Anyone who went to SXSW last week and who uses/used an iPhone will know just how terrible AT&T’s service was. (I had a T-Mo BlackBerry, so I was A-OK; Biggs, on the other hand, was not a happy camper.) The New York Times even wrote about it! (Well, the Bits Blog.) If you’re so inclined, however, it looks like AT&T may be willing to give you a free monthe of service as recompense, but you’ll have to haggle.

You need to call customer service (1-800-331-0500) and complain, but nicely. Tell the person that AT&T’s service stunk on ice while you were down in Austin, and that, as a paying customer IN THE YEAR 2009, this is completely unacceptable. You may have to go above the first rep’s head, like asking for a manager or whatever, but persistence may well pay off.

So good luck to y’all. That it’s come to this, begging for recompense, is really just a poor reflection on AT&T.