A terrible SprintPCS CSR, LHICKS06

In case any real SprintPCS manger is monitoring this group:

Just got off phone with a terrible SprintPCS CSR Laura, ID: LHICKS06.

I called SprintPCS about my relocation more than 1 year ago. SprintPCS
changed my billing address, so that I got billed smoothly every month.
However, I just noticed I was still being charged previous city tax, which
alone is $5.20, not including State, and other fees. Because my current
city tax is much lower, I called SprintPCS, and 'nicely' asked for a refund.
I was shocked when the CSR immediately started ridiculing me for not calling
SprintPCS to change the tax ... (some terminology I didn't pick up).

So how complicated it can be for SprintPCS to change the location of a
phone?

Then I spoke with a supervisor, who claimed to be Elli, ID ESKINN01. At
first, he backed off to the point that an adjustment was due, but insisted
that any adjustment could only go back 15 days. Then he said he was
optimistic that their tax department would go back the full term in this
case. I would be definitely follow this up, and sue SprintPCS in the small
claim court if they don't refund me all that I was overcharged.

one would think it'd be easier to get your current taxing district to go
after them ---- because they apparently aren't paying / forwarding the local
tax on your bill they are collecting from you.


"Ryan" <ryan@company.com> wrote in message
news:bqrmo9$25b1rs$1@ID-154755.news.uni-berlin.de...
> In case any real SprintPCS manger is monitoring this group:
>
> Just got off phone with a terrible SprintPCS CSR Laura, ID: LHICKS06.
>
> I called SprintPCS about my relocation more than 1 year ago. SprintPCS
> changed my billing address, so that I got billed smoothly every month.
> However, I just noticed I was still being charged previous city tax, which
> alone is $5.20, not including State, and other fees. Because my current
> city tax is much lower, I called SprintPCS, and 'nicely' asked for a
refund.
> I was shocked when the CSR immediately started ridiculing me for not
calling
> SprintPCS to change the tax ... (some terminology I didn't pick up).
>
> So how complicated it can be for SprintPCS to change the location of a
> phone?
>
> Then I spoke with a supervisor, who claimed to be Elli, ID ESKINN01. At
> first, he backed off to the point that an adjustment was due, but insisted
> that any adjustment could only go back 15 days. Then he said he was
> optimistic that their tax department would go back the full term in this
> case. I would be definitely follow this up, and sue SprintPCS in the
small
> claim court if they don't refund me all that I was overcharged.
>
>

Well, keep in mind that you are dealing with SprintPCS.
They, or their shabby software, wouldn't mind adding another tax on your
bill.

"tom ronson" <tonostuff@blahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ZSkAb.83743$Vu5.4520949@twister.southeast.rr. com...
> one would think it'd be easier to get your current taxing district to go
> after them ---- because they apparently aren't paying / forwarding the
local
> tax on your bill they are collecting from you.
>
>
> "Ryan" <ryan@company.com> wrote in message
> news:bqrmo9$25b1rs$1@ID-154755.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > In case any real SprintPCS manger is monitoring this group:
> >
> > Just got off phone with a terrible SprintPCS CSR Laura, ID: LHICKS06.
> >
> > I called SprintPCS about my relocation more than 1 year ago. SprintPCS
> > changed my billing address, so that I got billed smoothly every month.
> > However, I just noticed I was still being charged previous city tax,
which
> > alone is $5.20, not including State, and other fees. Because my current
> > city tax is much lower, I called SprintPCS, and 'nicely' asked for a
> refund.
> > I was shocked when the CSR immediately started ridiculing me for not
> calling
> > SprintPCS to change the tax ... (some terminology I didn't pick up).
> >
> > So how complicated it can be for SprintPCS to change the location of a
> > phone?
> >
> > Then I spoke with a supervisor, who claimed to be Elli, ID ESKINN01. At
> > first, he backed off to the point that an adjustment was due, but
insisted
> > that any adjustment could only go back 15 days. Then he said he was
> > optimistic that their tax department would go back the full term in this
> > case. I would be definitely follow this up, and sue SprintPCS in the
> small
> > claim court if they don't refund me all that I was overcharged.

What I would like to know is this. I have never gone over my monthly
charge/usage and I have been a SPCS customer for two years now so why is my
bill different every month? Are the taxes being charged to me change every
month? I doubt it. Someone please tell me why?

"Ryan" <ryan@company.com> wrote in message
news:bqtvi4$1vjird$1@ID-154755.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Well, keep in mind that you are dealing with SprintPCS.
> They, or their shabby software, wouldn't mind adding another tax on your
> bill.
>
> "tom ronson" <tonostuff@blahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:ZSkAb.83743$Vu5.4520949@twister.southeast.rr. com...
> > one would think it'd be easier to get your current taxing district to go
> > after them ---- because they apparently aren't paying / forwarding the
> local
> > tax on your bill they are collecting from you.
> >
> >
> > "Ryan" <ryan@company.com> wrote in message
> > news:bqrmo9$25b1rs$1@ID-154755.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > In case any real SprintPCS manger is monitoring this group:
> > >
> > > Just got off phone with a terrible SprintPCS CSR Laura, ID: LHICKS06.
> > >
> > > I called SprintPCS about my relocation more than 1 year ago.
SprintPCS
> > > changed my billing address, so that I got billed smoothly every month.
> > > However, I just noticed I was still being charged previous city tax,
> which
> > > alone is $5.20, not including State, and other fees. Because my
current
> > > city tax is much lower, I called SprintPCS, and 'nicely' asked for a
> > refund.
> > > I was shocked when the CSR immediately started ridiculing me for not
> > calling
> > > SprintPCS to change the tax ... (some terminology I didn't pick up).
> > >
> > > So how complicated it can be for SprintPCS to change the location of a
> > > phone?
> > >
> > > Then I spoke with a supervisor, who claimed to be Elli, ID ESKINN01.
At
> > > first, he backed off to the point that an adjustment was due, but
> insisted
> > > that any adjustment could only go back 15 days. Then he said he was
> > > optimistic that their tax department would go back the full term in
this
> > > case. I would be definitely follow this up, and sue SprintPCS in the
> > small
> > > claim court if they don't refund me all that I was overcharged.
>
>

"Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:3fd2a02f$0$60291$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.co m...
> What I would like to know is this. I have never gone over my monthly
> charge/usage and I have been a SPCS customer for two years now so why is
my
> bill different every month? Are the taxes being charged to me change every
> month? I doubt it. Someone please tell me why?

What differences are you noticing, and where are those differences recorded
on your printed bill? Is it possible that some months you are calling 411,
which costs $1.25 extra, or having a roaming call charged to the account?
Have you been trying to use your phone to connect to another ISP, other than
Vision? Lastly, are you using Vision to surf the net, without having the
Vision option on your account?

Bob

"Ryan" <ryan@company.com> wrote in message
news:bqrmo9$25b1rs$1@ID-154755.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> So how complicated it can be for SprintPCS to change the location of a
> phone?
>
One of the problems is that once SprintPCS has paid tax to a municipality,
it's extremely difficult for them to get it back or to get an adjustment in
the future. I have a similar problem that I couldn't get straightened out -
I live in Wisconson but use a bill-paying service in South Dakota so my
bills used to be sent there until electronic bills became available. Guess
what? The South Dakota taxes were higher than Wisconsin taxes and when I
switched addresses for the hard-copy bill my monthly payment went down about
20 cents a month. Sprint went to bat for me with South Dakota but there
just wasn't any straightforward way to get an adjustment on their past tax
payments (South Dakota sent a letter that required ME to appear IN PERSON in
Pierre with original local utility bills for each month for which I claimed
that I was mis-taxed) so I gave up and ate a couple of dollars. I blame
this on South Dakota government bureaucracy more than SprintPCS, though.

I don't have vision and don't use the phone for anything but making voice
calls and I have not had any roaming calls. I had only one two minute
roaming call back in August when I went to FT Worth TX. That's the only
roaming call I made in the two years I was a customer. I never EVER call
411. I use the phone book, the internet or I don't make the call if I don't
know the number. Anyone have any ideas as to why my bill is different every
month? I always stay under my 300 prime-time minutes.

"Bob Smith" <usirsclt_NoSpam_@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:OAGAb.3043$Ho3.1165@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
>
> "Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message
> news:3fd2a02f$0$60291$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.co m...
> > What I would like to know is this. I have never gone over my monthly
> > charge/usage and I have been a SPCS customer for two years now so why is
> my
> > bill different every month? Are the taxes being charged to me change
every
> > month? I doubt it. Someone please tell me why?
>
> What differences are you noticing, and where are those differences
recorded
> on your printed bill? Is it possible that some months you are calling 411,
> which costs $1.25 extra, or having a roaming call charged to the account?
> Have you been trying to use your phone to connect to another ISP, other
than
> Vision? Lastly, are you using Vision to surf the net, without having the
> Vision option on your account?
>
> Bob
>
>

No, Peter, we don't have the copies of your printed bills to read.
But you should have.
Tell us where they differ from month to month.
That's what Bob asked you to do, earlier.
---JRC---

"Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message =
news:3fd3bb8a$0$60255$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.co m...
> I don't have vision and don't use the phone for anything but making =
voice
> calls and I have not had any roaming calls. I had only one two minute
> roaming call back in August when I went to FT Worth TX. That's the =
only
> roaming call I made in the two years I was a customer. I never EVER =
call
> 411. I use the phone book, the internet or I don't make the call if I =
don't
> know the number. Anyone have any ideas as to why my bill is different =
every
> month? I always stay under my 300 prime-time minutes.
>=20
> "Bob Smith" <usirsclt_NoSpam_@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:OAGAb.3043$Ho3.1165@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> >
> > "Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message
> > news:3fd2a02f$0$60291$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.co m...
> > > What I would like to know is this. I have never gone over my =
monthly
> > > charge/usage and I have been a SPCS customer for two years now so =
why is
> > my
> > > bill different every month? Are the taxes being charged to me =
change
> every
> > > month? I doubt it. Someone please tell me why?
> >
> > What differences are you noticing, and where are those differences
> recorded
> > on your printed bill? Is it possible that some months you are =
calling 411,
> > which costs $1.25 extra, or having a roaming call charged to the =
account?
> > Have you been trying to use your phone to connect to another ISP, =
other
> than
> > Vision? Lastly, are you using Vision to surf the net, without having =
the
> > Vision option on your account?
> >
> > Bob
>

OH ok... I have to gather them but my monthly charge is always the same,
$30. What is different is the taxes section but what section is different
month to month I have to check them. I'll get back to you when I find them
later tonight.


"John R. Copeland" <jcopelan@columbus.rRr.com> wrote in message
news:53PAb.8666$%P6.1696@fe1.columbus.rr.com...
No, Peter, we don't have the copies of your printed bills to read.
But you should have.
Tell us where they differ from month to month.
That's what Bob asked you to do, earlier.
---JRC---

"Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:3fd3bb8a$0$60255$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.co m...
> I don't have vision and don't use the phone for anything but making voice
> calls and I have not had any roaming calls. I had only one two minute
> roaming call back in August when I went to FT Worth TX. That's the only
> roaming call I made in the two years I was a customer. I never EVER call
> 411. I use the phone book, the internet or I don't make the call if I
don't
> know the number. Anyone have any ideas as to why my bill is different
every
> month? I always stay under my 300 prime-time minutes.
>
> "Bob Smith" <usirsclt_NoSpam_@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:OAGAb.3043$Ho3.1165@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> >
> > "Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message
> > news:3fd2a02f$0$60291$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.co m...
> > > What I would like to know is this. I have never gone over my monthly
> > > charge/usage and I have been a SPCS customer for two years now so why
is
> > my
> > > bill different every month? Are the taxes being charged to me change
> every
> > > month? I doubt it. Someone please tell me why?
> >
> > What differences are you noticing, and where are those differences
> recorded
> > on your printed bill? Is it possible that some months you are calling
411,
> > which costs $1.25 extra, or having a roaming call charged to the
account?
> > Have you been trying to use your phone to connect to another ISP, other
> than
> > Vision? Lastly, are you using Vision to surf the net, without having the
> > Vision option on your account?
> >
> > Bob
>

First thing that comes to mind.....
and one of the sure things in life.... TAXES!!!
I know you said "Are the taxes being charged to me change every month? I
doubt it"
But please check the break down on this....

I do know these facts....

1) States/municipalities are looking for ways to increase revenue!
Additional taxes are 'popping' up everywhere....

2) Some cell phone companies were not charging 'services' correctly in some
states ,and are now doing so correctly.

3) Some states/municipalities, were straightforward and did it in sales
taxes

4) Also somewhere on your bill, usually the within the first couple pages
(printed or online) is a paragraph that reads:
"Surcharges and Fees - The surcharges in this section generally recover the
costs incurred by Sprint in complying with various federal and state
mandates. Charges that appear in this section of your invoice, including
charges associated with Federal Wireless Number Pooling and Portability,
Federal and State Universal Service Funds (USF) and Federal E911*, are
neither taxes nor government-imposed assessments. The Federal USF charge is
calculated using the FCC-prescribed contribution factor, which may change on
a quarterly basis. Neither federal nor state law requires carriers to impose
these charges but carriers are permitted to recover their costs of complying
with these federal and state mandates. Call 1-866-770-6690 for more
information, including the current Federal USF invoice surcharge. *Please
note that current availability of E911 services is very limited. E911
service is dependent upon several factors, including the ability of your
local public safety agency to receive and process this information and the
capabilities of your equipment."

Now look at your individual situation:

A) All that said, I looked back at my bills online and saw for one of my
phones, where the service amount has stayed the same, the taxes/fees have
risen from $3.39 to $4.46 from Jun to Aug (but this was in the 'Federal
Fees'

B) Now lets say your state or municipality either institutes a new tax or
changes what it applies to, and doesn't notify Sprint with enough notice to
add to the 'current' bill.. Sprint cannot 'eat' the tax, so next month you
would get hit with a 'double whammy' and then the following month it would
settle down...

C) All that said, you need to look at your FACTs. Look at couple of your
bills. It should all be detailed on one the first couple pages... You should
see a breakdown of "Additional Billing Information" . Then you could see
where the increase is... I think in this case SPRINT is just the
messenger.... Don't shoot the Messenger...


"Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:3fd3bb8a$0$60255$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.co m...
> I don't have vision and don't use the phone for anything but making voice
> calls and I have not had any roaming calls. I had only one two minute
> roaming call back in August when I went to FT Worth TX. That's the only
> roaming call I made in the two years I was a customer. I never EVER call
> 411. I use the phone book, the internet or I don't make the call if I
don't
> know the number. Anyone have any ideas as to why my bill is different
every
> month? I always stay under my 300 prime-time minutes.
>
> "Bob Smith" <usirsclt_NoSpam_@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:OAGAb.3043$Ho3.1165@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> >
> > "Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message
> > news:3fd2a02f$0$60291$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.co m...
> > > What I would like to know is this. I have never gone over my monthly
> > > charge/usage and I have been a SPCS customer for two years now so why
is
> > my
> > > bill different every month? Are the taxes being charged to me change
> every
> > > month? I doubt it. Someone please tell me why?
> >
> > What differences are you noticing, and where are those differences
> recorded
> > on your printed bill? Is it possible that some months you are calling
411,
> > which costs $1.25 extra, or having a roaming call charged to the
account?
> > Have you been trying to use your phone to connect to another ISP, other
> than
> > Vision? Lastly, are you using Vision to surf the net, without having the
> > Vision option on your account?
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >
>
>

Well, your story is interesting to read, but totally different than mine.;-)

In my case, I informed SprintPCS of my address change, but SpringPCS
failed to change the tax location. There is no confusion at all.
As SprintPCS wrongfully took more money from me as a result of their
mistake, I would demand a refund from SprintPCS.

"mcg" <noone@@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:vt6llp1m4k8od1@corp.supernews.com...
> "Ryan" <ryan@company.com> wrote in message
> news:bqrmo9$25b1rs$1@ID-154755.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> > So how complicated it can be for SprintPCS to change the location of a
> > phone?
> >
> One of the problems is that once SprintPCS has paid tax to a municipality,
> it's extremely difficult for them to get it back or to get an adjustment
in
> the future. I have a similar problem that I couldn't get straightened
out -
> I live in Wisconson but use a bill-paying service in South Dakota so my
> bills used to be sent there until electronic bills became available.
Guess
> what? The South Dakota taxes were higher than Wisconsin taxes and when I
> switched addresses for the hard-copy bill my monthly payment went down
about
> 20 cents a month. Sprint went to bat for me with South Dakota but there
> just wasn't any straightforward way to get an adjustment on their past tax
> payments (South Dakota sent a letter that required ME to appear IN PERSON
in
> Pierre with original local utility bills for each month for which I
claimed
> that I was mis-taxed) so I gave up and ate a couple of dollars. I blame
> this on South Dakota government bureaucracy more than SprintPCS, though.
>
>
>