Cingular
Salesperson Promised No Roaming Charges, Recorded Call Erased

I am a new account with Cingular. When I first started talking with a salesperson about a 2 year contract and purchase of phone, I asked him to make sure this conversation was recorded and saved in case I had to refer back to it. He said it would be recorded for customer quality control.

I explained my geographic location, which is directly across for Canada. I work on the water and explained that all my calls while I was at work would be routed through Canada. I was told that because of my location I would not be charged roaming charges when they come from Canada.

After I was assured that no roaming charges would apply I agreed to a 2 year contract, of $39.00 per month.

When I received my second bill it contains $34.10 of roaming charges. I called the 1-800 # that is on my bill. After about a 4-5 minute wait a person named Lynzee Puff, (that is the name she gave me), asked if she could help me. I explained the situation and she said she is very sorry that the salesperson gave me the wrong information but the ONLY thing she could do was have me pay 50% of the roaming charges, or $20.00 more a month so that I could receive the comfort of knowing I could call Canada and it would only cost me an additional $20.00. I explained again that I don't know anyone in Canada so that was NO comfort to me. I asked her to check the recorded phone conversation I had with the original salesperson and she said it was erased because it only has to do with customer service. I asked her if she didn't feel a salesperson lying to a person so that the person will sign up with your company isn't a serious customer service problem. She said because she can't review the tape there is nothing she could do. (It was not my fault the tape was erased. Remember I asked specifically for the tape to be saved because I felt there were going to be some problems).

I asked to talk to a supervisor I was told by Lynzee that the supervisor would tell me the same thing. Well now I wonder why she has a supervisor if Lynzee is fielding her / his calls.

The bottom line is that the 2 solutions she had for the lies that a Cingular employee told me, was going to cost me anywhere from $20.00 to $34.00 a month.

Another suggestion was when I received a call I should take out my sims chip. That is not a convienat or expectable solution either.

My last suggested option was to close my account at the cost of $250.00.

All I want it the company to stand behind what I was told by there salepersons, or let me out of my contract so that I can persue a company that wants to deal with my special needs.

Company: Cingular
Country: USA
State: California
City: Atwater
Address: P.O. Box 755

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