I have been a customer of SBC Ameritech for quite some time. I recently called to have a service added to my home phone. As, usual, a representative offered me a "great deal"on another service. He mentioned several services to me, but the one that caught me eye was a cellular phone.
He noticed that I didn't have a cellular phone. Because I had never had a cellular phone with a contract, I listened intensly as he explained. He described the features and so on. He even mentioned how the phone came with free-long distance. "free". I became suspicious. He assured me that he, himself, uses his cellular phone strictly for making long distance call. I agreed to purchase the phone.
I received the phone. Everything was fine. The first bill was a little big, with the additional one-time charges, but that, I expected. I was discussing this great deal with my friend in California, on my cell phone, practically everyday, anytime of day. Afterall, it was FREE. She was amazed.
I decided to call SBC just to find out my current bill, because I hadn't received my monthly bill yet. I was floored. My bill was close to $700.00. This included my home bill as well as my cellular bill. Afterall, they were now combined. My phone bill went from being no more than 60-70 dollars a month to $700. My phone bill was more than my rent.
Needlesstosay, I asked why. It seems that "FREE" in the real world, or at least my world, was not "FREE" in Ameritech's world. NEVER was it explained to me that although making the long distance call would take away from my minutes, it was still free. I was not being charged long distance rates, whatever that means. So, yes, it was free to make the call however making the call wasn't free.
The representative further explained that several cutomers make that assumption and, in her words, "It's just a matter of semantics". Of course I called Cingular to inform them that their customers, or at least I, had been misinformed and they could probably expect more calls like mine.
They were apologetic, suprisingly. The gentleman really explained how this whole cellular service deal works. He really made me understand. What did he have to lose? Cingular had been paid by Ameritech. And, Ameritech would be paid by me or else—No home phone service. If I knew then, what I know now, I would have continued purchasing minutes at the currency exchange on an as needed basis.
Now, I'm left paying a huge cellular bill. I was pleased though that no one suggested that I read my contract. They would have been completely justified in doing so. I just really didn't need to hear it. So, I guess the lesson is simple. BEWARE of quick talking salesmen with a great deal.
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