Cingular's lack of service to AT&T customers

Lugnut,

This thread was my way to (1) give potential Cingular customers
something to consider and (2) get my frustrations out, and (3) to see
if anyone else has had this problem.

It sounds like I am not alone and it's not necessarily limited to
Cingular.

"Sometimes, the most viable solution is to simply bend over
and grab your ankles while you sign the damn contract and
hope it doesn't hurt too much."

Funny, but I don' wanna...

Best!

---

› See More: Cingular's lack of service to AT&T customers

Somewhere around Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:25:32 GMT, while reading alt.cellular,
I think I thought I saw this post from "Jeremy" <[email protected]>:

>"Ash" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> First, it's your contract. I live in Canada, so I have no idea what
>> your contract says. That's why I told you to read it yourself.
>>
>
>Why are you trolling in an American-oriented NG? You admit that you haven't
>a clue regarding the terms of the contract, yet you post an insulting
>article.
>
>You know not of what you speak, and your baseless comments serve no
>constructive purpose here.
>
Now that's just rediculous and arrogant, and is the type of attitude that
makes so many people in the world dislike Americans.

What makes this an "American-oriented Newsgroup"? alt.cellular has nothing
to do with any particular company, or country. Why would you think that?

Your baseless comments serve no constructive purpose here.

--
Marty - public.forums (at) gmail (dot) com
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...
well, I have others." - Groucho Marx

Somewhere around 17 Mar 2006 09:29:06 -0800, while reading alt.cellular, I
think I thought I saw this post from [email protected]:

>Ash,
>
>My main beef is not my phone. There is nothing wrong with the phone.
>Part of my troubleshooting was to get a secondary phone that worked on
>the system previously, but was "abandoned" for a newer phone, with more
>bells and whistles. Both phones exhibit the same problems. That points
>to either the SIM card or something beyond. SIM issues would not
>produce the problems I am having. You are arguing a point (phone
>problems) that is not an issue. Please re-read the original message.
>
It's unfortunate that your old provider went out of business and got sold to
another company. But I don't know that Cingular should be required to
continue offering the same service forever, especially in light of the fact
that the company originally offering the service seems to have failed.

The newer phones have more than just bells and whistles. There are advances
in technology and other changes. Do your AT&T phones have the same
frequencies as the Cingular ones? Do they switch from one to the other?

I used to have AT&T, and switched to Cingular because my phone didn't work
at my home when I moved. After I switched, and called AT&T to cancel, they
told me a newer phone probably would have worked, and they wanted to give me
one. Unfortunately, before the switch, they refused to help me get a new
phone. This was 5 years ago, and things have changed a lot, including AT&T
selling the service to AT&T Wireless.

You know, if you sign up for DSL or cable, they give you a router, and
possibly a network card, but after the first year, if something goes wrong,
they expect you to buy a new one. If your computer breaks down, they don't
help you out there, either. Why do you expect Cingular to do it?

--
Marty - public.forums (at) gmail (dot) com
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...
well, I have others." - Groucho Marx

"Marty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>>
> Now that's just rediculous and arrogant, and is the type of attitude that
> makes so many people in the world dislike Americans.
>

You come barging into a discussion that you know absolutely nothing about,
you tell someone off that he ought to "read his contract," as though you has
even in inkling of just what its terms might be, and now you try to
associate me with what you describe as a worldwide "dislike" of Americans!

Another Cheesehead with a big mouth! Go back to a Canadian NG, or I'll
phone my senator and ask him to introduce legislation to annex Canada.

How am I trolling?
How is alt.cellular "American-Oriented"?
I can comment on whatever I want. We have free soeach in Canada, or
didn't you know?
I know a hell of a lot about cell phones, I've worked as a cellular
salesman for 3 years now, and I've got to tell you, arrogant people
like you are one of the few downfalls of the job.

Somewhere around Fri, 17 Mar 2006 22:40:32 GMT, while reading alt.cellular,
I think I thought I saw this post from "Jeremy" <[email protected]>:

>"Marty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>>
>> Now that's just rediculous and arrogant, and is the type of attitude that
>> makes so many people in the world dislike Americans.
>>
>
>You come barging into a discussion that you know absolutely nothing about,
>you tell someone off that he ought to "read his contract," as though you has
>even in inkling of just what its terms might be, and now you try to
>associate me with what you describe as a worldwide "dislike" of Americans!
>
>Another Cheesehead with a big mouth! Go back to a Canadian NG, or I'll
>phone my senator and ask him to introduce legislation to annex Canada.
>
Now I understand more about why you sound like a complete jerk all the time;
you don't read well, you make broad assumptions, and you spout nonsense at
the drop of a hat.

FYI, that was my first post to this discussion, I'm not from Canada, and you
just proved what a jerk you are.

No wonder your posts never make sense.
--
It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
-William G. McAdoo

"Jeremy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:AVGSf.59$vy.24@trnddc01...
> "Marty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>>
>> Now that's just rediculous and arrogant, and is the type of attitude that
>> makes so many people in the world dislike Americans.
>>
>
> You come barging into a discussion that you know absolutely nothing about,
> you tell someone off that he ought to "read his contract," as though you
> has even in inkling of just what its terms might be, and now you try to
> associate me with what you describe as a worldwide "dislike" of Americans!
>
> Another Cheesehead with a big mouth! Go back to a Canadian NG, or I'll
> phone my senator and ask him to introduce legislation to annex Canada.
>

Wow- you really are an uneducated moron, aren't you?

I base that last statement on the very uneducated view of the cellular world
you have stated quite often in the last couple of weeks in various NG's.
Your comments are always based on emotion and no basis in either law or
generally accepted business practices. You have no clue on how to deal with
a company as its consumer and you show a flaw common to many- buying
products you do not understand. Quick to blame everybody but never ever
able to show any personal responsibility. Add to that this new
narrow-minded and immature bigotry and you show yourself to be the true
class act that you are. Mommy must be so proud of you.

"Ash" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> How am I trolling?
> How is alt.cellular "American-Oriented"?
> I can comment on whatever I want. We have free soeach in Canada, or
> didn't you know?
> I know a hell of a lot about cell phones, I've worked as a cellular
> salesman for 3 years now, and I've got to tell you, arrogant people
> like you are one of the few downfalls of the job.
>

C'mon, Ash- he's arrogant and clueless. They are the real pearls to deal
with.

In message <MxASf.57$wD1.33@trnddc02> "Jeremy" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>"Ash" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> First, it's your contract. I live in Canada, so I have no idea what
>> your contract says. That's why I told you to read it yourself.
>>
>
>Why are you trolling in an American-oriented NG? You admit that you haven't
>a clue regarding the terms of the contract, yet you post an insulting
>article.

How exactly is this an American-oriented newsgroup?

--
I left the womb for this?

"DevilsPGD" <[email protected]> wrote in message >

> How exactly is this an American-oriented newsgroup?
>
> --

Its topic is a US wireless carrier--Cingular--which does not operate a
Canadian wireless system, and whose policies, terms, conditions and FCC
regulations under which it operates may be quite different from those of
foreign carriers.

Jeremy wrote:

>> How exactly is this an American-oriented newsgroup?
>>
>> --
>
> Its topic is a US wireless carrier--Cingular--which does not operate a
> Canadian wireless system, and whose policies, terms, conditions and FCC
> regulations under which it operates may be quite different from those of
> foreign carriers.

The TOPIC is about an American carrier. The NEWSGROUP to which it is posted
is definitely not US-only. alt.cellular.cingular would be a newsgroup
primarily of US interest. Or alt.cellular.verizon or .alltel. Or any other
newsgroup about a US carrier. But not alt.cellular.


--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek 888-480-4638 PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
Company website: http://JustThe.net/
Personal blog, resume, portfolio: http://SteveSobol.com/
E: [email protected] Snail: 22674 Motnocab Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307

Marty,

I signed a two-year contract with AT&T for service. AT&T was bought out
by Cingular. Back then I wanted to switch to Cingular and was given the
"I'm sorry bu even though AT&T was purchased by Cingular, you have an
AT&T service." At that point, my choices were to abandon Cingular's
AT&T (which would ahve activated the fines) for Cingular's Cingular
service.

The problem then and now are that the SIMs are different (thhough they
look the same.) I did try my SIM on a Cingular phone, and it did not
work.

All I expect for Cingular to do is honor the same contract they are
making me honor. To use your cable analogy, It would be me paying for
cable (locked in for three years), then the cable company deciding that
they are switching to sattelite technology, and byt the way sorry to
all you cable users, but we will no longer be maintaining the cable
system. If you want you can switch to sattelite technology for a
nominal fee puls an extended contract.

I am beginning to see that in the end I really am screwed. If I change
to a different provider, I either pay for cancellation fees to keep my
number or pay for both my current service (which will not be used) and
get a second service with a different phone number.

Best!

Somewhere around 20 Mar 2006 09:45:04 -0800, while reading alt.cellular, I
think I thought I saw this post from [email protected]:

>Marty,
>
>I signed a two-year contract with AT&T for service. AT&T was bought out
>by Cingular. Back then I wanted to switch to Cingular and was given the
>"I'm sorry bu even though AT&T was purchased by Cingular, you have an
>AT&T service." At that point, my choices were to abandon Cingular's
>AT&T (which would ahve activated the fines) for Cingular's Cingular
>service.
>
>The problem then and now are that the SIMs are different (thhough they
>look the same.) I did try my SIM on a Cingular phone, and it did not
>work.
>
>All I expect for Cingular to do is honor the same contract they are
>making me honor. To use your cable analogy, It would be me paying for
>cable (locked in for three years), then the cable company deciding that
>they are switching to sattelite technology, and byt the way sorry to
>all you cable users, but we will no longer be maintaining the cable
>system. If you want you can switch to sattelite technology for a
>nominal fee puls an extended contract.
>
>I am beginning to see that in the end I really am screwed. If I change
>to a different provider, I either pay for cancellation fees to keep my
>number or pay for both my current service (which will not be used) and
>get a second service with a different phone number.

I'm sorry if I misunderstood the problem. I thought you had the option to
sign up for Cingular service and get a new phone or sim that would work with
the Cingular system.

If you are actually stuck in a contract from ATT wireless, it seems like you
should be able to get out of it due to the change in conditions from when
you originally signed up.

Sorry, but I don't get your analogy. I think it would be more like you had
cable, and the cable company went out of business and got bought by another
cable company. But if it was a satelite company, then I would assume your
old contract would no longer be valid if they didn't provide the service.
You would have an option of going to a different company, or signing up with
the new company, probably with a new term to cover the cost of equipment.

I don't think Cingular has any moral obligation to continue to support AT&T
customers; maybe legal, I don't really know what the terms were. But they
do have a moral obligation to let you leave without penalty if they don't
continue the support. Let's face it, AT&T wireless went out of business for
a reason, and it doesn't seem fair to force Cingular to continue whatever
bad business practices caused that failure.

However, I must admit that I don't know the details of the problems, so feel
free to fill me in with the (so far, in this discussion) unwritten facts.

--
Marty - public.forums (at) gmail (dot) com
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...
well, I have others." - Groucho Marx

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Marty,
>
> I signed a two-year contract with AT&T for service. AT&T was bought out
> by Cingular. Back then I wanted to switch to Cingular and was given the
> "I'm sorry bu even though AT&T was purchased by Cingular, you have an
> AT&T service." At that point, my choices were to abandon Cingular's
> AT&T (which would ahve activated the fines) for Cingular's Cingular
> service.
>
> The problem then and now are that the SIMs are different (thhough they
> look the same.) I did try my SIM on a Cingular phone, and it did not
> work.
>
> All I expect for Cingular to do is honor the same contract they are
> making me honor. To use your cable analogy, It would be me paying for
> cable (locked in for three years), then the cable company deciding that
> they are switching to sattelite technology, and byt the way sorry to
> all you cable users, but we will no longer be maintaining the cable
> system. If you want you can switch to sattelite technology for a
> nominal fee puls an extended contract.
>
> I am beginning to see that in the end I really am screwed. If I change
> to a different provider, I either pay for cancellation fees to keep my
> number or pay for both my current service (which will not be used) and
> get a second service with a different phone number.
>
> Best!
>

Cingular may have changed their policy regarding "upgrades." Last I heard,
they were allowing ATTWS customers to switch to the Orange network and were
waiving the early cancellation clauses on the old contracts (they might have
required a new two-year agreement).

How much longer does your contract run? Might it not be prudent to just
stay with them until the contract term ends, then port over to another
carrier, or is the current service unusable?

Jeremy, Marty, et. al.

Unfortunately, I am switching to the Cingular service (having to
extend my contract for two years) for the following reasons:
1. If I leave Cingular and try to take my number (I have had for over
five years) with me, I will have to pay the early cancellation fee of
$175.00
2. My need for a working cell phone outweighed standing behind my
principles. so that I can get a working phone.
3. I get a "free" new cell phone.
4. I get to keep my number.

I am still unhappy with how I percieve I was treated and would gladly
have gone to another provider, if I could have had the cancellation
fees waived. However, I am not that rich.

Thanks to all for lending your ears and giving support and suggestions.

Finally, to Lugnut: I hope they use K.Y.

Ta!