Just wanted to rant about my latest scuffle with Cingular and why they SUCK...
My parents went on a cruise to Alaska earlier this month and made a few phone calls which got posted on the bill as $60 of international roaming from the Caribbean! Called up Cingular and explained that there's no way in hell the calls could have been accidentally picked up from a tower in the Carribean, being thousands of miles away. They said they were very sorry, blah blah etc and would take off half the charges for the misunderstanding. Of course I didn't want to get screwed with paying $30 for their mistake so finally after a lot more arguing they said they'd give me the whole amount back, but as a "one time courtesy credit". Which basically means if the same thing happens again, you're screwed.
I know this for a fact because I DID get screwed before. My family's on a FamilyTalk plan, and there was something wrong w/my sister's phone so she had to get a replacement. They wanted to charge her $15 for a replacement, and after arguing that it wasn't right for them to charge for something that was their fault and under warranty, they said they'd do the one time courtesy crap and reverse the charge. A few months later, the screen on my phone was dying, and I had to send mine in for a replacement under warranty as well. At first the CSR said there would be a $15 charge, but after arguing w/him he said he'll waive it as well. Except a couple of months later, the $15 charge reappeared. When I called customer service they said it was because it was a one time credit (even though it was a different phone) and after arguing and yelling for about an hour, and explaning how my account was imported into the FamilyTalk from an existing ATTWS account, the CSR said she'd reverse the charge..but that the billing dept might decide to put it back on. I don't think the charge ever got permanently removed, so after that, I just gave up.
Anyway, the sad part is that I'll be stuck w/Cingular for quite some time. Mostly because there's a little under a year left on the contract, but also because my rate plan is significantly cheaper than anything else I can find right now. $39.99 for 600 anytime min +$9.99/add'l line. Unlimited USA roaming, M2M, night/weekend, etc. My family switched to ATTWS's family plan from Cingular, which later got eaten up by Cingular--but at least the plan's still the ATT one (no charge for incoming TXT, etc). I switched mine to the GSM Family plan from my ATT TDMA. I wish I still had it, my coverage was great, almost no dropped calls, fast+friendly customer service, no calls where only one party hears, etc.. all of which is lacking in Cingular.
Finally, if anyone read so far..moral of the story is: If you have Cingular, be VERY careful if you travel to Alaska with your phone!!
Hope your Cingular experiences aren't as sucky as mine...
My parents went on a cruise to Alaska earlier this month and made a few phone calls which got posted on the bill as $60 of international roaming from the Caribbean! Called up Cingular and explained that there's no way in hell the calls could have been accidentally picked up from a tower in the Carribean, being thousands of miles away. They said they were very sorry, blah blah etc and would take off half the charges for the misunderstanding. Of course I didn't want to get screwed with paying $30 for their mistake so finally after a lot more arguing they said they'd give me the whole amount back, but as a "one time courtesy credit". Which basically means if the same thing happens again, you're screwed.
I know this for a fact because I DID get screwed before. My family's on a FamilyTalk plan, and there was something wrong w/my sister's phone so she had to get a replacement. They wanted to charge her $15 for a replacement, and after arguing that it wasn't right for them to charge for something that was their fault and under warranty, they said they'd do the one time courtesy crap and reverse the charge. A few months later, the screen on my phone was dying, and I had to send mine in for a replacement under warranty as well. At first the CSR said there would be a $15 charge, but after arguing w/him he said he'll waive it as well. Except a couple of months later, the $15 charge reappeared. When I called customer service they said it was because it was a one time credit (even though it was a different phone) and after arguing and yelling for about an hour, and explaning how my account was imported into the FamilyTalk from an existing ATTWS account, the CSR said she'd reverse the charge..but that the billing dept might decide to put it back on. I don't think the charge ever got permanently removed, so after that, I just gave up.
Anyway, the sad part is that I'll be stuck w/Cingular for quite some time. Mostly because there's a little under a year left on the contract, but also because my rate plan is significantly cheaper than anything else I can find right now. $39.99 for 600 anytime min +$9.99/add'l line. Unlimited USA roaming, M2M, night/weekend, etc. My family switched to ATTWS's family plan from Cingular, which later got eaten up by Cingular--but at least the plan's still the ATT one (no charge for incoming TXT, etc). I switched mine to the GSM Family plan from my ATT TDMA. I wish I still had it, my coverage was great, almost no dropped calls, fast+friendly customer service, no calls where only one party hears, etc.. all of which is lacking in Cingular.
Finally, if anyone read so far..moral of the story is: If you have Cingular, be VERY careful if you travel to Alaska with your phone!!
Hope your Cingular experiences aren't as sucky as mine...
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