Last November I signed a 2-Year contract with Cingular Wireless after having been a customer for almost 6 years. We also upgraded to the family plan and 3 phones total.
Yesterday, August 18th, I upgraded from 850 minutes at $59.95 to a 2000 minute plan at $99.95. I have been having problems with my handset not holding a charge and dropping calls as well as the screen washing out in sunlight. I was willing to upgrade my phone at a reasonable cost but they only would swap 1 for 1 my crappy phone.
I explained it was not the phone but the model that was a lemon as explained to me by two different Cingular technicians. I was told I could buy the newest phone at retail for $189.00 or extend my contract for another full year and pay a more modest fee for the cheapest upgrade. I asked the Customer No-Service Rep what my contract buyout would be? I was told $155.00.
Now I'm no Bill Gates but it seems to me it's cheaper to keep an existing customer than to attract a new one. I can buyout my contract for $34 less than the phone cost and go to a local T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless and get 3 phones free and a better contract as a new customer.
The Wireless industry have become the faceless, careless, Snake Oil Dealer of the 21st Century. We need to put a stop to their ruthless practice NOW.
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