Categories: ATT, consumer privacy, identity theft, privacy issues

Please know the following editorial is not intended to bash AT & T. The telecommunications giant flagrantly disregards consumer privacy. As paying customers, the privacy infraction is not only a violation of our rights, but also abuses the use of customer's personal data. Understanding how companies utilize our information helps us be more selective about the organizations we subscribe to as paying American consumers.  

The following electronic correspondence was sent to the corporate offices of AT & T on March 20th, 2008. Based on this letter as well as other privacy questions, it appears as though AT & T refuses to address consumer privacy issues. 

As the editor of The Consumer Journal, and a customer of 15 years, I would like to know why subsequent to making a payment through the automatic attendant, AT & T maintains credit card numbers without customer authorization?  

Today, March 20th, and in the past, I learned that your system logged my account information by contacting your customer service representative. This is a grave infringement on customer privacy. Not to mention, with an epidemic of identity theft, it would seem that AT & T would be more proactive about protecting consumer's personal information.

In terms of other privacy issues, is there an option that AT & T can offer consumers the choice to maintain online privacy sans web beacons, cookies and other intrusive adware? Is it ethical to charge for a service, then track customer's online activity for advertisement monetization and other third party uses? 

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Consumer information tip: Other concerned AT & T customers, who use the automated attendant by phone to pay their phone bill, should contact the customer service department. Be sure to ask if your credit card number is on file and ask for the removal.