The Citizens Utility Board on Monday urged consumers to shop for better deals after AT&T’s increased its land line rates Jan. 3.
The company says the hikes spread costs among fewer land line customers. AT&T spokeswoman Brooke Vane says more than a quarter of households are wireless only. AT&T says Chicago has one of the lowest phone rates in the nation.
Rates increased by $1, $2 or $3 depending on location, rising 27 percent in some suburbs and 63 percent in Chicago’s Loop. Optional services such as call waiting also went up.
Citizens Utility Board Executive Director David Kolata says customers can choose AT&T’s Consumer Choice package, a low-cost basic service. He says consumers may feel like “an ATM” for AT&T.
