if they treat LOYAL customers this way....

On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 22:57:14 -0600, niNjaTaz <[email protected]> wrote:

>My main point was,
>"Pay your bill in full by the end of the month, or we disconnect your
>service" is pure BS.

Actually, having them disconnect a service that you clearly cannot afford is
probably the best thing that could happen to you. If Cingular were to
mollycoddle you and let you pay in installments, that would only encourage you
to continue living above your means.

Maybe if reality bonks you on the head you'll learn your lesson.

--
http://www.geocities.com/slothkills/

---

› See More: if they treat LOYAL customers this way....

Scott in Aztlán wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 22:53:06 -0600, niNjaTaz <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>>Time to stop living such a hand-to-mouth existence.
>>
>>If I may, what exactly does that mean?
>
>
> That means if your monthly cash flow is so tight that you cannot absorb a $120
> unexpected expense without making $30/month payments for 4 months, then you
> obviously can't afford luxuries like cellular phones.
>

Maybe he doesn't have a landline phone. That is the case for at least
THOUSANDS of Americans. I am one of them.

==AD

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 13:34:59 -0600, Aboutdakota <[email protected]>
wrote:

>>>>Time to stop living such a hand-to-mouth existence.
>>>
>>>If I may, what exactly does that mean?
>>
>> That means if your monthly cash flow is so tight that you cannot absorb a $120
>> unexpected expense without making $30/month payments for 4 months, then you
>> obviously can't afford luxuries like cellular phones.
>
>Maybe he doesn't have a landline phone. That is the case for at least
>THOUSANDS of Americans. I am one of them.

And how, precisely, does this change anything?

If the OP cannot afford a cell phone, he should dump the cellular and get a
landline phone (on the "lifeline plan" if he qualifies).

--
http://www.geocities.com/slothkills/

>>>That means if your monthly cash flow is so tight that you cannot absorb a $120
>>>unexpected expense without making $30/month payments for 4 months, then you
>>>obviously can't afford luxuries like cellular phones.
>>
>>Maybe he doesn't have a landline phone. That is the case for at least
>>THOUSANDS of Americans. I am one of them.
>
>
> And how, precisely, does this change anything?
>
> If the OP cannot afford a cell phone, he should dump the cellular and get a
> landline phone (on the "lifeline plan" if he qualifies).

The point is is that that would not make the mobile phone a luxury.
However, he should have been more careful at monitoring minutes on his
usage. Rollover does help with national plans when, for example, 300
minutes on a 500 plan may be used roaming near the end of the billing
cyclec, and not show up onto your account during the next billing cycle,
when you may have 450 minutes in your home area (300+450=750;
750-500=250; 250 "overage minutes").

==AD

Alright, let me make this perfectly clear for all of you. I paid the
bill in full. And, yes, I can still afford the "necessities" of life.

I have NEVER lived "beyond my means" as some of you have put it. If I
can't afford to pay for something in cash, I don't buy it. I don't
have overextended credit, mortgages or loans. I have more than enough
money to absorb the $170 that i incurred. I just didn't WANT to pay it
all at once. So what? That's my prerogative.

Once again, for those of you that rode the "special" bus - My main
point is that "Pay before the month is out or we disconnect your
service" is NOT a PAYMENT PLAN! What is so hard to understand about
that?

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 07:58:23 -0800, Scott in Aztlán
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 22:57:14 -0600, niNjaTaz <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>My main point was,
>>"Pay your bill in full by the end of the month, or we disconnect your
>>service" is pure BS.
>
>Actually, having them disconnect a service that you clearly cannot afford is
>probably the best thing that could happen to you. If Cingular were to
>mollycoddle you and let you pay in installments, that would only encourage you
>to continue living above your means.
>
>Maybe if reality bonks you on the head you'll learn your lesson.

> Once again, for those of you that rode the "special" bus - My main
> point is that "Pay before the month is out or we disconnect your
> service" is NOT a PAYMENT PLAN! What is so hard to understand about
> that?
>

The sad thing is that Cingular must be run by the same type of folks that
have been beating up on you in this forum. Once upon a time, a company
would take into account the type customer you had been over the years and
cut you some slack. Not anymore. Most are of the opinion that their
"customers" are out to take advantage of them so they do it to the customer
first.

If Cingular was my company and you were my customer, based on your history,
I would have done everything I could have done to keep you as a "loyal"
customer. Loyal and happy customers refer their friends to companies that
treat them in an exceptional manner. Sounds like a "win-win" to me!

One day, hopefully soon, the pendulum will swing back and consumers will
become more interested in "value" than "price". Companies that grasp this
early on and make the necessary adjustments will survive. Those that do
not, will wonder what hit them.

I have been in the "customer service" business for almost 30 years and the
pendulum does swing!

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 19:26:11 -0600, Aboutdakota <[email protected]>
wrote:

>> If the OP cannot afford a cell phone, he should dump the cellular and get a
>> landline phone (on the "lifeline plan" if he qualifies).
>
>The point is is that that would not make the mobile phone a luxury.

No, the point is, the OP clearly is not in control of his financial life.

--
http://www.geocities.com/slothkills/

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 08:44:22 -0600, niNjaTaz <[email protected]> wrote:

>Alright, let me make this perfectly clear for all of you. I paid the
>bill in full. And, yes, I can still afford the "necessities" of life.

If you could pay the bill in full, why didn't you just do so in the first place?
Why all this stupid "payment plan" crap?

>I have NEVER lived "beyond my means" as some of you have put it. If I
>can't afford to pay for something in cash, I don't buy it. I don't
>have overextended credit, mortgages or loans. I have more than enough
>money to absorb the $170 that i incurred. I just didn't WANT to pay it
>all at once. So what? That's my prerogative.

That's also weird as hell.

--
http://www.geocities.com/slothkills/

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 08:44:22 -0600, niNjaTaz <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Alright, let me make this perfectly clear for all of you. I paid the
>bill in full. And, yes, I can still afford the "necessities" of life.
>
>I have NEVER lived "beyond my means" as some of you have put it. If I
>can't afford to pay for something in cash, I don't buy it. I don't
>have overextended credit, mortgages or loans. I have more than enough
>money to absorb the $170 that i incurred. I just didn't WANT to pay it
>all at once. So what? That's my prerogative.
>

So, you felt Cingular had an obligation to give you special payment
conditions just because you didn't *want* to part with money you
legally owed them. If you had the money, why did you feel you needed
special arrangements? What an arrogant ass you are.

>So what? That's my prerogative.

It is not "your prerogative". Read your contract.

>Once again, for those of you that rode the "special" bus - My main
>point is that "Pay before the month is out or we disconnect your
>service" is NOT a PAYMENT PLAN! What is so hard to understand about
>that?

Please point out anywhere in Cingular's contract, their printed
materials, their website, or any other material Cingular has published
that says they have an obligation to make special payment arrangements
with anyone. The arrangement is simple. You get a bill, you pay it
by the due date. I'm beginning to think it was you who was riding
that short bus.

Scott in Aztlán wrote:
> On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 19:26:11 -0600, Aboutdakota <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>>If the OP cannot afford a cell phone, he should dump the cellular and get a
>>>landline phone (on the "lifeline plan" if he qualifies).
>>
>>The point is is that that would not make the mobile phone a luxury.
>
>
> No, the point is, the OP clearly is not in control of his financial life.
>

I think that's a pretty bold statement for one who has not seen his
financial records. Verizon Wireless has been known to make such
payments to vendors for infrastructure. Does that mean that Verizon
Wireless is not in control of its financial life?

Yes, he should have been more careful, but in business, making
assumptions only leads false beliefs and accusations.

==AD

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 19:57:42 -0600, niNjaTaz <[email protected]>
wrote:

>In my phone conversation with them, I was told that "we can work out a
>payment plan with you." I've already said that once.

Your credibility went down the ****ter when you finally admitted that
you had the money to pay the bill, but just didn't *want* to.

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 19:36:30 -0600, Aboutdakota <[email protected]>
wrote:

>> No, the point is, the OP clearly is not in control of his financial life.
>
>I think that's a pretty bold statement for one who has not seen his
>financial records.

Let me ask you a question: Suppose you had a $120 unexpected expense - say you
had a flat tire and needed to buy a new one. Would you be able to pay the $120
in one lump sum? Or would you need to ask the tire store to let you pay for the
tire in four $30 installments?

I contend that if a $120 expense is a budget breaker, there's something wrong
with the financial management picture.

--
http://www.geocities.com/slothkills/

Scott in Aztlán wrote:
> On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 19:36:30 -0600, Aboutdakota <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>>No, the point is, the OP clearly is not in control of his financial life.
>>
>>I think that's a pretty bold statement for one who has not seen his
>>financial records.
>
>
> Let me ask you a question: Suppose you had a $120 unexpected expense - say you
> had a flat tire and needed to buy a new one. Would you be able to pay the $120
> in one lump sum? Or would you need to ask the tire store to let you pay for the
> tire in four $30 installments?
>
> I contend that if a $120 expense is a budget breaker, there's something wrong
> with the financial management picture.
>

Well, I, being a college student, would not buy a NEW tire. I would
juse my spare, and I would go to a salvage yard and find an acceptable
tire. I would then find a farmer, wehre I could put the tire on my rim,
and I would then proceed to balance my tire, and place it appropriately
as either my new spare, or on my car and remove the normal spare.

==AD

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sat, 06 Dec 2003 13:30:30 -0600,
Aboutdakota <[email protected]> wrote:

>Scott in Aztlán wrote:

>> Let me ask you a question: Suppose you had a $120 unexpected expense - say you
>> had a flat tire and needed to buy a new one. Would you be able to pay the $120
>> in one lump sum? Or would you need to ask the tire store to let you pay for the
>> tire in four $30 installments?
>>
>> I contend that if a $120 expense is a budget breaker, there's something wrong
>> with the financial management picture.
>
>Well, I, being a college student, would not buy a NEW tire. I would
>juse my spare, and I would go to a salvage yard and find an acceptable
>tire. I would then find a farmer, wehre I could put the tire on my rim,
>and I would then proceed to balance my tire, and place it appropriately
>as either my new spare, or on my car and remove the normal spare.

Remind me not to drive when you are on the road!

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

Aboutdakota wrote:


> Well, I, being a college student, would not buy a NEW tire. I would
> juse my spare, and I would go to a salvage yard and find an acceptable
> tire. I would then find a farmer, wehre I could put the tire on my rim,
> and I would then proceed to balance my tire, and place it appropriately
> as either my new spare, or on my car and remove the normal spare.


If it's a radial-ply tire, you need to be certain it continues to rotate
in the same direction it did before. Once a radial has been on the
ground long enough to develop a set, reversing it's rotation WILL result
in tread separation. Catastrophic failure at highway speed is not
something you want to put your family through.

--
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