I have the misfortune of choosing Sprint as my wireless company. The reason for this was that at the time my daughter decided to go to Tulane, it was really my only option on a company that served both the Boston and New Orleans areas. A couple of years ago, I took a header on a bike ride and managed to rather smash my Sprint phone along with various parts of my own anatomy. The phone actually could both call out and receive, but the display was extreme history.
After a while, I decided to replace the phone with a like unit that I picked up used on Ebay which I them put into service. When that proved problematic I called Sprint and they verified that I was entitled to a rebate on a new phone for $150. So off I go order the phone, and receive one of the fool rebate cards that is has to be sent back within a few days with a large number of attachments. Duly complying with the requirements I send the stuff off. Later I get a bingo card saying that I have not complied with the conditions of the rebate since I had put a phone on the account within the past year. I can understand that they are not in the business of giving free phones away, but I had purchased the phone I put on the account outright from a third party (through Ebay). A call to them gets me the answer that they cannot do anything about it since they have outsourced the rebates. Well, hello! If I outsource my tax preparations to an accountant, it does not matter, I owe the taxes. After threatening them with a complaint to Consumer affairs department of my Attorney General in MA, I finally get somebody who says they can bypass things and authorize it. Ok, fine. A while later a check shows up for $75 or 1/2 the amount I am due. At this point I punt.
You will notice that I said Tulane and New Orleans. My daughter got a new phone last year right before Katrina hit. Like many other folks, she went elsewhere. She was unable to get into her apartment for quite a while (as you might imagine) and so could not send out her rebate. When she finally was able to move back in this February, she sent it off. Guess what? No rebate. I suppose I could keep on with threatening these folks with legal action, but I would rather hit them where it hurts. I will never, ever, use them for my wireless again. They are grossly dishonest in their rebate policies and will do everything in their power (apparently) to not honor them.
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