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LaSalle County IT secures $71,057.58 AT&T credit after billing errors; third‑party management considered
Summary
IT staff said a long-standing AT&T billing dispute produced a $71,057.58 credit; the department described repeated billing errors and said third‑party billing managers could clean bills but usually at higher line costs.
At the May 20, 2025 IT and Central Services Committee meeting, John (IT staff) told members that after 14 months of disputes and two complaints to the Better Business Bureau, AT&T issued a $71,057.58 credit for prior billing errors.
"We received a credit of $71,057.58, which now puts us on the credit side by a couple thousand," John said. He described long-running problems with AT&T billing that required persistent follow-up and said he would avoid cutting a county check and instead allow the credit to reduce future charges.
John told the committee the county has considered using third‑party billing managers to audit and simplify bills, but cautioned that such firms often repackage AT&T lines and upcharge them. "What you're doing is those companies are buying it from AT and T and then they're charging you so that $32 line with AT and T is costing you 40 with somebody else because you're paying for them to manage it," he said. John said his plan is to stabilize billing for a month or two before asking a third party to audit the accounts.
John also described vendor‑representative turnover that slowed resolution: a representative he had worked with resigned, requiring the county to re-start negotiations with a new rep. He said he was pursuing parts and other items from AT&T tied to separate projects but could not provide firm delivery dates.
The discussion was informational; committee members approved payment of IT bills during the meeting. John said he will continue to work with AT&T and will update the committee on progress.
The credit was the outcome of internal dispute resolution and complaints; no contract award or new vendor agreement was approved at the meeting.
