I had a 2 year contract with AT&T wireless which should have expired in 2006. Unfortunately, Cingular acquired AT&T accounts, and I was not given a choice on the matter. I started having problems with my phone and when I called Customer Service, I was told that in order to get good service, I had to migrate to Cingular and get on their system, and that a migration fee would be imposed on me.
I refused to pay this fee and I asked for early termination of my contract but I was told that a cancellation fee would be imposed. I protested that I was being forced by Cingular to comply with their policies, while I had originally signed a contract with AT&T and if anyone did breach a contract, it was not me, but rather the provider. My pleas fell on deaf ears. As a result of my not migrating and paying a fee at that time, I continued to receive poor service.
I recently relocated to another state and called to have my telephone number changed. This change in number was done. Subsequently, I went to a Cingular Wireless phone to conduct business and the representative provided me with information on my account, which I deemed incorrect. I decided to dial the help number (611) from my phone only to discover that the information that I was receiving from the representative was indeed what was on file. To my dismay, they had REDUCED my ANYTIME minutes by 200 and had canceled my contract and had me on month to month.
Now my argument is that if Cingular was holding me to my contract that I had with AT&T, then why are they holding me only to my end of the bargain? Is this a unilateral contract? They have been giving me all sorts of excuses for why my minutes were reduced, but those excuses are not my problem. Had I been informed by their representative that I would have lost my minutes at the time I changed my number, I would not have changed it. And, they technically terminated my contract, without even the courtesy of informing me.
The customer deserves better from these corporate entities! This is a rape on the consumer. Cingular should not be allowed to get away with it. The stronger party imposing on the weaker! What has happened to integrity, goodwill, honesty? Cingular needs to do better. They should be ashamed of themselves!
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