Cingular Wireless - Worst Customer Service and Ethics

[novon]

I've had the displeasure of being their prisoner for one year now, the first time I had to call CS was because of a overcharge on my monthly bill. 20 mintue hold, I was friendly, but the CS was rude right away and tried to justify the charges even though she knew they were wrong. Ended up making a complaint to the BBB and FCC and finally they reversed their mistake after wasting hours of my time.

Now when I called to cancel earlier this month, a CS rep told me I can just cancel closer to the end of the contract date, and they would refund any charges after my contract, since they purpousefully put the the billing date and the contract dates on different schedules. So I called yesterday, with 5 days left and they said I was "misinformed" and that they will need to charge a whole other month, and they can't refund anything, and it's not their fault that I was misinformed by one of their own service reps. Again, I had called calmly and she turned rude right away.

Their strategy is to lie on the phone and misinform as much as possible, hire the rudest CS people and also put in as many bugs into their billing system as they can get away with, to nickel and dime their customers without their knowledge, and then use extortion when you try to cancel.

:frown:


Cliff Notes: If you don't want to be ripped off, stay away from Cingular.

 

[shortylickens]

I would say "REPOST" but you have an original story with good content and its written well.
9 / 10 for the rant.
EDIT: Are you one of the folks who had ATT and then got stuck with Cingular?
I must admit, ATT Wireless was always better. I only kept Cingular for a little while after I got forced over. Kind of sad that they could buy out a perfectly good company and ruin it.

 

[novon]

No, I was with Tmobile originally and switched to cingular to upgrade my phone. Bad mistake, I'm back with Tmobile now, they have great CS.

 

[George P Burdell]

T-Mobile FTW

 

[imthebadguy]

meh, Sprint FTW

 

[AznAnarchy99]

if you really want a better phone, just buy it unlocked from an asian dealer... better prices, better phones, and the carrier of your choice, win win win

Edit. Btw i was being overcharged almost on a monthly basis and it was getin a hassle calling them everytime. i switch to tmobile after that

 

[Adica]

I've had cingular since they existed. (since cellularone) I can honestly say that I have had no problems, and I am pleased with the product, price and service.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Adica
I've had cingular since they existed. (since cellularone) I can honestly say that I have had no problems, and I am pleased with the product, price and service.

Cellularone is still around.

 

[NoToRiOuS1]

had cingular for a while and their cust service is awesome
once i called em and realized i dialed the 800 number instead of 611 and that was costing me airtime mins
i told the lady on the line and she was like oh no problem, ive just added an extra 100 mins in your rollover bin

when i wanted to get my s710a unlocked, i heard that they make you jump through hoops to allow you to do that...nope...i called once, gave em my email, and within days i got my unlock code and everything's been peachy

compared to verizon, ive been more than satisfied w/ these guys.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

verizon is just bad

 

[JohnAn2112]

I had T-Mobile for a couple weeks and cancelled because of their horrible reception at my house, my gf's house and work. Basically the 3 places where I would be most of the time. They're CS was awesome though when I signed up and when I cancelled. They were super friendly and extremeley helpful. I'm with Verizon now and I have awesome reception everywhere. I don't know how their CS is, but if they're anywhere close to T-Mobile's CS, I'll be happy.

I've never had Cingular, but I've heard nothing about bad stories about their CS.

 

[Adica]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet

Originally posted by: Adica
I've had cingular since they existed. (since cellularone) I can honestly say that I have had no problems, and I am pleased with the product, price and service.

Cellularone is still around.

Yes in a way, but they are now a network of wireless providers.

 

[NiKeFiDO]

been there, done that, i know how it feels.

 

[5150Joker]

Cingular are bastards indeed. My sister bought a Sony S710A from them and paid for their extended warranty scam. Her phone broke and she had to pay them $50 to make use of the warranty and they ended up sending her a crappy Siemens S60 as a replacement. When we called to find out why she wasn't given another Sony, their lame excuse was that they were out of stock and that their warranty says they only have to replace the phone with a comparable phone. Of course I sat there for 20 mins debating w/the rep. that the Siemens was in no way comparable to the Sony from a technical nor value point and finally he agreed to send her a Sony W600 (which still isn't as good) and said we couldn't get another S710A because now Cingular conveniently decided to stop offering them. In short, their warranty service is bullshit and a scam, I'd advise everyone to stay away from Cingular.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

well actually the w600 is a better phone, but the siemens is no way comparable

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: JohnAn2112
I had T-Mobile for a couple weeks and cancelled because of their horrible reception at my house, my gf's house and work. Basically the 3 places where I would be most of the time.

It was the reverse for me. I couldn't get Sprint or Cingular at my house but I was able to get a strong reception with T-Mobile. We've had them for a few years now with no complaints.

We don't even Cingular and don't like their customer service. My wife paid her mother's bill one month and Cingular automatically charged my wife again the following month even though my wife told them this was only going to be a onetime charge.

 

[KK]

Is this different than any other service? I mean for every provider out there, someone is going to have problems with them, and there are going to people that think they are great.

 

[Malak]

I've heard nothing but bad about Cingular and AT&T.

I didn't have any issues with Verizon or Sprint. Sprint, in fact, let me cancel my account without paying the early termination fee. Verizon just has the best service in my area atm. I was thinking cingular just so I could get a specific phone, but all the garbage I keep hearing about them makes me nervous. Plus, their service was the most expensive too.

 

[alkemyst]

I had an experience with them when I switched from AT&T, I called on my wife's behalf because she doesn't know some of the uncommon english very well (she's been in the US about 3 years now).

Well the guy on the phone took the stance from the start that he was basically doing me a favor. I had the call on speaker while on hold waiting for the CS to answer. When he did we was 'Hello' and a split second later 'come on I have other customers'.

So I explain I am trying to transfer both our AT&T accts to Cingular, I did mine earlier but was told I had to call back to get her's....so I would like to get 561-xxx-xxxx migrated.

He asks me my name, "Chris", then goes into "Well CHRIS, this seems rather suspicious to me...are you sure you are not up to something?"

I told him she is here with me, but I was already added to her account to make such changes.

"Yeah whatever, put her on".

she is struggling with the call, signals me to pick up....the guy is saying "so you are a f****ing retard immigrant right, there are kids smarter than you, etc"

I go ballistic, he basically curses me out, yelling it. I get some run around so finally just call back to complain. Someone had to have heard him in that call center...yet no one probably did anything.

I get some president and vp involved who insist they can't track this person down even with an exact call time as they have many offices with 1000's of employees and the calls get routed all through one number.

They did waive some petty fees.

Cingular is also still billing my wife's one friend that cancelled her contract, paid the $1xx termination and turned her phone in. She returned to Japan, but they keep sending bills even though they know she has no phone. I am sure they are writing that off.