AT&T Makes Its Terms of Service Even Worse, To Discourage Lawsuits

techmuse writes "AT&T has changed its terms of service (including for existing contracts) to prevent class action suits. Note that you are already required to submit your case to arbitration, a forum in which consumers are often at a substantial disadvantage. Now you must go up against AT&T alone." This post on David Farber's mailing list provides a bit of context as well.

Comments

We don't have to care.

[symbolset]

We're the phone company.

Re:Next step

[ktandaeo]

That would make them a homeowners association.

Re:Only in a thoroughly corrupt society

[Anonymous Coward]

Probably not. The problem is that it raises the bar, and makes it that much harder to actually get to court. I presume that's the whole idea.

When AT&T said more bars, that's not quite what I had in mind.

Contract buggy blue, no suing back!

[Arancaytar]

Forgive my non-lawyer ignorance, but can you actually forbid someone from suing you? As a retroactive clause in a contract, even?

"By downloading this pirated video off BitTorrent, you have implicitly agreed to forfeit any and all options of initiating a lawsuit for copyright infringement."

Wonder if that would work.

Hint: Probably not. :P

Re:Sounds like a great opportunity

[greatica]

I'll patent this idea first and then all your class action lawsuit moneys are belong to me!

Re:Monopoly on DSL != monopoly on Internet access

[Foobar of Borg]

Yes, It's like going to prison and having the choice of being raped ever night by either Bubba OR Mo, you have 2 great choices for your raping preference, you should feel blessed to live in a country that will allow you the freedom to choose who will violate your asshole.

You have also done a very good job of describing our two party political system. ^_^

You're looking at this all wrong!

[wbren]

Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court. YOU AGREE THAT, BY ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, YOU AND AT&T ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION WITH RESPECT TO ARBITRATION CLAIMS.

This is a big win for the consumer. We can finally rest assured that AT&T cannot enter into a class action against its consumers.

You might laugh, but this is AT&T we're talking about. To quote Angels in the Outfield: "It could happen."

Re:Great

[severoon]

What I can't understand is: why did they stop there? They could have gone on to say, you can never ever sue us, individual or otherwise, and you have no right to arbitration either. Their contract may as well be seven words followed by a dotted line:

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US.

x______________

Re: phirst post!

[Ihmhi]

So you're telling me that this might not be legally binding?