AT&T blames iPhone 3G for roaming data charges in excess

Question

This is Outrageous. AT&T Called me Sept. 19 to advise my iPhone service would be cancelled. They are trying to collect $10,000 because the 3G was ROAMING Data in the background ONE day in Frankfurt Germany, 480MB they say.
After 4 HOURS in the phone today (landline) with mutliple customer service agents, a family ready to go on Prozac because of the anxiety caused by this issue, and much heartburn on myself, I am without service and with a Billing Problem that AT&T does not want to take responsibility for.
I swear to GOD, I did not use such amount of Braodband and I certainly can not afford to pay such large sum just because AT&T says so; fine print or not, this is plain burglary!
AT&T customer services blames the iPhone 3G as a device which constantly "in the Background retrieves data from the network", in other words, the data and broadband was not a direct request of me, the consumer, and therefore not a practical application or service rendered, if in fact the 3G pulled such large amount of data as AT&T claims it did.
If someone have had this problem, of hidden, surprise, OUTRAGEOUS charges, and know a way to resolve, please advise. The AT&T customer service people on the telephone have no authority to investigate and clarify. They cannot offer proof of what are 480MB consisting of, and simply demmand immediate payment if marginally reducing the amount on the spot.
What an intimidating group of people at AT&T. I really hope someone in AT&T would look at these cases and realize how illogical and senseless it is to follow this inpersonal, irrational, unethical billing practice.
I hope somebody in AT&T, or in the legal world, can help me out of this!
A. Lira
Dallas Texas

Answer 1

I complained to the FCC . AT&T Customer Service Reps, after many calls totalling more than 9 hours now, can not break down the nature or the services rendered in the $20/Mb 500+MB they are charging me in excess of $10,000 Dlls. The phone was in my pocket. I used it to check e-mail from my children (no attachments, just text) figuring it'd be cheaper than $2.80 telephone roaming charges, right? AT&T does blame the device for TX/RX of data without user intervention.
"Form 2000B at fcc.gov: To the FCC: AT&T is charging me for 500MB of broadband use in Germany and Netherlands that I DID NOT USE. They argue theri 3G iPhone works in the background without user intervention.
After almost six hour on the telephone in 8 different calls with AT&T Wireless Customer Service, they insist on charging me $10,000 Dollars.
This has caused a terrible amount of distress on me and my wife. I need help to stopthis fraudulent charge of $20/MB at 500MB of data I DID NOT REQUEST to transmitt or Receive. PLEASE HELP ME. I AM DESPERATE AND CAN NOT GET AT&T to accept the fraudulent nature of their claim. "
AT&T is charging me for 500MB of broadband use in Germany and Netherlands that I DID NOT USE. They argue theri 3G iPhone works in the background without user intervention.
After almost six hour on the telephone in 8 different calls with AT&T Wireless Customer Service, they insist on charging me $10,000 Dollars.
This has caused a terrible amount of distress on me and my wife. I need help to stopthis fraudulent charge of $20/MB at 500MB of data I DID NOT REQUEST to transmitt or Receive. PLEASE HELP ME. I AM DESPERATE AND CAN NOT GET AT&T to accept the fraudulent nature of their claim.