In August I added 2 phone lines to my contract with Cingular Wireless. The phones that I bought $80 a piece for the extra lines I added were brand new phones.
One of these phones that I bought has been replaced 4 times, and each time it was replaced it wasnt replaced with a new phone that I had originaly bought, it was replaced with a "refurbished" phone.
The first time the phone was replaced was because the keypad fell off. This cost me $50, on top of the original cost $80 for the phone. Upon receiving my replacement phone, the battery could not be put into the phone. (Due to bent and damaged connectors)
I called Customer Service to explain my cituation and they directed me to the warranty department. The warranty department said that they would send me out another phone to replace the replacement phone, for an additional $50 on top of the $50 for the first refurbished phone, and my orignal cost of $80. (Refurbished)
After receiving my third refurbished "Replacement" "Replacement"
phone, the phone worked without any problems at first. About three weeks into this third phone, the screen on the phone became multi-colored and scrambled. Leaving me unable to read any names or numbers on my phone. The phone also Displays the time of day and date two days prior to the present day.
So now I decided to go into the cingular store to see what they could do to help. I was sent from one store to another store, to another, to another. FOUR stores. With no results. I was given an 800 number to call, which was the warranty department, who in turn said they would replace the phone for $65, on top of the $100 I paid for 3 "refurbished" phones and my original cost of $80.
So a phone that I have had for 7 months has now cost me $245. Keep in mind that I have not been able to use the 3rd phone they sent me for 2 months, yet I have still continued to pay the monthly charge of $29.
So now, by this time I decided to cancel this particular phone line. I was sent to the "Save Team" (sounds important huh?) The save team was then saposed to try to "save" the account from being cancelled. Well, after speaking with the customer service person at the "save Team" I decided that if I could I would cancel all the phone lines.
Well, this particular representative stated "Cingular will not in any way get involved with the insurance, warranty or the people that send out the phones"
Now let me explain...
Cingular sells a phone plan to people. That is what is called a contract.in turn, cingular must have a phone in order to have a plan. Therefore cingular signs a contract with the manufactures of a phone, (who ever it may be) in order to have a plan.
So My contract is with cingular, I pay cingular, my plan is through cingular, so whatever problem I have should go through cingular. (you would think) Cingular has a contract with a "phone manufacturer" they pay this manufacturer so whatever problems they have with the phones should go through the manufactures. (you would think)
So my questions is, why is this particular representative telling me that I have to call the manufactures of the phone to complain about my issue? When my contract isnt with that company it is with cingular. Cingular should be calling the manufactures about my phone because I am their customer. Whether they MAKE the phone or not, their plan is on that phone... It is their responsioblity to fix the problem that their customers are having. Not hang them out to dry.
Why should I have to keep paying these fees for a refurbished replacement phone, that doesnt work to begin with? Why would they continue to send me a refurbished phone, instead of a new phone that I had originally bought.
My conclusion is, they dont have any new phones to send, because their product line is poor and they have only broken phones to send to customers.
FYI: Refurbished is a fancy name for a broken phone that they glued together to send out as a replacement for yet another broken phone.
So all in a nut shell, Cingular will not, does not, and refuses to stand by their customers. The only thing they are interested in is getting a contract signed. 8 month to go on my plan... And counting. I WILL return to Verizon! They stand by their customers.
Linda
Chepachet, Rhode Island
U.S.A.
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