My two-year contract with Nextel started on November 4.
Subsequent to Sprint taking over Nextel, I received an unsolicited phone call from Sprint asking if I was satisfied with my service and if there was anything they could do for me. I told them at that time that the only complaint I had was that I wish my bill was not so high because I rarely used the phone since I had been unemployed for several months.
I had started service with Nextel due to the job I had at the time; everyone in the office had Nextel phones and used the radio feature constantly. My employer reimbursed me for expenses incurred on-the-job. Now that I was unemployed I rarely used the phone and had not used the radio feature at all since I left my job.
I was informed that they could change my rate plan and I was very happy because I did not think the rate plan could be changed. At no time during this conversation was I informed that if they changed my rate plan that it would extend my contract (I've since learned that this is the normal way of doing business by Sprint/Nextel). If I had been informed of this fact, I would not have changed my rate plan because Sprint/Nextel did not offer an occasional use plan and my goal was to change cell phone companies once my contract expired. I had an occasional use plan with the cell phone company I had before Nextel.
On January 12 I went into a Sprint Store and asked them specifically when my contract was due to expire, I was told by two (2) employees of Sprint that my contract had already expired. I commented to these two (2) Sprint employees that that means I can change to another cell phone company without a penalty and they both confirmed that this was true.
I switched to another cell phone company in January of this year (i.E.) because of poor service by Sprint/Nextel, not to get a better rate plan.in fact, the rate plan with my new cell phone company is a few dollars more. I had since found part-time employment at different locations here in San Juan Capistrano, California, and had consistent poor service for six (6) months. Although I was within two (2) miles of my home at all times, my phone would not ring when I was receiving a call.
In addition, my phone would not notify me that I had been left a voice message. This was unacceptable because my cell phone was the only link between me and my 80 year old mother, who has Stage IV cancer (last stage), for whom I am the sole caregiver. I needed to know INSTANTLY if she needed me for ANY REASON. Since I have switched to another cell phone company, I have NEVER MISSED A CALL.
It is interesting to note that shortly after I switched companies, Sprint had a new television ad about how they had just improved their service to include certain areas and my little town (San Juan Capistrano, CA) was specifically named in the ad! WHY would they specifically name the town in which I live in if there had not been a problem in the first place?
Now I am receiving DAILY calls from a Collection Agency! I called Sprint/Nextel when I received my final bill with the early termination fee and told them that their own employees (two of them) had stated to me that my contract had expired and was told "well they were wrong" but Sprint/Nextel would not waive the early termination fee. I've written to the collection agency and they never responded. My only hope now is that there will be a class action suit.
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