Wow what a bill!!!

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

On 2/26/05 Friday at 2pm my wife and I got a family plan with cingular. The
plan was 79.99 with a total of 3 phones. The 2 other lines were to be 9.99
each. Well after trying to use the phones at home and at work we found out,
despite what the sales folks at the store said, that we rarely could get
any reception with the phones. We actually managed 6 mins worth of phone
time and 2 text msgs. So we returned them on 3/1/05 at 10am when the store
opened, and got credited at the store for the phones. Well I figure we owe
them a bit of cash but when the bill came it was 191 bucks.. well that's
nuts for service that didn't work so I called them..and after adjustment the
new bill is 87 bucks.

87 bucks for 6 mins of phone time and 2 text msgs... needless to say what a
joke. No way ...so anyone considering cingular take note of this type of
business practice. Now its off to file complaints with the FCC and with Ky
attorney general and the BBB. Its practices like these that resulted in the
FCC requiring truth in billing that hit the news today.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

In article <11342rqaoit87b8@corp.supernews.com>,
Ralph Blach <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote:

> Chuck,
>
> What was the 87 dollars for???
>

Likely 3 x $18 for Activation and $25 for the prorated 99.97 monthly
service, plus tax and fees.

Typical of what all Cellular Carrier do for their NO Risk trials.


>
> Chip
>
> Chuck Drake wrote:
> > On 2/26/05 Friday at 2pm my wife and I got a family plan with cingular. The
> > plan was 79.99 with a total of 3 phones. The 2 other lines were to be 9.99
> > each. Well after trying to use the phones at home and at work we found out,
> > despite what the sales folks at the store said, that we rarely could get
> > any reception with the phones. We actually managed 6 mins worth of phone
> > time and 2 text msgs. So we returned them on 3/1/05 at 10am when the store
> > opened, and got credited at the store for the phones. Well I figure we owe
> > them a bit of cash but when the bill came it was 191 bucks.. well that's
> > nuts for service that didn't work so I called them..and after adjustment
> > the
> > new bill is 87 bucks.
> >
> > 87 bucks for 6 mins of phone time and 2 text msgs... needless to say what a
> > joke. No way ...so anyone considering cingular take note of this type of
> > business practice. Now its off to file complaints with the FCC and with Ky
> > attorney general and the BBB. Its practices like these that resulted in the
> > FCC requiring truth in billing that hit the news today.
> >
> >

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

"scott14661" <scott14661.1lshjy@nospam.cellphoneforums.net> wrote in message
news:scott14661.1lshjy@nospam.cellphoneforums.net...
>
> Chuck Drake Wrote:
>> On 2/26/05 Friday at 2pm my wife and I got a family plan with cingular.
>> The
>> plan was 79.99 with a total of 3 phones. The 2 other lines were to be
>> 9.99
>> each. Well after trying to use the phones at home and at work we found
>> out,
>> despite what the sales folks at the store said, that we rarely could
>> get
>> any reception with the phones. We actually managed 6 mins worth of
>> phone
>> time and 2 text msgs. So we returned them on 3/1/05 at 10am when the
>> store
>> opened, and got credited at the store for the phones. Well I figure we
>> owe
>> them a bit of cash but when the bill came it was 191 bucks.. well
>> that's
>> nuts for service that didn't work so I called them..and after
>> adjustment the
>> new bill is 87 bucks.
>>
>> 87 bucks for 6 mins of phone time and 2 text msgs... needless to say
>> what a
>> joke. No way ...so anyone considering cingular take note of this type
>> of
>> business practice. Now its off to file complaints with the FCC and with
>> Ky
>> attorney general and the BBB. Its practices like these that resulted in
>> the
>> FCC requiring truth in billing that hit the news today.
>
> What are you disputing? You signed a contract with Cingular that said
> you had 30 days to return it. They credited you for the phones, and
> unused service. It states on the contract that if the lines are not
> cancelled by the third day, activation fees are not waived. So you got
> hit with $54.00 in activation fees. You're obviously responsible for
> the minutes you used, no matter how few they were. There are also
> taxes that are charged by the Government.
>
> The way I look at it, is Cingular made a mistake by overcharging you,
> however they credited off the incorrect amount and adjusted it
> correctly. You can file a complaint with the FCC if you'd like, but
> Cingular has record of you agreeing to a contract that states all of
> the above.
>
> This is no one's fault but your own.
>
>
> --
> scott14661
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
> View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t169276.html
>
Just the fact they assured coverage, and there was no coverage, so basically
they promised a service and did not deliver. So why should I pay ? If the
coverage was there I would still have the phones.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

In article <42337A7C.5030600@example.net>,
Tropical Haven <user@example.net> wrote:

> > Just the fact they assured coverage, and there was no coverage, so
> > basically
> > they promised a service and did not deliver. So why should I pay ? If the
> > coverage was there I would still have the phones.
>
> FYI: No carrier GUARANTEES coverage. I know of places where Verizon has
> good coverage, if you don't mind always getting a fast busy signal, and
> when your call does go through it will drop 9 times out of 10. I know
> places where Cingular coverage is terrible. I know of places where
> Sprint PCS won't work. I know of places where Alltel won't work, where
> SunCom won't work, where Nextel won't work, where US Cellular won't
> work, and where Cellular One (neither Dobson nor Western Wireless) don't
> work. In fact, I know of vast areas where NO mobile phone will work.
>
> I have never heard of Cingular guaranteeing coverage,

As if no sales rep ever guaranteed it. GET REAL.





> or any other
> carrier for that matter. Here is a quote directly from Cingular, with
> the source noted before:
>
> http://onlinestoref.cingular.com/h [...] SM_map.htm
>
> "Map depicts an approximation of outdoor coverage."
> "Cingular does not guarantee coverage."
>
> I can't imagine why you thought Cingular would *promise* coverage.
>
> I looked at signing up with T-Mobile just for a change from Cingular
> (even though I was satisfied, I thought it would be good to promote
> competition). T-Mobile plugged in my home address and advised me
> *against* signing up with them if I intended to use my mobile at my
> place of residence. As I don't like the tin echo of CDMA, Cingular was
> my only choice for GSM in *this* location.
>
> TH

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

"Tropical Haven" <user@example.net> wrote in message
news:42337A7C.5030600@example.net...
> > Just the fact they assured coverage, and there was no coverage, so
basically
> > they promised a service and did not deliver. So why should I pay ? If
the
> > coverage was there I would still have the phones.
>
> FYI: No carrier GUARANTEES coverage. I know of places where Verizon has
> good coverage, if you don't mind always getting a fast busy signal, and
> when your call does go through it will drop 9 times out of 10. I know
> places where Cingular coverage is terrible. I know of places where
> Sprint PCS won't work. I know of places where Alltel won't work, where
> SunCom won't work, where Nextel won't work,

Yeah, just draw a huge circle around the continental U.S. Inside that
circle is the Nextel NO-coverage area. -Dave

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

"Chuck Drake" <drakechuck@insightbb.com> wrote in message news:iCJYd.62271$r55.35920@attbi_s52...
<snip>
> Just the fact they assured coverage, and there was no coverage, so
> basically they promised a service and did not deliver. So why should
> I pay ? If the coverage was there I would still have the phones.
>
Their thinking is that you should have been able to determine
whether you have coverage at home during the first three days.
That's why after that they won't refund your activation fees.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

Well here is one example of being told something that isn't true, this came
from another post to this group
"Jerome Zelinske" <jeromez1@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:2SVYd.9066$cN6.4347@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> I was under the impression that all of att's tdma areas were overlaid with
> gsm?

Not yet ... I travel quite a bit with my work, and I looked into switching
from ATT TDMA to Cingular GSM ... but the area I travel to most is not yet
integrated. They (Cingular Customer Service Agents) will tell you that the
overlay is complete, but it isn't. Some of their Customer Service Agents are
actually quite honest about it, but most just want to get your money.



"Jack Zwick" <jzwick3@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:jzwick3-28C227.21254712032005@news1.west.earthlink.net...
> In article <4233816C.7090401@example.net>,
> Tropical Haven <user@example.net> wrote:
>
>> >>I have never heard of Cingular guaranteeing coverage,
>> >
>> >
>> > As if no sales rep ever guaranteed it. GET REAL.
>>
>> Do you have any documentation you'd like to use to back that up?
>
> Just the thousands of consumers that have been lied to by
> sales reps with sales quotas to fulfill and agressive managers.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

>>I was under the impression that all of att's tdma areas were overlaid with
>>gsm?
>
> Not yet ... I travel quite a bit with my work, and I looked into switching
> from ATT TDMA to Cingular GSM ... but the area I travel to most is not yet
> integrated. They (Cingular Customer Service Agents) will tell you that the
> overlay is complete, but it isn't. Some of their Customer Service Agents are
> actually quite honest about it, but most just want to get your money.


Integration is one thing, and overlaying GSM over TDMA is another. They
are not the same.

However, it wouldn't surprise me if all Cingular and former AT&T
Wireless areas are overlaid with GSM, but the areas of roaming partners
may not be. In many places your phone functions, you are actually using
the network of another company, and that's how some providers can
provide much more extensive coverage to their customers than their own
company's calling area.

Western Wireless, a company that operates AMPS/TDMA/CDMA and some GSM
towers was a significant roaming partner of AT&T Wireless services...in
fact, AWS was its biggest roaming partner. In some periods, roaming
revenue from AWS and Cingular was greater than all other roaming revenue
and the revenue of its own customers combined.

Western Wireless, before announcing it will sell out to Alltel, was
overlaying GSM on its own system, but that, AFAIK, has been halted.

The statement that Cingular has overlaid all Cingular/AWS TDMA areas
with GSM is very feasible, but there are still many TDMA areas that are
served by other companies, some of which may be migrating to CDMA
instead of GSM, and some may have future plans of GSM, or no plans to
migrate at all.

TH

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

I bet they could go somewhere in that area and get 4 bars. Just not
everywhere in the area. Sort of like when the weather forcast says 20%
chance of rain. You may not get rain in your area, while someone else does.

Don
"Chuck Drake" <drakechuck@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:iW3Zd.125619$tl3.6865@attbi_s02...
>> Do you have any documentation you'd like to use to back that up?
>
>
> Well the sales rep pulled up on his computer detailed maps with signal
> strength shown by various colors, each color represented how many "bars"
> should be shown on phone. No color on his map meant no signal.
> And I'm really surprised buy the amount of people willing to let a company
> rob them of hard earned dollars.
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

After a few hours of bitching on the phone and going thru the normal dummies
that you talk to I finally got ahold of a supervisor...he did credit the 54
in activation, so the final bill will be 37 bucks which is better...you
really have to watch these guys.. I'm glad the phones didn't work just so I
didn't have to deal with them on a monthly basis.


"scott14661" <scott14661.1lw89y@nospam.cellphoneforums.net> wrote in message
news:scott14661.1lw89y@nospam.cellphoneforums.net...
>
> Don Udel \(ETC\) Wrote:
>> When I was shopping cariers, Verizon was indeed a free trial. When I
>> returned the phone, I only paid for minutes used. There was no charge
>> for
>> activation, etc. Sprint on the other hand, tried to charge for
>> activation
>> and a few other things. I you fight at the right levels, they will
>> drop
>> the charges.
>>
>> Don
>> "Jack Zwick" <jzwick3@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>> news:jzwick3-9D2B5A.16063611032005@news1.west.earthlink.net...
>> > Typical of what all Cellular Carrier do for their NO Risk trials.
>
> Won't work. Charges are legitimate in this case. The OP agreed to a
> contract that stated that if the phones were not returned in 3 days
> there would be an activation fee charged. You may not agree with this
> policy, but policy is policy. Fees were already waived for this
> customer, no more credits are due at the time. That's what CS will say
> too.
>
>
> --
> scott14661
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
> View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t169276.html
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

"Thikkness" <Thikkness.1lv0iy@nospam.cellphoneforums.net> wrote in message
news:Thikkness.1lv0iy@nospam.cellphoneforums.net...
>
>SNIP

Do they really got me on the detailed billing or is there
> something else I could try to do to fight this?? I swear I don't talk
> that much because I spend all my time on the internet!*!
>
>
> --
> Thikkness
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
> View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t169276.html
>

A couple of thoughts. Can you prove that you couldn't have possibly made at
least one of the calls? Way back in the old days of analog phones and phone
cloners I had a $3000, yes that's thousand, bill from ATT. ATT was very
supportive and credited the entire bill with absolutely no hassle. I was
able to show from the bill that I couldn't have made some of the calls,
there were calls in Seattle (my home area) and San Francisco (where I
traveled for business on a regular basis) that were literally a few minutes
apart. Pretty obvious that I couldn't be in two places at once. Perhaps
there is something similar on your bill.

The second thing you might look at is the call timer on your phone, assuming
it has one. I have had phones in the past that would track total time used
in calls and had at least one reset-able timer. Maybe your phone has this
and you can compare the call timer to the number of minutes on the bill.
There may be a problem with this as I suspect that Cingular tends to round
off to the nearest minute (although I am not sure about that) and the timers
probably track acutal time used.

Good luck

Cheers
TC

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

I cant believe this...after all the bitching and getting everything
straightened out...cingular sent me another bill...for 77 bucks. Will let
everyone know what's up when I call them tomorrow.

"Chuck Drake" <drakechuck@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:2VyZd.69492$r55.22068@attbi_s52...
> After a few hours of bitching on the phone and going thru the normal
> dummies that you talk to I finally got ahold of a supervisor...he did
> credit the 54 in activation, so the final bill will be 37 bucks which is
> better...you really have to watch these guys.. I'm glad the phones didn't
> work just so I didn't have to deal with them on a monthly basis.
>
>
> "scott14661" <scott14661.1lw89y@nospam.cellphoneforums.net> wrote in
> message news:scott14661.1lw89y@nospam.cellphoneforums.net...
>>
>> Don Udel \(ETC\) Wrote:
>>> When I was shopping cariers, Verizon was indeed a free trial. When I
>>> returned the phone, I only paid for minutes used. There was no charge
>>> for
>>> activation, etc. Sprint on the other hand, tried to charge for
>>> activation
>>> and a few other things. I you fight at the right levels, they will
>>> drop
>>> the charges.
>>>
>>> Don
>>> "Jack Zwick" <jzwick3@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>>> news:jzwick3-9D2B5A.16063611032005@news1.west.earthlink.net...
>>> > Typical of what all Cellular Carrier do for their NO Risk trials.
>>
>> Won't work. Charges are legitimate in this case. The OP agreed to a
>> contract that stated that if the phones were not returned in 3 days
>> there would be an activation fee charged. You may not agree with this
>> policy, but policy is policy. Fees were already waived for this
>> customer, no more credits are due at the time. That's what CS will say
>> too.
>>
>>
>> --
>> scott14661
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
>> View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t169276.html
>>
>
>