Cingular Wireless
Unauthorized bank debit of $233.37 and disputed minutes charges

Service was commenced on June 20. The plan included 250 daytime minutes (including long distance and roaming) plus 1000 free nighttime and weekend minutes.

Payments were made electronically through my bank with whom I set up a monthly payment schedule (e-Pay). My monthly payment was $38.30 a month. Between June 20 and Sept 30 I did not use my full compliment of minutes.

From Sept 2 to Oct 15 I spent 6 weeks in New York State.

On Nov 2, upon viewing my bank account statement online, I was shocked to see that Cingular Wireless had Direct Debited my account for $233.37. I had not at any time authorized them to debit my checking account. This unauthorized debit of my account also resulted in an overdraft fee of $27.00. I immediately went to the Cingular store where I bought my phone service and confronted them about it.

I repeatedly informed them that I did not authorize Cingular Wireless to debit my bank account. No one seemed to care insisting that I must have authorized the payment. I also got into a dispute with them over the charges ($233.37) which were grossly excessive. They claimed that I had 771 daytime minutes. There were also calls on there (London, Ont) that I neither made nor received. There was also another call to West Virginia that I did not make. They removed these calls and reimbursed me the $27.00 overdraft fees. They would not listen to me when I told them that I did not make all those calls.

I had to go to my bank and fill out an Affidavit in order to have my account credited the $233.37 plus $27.00 overdraft fees swearing that I at no time authorized Cingular Wireless to direct debit my bank account. I was reimbursed this money by my bank on Nov 7.

Several phone calls and visits to my local Cingular store (and their 800 number) to dispute these charges were of no avail.

On my Dec 3 bill I was falsely charged $20.00 NSF. They treated the direct debit like a check.

They terminate my phone service around the end of Nov. At that time my bill was $323.52. The following month my bill ballooned to $536.57.

This account has been turned over to their attorney for collection. Now they claim that I owe them $642.93.

Company: Cingular Wireless
Country: USA
State: Tennessee
City: Johnson City
ZIP: 37601
Address: 2612 North Roan St.
Phone: 8009475096

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