AT&T Consumer Lease Services

Consumer Phone Services LLC, doing business as AT&T Consumer Lease Services, is a Miami, FL-based company managed by Alcatel-Lucent, formerly Lucent Technologies. The AT&T name is used under license, as the company is in no way affiliated with AT&T.

Consumer Phone Services bought Lucent's telephone leasing business in 2000, when Lucent reorganized its equipment businesses.

AT&T CLS leases out the following models made by Western Electric:
*Traditional 500/554 Rotary Phone
*Traditional 2500/2554 Touch-Tone Telephone
*Trimline 220/222 Rotary phone

AT&T CLS also leases the following models released post-breakup, manufactured by AT&T Technologies, Lucent Technologies, or Advanced American Telephones:
*Desk Model/Wall Model
*Signature Trimline
*Signature Princess

AT&T Consumer Lease Services also leases cordless phones & telephone accessories.

Customers of AT&T Consumer Lease Services number less than a million. A majority of the customers are elderly who have found convenience in simply leasing the same telephone [ [http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=428&sid=605170 $3,000 for a Phone? ] ] . Most customers are also leftovers from before the 1984 breakup of AT&T, who did not opt to purchase their telephones before the buyout option expired in 1987. Such customers have paid for their telephones 10 times over or more prompting critics to call the service overpriced. But customers do retain the benefit of free replacement if the phone ever breaks and free accessories such as long cords.

On October 1st, 2008, AT&T Consumer Lease Services will now be called QLT Consumer Lease Services. Here is a c/p from their website regarding this change.

"The lease business has been owned by a company separate from AT&T companies for over a decade, as was announced to our customers in the bill in 1996, and again in 2000. Since 1996, an agreement with AT&T has allowed us to continue using their brand name so we could continue using a name customers were familiar with. Now, after nearly 12 years, it no longer makes sense to continue using the AT&T brand, which today is in a very different business from leasing telephones. As a result, AT&T and Consumer Lease Services have agreed to not renew the license so they can best maintain focus on their core group of customers and services."

"Winston Churchill once said, "There is nothing wrong with change if it is in the right direction." AT&T Consumer Lease Services has been operated by a company separate from AT&T companies for over a decade, as we announced to our customers in the bill in 1996 and again in 2000. Since 1996, an agreement with AT&T has allowed us to continue using their brand name. Now, after nearly 12 years, it no longer makes sense to continue to use the AT&T brand, which today is in a very different business from equipment leasing. AT&T and Consumer Lease Services have agreed to not renew the agreement so they may best maintain focus on their core group of customers and services.

"We have changed our name to QLT Consumer Lease Services. We have chosen this name to reflect the high QUALITY of products, services, benefits and people associated with the business. Nothing about the lease program has changed. Not the products. Not the quality service you have come to expect. Not the billing or the pricing. You can feel comfortable and secure that all the people who have been providing you with the outstanding support that you currently enjoy will continue to do so. It's our name that's changed, not the quality and value we bring to you, everyday."

"On October 1, 2008, our company materials and bills started using our new name and logo. We are proud of our new name and symbol and we look forward to continuing to serve you."

References

External links

* [http://www.att.com/cls AT&T Consumer Lease Services]