gonzalesna 0 #1 March 16, 2007 So, I've used Cingular for over 3 years now as my cell phone company. I've never had any issues with them except maybe a minor error that was a quick fix. I've backed them up and passed on my satisfaction to family and friends... BUUUUUUUT.... (and I'm sure you knew this was coming) When I renewed my contract at the end of January and ordered a new phone with the discount along with 2 accessories, imagine my surprise when, a week after I got my phone and accessories, a duplicate order showed up and a second charge of the same amount was posted to my checking account. Since the 12th of February, I've been dealing with them trying to get my money back. I couldn't take it back to a store because I ordered it online, so I had to ship it back to the warehouse. Well, I could either pay for shipping or wait for free shipping labels. I waited. The shipping labels took a whopping 2 weeks to get to me, so I didn't get to ship the duplicate order until the last week of February. So, I finally ship the items and 2 weeks later, I'm still without my refund. So today, I call and they tell me that the duplicate order was received on the 12th of March... (A little long, even for USPS if you ask me) Even so, it sat in the warehouse for 3 days without a courtesy call or a refund. Well, today, I go to my online bank thingy to check my account to see if the money has been reimbursed, and instead, I find 3 insufficient funds fees for returned checks. Well, it just says what it is on the website, not who it's from, so I call the bank to find out who attempted to take out money from my account. Sure enough, it's Cingular. They're trying to automatically debit the money from my account, which I did have set up in case I forgot to pay a bill, even though I paid the bill ON THE 1ST OF THE MONTH!!!!! So I ask the bank if I deal with them or Cingular regarding the returned check fees, and they take care of it. Full refund. (I love my bank.Next, I call Cingular to basically ask them the age old question, "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!?!" They apparently lost the record that I paid my bill, so my backup plan to never be late came into effect and started trying to automatically pay that which was already paid but lost. So, Cingular files a claim for that. That issue's solved... but wait, there's more! I try to deal with the "I'm still waiting for my money for the returned duplicate order issue," and get, "I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to call back to customer service again and follow the automated menu to the appropriate department. I can't take care of that issue for you." I ask them if they can just transfer me, and I get a quick, "Oh, well, ya, I can do that." Holy fucking shit!!!! is it that fucking intelligent of an idea that you couldn't come up with that idea on your own??? GAHHHH!!!!! So, I get transferred, and I'm told that I'll have to wait a total of 20 days from when the returned item is received to get my refund. Well, I immediately wave the Bullshit Flag" on that one. To make a long story endless, she filed ANOTHER claim, and hopefully, my money should be returned within the next week. Needless to say, I'm pretty much royally pissed off about this. Am I the only one having this many problems with Cingular right now??? I know they're trying to switch back to AT&T or something like that... but fuck! Could you at least try and keep it to one fuck up at a time?!? I can't take this shit! OK, I've vented... WOOSAHHHHHH!!!!! I feel better now... (Yes, I did tell you how I really feel.) Thank God I'm not a female PMSing right now... I would've probably found a way to teleport my ass over there to beat them to death with a random object like an MRE spoon. OK, I'm done.Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #2 March 16, 2007 I believe they just settled a class action lawsuit. I don't use Cingular, so I didn't listen too closely. You might be eligible as a long term customer. Do a search.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #3 March 16, 2007 thank ya sir... I noticed something was awry. Now that I've vented, I can point and laugh. (Cue the HAHA by nelson from the simpsons)Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #4 March 16, 2007 Checked on the lawsuit... there is one, but it's in regards to the AT&T customers that were forced to change over to Cingular during the merger and had to pay an increase in monthly charges and fees, as well as an $18 transfer fee for switching over to Cingular from AT&T even though they couldn't just opt out because of their contracts with AT&T. If they had left AT&T and Cingular for a different company, they would've encurred an early termination fee. For most cell phone companies, it's around $200.Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #5 March 16, 2007 So the moral of the story really is, buy at a store and you have slightly more recourse and you don't have to hand in product without getting your money back. All of this could be resolved by getting your ass out of a chair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #6 March 16, 2007 yes, but I live 60 miles from the nearest cingular store, therefore, if I drove, I'd be wasting about $30 in gas, maybe more. (Crappy gas mileage in conjunction with, once again, raising gas prices) Therefore, it's not a laziness factor, as I play hockey games every sunday and am currently active duty in the military. Laziness doesn't apply here. But, for the masses, I would usually have to agree with you. As for the actual purchasing side of things... you're 100% correct. I have no intention of ever buying anything of significant value (personal opinion of significant value applies) over the internet or via telephone.Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PWScottIV 0 #7 March 16, 2007 QuoteSo, I've used Cingular for over 3 years now... Yeah, I've had them for about 6 years and they just totally FUCKED me! I just moved to go to school and right before I left, they recommended I switch to automatic payment... I had never gone over before, so I figured, what the hell, why not? Well, seeing that I was away from all of my friends, I started using my phone a whole lot more. Apparently they made my change of address wrong and I wasn't getting the bills... Not a problem until I looked online and saw my bank statement... Over 3 months my phone bills totaled $666!!! I called them, but seeing as I had paid already, they said there was NOTHING they would do... Completely fucked! I've been a good paying customer for this long and now they're fucking me like this... Unbelievable. Anyone know if I have any recourse?Gravity Waits for No One. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matt1215 0 #8 March 16, 2007 Another lesson is not to give this type of company debit access to your checking account. Many credit card companies have an online interface where you can generate single-use account numbers. I'd rather get the 'Hey, your card's been declined!!' call after they attempt to use the card again, then find unauthorized charges on my checking account. Just personal preference, but I'm very selective on who I grant debit access to my accounts . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingJ 0 #9 March 17, 2007 Just keep good notes of your issues and who you talk to and when. I had a similar issue with CompUSA - a bad hard drive that snowballed via piles of horrible customer service into me fighting with them and being without a computer for 4 months. I documented every conversation and event, and when it hit rock bottom sent a letter along with my documentation to the president of the company that was visably copied to the BBB and Attorney General's office of the state where their online sales department was located. I overnighted the letter to the president of the company and the next afternoon received a call that I would be receiving a full purchase price refund on a 5 year old computer. Good luck with your phone situation. Just make sure you have the details, and make sure everyone you talk to is forced to hear them all. Might be a pain to recite over and over, but hopefully it will get to the point that they just want to get rid of you and speed things up!Killing threads since 2004. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSBIRD 1 #10 March 17, 2007 You're not dealing with Cingular any more! I grew up when ATT was a great American company. However, sometime in the mid to late 1990s, ATTs service ethic and customer service went to shit x 10! I bit the bullet and contracted with ATT Wireless when they were the only cellular carrier in my rural area. After surviving their shitty customer service for 6 years, I was thrilled to learn that Cingular purchased ATT Wireless in 2005. I couldn't have asked for a better cell carrier...all it ever took was one call to CS and any issue I ever had was fixed on the spot. The other day I decided to call Cingular to adjust my text message plan. As soon as the CS rep gave me the new price list, I flipped! Almost double of the old price list. I asked if this was a new price since ATT took over..."Yes Sir" was her reply. So I'll tell you the same thing I told her...."RUN!!!!" Do whatever you have to to get away from the 'new' ATT wireless. I'm giving T Mobile a chance next. 359"Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #11 March 17, 2007 I hope Tmobile has as good coverage in your area as Cingular did... I used to have a Blackberry pager with Tmobile, but the coverage wasn't all that great around my home. It was fine where I used to work and along the commute route. But since I've been a stay-at-home dad and the pager has since broke for good, I haven't felt the need to get another one until now. I've heard a lot of friends around here have pagers with Cingular and they love it. The coverage is much better. I have also heard it costs a bit more than Tmobile. I may well decide to go to a Cingular store 30 miles away to get exactly what I want. The online websites where I could order one just confuses me."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DFWAJG 4 #12 March 17, 2007 I've had problems before when a company didn't reimburse me or overcharged me for something I purchased. You can go to your bank and show them the receipts. Often, they will go after the money for you. For instance, I bought tickets to The Lion King for about $150 each. When I received the tickets in the mail, they were $75 tickets. I called the company to complain. They said tough luck cookie. So I called my bank, because it was a bank card transaction, just like a credit card transaction, and the bank had me submit copies of the tickets. The bank plucked the difference right from the companies account and back into my account. Good luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #13 March 17, 2007 thanks for reminding me, I need to call them and cancel my service. Since I'm not living in the country anymore, I don't have much use for it cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #14 March 17, 2007 QuoteI'm giving T Mobile a chance next. I've heard that T-Mobile has pretty good customer service, but their coverage sucks if you're in a rural area. No 3G services either. People like to bash them, and I'm not fond of their locked-down phones with a universal UI, but Verizon Wireless has consistently given me good coverage, and good service. I wish they'd be more agressive in rolling out their EV-DO network though.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #15 March 17, 2007 QuoteChecked on the lawsuit... there is one, but it's in regards to the AT&T customers that were forced to change over to Cingular during the merger and had to pay an increase in monthly charges and fees, as well as an $18 transfer fee for switching over to Cingular from AT&T even though they couldn't just opt out because of their contracts with AT&T. If they had left AT&T and Cingular for a different company, they would've encurred an early termination fee. For most cell phone companies, it's around $200. Got information on that? I fit that catagory of customer, and they have been jerking me around enough I'd like some payback.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #16 May 16, 2007 Quote Quote Checked on the lawsuit... there is one, but it's in regards to the AT&T customers that were forced to change over to Cingular during the merger and had to pay an increase in monthly charges and fees, as well as an $18 transfer fee for switching over to Cingular from AT&T even though they couldn't just opt out because of their contracts with AT&T. If they had left AT&T and Cingular for a different company, they would've encurred an early termination fee. For most cell phone companies, it's around $200. Got information on that? I fit that catagory of customer, and they have been jerking me around enough I'd like some payback. The reply is just a LITTLE late, but I'd start off with a google search for class action suit, etc. Meanwhile, as an update to my issue... I got it worked out, but I still want to stab someone from cingular with a spork... Is that considered shanking?Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #17 May 16, 2007 Quote I grew up when ATT was a great American company. However, sometime in the mid to late 1990s, ATTs service ethic and customer service went to shit x 10! In the mid 1990's, I had AT&T for my cell phone, my home phone, a long distance card, and internet access...then their service went to fuck all. I haven't done business with them in any regard since, and I intend to keep it that way. On the plus side, the phone call cancelling everything was fun, with the sales guy trying to keep me and getting to experience the futility of working with the billing folks in the process. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #18 May 16, 2007 QuoteOn the plus side, the phone call cancelling everything was fun, Will everyone that has at&t, cingular, dsl, and dish networks please call and cancel services. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #19 May 16, 2007 QuoteQuoteOn the plus side, the phone call cancelling everything was fun, Will everyone that has at&t, cingular, dsl, and dish networks please call and cancel services. just celly serviceSome people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #20 May 16, 2007 Quote just celly service All of it. If the company loses money, maybe i'll get laid off and can live on unemployment. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #21 May 16, 2007 I take it you got the new job, then?Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #22 May 16, 2007 Quote Quote just celly service All of it. If the company loses money, maybe i'll get laid off and can live on unemployment. Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #23 May 16, 2007 I might as well get a new blackberry pager from a Cingular store, rather than online. The rebates offered online are rather tempting where I can get the new pagers basically free ($300 value), but the language and options are confusing enough for me, and I can't email them directly to ask questions. I fucking hate dealing with those fucking automated telephone answering services. You spend 5, 10, 15 minutes fucking around before you finally reach a live asshole on the line. Even longer when you gotta do it via TTY! Rant over. Carry on. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 0 #24 May 16, 2007 Quote I might as well get a new blackberry pager from a Cingular store, rather than online. The rebates offered online are rather tempting where I can get the new pagers basically free ($300 value), but the language and options are confusing enough for me, and I can't email them directly to ask questions. I fucking hate dealing with those fucking automated telephone answering services. You spend 5, 10, 15 minutes fucking around before you finally reach a live asshole on the line. Even longer when you gotta do it via TTY! Rant over. Carry on. At least you don't have to listen to their bullshit...Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #25 May 16, 2007 Quote Rant over. Carry on. At least you don't have to listen to their bullshit...You're right, I don't. I just have to READ their bullshit on screen and it takes twice as long. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
