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AT&T Charging Fire Victims For Toasted Satellite Dish

San Diego couple didn't grab their dish as they evacuated

October 26, 2007 
AT&T’s contract means what it says, and there are few, if any, extenuating circumstances that can change it.

A San Diego, California couple, who lost their home and everything in it this week’s raging brush fires, learned that the hard way.

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Matt and Dannell Azola rushed back from their honeymoon cruise when they heard their neighborhood was threatened by the spreading fires. Matt says they were in their home for about two hours when they were told they had to leave.

In the aftermath, when they discovered their two-bedroom home had burned to the ground, Dannell said she called AT&T because she wanted to cancel her telephone and cable service.

“When I called, the customer service rep asked if I had remembered to pick up the satellite receiver before I left the house,” Dannell told a San Diego TV station. “When I told her no, that was the last thing on my mind, she said we would be billed $300 for the loss of the receiver and we should expect to see it on our next bill.”

Dannell said she tried to explain that she was a fire victim and that this was sort of an unusual situation, to say the least. She spoke to the rep’s supervisor, who was just as resolute in enforcing the contract.

Would AT&T give them some time to try to collect insurance money before having to pay for the receiver, Dannell asked. The answer from AT&T was “no, the charge will appear on your next bill.”

“I’m angry, I don’t think that’s right,” Dannell told the station.

Depending on which company insured the Azola’s home, they may be out the $300. Technically, the Azolas did not own the receiver destroyed in the fire – AT&T did. It’s unclear whether they will be reimbursed for its loss.

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