Make a partial payment, lose your phone service! Cingulars no tolerance policy is obsured.

There slogan is "Cingular Fits You Best", but they most definitely not true
for most people.

My bill with Cingular was $190.00. It included two activation fees plus
service for one month. The bill was due on the 16th, on the 20th I got a
reminder notice (text message) I called and made a partial payment of
$120.00, it was explained to me that this would be alright as long as I paid
the remaining balance on the 1st on the upcoming month.

On the 31st the phone was deactivated, no phone call to warn, no text
message. My wife was broken down on the side of the road and tried to use
her phone only to find it would not work. She managed to get to a pay phone
and later that day I contacted Cingular. The rep stated that the account was
disconnected because of failure to make payment in full and that there would
be a $39 reactivation fee. I reminded them of our agreement and the best
they could offer up was "I'm sorry that rep did not have the power to make
that arrangement with you". I then ask if I could have the activation fee
wavered just once. The answer "No". I asked to speak to an account manager.
This took about 20 minutes, once on the line this person was one of the most
soulless human beings I have encountered, the conversation went something
like this:

Me- "There's been some misunderstanding about my account, I had made an
arrangement to pay off the remaining balance in full on the 1st".

Collection Manager: "We do not make those kind of arrangements sir".

Me- "Well, seeing as there was a misunderstanding, would it be possible to
wave the $39 activation fee"

Collection Manager. "I'm unable to do that"

Me- "Come-on I'm only 16 days late on this account, don't you have kind of
grace period"

Collection Manager. "No"

Me- "Can I speak with your supervisor?"

Collection Manager. "My supervisor is not in the office right now"

Me- "Well I..."

Collection Manager. "My supervisor would tell you the same thing I am
telling you now"

Me- "Well can I get their name anyway?"

Collection Manager. "He will have to call you back"

Me- "Can I.."

Collection Manager. "Do you intend to pay your bill today sir?"

-------------------

This is what to expect to get from Cingular should you have problems paying
a bill. They have a zero tolerance for late payments. While I understand
that is their right and I don't feel consumers should abuse credit or
service contracts I think its best to have a service provider with a little
understanding. If you agree, Cingular most certainly does not "fit you
best".

-Bill

---

› See More: Make a partial payment, lose your phone service! Cingulars no tolerance policy is obsured.

Sounds like their people get the same customer service training that Wells
Fargo does. To wit, 'Yes, you have a problem; no, we can't/won't/mustn't
help you." This is why I switched banks. So far, I've been lucky with
Cingular, but that's what it is-luck.


"Calvin White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> There slogan is "Cingular Fits You Best", but they most definitely not
true
> for most people.
>
> My bill with Cingular was $190.00. It included two activation fees plus
> service for one month. The bill was due on the 16th, on the 20th I got a
> reminder notice (text message) I called and made a partial payment of
> $120.00, it was explained to me that this would be alright as long as I
paid
> the remaining balance on the 1st on the upcoming month.
>
> On the 31st the phone was deactivated, no phone call to warn, no text
> message. My wife was broken down on the side of the road and tried to use
> her phone only to find it would not work. She managed to get to a pay
phone
> and later that day I contacted Cingular. The rep stated that the account
was
> disconnected because of failure to make payment in full and that there
would
> be a $39 reactivation fee. I reminded them of our agreement and the best
> they could offer up was "I'm sorry that rep did not have the power to make
> that arrangement with you". I then ask if I could have the activation fee
> wavered just once. The answer "No". I asked to speak to an account
manager.
> This took about 20 minutes, once on the line this person was one of the
most
> soulless human beings I have encountered, the conversation went something
> like this:
>
> Me- "There's been some misunderstanding about my account, I had made an
> arrangement to pay off the remaining balance in full on the 1st".
>
> Collection Manager: "We do not make those kind of arrangements sir".
>
> Me- "Well, seeing as there was a misunderstanding, would it be possible
to
> wave the $39 activation fee"
>
> Collection Manager. "I'm unable to do that"
>
> Me- "Come-on I'm only 16 days late on this account, don't you have kind of
> grace period"
>
> Collection Manager. "No"
>
> Me- "Can I speak with your supervisor?"
>
> Collection Manager. "My supervisor is not in the office right now"
>
> Me- "Well I..."
>
> Collection Manager. "My supervisor would tell you the same thing I am
> telling you now"
>
> Me- "Well can I get their name anyway?"
>
> Collection Manager. "He will have to call you back"
>
> Me- "Can I.."
>
> Collection Manager. "Do you intend to pay your bill today sir?"
>
> -------------------
>
> This is what to expect to get from Cingular should you have problems
paying
> a bill. They have a zero tolerance for late payments. While I understand
> that is their right and I don't feel consumers should abuse credit or
> service contracts I think its best to have a service provider with a
little
> understanding. If you agree, Cingular most certainly does not "fit you
> best".
>
> -Bill
>
>

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

In <[email protected]> on Sat, 31 Jul 2004 16:58:24 GMT,
"Calvin White" <[email protected]> wrote:

>[SNIP]

>This is what to expect to get from Cingular should you have problems paying
>a bill. They have a zero tolerance for late payments. While I understand
>that is their right and I don't feel consumers should abuse credit or
>service contracts I think its best to have a service provider with a little
>understanding. If you agree, Cingular most certainly does not "fit you
>best".

In my experience, much depends on who you happen to get. Most of the Cingular
reps I've dealt with have been fair and very helpful. When I get the
occasional bad rep, I end the call politely, and then call back. I've always
been able to get satisfaction that way.

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