So I called AT&T customer service first thing yesterday to explain how they've been overcharging me for eight months and ask for my money back.
I could bore you with the details of the conversation, but here's the bottom line: No.
AT&T's position, according to the supervisor of my very nice service representative Nancy, is that I should have called them last November if I wanted my bill lowered to their new, lower rate. The fact that they didn't tell me (or you, or anyone) that the rate for month-to-month DSL Express service had been lowered, and still aren't telling us (unless we burrow deep into the "terms of service" fine print in their ads), and kept sending me bills that said I owed them the old rate, is immaterial. It was up to me to figure it out and tell them that the bills were too high. Since I paid those bills, too bad, but they're keeping the money.
Of course they'd be delighted to offer me a much better rate on my next year of service...
I called the Office of Consumers' Counsel but, as I suspected, neither OCC nor the PUCO is allowed by law to deal with consumer complaints about DSL, because it's an unregulated service. The OCC staffer suggested contacting the Federal Communications Commission.*
So, this is interesting. AT&T has, like, $160 that they overbilled me. They're not giving it back. There have to be lots of other customers (millions?) who are "similarly situated". If you've had an SBC/AT&T DSL account for a couple of years, you may well be one of us.
Do the words "class action" ring any bells?
*Update: From the FCC website...
How do I file a complaint against my Internet Service Provider?
The FCC does not regulate the Internet or Internet Service Providers (ISPs). You may contact your state consumer protection office...