Rogers County resident to get check back for big over payment credit

Many of us have over-paid a bill. When that happens, the company usually credits the over payment to our account. That's what happened to a Rogers County woman. <br><br>News on Six consumer reporter

Wednesday, January 22nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Many of us have over-paid a bill. When that happens, the company usually credits the over payment to our account. That's what happened to a Rogers County woman.

News on Six consumer reporter Rick Wells says the credit was a whopper, and so has been the effort to get it straightened out. "When I looked at my AT&T Wireless bill, I went, wait a minute, a $14,000 credit." Mercedes Lackey is a best selling science fiction writer. She had just gotten her semi annual royalty check from her publisher so when she paid her $147.53 cell phone bill, back in October, with $14,753.

The payment went right through. "I think I put a comma instead of a decimal point:â€ So she called the accounting department of AT&T Wireless. She acknowledged she had made an error and asked for some help. "Can I please have my money back?"

That's when things got a little sticky. They asked for and she sent a copy of her bank statement showing the transaction. They responded they'd take care of it from there. "By the time Christmas is over it'll probably take six weeks. But by the time Christmas is over, by the time the first week in January there'll be a check in your mail box, fine."

She was happy. January rolled around no check then she got mad. "I got on Google, and I mailed five reporters at the New York Times. 7 at the Washington Post. 2 at the Wall Street Journal. 5 at Fox Network." And a couple of dozen consumer advocates around the country. She had also e-mailed the News on Six, fortunately we were able to call the bank and confirm the original error and the District Manager of AT&T Wireless in Tulsa was able to work out the details to get her problem solved.

"Although I hope you'll excuse me if I'm a little skeptical." Of course, but AT&T Wireless assured us too, they'd have this resolved perhaps by the end of the day. AT&T Wireless will refund to Ms. Lackey the entire original payment of $14,753.

In addition, they will credit her account with 6 months worth of cell phone service charges. That's worth almost $400.