Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm renaming
the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones the
more the surprise.
Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs, sales
to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will be
broke of the next couple of months.
Drew wrote:
>
> Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
> daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
> That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm renaming
> the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones the
> more the surprise.
>
> Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs, sales
> to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
>
> My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will be
> broke of the next couple of months.
Aside from the fact that can't understand peoples' desires for ringers
and screensavers, care to tell us what the $8.81 is in reference to?
The $8.81 was for downloading the ring tone.
The $1.99 was for buying the ring tone.
"Notan" <notan@ddress.com> wrote in message
news:43287AD7.738602DD@ddress.com...
> Drew wrote:
> >
> > Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
> > daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
> > That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
renaming
> > the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones
the
> > more the surprise.
> >
> > Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs,
sales
> > to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
> >
> > My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will
be
> > broke of the next couple of months.
>
> Aside from the fact that can't understand peoples' desires for ringers
> and screensavers, care to tell us what the $8.81 is in reference to?
>
> Notan
"Drew" <pescorp@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:AM_Ve.2186$%Q1.2179@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
> daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
> That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
renaming
> the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones the
> more the surprise.
>
> Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs,
sales
> to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
>
> My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will be
> broke of the next couple of months.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Drew
>
The Wall Street Journal had a Technology section in the Monday (9/12/05)
edition that discussed selecting a cell-phone provider. Somewhere in there
I also read that ring tones are becoming a big business for the provider's,
with people actually composing music for ring tones. The article said that
customizing your cell phone with a distinct ring tone might be considered
the equivalent of customizing your junior-high notebook with stickers and
doodles.
I don't remember stickers and doodles costing $10.80 back in junior-high
(late 70's) but maybe I'm forgetting?
I tried that. They are not accommodating. Plus, I think their contract has
an arbitration clause.
I called my wife at work and told her about the charge - she was SURPRISED.
I left a message on my daughters cell - she was SURPRISED.
I was SURPRISED.
That's why I'm calling it the "Family SURPRISE plan".
I'm wondering if there are others that have been surprised.
I bet it's a "Nation Wide Family SURPRISE plan".
I wonder if I can start a class action or class arbitration - maybe
something with the public service commissioner maybe we can get them to
refund all the SURPRISED families.
drew
"Notan" <notan@ddress.com> wrote in message
news:4328826A.861926B2@ddress.com...
> Drew wrote:
> >
> > The $8.81 was for downloading the ring tone.
> > The $1.99 was for buying the ring tone.
> >
> > <snip>
>
> HOLY MACKEREL!
>
> I'd give CS a call and ask for a one-time credit.
>
> That kind of charge is outrageous!!!
>
> Notan
I asked for a refund. They said no.
I'm stuck the the charge(s) $46.00 so far and I'm stuck with them for 2
years - less a couple of months.
I'm sure I'm in for more surprises.
I live near New Orleans and believe me, I don't need any more surprises.
When I try to use the phone I mostly get "All circuits are busy".
drew
"PabloRena ---> AnalProbe" <AnalProbe@mcsurvival.com> wrote in message
news:43288490$0$32202$39cecf19@news.twtelecom.net...
>
> "Drew" <pescorp@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
> news:AM_Ve.2186$%Q1.2179@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> > Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
> > daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
> > That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
> renaming
> > the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones
the
> > more the surprise.
> >
> > Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs,
> sales
> > to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
> >
> > My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will
be
> > broke of the next couple of months.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > Drew
> >
> The Wall Street Journal had a Technology section in the Monday (9/12/05)
> edition that discussed selecting a cell-phone provider. Somewhere in
there
> I also read that ring tones are becoming a big business for the
provider's,
> with people actually composing music for ring tones. The article said
that
> customizing your cell phone with a distinct ring tone might be considered
> the equivalent of customizing your junior-high notebook with stickers and
> doodles.
>
> I don't remember stickers and doodles costing $10.80 back in junior-high
> (late 70's) but maybe I'm forgetting?
>
> Call your provider and demand a refund.
>
>
You might try calling again (several times if necessary) until you find
a more sympathetic CS rep.
Drew wrote:
> I asked for a refund. They said no.
> I'm stuck the the charge(s) $46.00 so far and I'm stuck with them for 2
> years - less a couple of months.
>
> I'm sure I'm in for more surprises.
>
> I live near New Orleans and believe me, I don't need any more surprises.
> When I try to use the phone I mostly get "All circuits are busy".
>
> drew
>
> "PabloRena ---> AnalProbe" <AnalProbe@mcsurvival.com> wrote in message
> news:43288490$0$32202$39cecf19@news.twtelecom.net...
>
>>"Drew" <pescorp@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>>news:AM_Ve.2186$%Q1.2179@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
>>
>>>Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
>>>daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
>>>That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
>>
>>renaming
>>
>>>the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones
>
> the
>
>>>more the surprise.
>>>
>>>Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs,
>>
>>sales
>>
>>>to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
>>>
>>>My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will
>
> be
>
>>>broke of the next couple of months.
>>>
>>>Thank you.
>>>
>>>Drew
>>>
>>
>>The Wall Street Journal had a Technology section in the Monday (9/12/05)
>>edition that discussed selecting a cell-phone provider. Somewhere in
>
> there
>
>>I also read that ring tones are becoming a big business for the
>
> provider's,
>
>>with people actually composing music for ring tones. The article said
>
> that
>
>>customizing your cell phone with a distinct ring tone might be considered
>>the equivalent of customizing your junior-high notebook with stickers and
>>doodles.
>>
>>I don't remember stickers and doodles costing $10.80 back in junior-high
>>(late 70's) but maybe I'm forgetting?
>>
>>Call your provider and demand a refund.
>>
>>
>
>
>
Joseph wrote:
>
> On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 14:26:27 -0500, "Drew" <pescorp@bellsouth.net>
> wrote:
>
> >Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
> >daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
> >That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm renaming
> >the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones the
> >more the surprise.
>
> Did you or your daughter *really* think that downloading the ring tone
> was free? If you didn't think it was free did you bother to find out
> how much it was going to cost? There's no excuse for not using common
> sense. Does she also know that if you call directory assistance 411
> you're also going to pay for that privilege each time also? Maybe you
> need to have your daughter learn how to be responsible for phone
> charges. Better yet take that phone away and give her a prepaid phone
> and she'll quickly learn the value of a buck.
Did you read one of Drew's earlier posts?
"The $8.81 was for downloading the ring tone."
"The $1.99 was for buying the ring tone."
I can understand the $1.99, but $8.81 for downloading?
> Did you read one of Drew's earlier posts?
>
> "The $8.81 was for downloading the ring tone."
> "The $1.99 was for buying the ring tone."
>
> I can understand the $1.99, but $8.81 for downloading?
Plausible, yes. Sprint charges $0.01 per KByte transferred via PCS Vision if
you don't pay for an unlimited package. For a ringtone that is 50K in size,
that'd be $5.00, for example. Check what Cingular's data costs are... check
the a la carte charges; in other words, the charges for people not paying a
flat monthly rate.
Steve Sobol wrote:
>
> Notan wrote:
>
> > Did you read one of Drew's earlier posts?
> >
> > "The $8.81 was for downloading the ring tone."
> > "The $1.99 was for buying the ring tone."
> >
> > I can understand the $1.99, but $8.81 for downloading?
>
> Plausible, yes. Sprint charges $0.01 per KByte transferred via PCS Vision if
> you don't pay for an unlimited package. For a ringtone that is 50K in size,
> that'd be $5.00, for example. Check what Cingular's data costs are... check
> the a la carte charges; in other words, the charges for people not paying a
> flat monthly rate.
>>Plausible, yes. Sprint charges $0.01 per KByte transferred via PCS Vision if
>>you don't pay for an unlimited package. For a ringtone that is 50K in size,
>>that'd be $5.00, for example. Check what Cingular's data costs are... check
>>the a la carte charges; in other words, the charges for people not paying a
>>flat monthly rate.
>
> I forgot all about the Vision caveat.
Steve Sobol wrote:
> Plausible, yes. Sprint charges $0.01 per KByte transferred via PCS Vision if
> you don't pay for an unlimited package. For a ringtone that is 50K in size,
> that'd be $5.00, for example.
At one cent per K, 50K should be 50 cents.
--
If John McCain gets the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination,
my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin.
"Notan" <notan@ddress.com> wrote in message
news:4328FC15.B8CD9D0C@ddress.com...
> Joseph wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 14:26:27 -0500, "Drew" <pescorp@bellsouth.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
> > >daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
> > >That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
renaming
> > >the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones
the
> > >more the surprise.
> >
> > Did you or your daughter *really* think that downloading the ring tone
> > was free? If you didn't think it was free did you bother to find out
> > how much it was going to cost? There's no excuse for not using common
> > sense. Does she also know that if you call directory assistance 411
> > you're also going to pay for that privilege each time also? Maybe you
> > need to have your daughter learn how to be responsible for phone
> > charges. Better yet take that phone away and give her a prepaid phone
> > and she'll quickly learn the value of a buck.
>
> Did you read one of Drew's earlier posts?
>
> "The $8.81 was for downloading the ring tone."
> "The $1.99 was for buying the ring tone."
>
> I can understand the $1.99, but $8.81 for downloading?
>
> Notan
When you sign up for Cingulars "family plan" do this:
Tell the person selling you the package to set:
Text Messaging to OFF
Internet Access to OFF
Then add a parental password.
Don't be surprised if your bills are much higher that the $59.95 plan for 2
or 3 month until you can figure out all the surprises.
I hope this helps someone.
"Joseph" <JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:d3uhi19gvfrsgut9sb3k5cmq5ueqk61gf5@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 14:26:27 -0500, "Drew" <pescorp@bellsouth.net>
> wrote:
>
> >Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son or
> >daughter can download a ring tone that cost $1.99 + $8.81 = $10.80!?
> >That's $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
renaming
> >the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones the
> >more the surprise.
>
> Did you or your daughter *really* think that downloading the ring tone
> was free? If you didn't think it was free did you bother to find out
> how much it was going to cost? There's no excuse for not using common
> sense. Does she also know that if you call directory assistance 411
> you're also going to pay for that privilege each time also? Maybe you
> need to have your daughter learn how to be responsible for phone
> charges. Better yet take that phone away and give her a prepaid phone
> and she'll quickly learn the value of a buck.
>
> - -
>
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