How Can I Get Out of Paying My AT&T Bill?

It is possible to cancel your contract and stop paying your phone bill. However, ensure that it is what you want and settle all pending bills before you opt-out. Settling your bills ensures you don't compromise your credit score. Consequently, you need to ensure you finish your contract before getting out to avoid cancellation fee charges for quitting before finishing your contract.

Nov 14, 2019

The cost of phone plans is falling drastically, including AT&T. However, you may still pay more than necessary if you can't choose the right plan that suits your needs. Smaller cell phone networks and prepaid careers are upping their game and offering users good options.

Switching to another prepaid carrier can help you cut down on your monthly phone bill even without the sacrificial coverage. Both prepaid and postpaid options are attractive as they both offer excellent plans and flexible payment depending on what you need.

What Happens If You Get Out of Paying Your AT&T Bill?

As a customer, you should pay your phone bill. The moment you quit paying those bills, the service is suspended and later on canceled by the cell phone service provider. You can contact AT&T customer support to know your contract duration.

However, you are still required to pay for the phone and whatever charges you failed to pay. Most importantly, your credit can be ruined, which is not a good thing, right?

Remember, this is a contract, and if your account is in arrears, the phone service provider is obligated to take action, which includes cutting your phone off. When the phone is cut, you can't receive or make calls.

The debt leads to default if you don't settle it in time as per the laid down procedures and extension guidelines. Disconnecting your phone can inconvenience you and give you a bad name in the neighborhood with your friends and family.

The cell phone provider can report your debt to a collection agency after turning off your service, which can ruin your reputation or credit score.

How Do I Get Out of Paying AT&T Bill?

That's easy, just don't make the payments. Your AT&T service will shut off for 2 months after your current balance expires. If after the 60 days, you still don't want the service, then discontinue automatic payment.

1. Go to the AT&T homepage

2. Sign in to your AT&T account

3. Select Billing & Payment options

4. Click Manage Payment Activity and options

5. Choose cancel payment under Auto-pay

It's done!

Remember, only the account owner can do this. Contact AT&T customer support for any clarifications.

Can't Afford Paying Your AT&T Bill?

Mobile phone debt happens when your situation changes like income. When you sign that mobile phone contract, it stipulates that you agree to a minimum contract length, which can be 12, 18 or 24 months. If your living conditions change during the contract or you receive a bill, and you are not able to pay, then go for the cancellation option.

Before you cancel, make sure you pay any outstanding payments to avoid ruining your credit score or reputation.

What Happens If You Fail to Pay Your AT&T Mobile Bill?

Failing to pay your bill means you are not honoring your contract. Your account goes into arrears, and your service is cut off, which means you can't make calls or receive calls. It is advisable to take steps to deal with your debt to ensure your account is not defaulting and to stop your contract from being canceled.

The mobile service provider can take action like reporting you to a collection agency to recover their outstanding bill, which will ruin your credit score. Phone service providers take phone bill arrears seriously, and they take the following steps.

  1. Disconnect your mobile phone service
  2. Pass your debt to a third party debt collection agency
  3. Issue county court judgment

What to Do If You Can't Pay Your Mobile Phone Bill

  1. Speak to the network provider concerning the arrears. The mobile service provider can spread your repayments over a longer period.
  2. Retrieve your tariff or allowances.
  3. Switch contract to another network service provider. Only applicable if the contract is ended. If the contract is still running, you will pay cancellation fees, which the network provider uses to recover the remainder of your contract.

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Christian has been writing about long hold times and customer service call center experiences since 2010. He's been featured in Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe.
How Can I Get Out of Paying My AT&T Bill?

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