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Eve of Milwaukee writes:
I attempted to start phone service for my disabled adult daughter when she moved into an apartment for disaabled people. The people at Ameritech said I had to fax her SS card and birth certificate and after 3 days she would have service. I faxed them and after 3 days Ameritech called and said the fax was poor quality. I told them I went to a faxing company and I had no control over the quality. I was then yelled at by the rep that it was "too bad! you'll have to do it again!"
I refaxed and after 3 more days Ameritech said she could finally have service. My disabled daughter had to live in her new apartment for a week without any phone service. Then I read in the local directory that disabled people were supposed to get a discount on their phone service.
I called Ameritech again and asked why we weren't told about the discount. The rep seemed surprised that we hadn't been told. I said," Tell me everything about this discount." She went on to ask some questions regarding my daughter's SSI and Title 19. She then stated that my daughter was indeed eligible for the discount and she would "set that up for her now".
I thanked her and she told us my daughter would receive a $5.50 a month discount on her bill, and the $55.00 connection charge would be refunded on her next bill. After waiting for the next bill and noticing neither a discount nor a refund, I called again. It was a Saturday and the rep told me he couldn't verify my daughter's info until Monday and I should call back then.
I called back on Monday, and now it is almost 2 months since we started service. I was told by the rep that my daughter had to fill out a form to receive her discount and refund, AND there is a 2 month deadline to get the discount/refund. I said that no one told me this, not even the person I first contacted and asked for ALL the info on the discount program. Now it seems that if we don't get the form in the mail, sign it, mail it, and Ameritech doesn't process it by next week, my daughter will lose out on the discount and refund she is entitled to get! How can Ameritech get away with this?
They have given me the run around for almost 2 months and now my daughter might not get the benefits she is supposed to get and it's their fault! And I wonder how many other disabled people they have done this to, people who don't have a relative to be an advocate on their behalf.
My daughter may not get the discount and refund she is supposed to get. This is a grant (Telephone Assistance Grant) from the government, not Ameritech. Her first bill indicated a charge of $55.00 for connection that she was told to pay and then she would receive a refund which she hasn't, and her second bill which is supposed to have a $5.50 discount did not and now even if she is processed before the 2 month deadline, she'll not get her discount on any of her bills before the paperwork is done.
This person should contact the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and file a complaint against Ameritech, which is required by law to provide this service when requested.
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