Unexpected ‘Reward’ for AT&T; Callers

PHILADELPHIA — It wasn’t the “True Reward” AT&T; customers had in mind.

AT&T; Corp., in a mailing to 175,000 True Reward customers, mistakenly provided the toll-free number to a sex chat line. Callers expecting to reach an AT&T; operator were greeted instead by a sultry, female voice asking them if they were “ready to get naked.”

The number AT&T; meant to provide allows customers to turn points earned by using long-distance service into free airline tickets and Disney merchandise.

But two digits were transposed in a printing error, yielding the number to a $2.98-a-minute sex chat line operated by Los Angeles-based Amtec Communications. Callers are billed only after listening to the introduction and entering a credit card number.

At&T; already has mailed apologies.

Not all callers went away mad.

Amtec customer service manager Jamie Black said she has noticed an increase in business, indicating some AT&T; callers stayed on the line. “It hasn’t been bad for business,” she said, laughing. “But I don’t know how AT&T; feels about it.”