I'm from the UK, posted to California for a year. On arrival last July, I signed a year's rental contract with WorldCom Wireless's Marina Del Rey branch for two cellphones. Because I had no Social Security nu, ber and no US credit record, WorldCom required a security deposit of $1200 on each phone, repayable with 6% interest at the end of the year provided that I paid my bills promptly. I paid the deposit by Mastercard, and have the proof in my Mastercard statement, as well as in deposit receipts signed by the Marina Del Rey WorldCom staff.
No bill for monthly service charges arrived for some time. I and my husband chased the Marina Del Rey branch and the billing section repeatedly, since we wanted to fulfill our end of the bargain. Eventually a bill arrived in November. As well as the expected monthly charges, it showed the two $1200 deposit charges as still outstanding. I sent a check for the monthly service charges by return of post, with a letter explaining the $2400 had already been paid, enclosing a copy of my Mastercard statement.
Later in November, another bill arrived. Not only did it show the $2400 as still owing, it also ignored the check for service charges I'd sent (and which I had proof had been cashed, so they got my letter OK). I sent a further check for the new service charge by return of post, and another letter explaining the situation and asking for it to be put right. Again, I have proof this check was cashed (and hence that they did receive my letter)
Just after Christmas, with no further communication from WorldCom, both phones were cut off. We then got a letter saying I was "Account status delinquent" on both phones. I rang the given contact number to try to sort this out. After the usual story of hour-long holds, and being passed from one unhelpful office to another (including being told that my earlier letters would simply have been torn up), I sent three increasingly aggrieved faxes to the Payment Enquiry Uni, demanding restoration of the service, confirmation that I had paid them the $2400, etc. I also asked for an up-to-date service charge bill so that I could pay that.
After three weeks, the service to both phones was restored. No other communication from WorldCom Wireless was received.in particular, I have had no bill for monthly service charges since 28th November. This week, they cut off both phones again. I got a letter saying they had passed the matter to a debt collection agency. I and my husband have again spent hours on the phone this week, trying to find someone who will help sort out the mess. We've tried to get the Marina Del Rey office to help. They know we're in the right and that we've have paid everything for which we have been billed, but they don't seem to know who in their company to turn to, or to care much - after all they've had their sales commission!
I cannot believe how incompetent and unhelpful this company is. Its customer service section is beyond a joke, and its billing system would disgrace a corner shop, let alone a global company. I just want to cancel my contract and get my money back, since even if we could sort the mess out now I just don't trust them to keep their records in order until July when they're due to pay me back. They have broken our contract by not billing me properly as agreed and by cutting off the service for no good reason.
Have nothing to do with this company - it takes your money, loses it, and then blames you. Why are they still allowed to be in business?
Shuna
Los Angeles
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