Signing In to Email

This worked for me a couple of weeks ago:

Enter a dummy cell phone number, like 512-555-5555

On the next screen, instead of entering the code they sent, look for a link "Take me to my account" and click on it.

We understand not wanting to share personal information, IvaProblem.

At this time, we don't have a workaround for the phone number request, but we'll be sure to pass along the message that some customers prefer not to provide that information.

If you need help with anything else, let us know. Thanks for visiting the AT&T Community Forums.

Aminah, AT&T Community Specialist

You can use any number of free services to send and receive texts on the internet. https://www.alphr.com/receive-text-messages-pc-without-phone/

It is useful to have a text capable phone number for a lot of things, and it is also helpful to have if you don't want to use your mail cell phone number.

If you have a landline, you can use Google Voice to tie a second free phone number to your landline that can send and receive text messages.

lem3,

I like your solution.  I haven't tried it yet to see if it will work for me, but it's easy ... I hope it works.

IvaProblem

ATT Help,

You misread my concern.  It's not that I don't want to share my cell #, it's the fact that I don't have a cell phone # to enter in the blank.  I'm being asked for information that I don't have and there's no way to explain, so I'm stuck and can't continue with my emails.

IvaProblem

We understand, IvaProblem.

If you don't have a cell, you can enter your home phone number or a friend's cell number. You can also go with the suggestion to enter a dummy number.

Thanks again for reaching out. If you need help with anything else, let us know.

Aminah, AT&T Community Specialist

@IvaProblem 

I'm glad it still works. 

A cynic might say that if you found the correct person in ATT they would tell you the whole ridiculous process is just a ruse to harvest cell phone numbers for marketing purposes.

@lem3 Most big companies don't do marketing by phone anymore. Too expensive. It's all email and web ads.

Even if they did, companies don't use the 2-factor authentication information for marketing.

If you think AT&T has too much information about you, there are lots of options to protect your data from misuse by AT&T at https://about.att.com/privacy.html

They are transparent about their marketing policies, because they are  BIG target to be sued if they run afoul of laws. https://about.att.com/csr/home/reporting/issue-brief/responsible-marketing.html 

@lem3, just wanted to tell you that I tried your suggestion this AM and it worked.  I'm wondering if I have to do that every time I sign in or if it's now taken care of.  You don't have to reply to this ... I'll find out when I sign out of my mail and sign back in.  Thanks for your good advice.  And, I like to give ATT, Google, Facebook, etc. as little personal info. as possible.  IvaProblem

@ATTHelp 

I'm glad you confirm the use of a dummy number as lem3 suggested.  It's gratifying to know that I'm not being deceptive by trying to squirt thru the holes in policies.

IvaProblem