I'm a happy wireless customer. I rarely complain, I go for the best deals, and I usually get the best handsets. I've been with AT&T for years, and I really didn't mind the acquisition from Cingular. I was actually excited because I thought that I would be getting better service. Then the truth sank in...
1. Lack of support for existing AT&T customers in the form of upgrades. Through AT&T, we were able to upgrade our handsets every six months (originally), then revised to every nine months. Even if we, existing AT&T customers, had to wait a whole year to be able to upgrade or replace our handsets, we SHOULD NOT BE FORCED to sign a new contract with Cingular. Especially if we still have at least one more year to go on our existing agreement. Cingular purposely phased out all AT&T phones from their stores before the merger was fully complete. Therefore leaving all AT&T customers with nowhere to go for a replacement handset for the plans that we're happy with. This goes for the customers that are out of the manufacturer's warranty, and for us that didn't opt for the insurance. A good example of these customers are the loyal ones that take care of their phones, and really appreciated the service. Cingular should've kept AT&T phones in stock for the customers that're still under contract. Only after all AT&T contracts have expired, two years after the day of the merger, should Cingular have phased the phones out, therefore maintaining support for existing customers.
2. I was hoping that my service would have improved under the circumstances of two major cell phone companies combining.instead, the slogan of "Raising the bar" have me thinking that they did so for existing Cingular customers, but left AT&T customers in the dark by taking those towers from us. I can't really prove this, but the excuse I seem to get from Cingular reps are, "We're doing tower upgrades". I just know from experience from having two dropped calls a month with AT&T, to now having a call not connect, or to drop completely while being minutes into one phone call. This is not fair for the hard-working public that pays honest money towards their service. I was happy where my service was, and it's apalling to know that my service quality has drastically gone down since the acquisition. All I ask is if it could at least be restored to where it was? Improve it like the slogan. But don't just do it for the Cingular customers, do it for the AT&T side as well. They bought the company, they bought the contracts, and with those contracts are loyal customers that would've stayed that way had they just NOT TRY TO SCREW US OVER. Reps have told me to switch over to take advantage of the new system so that I can get their new SIM card, but none of their plans are similar to mine. Nor would they grant to carry over the plan I have to Cingular, issue me a Cingular SIM card, or at least to finish it out until the contract's over. From this, it seems as though Cingular is "Lowering the bar" for AT&T customers to force us to switch over and migrate.
3. When Cingular bought AT&T, they did not even consider opening up the frequencies and technologies to AT&T handsets. I'm not sure how all this works, but how hard would it have been to issue Cingular handsets to AT&T customers in trade for their old ones? Proof of identity and service to get your new handset that takes advantage of the new network? At no, or little cost if you migrate? All this as opposed to telling us to tough it out with mediocre service, lack of upgrades / replacements, and lack of support to unlock our phones and issue us SIMs that would work better? It's just amazing how this company can get away with this! I just wish there was someone out there pleading our case because I would love to support it all the way. All I want is fair treatment, less harassment, and just get what my hard-worked money earns me. I was happy with AT&T, I was hoping to be happy with Cingular.
Bryan
anaheim, California
U.S.A.
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