Is that a phone in your pocket?

Last week, I had some issues with my beloved (*gag*) phone company, SBC (formerly Ameritech). About a month and a half ago, I signed up for online billing. I figured I'd save myself a stamp and some trees in the process. About three days before the bill is due (according to their email message), I go to pay it. It says that I can set up an auto-pay account and use my credit card. I do so immediately and figure everything is fine. About a week later, I receive an email indicating that my next bill is ready to view. Low and behold, it is twice what I was expecting. It turns out that the online bill pay didn't take effect until after the due date and wouldn't work retroactively. Somewhat irked, I called SBC and learned that I was supposed to have given them a MONTH to setup the online bill pay. A freaking month! WTF!! (And I don't mean World Taekwondo Federation.) If SBC wants to join the online world, great, but they better get their act together as far as billing is concerned. When Ma and Pa Podunk can bill you in 60 seconds via their website for that load of squirrel manure they'll be delivering in a week or so, one would think that a quasi-national chain company as large as SBC could manage it in three days.

This is what SBC has to say about itself: "SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) - SBC Communications Inc. is a global communications leader. Through its subsidiaries' trusted brands - SBC, Southwestern Bell®, Ameritech®, Pacific Bell®, SBC Telecom®, Nevada Bell®, SNET® and Sterling Commerce® and world class network, SBC and its affiliated companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, including local and long distance voice, high speed Internet access and data transport, voice and data network integration, software and process integration, Website and application hosting, e-marketplace development, paging and messaging, as well as cable and satellite television, and directory advertising and publishing. In the United States, the company currently has 61.3 million access lines and is undertaking a national expansion program that will bring SBC service to new U.S. markets. SBC has a 60 percent equity interest in a joint venture with Bell South that serves 20 million customers under the Cingular® brand. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in more than 20 countries and has annual revenues that rank it among the largest Fortune 500 companies."

Wow! I am thoroughly repulsed by their inability to handle a simple web credit card transaction. And I trust these people with my phone and Internet connection?