Back on November 16 I went to a local cellular phone company, Bullseye Wireless, and signed a contract for one year with VoiceStream Wireless. When I signed the contract I was not made aware of the $. 35/min fee for going over my allotted 600 minutes. Of course, he made sure to tell me that weekends were free and long-distance calls and roaming were included in the rate plan. I should have read the contract because the additional fees were in there, but I should have also been TOLD about such fees. That isn't even the beginning of my issues though.
After a few months I wanted to increase my monthly allotted minutes after going over several times, so I called their customer service number (611). The person I spoke with advised me that the next step up was a plan with 800 anytime minutes, and that I would still have free weekends, roaming, and long-distance.
The next month when I received my bill there were charges for long distance on there. I of course immediately called VoiceStream to dispute the charges. I was advised that my plan actually only had the 800 minutes; no weekends, no roaming, no long-distance. I was furious to say the least. I was able to get them to refund the difference for their error and put me back on the original rate plan.
The next issue I had was when I agreed to use the AIM Instant Messenger. I was told that for $2.99/month I would get an additional 500 text messages on top of the 50 included in my plan, for a total of 550 per month. I was also told that incoming messages were not counted against my 550 because they were thought of as 'a first incoming minute of a phone call.'
Well, I used about 1100 text messages that month, and at $. 10/message over the 550 it added up rather quickly. Of course, I called to inquire and was told that about 600 were incoming and the remainder were outgoing. So, I once again disputed and was able to get the charges reversed.
After all that I still decided to resign a new contract; only because I own my own business and this particular cell number is on all of my cards. Well, when I agreed to the new terms of the contract I was told that the new promotion I would receive would be 800 anytime minutes, free nights and free weekends, roaming, and long-distance. Well, I just got my first bill from the new contract and I don't have 800 minutes a month.
I called in to dispute this and I was offered a 'deal'. I was told that they would waive one month of service charges and then I would be placed on the 800 minute per month plan. I had to ask if I would be charged the difference in prices, which of course I would have been. I wonder how many people would have agreed to that not knowing that they were going to be charged the higher amount every month.
I'm in the process now of trying to terminate my contract. I may not have any better luck with AT&T or Sprint, but at least I'll be done with VoiceStream.
It's unfortunate that they don't value their customers more, but eventually they will screw everybody and will have no more customers.
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