I don't have a cell phone anymore... and life is a little less beepy and annoying.

I didn't know you spoke french. ;)

DOH! I never noticed that. Thanks GC!

As a side, T-Mobile uses Cingulars towers. That's how they were able to get up and running so fast. If you hate the reception you get from Cingular you won't be much happier with T-Mobile.

Update
 

Just a quick update on the problems with Cingular. They completely ignored my letter. No response, no problem fixes (actually, the problems got worse).

I switched to Verizon, which, according to Al, has the best consumer report rating of any cell phone company out there. I'm quite satisfied with Verizon -- I actually receive every call and voice message.

Attached is the letter I just sent to them. DO NOT USE CINGULAR WIRELESS, THEY HAVE TERRIBLE SERVICE AND THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.


March 2, 2005

Cingular Wireless
Attn: Office of the President
P.O. Box 755
Atwater, CA 95301

Re: Cingular’s Breach of Contract, Tel # 323-XXX-XXXX

Dear Cingular Wireless:

On Saturday, February 26th I was forced to cancel my contract with you due to your complete failure to provide service and unwillingness to acknowledge, much less correct, the problems I have encountered. I had complained about these problems on numerous occasions and your company was either unwilling or unable to rectify the problems. I sent a letter to you on February 1, 2005 (copy enclosed) regarding some of these issues. As of this date no response to the February 1st letter or the problems detailed therein were addressed.

These problems are being forwarded to the California Public Utilities Commission.

I understand that your position is that Cingular does not “guarantee continuous service”. I understand every cell phone drops a call occasionally or has technical issues from time to time. However, the problems I had experienced with your cell service were more the rule than the exception, and amounted to more than simply a “continuous service” issue. It amounts to a breach of your agreement to provide service.

These issues have had a severe detrimental effect on my business, impacting greatly on my income. I have been informed by a number of people who provide work to me that due to their inability to contact to me, work was given to others. This has resulted in a loss of income. Their inability to contact me was a result of your lack of service over a two-month period.
Problems I had been having included:

1) Voice messages being left on the voice mail system which were not retrievable until hours or days after they had been left.
2) Voice messages being left on the voice mail system which were never retrievable/recorded by your voice mail system.
3) People trying to contact me would get repeated “mobile customer you are trying to reach has traveled beyond the service area” messages when I was, in fact, within the service area.
4) My cell phone would ring one time and then stop. The phone would not register that I had missed a call. The person on the other end would get one ring followed by a “mobile customer you are trying to reach has traveled beyond the service area” message or a fast busy signal.
5) Calls would drop about 50% of the time even when I was not moving/traveling.
6) People who telephoned me were unable, on numerous occasions, to leave voice mail messages, instead getting a fast busy signal.
7) Your call center supervisor lied to me in order to eject me from the customer service call center (See Letter of February 1, 2005). I had told her that I would be forced to switch wireless providers if the problems I had been having were not fixed. Combined with the non-response to my letter of February 1, 2005, you are unwilling and/or unable to fix the problems I am having.

Due to these problems, I would like instructions on where to return my Cingular cell phone. I would also like my final payment pro-rated as of the day I cancelled cell phone service with Cingular, February 26, 2005. Finally, I would like the contract cancellation fee waived. I refuse to pay this fee since Cingular is in breach of contract, having provided a level of service far below anything contemplated in the signing of the agreement. Attempting to charge me with the contract cancellation fee, or taking any action that has an adverse effect on my credit will result in legal action against Cingular Wireless.

I look forward to your response within the next ten (10) days.

Very truly yours,



Joseph M. Levy, Esq.

Cc: California Public Utilities Commission

That is a great letter, Chernbog. Keep us informed, would ya?


I have heard that Verizon has the best coverage around. I understand they are the only ones who have coverage in Yosemite. I have made calls from within buildings and people ask 'How are you calling me? Do you have Verizon??'

But, I got tired of the cost and the fact that I don't use a phone quite so much. I picked up Virgin phones for everyone and pay up as we need to. I haven't added to my phone in ages and I don't miss it.

My sister had problems though in canceling her account. We'd have coverage {insurance?} on our phones forever. Her phone was older {she didn't upgrade when I did} and it got to the point where they couldn't fix it. They suggested she get another phone. They didn't tell her that by accepting it she was also accepting a new 2-year contract. They said she knew. She signed the receipt. She said she was signing because she used her debit card to pay. Her signature was it. I asked why there weren't two signatures as normally you have to sign for your purchase and then again acknowledging that you are accepting a contract. Of course, they were right, we were wrong. They also tricked us to get us out of the office, saying they could get onto a special contract where instead of paying off her contract fee she could get the phone at a reduced price. Less time but less money and she never really used her phone much.

Anywho, they said we had to call their customer service from home. When we got home they said there was no way they could do that, no one would ever tell us that could be done.

I told them that it was alright for them to lie to us, etc. but they couldn't believe that my sister did not know she was signing a contract? But, they could lie to us.

After talking to a lot of people who were snide, rude, condescending, we got in touch with a guy who gave my sister a great deal and a way to keep her phone until her contract expires. I don't know if it all is working out, she hasn't told me.

Oh, so, anyone who has my cell phone number, it has changed. The new number is 555-555-5555. :D

But really, I am phone free. I carry it with no time on it. I know I can put time on it if I need it but I don't want it just for chatting. Old school? Maybe. :cool:

Good luck, Morri.

Way to go Chernabog!!!!! That's an awesome letter!

I've experience my first billing issue since the merger. I was overcharged by $25 and had a late fee to boot! I've never had a late fee with AT&T, not even when I was 2 months late and collections called me (I was moving and forgot about my bill).

I called them and they said it was impossible for their computers to be wrong, that they never make mistakes. When I said uhhh yea, I know several people who have been overcharged not to mention the countless people I've seen in the stores... it IS possible that your computer is wrong.

The guy I was connected too wasn't even a CSR guy and refused to transfer me to one claiming that once he had my call he wasn't allowed to transfer me to a CSR, he was only allowed to go to them for me and tell me what they said. Needless to say I was less than impressed and after about 10 minutes of arguing with the guy he connected me to a CSR and said "this is xxxx, she won't be able to do anything more than I can but you can talk to her if you wnat too: :eek:.

And every time I call they said "well you are on an AT&T contract". That's great. Now give me the AT&T level of customer care I am accustomed too.

okay, some of you type WAY too much per post....

anyhow, been with everyone from Sprint, to Nextel, to ATT to Verizon.

Verizon has customer service wise, plan wise, the best out there. I liked Sprint's phones, but Verizon has the best service out here....

Mayabe they have caught up, but a year or so ago, their plans sucked. I was paying a lot more, and they didnt have any large minute plans that fit my needs. I hope they have gotten better.

Eric works for Verizon, and they are an awesome company to work for.

Quit Sprint a few months ago (spotty connections in SF) and went to Verizon. Very pleased with the service. But that's not why I'm posting.

Chernabog... awesome letter!