In August I called Cingular Wireless (the company that HAD been my cellular provider for over 3 years) to be placed on the cheapest version of the plan I was currently on. The plan I was on (Nationwide) provided for night and weekend minutes, no roaming charges and rollover minutes.
I told the customer rep that I spoke to that I planned on getting a new cellular provider in November. My contract with Cingular was up November 28th. Since my plan was to get a new phone with a different provider as my main line, I asked to be placed on the cheapest version of the plan I was currently on with Cingular. This way I would have a good two months to make sure all my contacts had my new number etc.
On 08.28.03 I received a bill for $24.14. I couldn't believe how much money I was saving!
On 09.28.03 I received a bill for $1,358.21! I was sure it was a mistake. For some reason I was being charged $1,262.39 in roaming charges.
I called Cingular and spoke with a Supervisor named Thom Rosamond. He told me that there apparently was a mistake made, that I had been placed on a plan that did not include roaming, weekend, night or rollover minutes but that I was still responsible for the bill. He offered to take $500 off.
When I told him that I would not pay over $800 for a mistake that I did not make he snapped that I had used the minutes and that I was responsible for that money and that maybe you should learn how to read your phone bill.
I told him I was completely offended, took down his name and said I would contact my lawyer. My fiance talked me out of it. He asked me to call Cingular again and talk with another supervisor.
A week later I called Cingular again and spoke with Eric Teguef, an Area Manager. Eric explained that I should have known a plan that was only $19.99 a month would not include roaming.
I explained that I had asked for the cheapest version of the plan that I had been on for over three years, and that was not what I had received. After a half hour of back and forth, Eric said he would place me on the 250 minutes a month plan for $29.99 and that he would re-bill me BUT that the 1,554 rollover minutes I had accrued could no longer be used towards my billed minutes. He stated that once he reconfigured the bill I would be responisble for whatever the amount was.
I told him that was not acceptable and that I was contacting a lawyer. Again my fiance aske me to calm down and try to work it out with Cingular.
I called again a few days later and spoke with a young lady who offered to put me on the $39.99 a month plan, which included my rollover minutes. She said she would reconfigure my August and October bills and send me a new bill.
On November 2 I received a notice from Cingular wireless stating that the amount of $1,358.21 was past due. When I went to call them, I realized they had already disconnected my phone. I am a radio personality. That phone was the only number I had. I started to panic. I am sure I don't have to explain to you what a disaster it is to be in the media and to not have a way for your company to contact you.
I called Cingular using my fiance's line. The woman I spoke to said that Cingular does not re-bill and that the person I had spoken to had made a mistake telling me that I would receive a new bill. She told me that if I paid some $389 my phone would be reconnected again. From $39 a month to $389?
I went straight to Suncom and got a new cell phone and number. I received a second bill a few days later for $2,747.24!!!
It included my past due amount of 1,358.21 plus a new bill for $1,368.66, including $1,196.85 in roaming charges.
I will not pay this bill. It is fraudulent! I was treated in a horrible manner by their "customer service", the people who made the mistake in the first place! I was a loyal customer for three years, I always paid my bills on time and in full. I can guarantee that everytime I get a chance to talk about my disastrous relationship with Cingular (I am an on-air radio personality in SC) I will do so!
Mairym
Surfside Beach, South Carolina
U.S.A.
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