After being contacted by Sprint Collections (affiliate) about a charges from an account that I neither ordered or used, I called Sprint Fraud Department.
After multiple attempts over several days, I finally got hold of someone who informed me that Sprint had opened an account in another city, area code, and with an incorrect spelling of my name. Since the identity theif had some of my information, Sprint opened an account. I asked the Fraud Agent, why Sprint opened an account with mostly wrong information, but still managed to find me at the correct address and go after me for the bill - she only said it was an industry-wide problem. I asked her that why I was responsible for costs associated with notorizing and a multitude of requests from Sprint to undo what did - mistakingly open an account in my name that obviously had incorrect information - she just repeated that it was my responsibility. The costs of notorizing and other requests were almost overwhelming.
Months later, I responded to a good offer from Sprint and attempted to actually become a customer (yes I know). Sprint demanded with no explanation a huge deposit that they would hold for a year if I paid all my bills - now I have perfect credit and no debt so knew something was wrong.
After several days, I got in touch with the Fraud Department again - the man told me that they didn't receive anything from me and that I would need to send it overnight to them (notorized). I explained that I was trying to become a customer so couldn't they just review and see or credit me for my costs again for Sprint's mistake of signing up someone fraudulantly. He became rude and asked me how would people sign up on the internet then - I tried to answer him (was explaining that they could simply sign people up but new customers could fax or send in proof of residency in the first month for identity proof) - realized that he had HUNG up on me! Wow, trying to become a customer and this is what I got - Sprint stock is going to zero!
I believe from my experience and others that Sprint having huge customers loses, billions of dollars of red ink, and a stock in the tank - that Executives from the top down have knowingly in desperation set up Identity Theft accounts as a Profit Center and Business Unit with the "Fraud Department" ensuring the revenues keep coming in by blocking reasonable resolution by victims. My account had multiple pieces of wrong information, wrong address, etc, yet Sprint signed them up. Conveniently they found me after running up the bill.
Sprint will sign up anyone with only some correct information. It will then allow the bills to run up to large amounts without canceling the account and then use affiliate collection agents to then find the Identity Theft Victim at the correct address demanding payment. Sprint then asks for an impossible amount of information (more than getting a passport) and associated costs such as notorizing, certifying, and mailing the information. It is quite smart if you take a step back and see it for what it is - a huge profit center for Sprint.
I am going to my congressman and attorney general in California (Feds don't do much) to try to investigate this. I believe many Sprint Executives will be found guilty of this and only can hope for major fines and jail for them. Wishful thinking but have to try.
Sprint is a major enabler of Identity Theft and treats it as a Profit Center.
Regards
0 comments