I had Qwest wireless back in 2002 or (can't remember exactly) and at the time was disputing a $200 contract cancellation fee they began charging me after I canceled my service for mistakes they had made on my bill. I kept the home phone service, and still have it now in 2008.
As I recall in the best way my memory can offer me after 7 years, Qwest was charging me full-price for something that the customer service rep had told me was either free or at a lower discounted price when I first ordered the service. After disputing this on the phone with Qwest several times over a few months or so, trying in vain to get them to adjust my bill to show the proper lower charges, I finally called and canceled the service out of sheer disgust over the whole thing.
The next billing cycle they then added a $200 cancellation fee. Upset because I thought this was unfair, I called to dispute the $200, explaining why I had cancelled my service in the first place — because they were charging me for something the customer service rep said was free. I told them I felt I didn't deserve to be charged the $200 because it was Qwest who had messed up by misleading me into thinking I was getting a free (or discounted) item upon signing up for wireless.
So, after the next couple of billing statements, I saw that the $200 had been dropped, and I was happy that I had gotten through to them, and they had apparently agreed to drop the charges. For the next few years the $200 was gone from my bill, and I figured that was the end of it.
Well, not so fast. Now, in late 2008 I suddenly get a collection notice in the mail for the Qwest $200, along with $80 for a past wireless bill, for a total of $280, some 7 years after the fact! Talk about a cheap shot! Not only did they not let it go, but now they come after me years later with the collection company — and they're the ones who screwed up!
I'm posting this here because I want other people to be aware of Qwest's deceptive and ongoing questionable business practices. Seems since the economy is so bad now, this company will do anything to make money.
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