I just dropped ATTWS and was told the same thing. I waited to do the
port until the last few days of my billing cycle.

FWIW, I had a problem with ATTWS whereby they cut off my service for a
"returned check" which was their fault. They had switched to electronic
posting and screwed up the account numbers they sent to all customes at
my bank.

I had to pay $20 fee and pay again by VISA to get my service reinstated.
This was despite the fact that I have 3 phones with them and had been a
customer for over 5 years. In the end, it took over 6 weeks for them to
acknowledge their mistake and recredit my account.

By this time, I had reached my limit with them and wanted out of my
contracts without having to pay the penalty - in my opinion, they had
breached the contract when they cut my service for no fault on my part.

They refused so I contacted the Texas State AG office and filed an
on-line complaint. Within 4 weeks, ATTWS contacted me and agreeded to
let me out of the contract with no penalty. I suggest you file a
complaint with your state AG office.

Harvey

If you pay by credit card on a monthly basis, dispute the charge with
your credit card company.  

If not, be careful, because ATTWS will report you to a collection
agency if you decide not to pay the remaining balance on your account.

Sharon Needles

Have you reached the end of your contract period?  If so,
if you do a search on their website for "final bill" you will find the
following:

QUESTION: What charges will appear on my last AT&T Wireless bill?

ANSWER: Your last AT&T Wireless bill will have a prorated monthly
service charge from the first day of your billing cycle until the day
your service ends. Although we hope you are happy with AT&T Wireless,
should you need to cancel here's an example of your closing bill: You
are on a $79.99, 650 minute calling plan. Your billing cycle begins on
April 5th of each month, you cancel your service on April -24th. You
will be charged for monthly service from April 5th - April -26th. -21
days of service/ 30 days in the month x $79.99 = approximately $56.00
for a partial month's service. The number of minutes included in the
plan will also be prorated. -21 days of service/ 30 days in the month
x 650 minutes = 455 minutes included for the partial month; you will
be charged for any minutes over 455. You will also be charged for any
other charges, such as taxes and text messaging that apply.

If its a change to your contract and they never notified you in writing
of the change they can't do it.

By all means write to your state's AG and the FCC.

Nope, but you had the right anytime after Nov 2003 to drop out of the
new terms and conditions.

Probably, what you gonna do, leave? LOL

It doesn't matter. If you read the contract (it is pretty lo-sided toward the
carrier) there are words in there someplace that basically say that they can
change your contract terms without notifying you and continues your contract
period.

Pull it out and read it.

--
John S.
e-mail responses to - john at kiana dot net

Your subject says you ported your number.  Is this right?  If so, you
will not be charged for the full month, you'll only be charged up
until the day the number ported out.  You probably just got a clueless
CS rep.  They don't handle anything having to do with the ports, so
they really have no idea.

OTOH, if you didn't port your number and just cancelled it outright,
then you're subject to secion 6 of the T&C which says, "Changes to
Agreement or Service. We may amend the terms of this Agreement,
including the Sales Information, upon advance notice provided to you
in any manner we choose, including by notice contained with your
invoice for the Service.".  You probably got a paragraph in your
invoice the month before they changed to the full-month cancellation
rule.  So even so the T&C you agreed to when you signed up didn't
mention full-month billing, by contiuing to use their service, you
implicitly agreed to the new T&C.

-------------------------------------

Or not.