I call AT&T to fix the phone line. It works for approximately 3 weeks. Then I try to fax a letter out, only to discover the phone line is down again. This time it took 3 days to fix. Translation: No business calls during that time.

Then on January the 12th, I get a call from a long term client. He asks me what is wrong with my phone line and if he still has an appointment with me on Saturday?

I assure him that he does have his appointment. He said I am confused. I asked why. He said when he called my phone number he heard a message stating "This number is out of service" At&T would be happy to recommend an alternate business at no charge, if my customers would Please hold the line". Unbelieveable!

So, let me get this straight. I pay for 2 phone lines and a telebranch for all these years, put up with all the technical difficulties that At&t puts me though, no compensation.

Then, they disconnect my phone line and attach this recorded message that sends my hard earned customers for 31 years to competitors????? I received no notice of this so called disconnect by mail or phone. I had paid my bills and the funds were not applied correctly to my account. They refuse to take any responsibility for their actions.

In light of the recent economic downturn, I feel my small business has been irreparably damaged by AT&T. I have no idea how many of my customers heard this message and thought I had gone out of business. No idea how long the phone was disconnected. No way to tell how many new customers went to my competitors. I was so upset, that I ended up in the ER with blood pressure readings of 200 over 112. I had not previously ever had this problem. I am writing this to warn anyone who has service with At&T. They charge, you pay, and that is the At&T way! This fiasco took 3 hours on hold waiting for a so called "Customer service rep" which when I finally did talk with someone started laughing! I asked what was so funny? She said she was laughing at how upset I was! Guess she never owned a business in a recession! One final note: Jesse James the outlaw was a gentlemen.....at least he held a gun on you when he robbed you! At&t robs youand makes you wait in line till they have time to help you! I have reported this to the corporation commission and all tv stations in my area. There is an investigation underway. I tried to go to the building itself and was informed by some people passing by that the building was "completely automated'.