this problem had nothing to do with the 'phone' but with the data. She then went on to tell me that I had accrued 'x' amount of data and that I had to pay for it...EVEN THOUGH I HAD PHYSICALLY DONE NOTHING. I'm no computer wiz or phone wiz so I was completely shocked and appalled.

She told me that thus far (it was about the 23rd when I found all this out) I had accrued about a $2300.00 bill and that she couldn't tell me what else would be pending. I freaked out understandably and she was kind enough to tell me how to turn off this automatic data download feature or whatever it is. I did so and had to make a horrible call to my husband to let him know what was going on. The very next day he (my husband) shut the service off knowing that I had my Bberry which I was using anyhow.

Explain to me how something you don't even touch, that is simply ON and is sitting in your purse, can cost you money? Where is the disclaimer in the contract that says they will do this to you? Why didn't I know this?

To add insult to injury, ever since I got home (last Saturday) my husband and I have been on the horn with AT&T to see if they can help us out. They opened a 'ticket' to consider our case. Amazingly enough, they tried us and found us guilty of usage without even hearing our side of it (though they assured us over and over again that they looked at all the 'notes' associated with our case). Tonight, I'm here writing this frustrated comment because the night manager, or whatever he is, told me bluntly that our case had been 'denied' and that we were liable for the full amount (in a rather condescending tone) thus far (which isn't the full amount either) and that if I want for it to be further escalated, I need to write a letter. A letter?

I'm at about at the end of my rope here. The money is outrageous but more so, this is pure highway robbery. I don't think my husband and I would have a problem with paying the amount of something we actually did USE. And to be honest, we can't afford to pay this ridiculous amount for nothing.

Any advice, any at all, would be appreciated. Meanwhile I plan to write a couple of letters to the BBB and the FTC regarding this (since it seems rather common).

I have to say, both my husband and I, customers of Cingular for several years, feel very let down.