Unexpected Overcharges on AT&T FirstNet
AT&T FirstNet customers, primarily first responders, have encountered sudden $6,200 charges that are likely billing errors and reversible, though the correction process proves challenging.
These incidents arise despite unlimited data plans, typically triggered after migrating lines to the FirstNet service dedicated to public safety.
December 2024 Case: Texas Police Officer
In December 2024, a Texas police officer received a $6,223 bill, including a $6,194 charge for 3.1GB of data usage.
The officer maintained an unlimited data plan but faced incorrect billing following the transfer of a line to AT&T's FirstNet service.
Standard channels failed: calls to AT&T and visits to retail stores yielded no resolution until escalation to the AT&T president's office succeeded in reversing the charge.
AT&T's Investigation and Repeat Occurrence
An AT&T spokesperson informed Ars Technica that the company was investigating the system error behind the first incident, yet no specific cause was ever publicly detailed.
Now, at least a second FirstNet user has reported an almost identical experience, indicating the issue persists without a transparent fix.
It was investigating to determine what caused this system error.
