I had an AT&T account in good standing for over 2 years. I was looking to change over to cingular because it was inevitable. I was looking for a good deal on a bluetooth capable phone (Motorola V551). I found the best deal on wirefly.com. I read the short contract on the computer screen and it stated that a new account must be opened and the new account can not be a substitute cingular account. I wanted clarity on the contract, so I called the order number to clarify. The sales Rep. Said it was ok to port your number and cross over from AT&T to cingular even know they are merging.
So, I paid $85 for the phone with a $85 mail in rebate. Two months later I get an email saying I defaulted on my Equipment Discount Contract and owe Infonics $250. Now my phone went from free to a $335 phone! They also sent me a defective phone that doesn't hold a charge!
Needless to say, I was very upset when I called Infonics! They told me that AT&T and Cingular were the same company and that constituted a breech in contract under the substitute clause. I told them the sales rep. Mislead me and the so called change in service number was my original phone # portability that was so prominently advertised all over the web site. They didn't care!
I pretty much told them they misrepresented the contract and had false advertising issues on there web site. I asked for the original contract verbally and through the writing of a debt validation letter with no response. I was promptly turned over to collections in the matter of a couple of weeks.
I absolutely got hammered by ERC (Enhanced Recovery Corporation) and Inphonics collections! They threatened to make my phone bill go to $500 if I didn't settle the debit. The threat was true, they were attacking text messaging and browser messaging! I ended up turning these services off with about $20 in damage because I caught it early! Then they tried overloading my sim card by sending voicemails till the sim card can't take any more.
So, I had to shut my voicemail down! I pretty much had to endure massive amount of calls on the first weekend including multiple calls on sunday which is against fedearl law! I told the collections agent that he was breaking federal law on sunday after the third call and said, " he knew it and he didn't care"!
Believe me ERC is not afraid of breaking federal laws and the fair credit reporting act! I am now in the process of trying to cease and disist collections activity and settle the rip-off debt without trashing my credit!
I can't believe companies can get away with this! This is truly a crime! My advice to others, is obviously don't use 3rd party internet cell phone deals. Also, if you by unlucky chance are already caught in the process, do not state, " a refusal to pay this debt", or your life will become a living hell through ERC!
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