In May I ordered two phones from the Alltel website. The order form asked what area code the phones should be in, and I specified the area code where I would need service, but as I was in the process of moving, the phones were shipped to my old address. The order was routed through Letstalk.com (an Alltel vendor), who sent me phones with numbers in the wrong service area. I called immediately upon receipt of the phones and asked them to change the phone numbers, as they had sent me numbers in the wrong service area. They instructed me to call my cell phone company, stating that they could not switch the numbers. I did so and Alltel switched the numbers to the correct service area, and stated that there would be no account termination fees associated with this (even though they technically had to close one account and open a new one in order to correct the phone numbers. I was not terminating my contract, simply acquiring a new account number for the new phone numbers, because Alltel stated that this was the only way to do it).
On Nov 1, two $150 charges were charged to my credit card by Letstalk.com. I did not authorize these, nor was I informed of them. I discovered the charges on my credit card statement on the evening of Nov 2 and contacted the company to dispute them on Nov 3, at which time I was told that they were contract termination fees. I was told on Nov 4 that a request had been sent to their accounting department to refund the money to my card, as I had not terminated my contract. Since then I have had calls to them on Nov 11,18, 22,27, 30, and Dec 1. Each of these times I was told that the charges would be refunded shortly (although some customer service reps would only say that they would REQUEST that the accounting department review the charges). I have spoken with a supervisor, who stated that he would personally insure that something was done, and promised to call me back, but never did either. I was promised multiple calls back from supervisors (there is rarely one available when you call) and never received any. Finally, on Nov. 30, I was told that the reason I had not been refunded was that when a new account number was assigned in order to correct the phone numbers, Letstalk.com's dealer code (which is how they get their commission from Alltel) was not transferred to the new phone numbers. I was then informed today (Dec. 1) that if Letstalk.com is not paid their commission, "the consumer eats the cost" and I will not be refunded this money.
Apparently, if Letstalk.com makes a mistake (sending the wrong phone numbers), and then a further mistake is made by Alltel (not transferring the dealer code), Letstalk.com charges the consumer's credit card a $150 "contract termination fee" for each account - without authorization and without just cause. At this point, it has become clear to me that they are probably not going to refund my money, even though what they have done is steal $300 off of my credit card.
Anonymous
anon
U.S.A.
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