Cingular Class Action Suit?

I had AT$T Free2Go service when Cingular took over. Cingular, at first,
gave me 40 minutes for $10 instead of 20 minutes and 90 days before it
expired instead of 45 days.

Suddenly, this summer, they decided to make it $15 minimum and the minutes
expire in 30 days. Well, I had autopay with a credit card so I would not
lose the minutes I'd already paid for but did not use yet. Then my bank
issued me a new card. The new card was not activated yet so I did not
change it on my Cingular account. At some point (don't know exactly when)
my new card became active and my old card expired with no overlap. The day
AFTER my autopay was supposed to be deducted from my credit card Cingular
sent me an email saying there was "A Problem With My Autopay" but by that
time had already dumped me and my minutes. I was unable to log onto my
account online. I was unable to reach them on my cell phone. I was unable
to reach them on my land line. They responded to my emails saying that was
not their department.

Basically I've been screwed and I'm pissed. Is there a class action lawsuit
against them yet or is it too soon?

Also, it seems that now the minimum purchase for minutes is up to $25 (up
from about $7 with AT&T).

Anyone know of a pay-as-you-go plan that won't rip me off? I looked at
Virgin but Sprint phones don't work in my area. AT&T was the only one that
worked reasonably well and I noticed a deterioration in service availability
once Cingular took over.

---

› See More: Cingular Class Action Suit?

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 10:10:38 -0700, "Ulysses"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I had AT$T Free2Go service when Cingular took over. Cingular, at
first,
>gave me 40 minutes for $10 instead of 20 minutes and 90 days before
it
>expired instead of 45 days.
>
>Suddenly, this summer, they decided to make it $15 minimum and the
minutes
>expire in 30 days. Well, I had autopay with a credit card so I would
not
>lose the minutes I'd already paid for but did not use yet. Then my
bank
>issued me a new card. The new card was not activated yet so I did
not
>change it on my Cingular account. At some point (don't know exactly
when)
>my new card became active and my old card expired with no overlap.
The day
>AFTER my autopay was supposed to be deducted from my credit card
Cingular
>sent me an email saying there was "A Problem With My Autopay" but by
that
>time had already dumped me and my minutes. I was unable to log onto
my
>account online. I was unable to reach them on my cell phone. I was
unable
>to reach them on my land line. They responded to my emails saying
that was
>not their department.
>
>Basically I've been screwed and I'm pissed. Is there a class action
lawsuit
>against them yet or is it too soon?
>
>Also, it seems that now the minimum purchase for minutes is up to $25
(up
>from about $7 with AT&T).
>
>Anyone know of a pay-as-you-go plan that won't rip me off? I looked
at
>Virgin but Sprint phones don't work in my area. AT&T was the only
one that
>worked reasonably well and I noticed a deterioration in service
availability
>once Cingular took over.
>

Yes you should spend more money and sue. Let me know when it goes to
trial. I want to be there and watch as your attorney explains who
Cingular should have known your bank changed your card and that it
would bill correctly.
--
Scorp

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 10:10:38 -0700, "Ulysses"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I had AT$T Free2Go service when Cingular took over. Cingular, at
> first,
>>gave me 40 minutes for $10 instead of 20 minutes and 90 days before
> it
>>expired instead of 45 days.
>>
>>Suddenly, this summer, they decided to make it $15 minimum and the
> minutes
>>expire in 30 days. Well, I had autopay with a credit card so I would
> not
>>lose the minutes I'd already paid for but did not use yet. Then my
> bank
>>issued me a new card. The new card was not activated yet so I did
> not
>>change it on my Cingular account. At some point (don't know exactly
> when)
>>my new card became active and my old card expired with no overlap.
> The day
>>AFTER my autopay was supposed to be deducted from my credit card
> Cingular
>>sent me an email saying there was "A Problem With My Autopay" but by
> that
>>time had already dumped me and my minutes. I was unable to log onto
> my
>>account online. I was unable to reach them on my cell phone. I was
> unable
>>to reach them on my land line. They responded to my emails saying
> that was
>>not their department.
>>
>>Basically I've been screwed and I'm pissed. Is there a class action
> lawsuit
>>against them yet or is it too soon?
>>
>>Also, it seems that now the minimum purchase for minutes is up to $25
> (up
>>from about $7 with AT&T).
>>
>>Anyone know of a pay-as-you-go plan that won't rip me off? I looked
> at
>>Virgin but Sprint phones don't work in my area. AT&T was the only
> one that
>>worked reasonably well and I noticed a deterioration in service
> availability
>>once Cingular took over.
>>
>
> Yes you should spend more money and sue. Let me know when it goes to
> trial. I want to be there and watch as your attorney explains who
> Cingular should have known your bank changed your card and that it
> would bill correctly.

LOL, you think a lawyer will touch that case? <wink>

"Yadayada" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 10:10:38 -0700, "Ulysses"
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >>I had AT$T Free2Go service when Cingular took over. Cingular, at
> > first,
> >>gave me 40 minutes for $10 instead of 20 minutes and 90 days before
> > it
> >>expired instead of 45 days.
> >>
> >>Suddenly, this summer, they decided to make it $15 minimum and the
> > minutes
> >>expire in 30 days. Well, I had autopay with a credit card so I would
> > not
> >>lose the minutes I'd already paid for but did not use yet. Then my
> > bank
> >>issued me a new card. The new card was not activated yet so I did
> > not
> >>change it on my Cingular account. At some point (don't know exactly
> > when)
> >>my new card became active and my old card expired with no overlap.
> > The day
> >>AFTER my autopay was supposed to be deducted from my credit card
> > Cingular
> >>sent me an email saying there was "A Problem With My Autopay" but by
> > that
> >>time had already dumped me and my minutes. I was unable to log onto
> > my
> >>account online. I was unable to reach them on my cell phone. I was
> > unable
> >>to reach them on my land line. They responded to my emails saying
> > that was
> >>not their department.
> >>
> >>Basically I've been screwed and I'm pissed. Is there a class action
> > lawsuit
> >>against them yet or is it too soon?
> >>
> >>Also, it seems that now the minimum purchase for minutes is up to $25
> > (up
> >>from about $7 with AT&T).
> >>
> >>Anyone know of a pay-as-you-go plan that won't rip me off? I looked
> > at
> >>Virgin but Sprint phones don't work in my area. AT&T was the only
> > one that
> >>worked reasonably well and I noticed a deterioration in service
> > availability
> >>once Cingular took over.
> >>
> >
> > Yes you should spend more money and sue. Let me know when it goes to
> > trial. I want to be there and watch as your attorney explains who
> > Cingular should have known your bank changed your card and that it
> > would bill correctly.
>
> LOL, you think a lawyer will touch that case? <wink>
>
>

Well, my original contract said that the minutes expire in 45 days. They
changed it without my agreeing to it. I would have had plenty of time to
straighten it out if they had not dumped me the instant my credit/debit card
didn't work.

Maybe you guys havn't heard about all the class action lawsuits against cell
phone companies. Lawyers actually do take the cases if they can find enough
incidents to establish a pattern. The lawyers get most of the money and the
clients (customers) usually end up with $20. Well, that will cover my
losses.

Why didnt you change the card info with Cingular?

"Ulysses" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Yadayada" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 10:10:38 -0700, "Ulysses"
>> > <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >
>> >>I had AT$T Free2Go service when Cingular took over. Cingular, at
>> > first,
>> >>gave me 40 minutes for $10 instead of 20 minutes and 90 days before
>> > it
>> >>expired instead of 45 days.
>> >>
>> >>Suddenly, this summer, they decided to make it $15 minimum and the
>> > minutes
>> >>expire in 30 days. Well, I had autopay with a credit card so I would
>> > not
>> >>lose the minutes I'd already paid for but did not use yet. Then my
>> > bank
>> >>issued me a new card. The new card was not activated yet so I did
>> > not
>> >>change it on my Cingular account. At some point (don't know exactly
>> > when)
>> >>my new card became active and my old card expired with no overlap.
>> > The day
>> >>AFTER my autopay was supposed to be deducted from my credit card
>> > Cingular
>> >>sent me an email saying there was "A Problem With My Autopay" but by
>> > that
>> >>time had already dumped me and my minutes. I was unable to log onto
>> > my
>> >>account online. I was unable to reach them on my cell phone. I was
>> > unable
>> >>to reach them on my land line. They responded to my emails saying
>> > that was
>> >>not their department.
>> >>
>> >>Basically I've been screwed and I'm pissed. Is there a class action
>> > lawsuit
>> >>against them yet or is it too soon?
>> >>
>> >>Also, it seems that now the minimum purchase for minutes is up to $25
>> > (up
>> >>from about $7 with AT&T).
>> >>
>> >>Anyone know of a pay-as-you-go plan that won't rip me off? I looked
>> > at
>> >>Virgin but Sprint phones don't work in my area. AT&T was the only
>> > one that
>> >>worked reasonably well and I noticed a deterioration in service
>> > availability
>> >>once Cingular took over.
>> >>
>> >
>> > Yes you should spend more money and sue. Let me know when it goes to
>> > trial. I want to be there and watch as your attorney explains who
>> > Cingular should have known your bank changed your card and that it
>> > would bill correctly.
>>
>> LOL, you think a lawyer will touch that case? <wink>
>>
>>
>
> Well, my original contract said that the minutes expire in 45 days. They
> changed it without my agreeing to it. I would have had plenty of time to
> straighten it out if they had not dumped me the instant my credit/debit
> card
> didn't work.
>
> Maybe you guys havn't heard about all the class action lawsuits against
> cell
> phone companies. Lawyers actually do take the cases if they can find
> enough
> incidents to establish a pattern. The lawyers get most of the money and
> the
> clients (customers) usually end up with $20. Well, that will cover my
> losses.
>
>

"Jeff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:6tTDe.2090$Ho3.1226@trndny01...
> Why didnt you change the card info with Cingular?

Because I could not log onto my account online and I could not reach them by
phone.

It would not accept my PIN number online but it accepted it when I called
611. When I called 611 I was told I had to call the 800 number for my
particular problem. When I called the 800 number I was on hold for a long
time and never talked to anybody. When you call to buy more minutes it
tells you your approximate hold time. When you call about a problem it
tells you nothing.


>
> "Ulysses" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Yadayada" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >>
> >> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 10:10:38 -0700, "Ulysses"
> >> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>I had AT$T Free2Go service when Cingular took over. Cingular, at
> >> > first,
> >> >>gave me 40 minutes for $10 instead of 20 minutes and 90 days before
> >> > it
> >> >>expired instead of 45 days.
> >> >>
> >> >>Suddenly, this summer, they decided to make it $15 minimum and the
> >> > minutes
> >> >>expire in 30 days. Well, I had autopay with a credit card so I would
> >> > not
> >> >>lose the minutes I'd already paid for but did not use yet. Then my
> >> > bank
> >> >>issued me a new card. The new card was not activated yet so I did
> >> > not
> >> >>change it on my Cingular account. At some point (don't know exactly
> >> > when)
> >> >>my new card became active and my old card expired with no overlap.
> >> > The day
> >> >>AFTER my autopay was supposed to be deducted from my credit card
> >> > Cingular
> >> >>sent me an email saying there was "A Problem With My Autopay" but by
> >> > that
> >> >>time had already dumped me and my minutes. I was unable to log onto
> >> > my
> >> >>account online. I was unable to reach them on my cell phone. I was
> >> > unable
> >> >>to reach them on my land line. They responded to my emails saying
> >> > that was
> >> >>not their department.
> >> >>
> >> >>Basically I've been screwed and I'm pissed. Is there a class action
> >> > lawsuit
> >> >>against them yet or is it too soon?
> >> >>
> >> >>Also, it seems that now the minimum purchase for minutes is up to $25
> >> > (up
> >> >>from about $7 with AT&T).
> >> >>
> >> >>Anyone know of a pay-as-you-go plan that won't rip me off? I looked
> >> > at
> >> >>Virgin but Sprint phones don't work in my area. AT&T was the only
> >> > one that
> >> >>worked reasonably well and I noticed a deterioration in service
> >> > availability
> >> >>once Cingular took over.
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> > Yes you should spend more money and sue. Let me know when it goes to
> >> > trial. I want to be there and watch as your attorney explains who
> >> > Cingular should have known your bank changed your card and that it
> >> > would bill correctly.
> >>
> >> LOL, you think a lawyer will touch that case? <wink>
> >>
> >>
> >
> > Well, my original contract said that the minutes expire in 45 days.
They
> > changed it without my agreeing to it. I would have had plenty of time
to
> > straighten it out if they had not dumped me the instant my credit/debit
> > card
> > didn't work.
> >
> > Maybe you guys havn't heard about all the class action lawsuits against
> > cell
> > phone companies. Lawyers actually do take the cases if they can find
> > enough
> > incidents to establish a pattern. The lawyers get most of the money and
> > the
> > clients (customers) usually end up with $20. Well, that will cover my
> > losses.
> >
> >
>
>

Ulysses wrote:
> "Yadayada" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...

> Maybe you guys havn't heard about all the class action lawsuits against cell
> phone companies. Lawyers actually do take the cases if they can find enough
> incidents to establish a pattern. The lawyers get most of the money and the
> clients (customers) usually end up with $20. Well, that will cover my
> losses.

Actually, often times you don't even get cash. The last class action
lawsuit that I was contacted on was with Sprint, regarding their
insurance plan. The settlement was that the lawyers get their umpteen
million dollars, and Sprint users got a $10 pre-paid long distance phone
card. How very useful, considering that on all Sprint PCS plans, long
distance is free and included anyway.

I wrote the law firm to specifically opt out of that class, on principle.

--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Ulysses wrote:
> "Jeff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:6tTDe.2090$Ho3.1226@trndny01...
>
>>Why didnt you change the card info with Cingular?
>
>
> Because I could not log onto my account online and I could not reach them by
> phone.

Couldn't reach them by phone, as their phone number mysteriously stopped
working for more than a few days? Could you not visit a store?




--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

"Isaiah Beard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ulysses wrote:
> > "Jeff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:6tTDe.2090$Ho3.1226@trndny01...
> >
> >>Why didnt you change the card info with Cingular?
> >
> >
> > Because I could not log onto my account online and I could not reach
them by
> > phone.
>
> Couldn't reach them by phone, as their phone number mysteriously stopped
> working for more than a few days? Could you not visit a store?

No, their phone did not stop working. I called 611 like I said and they
told me I had to call the 800 number. I called the 800 number and finally
hung up after being on hold for 30 mins. It did not occur to me that I
should have to drive 30 miles to a Cingular store in this day and age just
to talk to a customer care representive. Besides don't they just have
salespeople in the store that don't actually know anything?

>
>
>
>
> --
> E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
> Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Ulysses wrote:
> "Isaiah Beard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...

>>Couldn't reach them by phone, as their phone number mysteriously stopped
>>working for more than a few days? Could you not visit a store?
>
>
> No, their phone did not stop working. I called 611 like I said and they
> told me I had to call the 800 number. I called the 800 number and finally
> hung up after being on hold for 30 mins. It did not occur to me that I
> should have to drive 30 miles to a Cingular store in this day and age just
> to talk to a customer care representive.


Gotta love when someone brings in the "this day and age" argument. This
day and age, I drive 30 miles just to get groceries. And while I can
agree that it would've been easier to do it all on the phone, sometimes
things happen ad we just have to get in the car and drive, before we
start considering things like calss action suits.

--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

"Isaiah Beard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ulysses wrote:
> > "Isaiah Beard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
>
> >>Couldn't reach them by phone, as their phone number mysteriously stopped
> >>working for more than a few days? Could you not visit a store?
> >
> >
> > No, their phone did not stop working. I called 611 like I said and they
> > told me I had to call the 800 number. I called the 800 number and
finally
> > hung up after being on hold for 30 mins. It did not occur to me that I
> > should have to drive 30 miles to a Cingular store in this day and age
just
> > to talk to a customer care representive.
>
>
> Gotta love when someone brings in the "this day and age" argument. This
> day and age, I drive 30 miles just to get groceries. And while I can
> agree that it would've been easier to do it all on the phone, sometimes
> things happen ad we just have to get in the car and drive, before we
> start considering things like calss action suits.
>
> --
> E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
> Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to

So, what you are saying then, is that with the internet, communication
satellites in space, forests of cell phone towers replacing the trees, and
the archaic land lines, I shoud pack my mules and make a pilgrimage up the
mountain, barefoot, in the blazing heat with the *hope* of being allowed to
ask 3 questions of the High Llama?

They could simply answer my emails if they want to keep their customers.

Ulysses wrote:

> So, what you are saying then, is that with the internet, communication
> satellites in space, forests of cell phone towers replacing the trees, and
> the archaic land lines, I shoud pack my mules and make a pilgrimage up the
> mountain, barefoot, in the blazing heat with the *hope* of being allowed to
> ask 3 questions of the High Llama?

The High Llama, last I checked, does not have a landline, nor a cell phone.

Technology doesn't solve every problem. He who relies solely on
technology to solve every issue he has will very quickly discover its
limitations. And EVERY time a problem arises that is technolgoy
related, I've seen to it that I get a confirmation that the issue is
resolved by human interaction. If not by phone, then in person.

I trust technology to make things easier, when I am certain the
technology works. I DO NOT trust it when it's giving me a problem, and
rely on other means to ensure resolution.


--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 09:50:18 -0700, "Ulysses" wrote:
>So, what you are saying then, is that with the internet, communication
>satellites in space, forests of cell phone towers replacing the trees, and
>the archaic land lines, I shoud pack my mules and make a pilgrimage up the
>mountain, barefoot, in the blazing heat with the *hope* of being allowed to
>ask 3 questions of the High Llama?
>
>They could simply answer my emails if they want to keep their customers.

After complaining to customer service that I was being charged for
roaming, they insisted I didn't have roaming included with my plan,
despite the fact that I faxed them everything that said I did.

I emailed their office, and received a fairly timely reply that I did,
in fact, have free roaming as a feature in my plan.

When I called back to the customer service center, they advised me
that I couldn't depend on what the company says via email because it's
outsourced to India and there may be a language barrier.

Short version: What the company says via email doesn't count.

MP-
--
"Learning is a behavior that results from consequences."
B.F. Skinner

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 14:50:42 -0400, Isaiah Beard wrote:
>Ulysses wrote:
>
>> So, what you are saying then, is that with the internet, communication
>> satellites in space, forests of cell phone towers replacing the trees, and
>> the archaic land lines, I shoud pack my mules and make a pilgrimage up the
>> mountain, barefoot, in the blazing heat with the *hope* of being allowed to
>> ask 3 questions of the High Llama?
>
>The High Llama, last I checked, does not have a landline, nor a cell phone.
>
>Technology doesn't solve every problem. He who relies solely on
>technology to solve every issue he has will very quickly discover its
>limitations. And EVERY time a problem arises that is technolgoy
>related, I've seen to it that I get a confirmation that the issue is
>resolved by human interaction. If not by phone, then in person.
>
>I trust technology to make things easier, when I am certain the
>technology works. I DO NOT trust it when it's giving me a problem, and
>rely on other means to ensure resolution.

Kind of ironic, considering the very nature of Cingular's products and
services, huh?

MP-
--
"Learning is a behavior that results from consequences."
B.F. Skinner

"Isaiah Beard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ulysses wrote:
>
> > So, what you are saying then, is that with the internet, communication
> > satellites in space, forests of cell phone towers replacing the trees,
and
> > the archaic land lines, I shoud pack my mules and make a pilgrimage up
the
> > mountain, barefoot, in the blazing heat with the *hope* of being allowed
to
> > ask 3 questions of the High Llama?
>
> The High Llama, last I checked, does not have a landline, nor a cell
phone.

Exactly. But Cingular does. Email too.
>
> Technology doesn't solve every problem. He who relies solely on
> technology to solve every issue he has will very quickly discover its
> limitations. And EVERY time a problem arises that is technolgoy
> related, I've seen to it that I get a confirmation that the issue is
> resolved by human interaction. If not by phone, then in person.
>
> I trust technology to make things easier, when I am certain the
> technology works. I DO NOT trust it when it's giving me a problem, and
> rely on other means to ensure resolution.
>
>
> --
> E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
> Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

But we are talking about a PHONE COMPANY, not some place that sells paper
towels or chicken feed.