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Cellular Phone Forum / Providers / Sprint PCS / January 2008Sprint - Fraudulent Practices
Anyone considering Sprint or who already has Sprint needs to beware of this. I called Sprint last Sunday to find out what my contract expiration date was. I was told that it was 1/29/2008. The rep sensed that I may be cancelling and asked why. I told him that I had poor reception. He then told me that if I wanted to, I didn't have to wait until the 29th to switch. Since I was within 30 days of the 29th, I could change without any charges. I asked if he was sure and he said yes, and that he would leave a note on my account saying so. As a result, I went directly to Verizon and switched. 5 days later, I received a bill for a $150 cancellation fee. I called Sprint and told a rep to check the notes wher ehe found the note from the first rep and said he would issue a credit. He said I should call back the next day (today), to verify that the credit went through. I called back today and not only had the credit not gone through, the note was edited to say that I called and understood all charges which I would incur. Not only did the supervisor deny the credit, he unethnically modified the notes to make it appear that I was told that I would be charged $150. Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're not. > I called Sprint last Sunday to find out what my contract expiration date > was. I was told that it was 1/29/2008. The rep sensed that I may be [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I asked if he was sure and he said yes, and that he would leave a note on my > account saying so. As a result, I went directly to Verizon and switched. You had 3 weeks left to go, and you believed a first level CS person? Well, it was a fairly inexpensive lesson. >> I called Sprint last Sunday to find out what my contract expiration date >> was. I was told that it was 1/29/2008. The rep sensed that I may be [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Well, it was a fairly inexpensive lesson. Yeah, it's not going to cost anything when the BBB is done with it. Regardless if the CS person was right or wrong, he did say it, and that's all that matters. Writing your State's Attorney General and a copy to the FCC and FCC may get faster results than the BBB ever could, which is funded by Sprint. As any long time reader here has read, Sprint CSRs in many call centers have their handle time strictly enforced, and thus some/many will tell you whatever it takes to quickly get you off the phone. > Writing your State's Attorney General and a copy to the FCC and FCC > may get faster results than the BBB ever could, which is funded by > Sprint. The FCC will do you no good what-so-ever with a billing issue. And further, you just clutter up the system with frivolous filings ... so don't do it! Nice try Phillip!  SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse America is the country where you buy a lifetime supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. >>> I called Sprint last Sunday to find out what my contract expiration date >>> was. I was told that it was 1/29/2008. The rep sensed that I may be [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >Regardless if the CS person was right or wrong, he did say it, and that's >all that matters. What exactly do you think the BBB will do? What "proof" do you have of the original conversation? This can and will degenerate down to a he said/she said scenario, but the only side with actual documentation is Sprint...so who do you think will win? I don't work for SPCS but do work as CS for a different Wireless carrier. I get threats all the time about going to a PUC, BBB or State AG - and frankly, nothing ever comes of it. Just earlier this week I had a caller tell me he was going to ruin me in his city of 150,000...and I wasn't really concerned about it. >>Yeah, it's not going to cost anything when the BBB is done with it. >>Regardless if the CS person was right or wrong, he did say it, and that's [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > he said/she said scenario, but the only side with actual documentation > is Sprint...so who do you think will win? So what you are recommending is to record every call you make to Customer Service so you can make a transcript if you need it? That is a bit sad. Dennis Ferguson >>>Yeah, it's not going to cost anything when the BBB is done with it. >>>Regardless if the CS person was right or wrong, he did say it, and that's [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Customer Service so you can make a transcript if you need it? That > is a bit sad. Sad but true. >>>> I called Sprint last Sunday to find out what my contract expiration >>>> date [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > he said/she said scenario, but the only side with actual documentation > is Sprint...so who do you think will win? Me. Because I already did. I was able to get high enough into the chain to get to a woman in the billing department and she took care of it. The lesson is that you can't count on their useless CS reps to do anything right and should always work your way up the chain. > I don't work for SPCS but do work as CS for a different Wireless > carrier. I get threats all the time about going to a PUC, BBB or > State AG - and frankly, nothing ever comes of it. Just earlier this > week I had a caller tell me he was going to ruin me in his city of > 150,000...and I wasn't really concerned about it. As a CS employee, I don't think you'd know if someone went to the BBB and had a billing issue resolved. It's not like you get a communication about things happening at that level. My BBB claim is still open and will remain that way until a bill comes saying that I owe $0.00 which should be the case since I called back and a CS rep told me that it was. The billing employee said that the CS rep didn't have the "special code" which needed to be entered to keep the $150 from being charged. Regardless, because of this whole debacle, I still don't recommend Sprint. the BBU has no teeth with the cell phone world i wish you luck. -- AL'S COMPUTERS > >> I called Sprint last Sunday to find out what my contract expiration date > >> was. I was told that it was 1/29/2008. The rep sensed that I may be [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Regardless if the CS person was right or wrong, he did say it, and that's > all that matters. > You had 3 weeks left to go, and you believed a first level CS person? > > Well, it was a fairly inexpensive lesson. You should not have to doubt what any representative of a company says to you. If that person doesn't know, then they should keep their mouth shut. Vonage tried the same thing on me. I cancelled it after only 10 days [a whole other discussion, but quality was mostly ok]. I was told I was to be charged a $39.99 disconnect fee, but if I waited until 60 days had passed, I wouldn't have to pay that fee and since the first two months are free, I would avoid a fee. First point, she was wrong, you only pay the fee if you cancel AFTER 60 days and BEFORE 2 years. Second, she was wrong because only the first month is free, not the second. If I had followed her advice, I would have paid the net total of $31.xx + $39.99 cancellation fee plus any prorated amount during the third month. You can't tell me she was that dumb ... she was trying to avoid the cancellation; fortunately, I read the contract. SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse America is the country where you buy a lifetime supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. First, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this sort of experience, if it truly happened the way it was presented was not just awful. That being said, please allow me to clear up a point. No one can alrter notes that are put into your account. After they are saved by the representative that originaly adds them, they are part of your permanent record. So if the original note the rep said they were putting in was ever actually put in, it is still there. And I am in 100% agreement with you, that if the agent even just said that there would be no fee, that should be enough, but as everyone knows, a verbal agreement is not worth the paper it is written on. What I would do if I were you is to send a detailed email to customer.servicenet@sprint.com including your Sprint Phone number, Account Number, Billing Address, and email address of record, as well as alternate means of contact like say a landline number where you can be reached and during what time frame. Make sure to be very detailed in your story, and be as pleasant as you can muster. This will get the issue escalated to a higer level, and hopefully you issue resolved in a timely manner. > Anyone considering Sprint or who already has Sprint needs to beware of this. > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're > not. >First, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this sort of >experience, if it truly happened the way it was presented was not just [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >will get the issue escalated to a higer level, and hopefully you issue >resolved in a timely manner. Why have to hope that it wiull be escalated by the overseas rep that attempts to read it ??? Google "Executive Services" 817 for the Forth Worth phone number into the 3rd level folks that have authority to fix things. >>First, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this sort of >>experience, if it truly happened the way it was presented was not just [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > phone number into the 3rd level folks that have authority to > fix things. Thanks. I found this: Executive Services - For when things get really messed up 1-866-519-5698 1-888-347-8988 1-817-215-3070 >First, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this sort of >experience, if it truly happened the way it was presented was not just >awful. That being said, please allow me to clear up a point. No one >can alrter notes that are put into your account. After they are saved >by the representative that originaly adds them, they are part of your >permanent record. This person did tell me that notes can't be edited, but I really would think that a supervisor could do so. How else do we explain that the note now says "customer called, verfied password, and understood all charges?" >So if the original note the rep said they were >putting in was ever actually put in, it is still there. And I am in >100% agreement with you, that if the agent even just said that there >would be no fee, that should be enough, but as everyone knows, a >verbal agreement is not worth the paper it is written on. I'm actually wondering if this type of practices is encouraged. Maybe reps are supposed to tell you this when they realize that it's imminent that you will cancel, causing you to switch and then billing you for $150. >What I would do if I were you is to send a detailed email to >customer.servicenet@sprint.com including your Sprint Phone number, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >will get the issue escalated to a higer level, and hopefully you issue >resolved in a timely manner. Thanks for the info. Do you work there? > >First, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this sort of > >experience, if it truly happened the way it was presented was not just [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > that a supervisor could do so. How else do we explain that the note now > says "customer called, verfied password, and understood all charges?" Yup, nobody calls to verfiy password... > >So if the original note the rep said they were > >putting in was ever actually put in, it is still there. And I am in [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > are supposed to tell you this when they realize that it's imminent that you > will cancel, causing you to switch and then billing you for $150. You got that right Kimosabe !! > >What I would do if I were you is to send a detailed email to > >customer.service...@sprint.com including your Sprint Phone number, [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Thanks for the info. Do you work there? Maybe not after Friday... I agree with what you are saying. In the past, when I've had billing problems, an email to customer service usually took care of it. First, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this sort of experience, if it truly happened the way it was presented was not just awful. That being said, please allow me to clear up a point. No one can alrter notes that are put into your account. After they are saved by the representative that originaly adds them, they are part of your permanent record. So if the original note the rep said they were putting in was ever actually put in, it is still there. And I am in 100% agreement with you, that if the agent even just said that there would be no fee, that should be enough, but as everyone knows, a verbal agreement is not worth the paper it is written on. What I would do if I were you is to send a detailed email to customer.servicenet@sprint.com including your Sprint Phone number, Account Number, Billing Address, and email address of record, as well as alternate means of contact like say a landline number where you can be reached and during what time frame. Make sure to be very detailed in your story, and be as pleasant as you can muster. This will get the issue escalated to a higer level, and hopefully you issue resolved in a timely manner. On Jan 12, 6:04 pm, "RJA" <r...@nospam.cinci.rr.com> wrote: > Anyone considering Sprint or who already has Sprint needs to beware of > this. [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > you're > not. > Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall > for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're > not. Their whole damn system is held together by "notes". To make matters worse, they don't even have in the system when you are due for a $150 credit towards a new phone, so they simply use the date of the last time the ESN on your account changed; that is the last time you swapped phones, whether you got an insurance replacement, bought a newer [but used] model on Ebay or simply bought full retail ... it doesn't matter, you lose your $150 credit until two years from that change. Their incompetant system and poorly trained CSRs [both in-store and call center] are enough to keep me from ever using them again. SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse America is the country where you buy a lifetime supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. >> Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall >> for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >bought full retail ... it doesn't matter, you lose your $150 credit until two >years from that change. Like I said last week when you made the same claim, I've changed ESN's many dozens of times over a 5 year period (handset tester) and never had my date reset for the $150 credit. In fact, even now it shows a date from 2001. Either I'm special, or you're (once again) making this up. SignaturePaul Miner >>> Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall >>> for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >>bought full retail ... it doesn't matter, you lose your $150 credit until two >>years from that change. >Like I said last week when you made the same claim, I've changed ESN's >many dozens of times over a 5 year period (handset tester) and never >had my date reset for the $150 credit. In fact, even now it shows a >date from 2001. Either I'm special, or you're (once again) making this >up. I've experienced the same thing. My date is 4/2008, and I haven't purchased a phone from sprint since 11/2001. Since then I've activated a phone I got from a phone replacement insurance program (reset), and a couple of ebay phones which also reset my date upon each activation. You must be special. :-p >>>> Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall >>>> for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >You must be special. :-p Thanks, but I'm resisting that conclusion. :-) If anything, I'm leaning toward an inconsistently applied policy, although I still don't know what the policy actually was/is. SignaturePaul Miner >>>>> Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall >>>>> for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >> >>You must be special. :-p >Thanks, but I'm resisting that conclusion. :-) >If anything, I'm leaning toward an inconsistently applied policy, >although I still don't know what the policy actually was/is. I'm not sure anybody does. Maybe a CSR who was a sprint drone a.shole was called by you for something unrelated, knew you had supplied your own phone, and reset the date back without being asked? Nah. Impossible. > I'm not sure anybody does. Maybe a CSR who was a sprint drone a.shole was > called by you for something unrelated, knew you had supplied your own phone, and > reset the date back without being asked? Nah. Impossible. Their system doesn't even allow them to do that. They can only put in notes, priority notes and executive notes by what I gather. And unless the notes are an "executive note", you don't have a chance in hell of them honoring it ... and even then the chance is small. SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse America is the country where you buy a lifetime supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. > Like I said last week when you made the same claim, I've changed ESN's > many dozens of times over a 5 year period (handset tester) and never > had my date reset for the $150 credit. In fact, even now it shows a > date from 2001. Either I'm special, or you're (once again) making this > up. I don't recall seeing your refutation last week. However, I assure you that it is true. I had reception problems at my client in July or August of 2006 and thought maybe a new phone would help ... hell, I won't retell the story here again, it is archived you care to look. In any event, I got stuck with ESN swap issues resetting the rebate. Yes, it is true. Further, my Daughter had an insurance replacement on her phone and I was told that she wouldn't be given the rebate until 2 years hence [I believe they offered $50 or $75 after one year]. You claim that you have switched many times is unique to be sure. I am not entirely sure I believe it, but I guess I have no real reason to think that Sprint's systems aren't consistant from locale to locale. In any event, it is/was fact and was widely reported in teh past that the discount is triggered off of the duration since the last ESN swap. I leave it to those doubtful of this to google the archives. Is isn't an isolated issue. SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse America is the country where you buy a lifetime supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. >>> Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall >>> for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > date from 2001. Either I'm special, or you're (once again) making this > up. You must be special. I've had a phone replaced under Sprint's warranty, and it definitely reset my credit period. Same thing when I bought a phone off ebay and activated it. >> Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall >> for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if you're [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >bought full retail ... it doesn't matter, you lose your $150 credit until two >years from that change. Does the contract say anything, one way or the other, or is the new phone program only in marketing literature? >>a new phone, so they simply use the date of the last time the ESN on your >>account changed; that is the last time you swapped phones, whether you got an [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Does the contract say anything, one way or the other, or is the new > phone program only in marketing literature? What new phone program? The ESN swap which resets the $150 credit is as old as Sprint PCS (yes, the PCS was intentional this time). SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse America is the country where you buy a lifetime supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. I agree with Tommy Tee, but I still have Sprint and I like it very much. Sprint should not reset the clock just because you activate a new phone or do an ESN swap. Jar-Jar >> Liars and Cheats. It's up to the Better Business Bureau now. Don't fall >> for this if you're a sprint customer, and don't sign up for Sprint if [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Their incompetant system and poorly trained CSRs [both in-store and call > center] are enough to keep me from ever using them again. You are right that an ESN swap with a non reconditioned phone will reset the clock because that is the way the system tracks your eligibility, however, that is not the "policy" and if you have a care or store rep research this you will still get the $150 credit. >I agree with Tommy Tee, but I still have Sprint and I like it very much. >Sprint should not reset the clock just because you activate a new phone or [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >> Their incompetant system and poorly trained CSRs [both in-store and call >> center] are enough to keep me from ever using them again. > You are right that an ESN swap with a non reconditioned phone will reset > the clock because that is the way the system tracks your eligibility, > however, that is not the "policy" and if you have a care or store rep > research this you will still get the $150 credit. Unfortunately, that is not true. It is ANY ESN swap for ANY reason will reset it. The ONLY way they will honor something different is to get a corporate manager [NOT in the store] to put an executive note on the account. Hopefully, at the time you actually try to buy the phone with the discount, they won't give you too much of a fight when they tell you that you do not yet qualify and you say, "but I do, please take a look at the notes". SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse America is the country where you buy a lifetime supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. Thomas, I don't know where you do business, but you obviously have been going to the wrong stores, do you shop in the MALL's ? The intent of the upgrade program is to give Sprint's customers a reason to sign on for another 2 years, yes, the swap resets the clock, but it does not reset your true eligibilty, and at least in my store, we will gladly give you the discount and sign you up ! It is only logical that if you have not upgraded then you have not extended your contract, are you trying to say that Sprint would turn you down and have you go elsewhere ? I think not . >> You are right that an ESN swap with a non reconditioned phone will reset >> the clock because that is the way the system tracks your eligibility, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > yet > qualify and you say, "but I do, please take a look at the notes". >Thomas, I don't know where you do business, but you obviously have been >going to the wrong stores, do you shop in the MALL's ? The intent of the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >upgraded then you have not extended your contract, are you trying to say >that Sprint would turn you down and have you go elsewhere ? I think not . I fought with sprint when I tried to get a new phone for my wife on the second line of my account. I've had ebay purchased phones since day one on that line and no amount of argueing with sprint could convince them to honor the discount. They kept saying that I could get a new phone on line #1 (didn't need it) or I could get a discounted third phone (didn't want one). f.ck them. It just isn't worth the hassle. When my current contract runs out, I'm taking my business elsewhere. They'll give me two new phones and won't care if one of my old phones has been in use for less than 18 months. > I fought with sprint when I tried to get a new phone for my wife on the > second line of my account. I've had ebay purchased phones since day > one on that line and no amount of argueing with sprint could convince them > to honor the discount. They kept saying that I could get a new phone > on line #1 (didn't need it) or I could get a discounted third phone (didn't > want one). I can't figure Sprint out. I had three phones on a family plan, all off contract (I think for the first time in 8 years I'd managed to not have Sprint put one or more of them back on contract before the end of the term) and wanted to port just one number out to another carrier so I could get free Mexico roaming. Unfortunately the number I wanted to move was the one which "owned" the account in their billing system, if I ported it the others would be left without a plan, I'd need a new plan for the other phones (without some grandfathered features which I liked but were no longer being sold) and they'd both end up back on contract. There was apparently no way to make one of the other phones "own" the account in their billing system without other changes, if I took that one phone but wanted to remain a Sprint customer I'd have to start the others over with new service. That persuaded me to move all three phones, the two I would have left with Sprint first and the one I really wanted to move last. I was perfectly happy with Sprint's phone service, but life is too short for the stuff that seems to go along with it. Dennis Ferguson > Thomas, I don't know where you do business, but you obviously have been > going to the wrong stores, do you shop in the MALL's ? The intent of the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > upgraded then you have not extended your contract, are you trying to say > that Sprint would turn you down and have you go elsewhere ? I think not . Let me put it another way. Perhaps if you contract is up for renewal, the $150 will be credited anyway ... but if your contract is NOT up for renewal (supposed somebody called one year or so into their contract and increased the number of minutes each month [perhaps added an additional line for a teenage child] and the contract is reset to two years. However, they are still no eligible for the $150 phone credit until the two year mark. They very well may be under contract still at this point. They WILL LOSE THAT CREDIT if they swap phones for any reason what-so-ever because it is triggered off of the ESN change. Better? SignatureThomas T. Veldhouse America is the country where you buy a lifetime supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. whare is youre store located for those of us who might be located in youre area? -- AL'S COMPUTERS > Thomas, I don't know where you do business, but you obviously have been > going to the wrong stores, do you shop in the MALL's ? The intent of the [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > America is the country where you buy a lifetime > > supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. I am in Massachusetts, for specific store info you can send me your email address. > whare is youre store located for those of us who might be located in youre > area? [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >> > America is the country where you buy a lifetime >> > supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. i use the south portland maine store on running hill road. small store ruth is the lady i work with she is older but sexy and nice to talk to:) -- AL'S COMPUTERS > I am in Massachusetts, for specific store info you can send me your email > address. [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > >> > America is the country where you buy a lifetime > >> > supply of aspirin for one dollar, and use it up in two weeks. >i use the south portland maine store on running hill road. > small store ruth is the lady i work with she is older but sexy and nice to > talk to:) I guess everyone has a reason to stay with Sprint, none of which are very good. I don't know if Ruth and sexy really jive. > Thomas, I don't know where you do business, but you obviously have been > going to the wrong stores, do you shop in the MALL's ? The intent of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > that Sprint would turn you down and have you go elsewhere ? I think not > . It may not be Sprint's intent for you to go somewhere else, but the CS people don't operate under the premise of customer satisfaction. Somewhere along the chain, employees stop caring if you're satisfied vs. upset and you end up leaving. It must be challenging to get people to renew where you work because by the time they get to you, they've been jerked around for 2 years. Does everyone know that with 7pm nights, if you call someone at 6:55pm and talk for an hour, you're billed for 60 minutes? That's ridiculous. Should you really have to hang up and call someone back after that first 5 minutes to avoid charges? They hide it in the small print in the terms & conditions. > It may not be Sprint's intent for you to go somewhere else, but the CS > people don't operate under the premise of customer satisfaction. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > after that first 5 minutes to avoid charges? They hide it in the > small print in the terms & conditions. I came from Verizon to Alltel, here. Alltel takes some getting used to. Your first shock is when THEY call YOU to inquire if the problem has cleared up or if you've had a solution to your problem. Case in point....When I got the MotoROKR Z6m from Alltel ($50 w/rebate), I bought EVDO data to connect my Nokia N800 tablet through BT DUN to it. The ROKR always reported switching to 1X on its display every time I connected, even though the data speed was 700Kbps. Curious, I called and was put through to the data engineers. It was working so I let it run a while. 3 days ago, I noticed the ROKR no longer shows the 1X blue icon or DATA/Dormant display. It says EVDO and runs much faster. I was working today when it rang. It was Alltel asking me if they had corrected this problem with 1X switching and wanting to check to see how my service was doing. If Verizon had EVER called me, I would have had a heart attack or stroke! Alltel asked if it was OK for them to call me again in a week or two to make sure it was still doing fine. What a silly idea! Calling the CUSTOMER to make sure we're doing it right. What are they, CRAZY?! > I came from Verizon to Alltel, here. Alltel takes some > getting used to. Your first shock is when THEY call YOU to [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > What a silly idea! Calling the CUSTOMER to make sure we're > doing it right. What are they, CRAZY?! I'm glad you had a good experience with Alltel--that makes up for the abysmal way that they treated my account. It was good riddance when I was able to dump them for <gasp> Sprint. I've been doing this cellphone thing for 20-years now. The two best of the company's I had were my first company, the old AT&T wireless, and Verison. Sprint had a lot of promise or, rather, promises, when I signed with them. It's been really disappointing. Flatus > I'm glad you had a good experience with Alltel--that makes up > for the abysmal way that they treated my account. It was good > riddance when I was able to dump them for <gasp> Sprint. How long ago was the Alltel experience? I moved from the liars at Verizon to Alltel about 3 years ago. I've had others say they changed a lot in recent years. Verizon came from GTE Wireless who bought our Cellular One carrier....who actually started off from a Cellular One Of Charleston franchise, here in Charleston, SC. Cellone of Charleston was the best. I became a customer migrating from IMTS Carphones the first month way back. AMPS and bagphones and 500' monster towers with serious antennas....long ago. When GTE bought them up, it all went to hell in a month. GTE took away the customer lounges, the customer appreciation parties, the free coffee and donuts while you waited for your car AMPS phone to be installed or repaired in the big shop they DIDN'T hide from you. After the lounge became history, they took away all the customer chairs to try to force customers to leave and get rid of the while-you-wait services. Go to any Verizon store and notice only the employees have chairs. There's a reason for that, to get rid of you quickly. In the main VZW store, here, the customers were leaning on a little bank desk used to fill out forms/checks, so Verizon removed that, too, the bastards. Alltel has chairs, nice ones...(c; >> I'm glad you had a good experience with Alltel--that makes >> up for the abysmal way that they treated my account. It [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > liars at Verizon to Alltel about 3 years ago. I've had > others say they changed a lot in recent years. You've really got me thinking back. My best guess is that it was between Suncom and Verison. That would put it about six years ago. I had them for two years. They didn't have their own B&M-- picked it up at a kiosk in Walmart. Since then they've opened a store but I've never gone in it. I used to have GTE as my phone company when we lived in Florida. They had a teriffic deal for ISDN--practically gave it away. In South Carolina, the same level of service from BS would have cost three times as much. Wasn't aware that they were into cellular. Must have been shortly before they were gobbled up. Hope Sprint survives for a while. I've gotten to like my Treo now that I've gotten a bluetooth keyboard and mouse for it. > Verizon came from GTE Wireless who bought our Cellular One > carrier....who actually started off from a Cellular One Of [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > bank desk used to fill out forms/checks, so Verizon removed > that, too, the bastards. Sounds like the airlines. Flatus > Hope Sprint survives for a while. I've gotten to like my Treo > now that I've gotten a bluetooth keyboard and mouse for it. Sprint will be fine. This is all about the same old Wall Street shellgame....the bankers and their computers cause a panic selling of some stock, Sprint or anyone, the investors sell the bankers the company for pennies on the dollar, the company files for bankruptcy to shed its debt to a different set of bankers, then the company has this miracle turnaround and the bankers who caused the panic make billions from the "New Sprint". Just watch it happen.... I hope it doesn't delay the WiMax rollout too long, which is what the OTHER carriers are all hoping for! >> Hope Sprint survives for a while. I've gotten to like my >> Treo now that I've gotten a bluetooth keyboard and mouse [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > miracle turnaround and the bankers who caused the panic > make billions from the "New Sprint". Sprint is hemorrahging subscribers ostensibly because of poor customer service and failure to meet service expectations. So, what's their fix for the situation they've created for themselves? Close storefronts, lay off CSRs, and defer deployment of technology. Next step will be to turn off towers to save electicity. They'll hype that as 'Going Green!' If a white knight wants to jump in and turn the situation around, he had better have very deep pockets because the pool of money for speculative ventures has dried up. And why should one of the other companies buy them out? They have little need to because they're acquiring Sprint's clients without having to make capital expenditures. Certainly sounds like a winning situation for everybody except Sprint. Flatus > And why should one of the other companies buy them out? They > have little need to because they're acquiring Sprint's clients > without having to make capital expenditures. The existing tower space in ANY SELLphone company, especially in urban areas where new covenants prevent new tower construction, makes those Sprint towers worth more than the company ever was, even in the boom times. Try to put up a new SELLphone tower in, say, Ft Lauderdale.....or Scarsdale....or Hilton Head Island....or some other millionaire condo haven. Try getting a PERMIT. > The existing tower space in ANY SELLphone company, especially in urban > areas where new covenants prevent new tower construction, makes those [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Scarsdale....or Hilton Head Island....or some other millionaire condo > haven. Try getting a PERMIT. TOTALLY INCORRECT. Short of serious compelling reasons (like too close to an airport), the FCC has deemed towers cannot be rejected for aesthetics, covenants, home owner objections, or RF radiation. There have been attempts in to block deployments in historical preservation areas, but it has to be a clear disruption to the historic content. >> The existing tower space in ANY SELLphone company, especially in >> urban areas where new covenants prevent new tower construction, makes [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > preservation areas, but it has to be a clear disruption to the > historic content. Hmm...interesting. I guess our city and county ordinances must be nulled out. > Hmm...interesting. I guess our city and county ordinances must be nulled > out. MRT Magazine had good coverage of the issue, http://mrtmag.com ... > Does everyone know that with 7pm nights, if you call someone at 6:55pm and > talk for an hour, you're billed for 60 minutes? That's ridiculous. Should > you really have to hang up and call someone back after that first 5 minutes > to avoid charges? They hide it in the small print in the terms & > conditions. Yes, but that cuts both ways, I believe. If you call at 6:55 AM and talk for an hour, it's all N/W minutes. Works nicely for west-coasters needing to talk to east-coasters! 8-) RJA said the following on 1/19/2008 9:35 PM: > It may not be Sprint's intent for you to go somewhere else, but the CS > people don't operate under the premise of customer satisfaction. Somewhere [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > to avoid charges? They hide it in the small print in the terms & > conditions. Is there any cell phone company that changes rates in the middle of a call because some starting time passes? Conversely, you can START a call before the "nights and weekends" time expires (7am, I think) and keep that call going all day and it would be free. |
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