Screwed by Cingular

"bamp" <bampatcenturyteldotnet> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have sung the praises of Cingular CS in this forum, not anymore, here's
a
> copy of a letter just sent to the BBB.
>
>
>
>
>
> Better Business Bureau of Arkansas, Inc
>
> 1415 S. University Ave
>
> Little Rock, AR 72204
>
>
>
> Dear Sir or Madam,
>
>
>
> I have a problem I hope you can help me with Cingular Wireless. On 21 June
> 2004, I contacted customer service and asked about the free Samsung X427
> phone that they had online.
>
>
>
> The sales person told me I could get the same deal, so I ordered two
phones.
> She said I would have to pay for the phones and there would be a rebate
for
> $150.00 with them. The phones were shipped on 22 June 2004 and the rebate
> was in the box. But it had expired on 20 June 2004.
>
>
>
> I asked if I could get the free car charger and earbud that was advertised
> on line also. She said yes and they shipped them and gave me a credit of
> $69.98 on my bill.
>
>
>
> I called customer service and was referred to the Cingular rebate center,
> the person I talked to there said they did not have a rebate at that time,
> but there would be one out shortly.
>
>
>
> Some time later I called the rebate center again and they still did not
have
> a rebate for these phones, the lady said to go by a Cingular store and
talk
> to them.
>
>
>
> I called customer service again and was told since there were no rebates
for
> the phone she would give a credit on my bill for the two phones.
>
>
>
> I received notice online that my Cingular bill was ready, checked it and
> there was not a credit for the phones. I called customer service and
talked
> to Christina and after about 20 minutes of explaining the situation, she
put
> me on hold and talked to someone and came back and told me Cingular would
> not give me credit for the phone, it was above their limit.
>
>
>
> I called back today and talked to Joe, he told me the same thing. I asked
to
> speak to his supervisor and he put me on hold for about 8 minutes and came
> back and said his supervisor would not talk to me. He also said because
the
> rebate had expired there was nothing I could do. I told him the same deal
> was on the website now, the Samsung X427 phone is free. He first told me
> that deal is for new customers, and whe I asked him about customer
loyality
> that I had been a customer since 2/97 and never even late with a payment,
> he said if I had waited till now the phone would be free.
>
>
>
> I asked Joe then if there was someone else I could call and talk with
about
> this and he said there was not.
>
>
>
> My question is it my fault the rebate had expired? Can I not take the word
> of the customer service people? How could I know if I had waited till now
> (July 29) the phones would be free.
>
>
>
> I appreciate any help you can give me with this situation.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Does anyone here have a name or a number that I could call about this.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> bamp
>
>
>
>
>


Cingular is owned by SBC Communications. Call your public library and get
them to look up the name of the chairman of the board and his mailing
address and fax number (you might be able to get this info via a web search,
too).

Tell him that you relied upon the verbal representations of the rep when you
bought your phones. Say that, had you been given accurate information, you
would not have proceeded with the transaction. Note that you have been a
customer for several years, and that this is clearly NOT a situation where
you are an opportunist, looking to get some concession by way of subterfuge.

Then state exactly what you want in the way of compensation. Be specific.
Dollars and cents. They can't give you what you want if you fail to *****
it out.

I'm willing to bet that they'll forward your letter to a senior manager and
that they will compensate you. SBC, like all big companies, has brainless
Neanderthals at the first-line management level, and your problem is that
they have neither the authority to resolve the problem they created, not the
smarts to refer it higher up to someone that does.

Good luck.

---

› See More: Screwed by Cingular

Here is what you can do, pay the bill for in its full amount on a credit
card. This prevents them from giving you a bad remark in the credit
report. I then call the credit card agency and dispute the rebate amout
(only the rebate amount). You should get instant credit for the amount
in dispute. The credit agency will then do there investigation. Many
times just the threat of disputing charges will get some action out of a
company as it costs them $25 regardless of the outcome. Remember you can
dispute charges for charges up to two years ago(maybe three can’t
remember for sure). So if you have already paid for it *AND* you used a
credit card, you can still dispute. Just give the same documentation to
the credit agency that you gave here and I think you will be fine.

bamp wrote:
> I have sung the praises of Cingular CS in this forum, not anymore, here's a
> copy of a letter just sent to the BBB.
>
>
>
>
>
> Better Business Bureau of Arkansas, Inc
>
> 1415 S. University Ave
>
> Little Rock, AR 72204
>
>
>
> Dear Sir or Madam,
>
>
>
> I have a problem I hope you can help me with Cingular Wireless. On 21 June
> 2004, I contacted customer service and asked about the free Samsung X427
> phone that they had online.
>
>
>
> The sales person told me I could get the same deal, so I ordered two phones.
> She said I would have to pay for the phones and there would be a rebate for
> $150.00 with them. The phones were shipped on 22 June 2004 and the rebate
> was in the box. But it had expired on 20 June 2004.
>
>
>
> I asked if I could get the free car charger and earbud that was advertised
> on line also. She said yes and they shipped them and gave me a credit of
> $69.98 on my bill.
>
>
>
> I called customer service and was referred to the Cingular rebate center,
> the person I talked to there said they did not have a rebate at that time,
> but there would be one out shortly.
>
>
>
> Some time later I called the rebate center again and they still did not have
> a rebate for these phones, the lady said to go by a Cingular store and talk
> to them.
>
>
>
> I called customer service again and was told since there were no rebates for
> the phone she would give a credit on my bill for the two phones.
>
>
>
> I received notice online that my Cingular bill was ready, checked it and
> there was not a credit for the phones. I called customer service and talked
> to Christina and after about 20 minutes of explaining the situation, she put
> me on hold and talked to someone and came back and told me Cingular would
> not give me credit for the phone, it was above their limit.
>
>
>
> I called back today and talked to Joe, he told me the same thing. I asked to
> speak to his supervisor and he put me on hold for about 8 minutes and came
> back and said his supervisor would not talk to me. He also said because the
> rebate had expired there was nothing I could do. I told him the same deal
> was on the website now, the Samsung X427 phone is free. He first told me
> that deal is for new customers, and whe I asked him about customer loyality
> that I had been a customer since 2/97 and never even late with a payment,
> he said if I had waited till now the phone would be free.
>
>
>
> I asked Joe then if there was someone else I could call and talk with about
> this and he said there was not.
>
>
>
> My question is it my fault the rebate had expired? Can I not take the word
> of the customer service people? How could I know if I had waited till now
> (July 29) the phones would be free.
>
>
>
> I appreciate any help you can give me with this situation.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Does anyone here have a name or a number that I could call about this.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> bamp
>
>
>
>
>
>

"R.M" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Here is what you can do, pay the bill for in its full amount on a credit
> card. This prevents them from giving you a bad remark in the credit
> report. I then call the credit card agency and dispute the rebate amout
> (only the rebate amount). You should get instant credit for the amount
> in dispute. The credit agency will then do there investigation. Many
> times just the threat of disputing charges will get some action out of a
> company as it costs them $25 regardless of the outcome. Remember you can
> dispute charges for charges up to two years ago(maybe three can’t
> remember for sure). So if you have already paid for it *AND* you used a
> credit card, you can still dispute. Just give the same documentation to
> the credit agency that you gave here and I think you will be fine.

Thanks, I paid with a card. Will try that.

Thanks again,
bamp
>
> bamp wrote:
> > I have sung the praises of Cingular CS in this forum, not anymore,
here's a
> > copy of a letter just sent to the BBB.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Better Business Bureau of Arkansas, Inc
> >
> > 1415 S. University Ave
> >
> > Little Rock, AR 72204
> >
> >
> >
> > Dear Sir or Madam,
> >
> >
> >
> > I have a problem I hope you can help me with Cingular Wireless. On 21
June
> > 2004, I contacted customer service and asked about the free Samsung X427
> > phone that they had online.
> >
> >
> >
> > The sales person told me I could get the same deal, so I ordered two
phones.
> > She said I would have to pay for the phones and there would be a rebate
for
> > $150.00 with them. The phones were shipped on 22 June 2004 and the
rebate
> > was in the box. But it had expired on 20 June 2004.
> >
> >
> >
> > I asked if I could get the free car charger and earbud that was
advertised
> > on line also. She said yes and they shipped them and gave me a credit of
> > $69.98 on my bill.
> >
> >
> >
> > I called customer service and was referred to the Cingular rebate
center,
> > the person I talked to there said they did not have a rebate at that
time,
> > but there would be one out shortly.
> >
> >
> >
> > Some time later I called the rebate center again and they still did not
have
> > a rebate for these phones, the lady said to go by a Cingular store and
talk
> > to them.
> >
> >
> >
> > I called customer service again and was told since there were no rebates
for
> > the phone she would give a credit on my bill for the two phones.
> >
> >
> >
> > I received notice online that my Cingular bill was ready, checked it and
> > there was not a credit for the phones. I called customer service and
talked
> > to Christina and after about 20 minutes of explaining the situation, she
put
> > me on hold and talked to someone and came back and told me Cingular
would
> > not give me credit for the phone, it was above their limit.
> >
> >
> >
> > I called back today and talked to Joe, he told me the same thing. I
asked to
> > speak to his supervisor and he put me on hold for about 8 minutes and
came
> > back and said his supervisor would not talk to me. He also said because
the
> > rebate had expired there was nothing I could do. I told him the same
deal
> > was on the website now, the Samsung X427 phone is free. He first told me
> > that deal is for new customers, and whe I asked him about customer
loyality
> > that I had been a customer since 2/97 and never even late with a
payment,
> > he said if I had waited till now the phone would be free.
> >
> >
> >
> > I asked Joe then if there was someone else I could call and talk with
about
> > this and he said there was not.
> >
> >
> >
> > My question is it my fault the rebate had expired? Can I not take the
word
> > of the customer service people? How could I know if I had waited till
now
> > (July 29) the phones would be free.
> >
> >
> >
> > I appreciate any help you can give me with this situation.
> >
> >
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> >
> >
> > Does anyone here have a name or a number that I could call about this.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > bamp
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 15:40:52 -0500, "bamp" <bampatcenturyteldotnet>
wrote:

>I have sung the praises of Cingular CS in this forum, not anymore, here's a
>copy of a letter just sent to the BBB.

[...]

>The sales person told me I could get the same deal, so I ordered two phones.
>She said I would have to pay for the phones and there would be a rebate for
>$150.00 with them. The phones were shipped on 22 June 2004 and the rebate
>was in the box. But it had expired on 20 June 2004.

[...]

>My question is it my fault the rebate had expired? Can I not take the word
>of the customer service people? How could I know if I had waited till now
>(July 29) the phones would be free.

This is why you never ever EVER buy a product on the basis of a
mail-in rebate.

If you're still within your trial period, take the whole kit and
kaboodle back to Cingular and get your money back.

"Røbert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
> >
> > In <[email protected]> on Fri, 30 Jul
2004
> > 09:05:24 GMT, Røbert <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > >In article <[email protected]>,
> > > John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > >> The BBB is often quite effective.
> > >> Your State Attorney General probably won't help.
> > >> It's probably not worth Small Claims.
> > >
> > >The BBB is paid by the company, it's their job to whitewash things.
> >
> > Nonsense.
> >
> > >State Attorney General is often the BEST place too go, and the place a
> > >cellular carrier least wants you to go.
> >
> > Nonsense.
> >
> > >Small Claims depends on your political jurisdiction, in many they have
> > >made it very simple for an individual to handle their own case at small
> > >or no cost. Some haven't.
> >
> > As I wrote, it's probably not worth it.
>
> With all due respect to a former seller of cellular phones I disagree
> with what a carrier's apologist would have one believe.

And yet you lie- your statement about the BBB being paid by the company is
misleading and untrue. They are paid by their members, and if what you
claim is true, then no comapny would ever have a negative rating with the
BBB.

Røbert <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

>
> With all due respect to a former seller of cellular phones I disagree
> with what a carrier's apologist would have one believe.

Robert, you are so funny.

> I told him the same deal was on the website now, the Samsung X427 phone is
free. He first told me
>that deal is for new customers

I got two of these phones online, for $14.50 apiece (S&H) with the car
charger and earbud; had to re-up for two years.

"This is why you never ever EVER buy a product on the basis of a
mail-in rebate."

Hogwash. I have bought dozens of products with MIRs and have yet to be
burned. You just have to be smart enough ( no reflection on the OP) to know
when they expire.

"Scott en Aztlan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 15:40:52 -0500, "bamp" <bampatcenturyteldotnet>
> wrote:
>
> >I have sung the praises of Cingular CS in this forum, not anymore, here's
a
> >copy of a letter just sent to the BBB.
>
> [...]
>
> >The sales person told me I could get the same deal, so I ordered two
phones.
> >She said I would have to pay for the phones and there would be a rebate
for
> >$150.00 with them. The phones were shipped on 22 June 2004 and the rebate
> >was in the box. But it had expired on 20 June 2004.
>
> [...]
>
> >My question is it my fault the rebate had expired? Can I not take the
word
> >of the customer service people? How could I know if I had waited till now
> >(July 29) the phones would be free.
>
> This is why you never ever EVER buy a product on the basis of a
> mail-in rebate.
>
> If you're still within your trial period, take the whole kit and
> kaboodle back to Cingular and get your money back.
>

"Jeff Hansman" <[nospam][email protected]> wrote in
misc.consumers:
>"This is why you never ever EVER buy a product on the basis of a
>mail-in rebate."
>
>Hogwash. I have bought dozens of products with MIRs and have yet to be
>burned. You just have to be smart enough ( no reflection on the OP) to know
>when they expire.

Ah -- always an indication of bogosity, posting upside down.

Scott did not say never to buy a product with a rebate, he said
never to buy one ON THE BASIS OF a rebate.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
"Sticklers unite! You have nothing to lose but your sense of
proportion (and arguably you didn't have a lot of that to
begin with)." -- Lynne Truss, /Eats, Shoots & Leaves/

In article <[email protected]>,
Scott en Aztlan <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 15:40:52 -0500, "bamp" <bampatcenturyteldotnet>
> wrote:
>
> >I have sung the praises of Cingular CS in this forum, not anymore, here's a
> >copy of a letter just sent to the BBB.
>
> [...]
>
> >The sales person told me I could get the same deal, so I ordered two phones.
> >She said I would have to pay for the phones and there would be a rebate for
> >$150.00 with them. The phones were shipped on 22 June 2004 and the rebate
> >was in the box. But it had expired on 20 June 2004.
>
> [...]
>
> >My question is it my fault the rebate had expired? Can I not take the word
> >of the customer service people? How could I know if I had waited till now
> >(July 29) the phones would be free.
>
> This is why you never ever EVER buy a product on the basis of a
> mail-in rebate.
>
> If you're still within your trial period, take the whole kit and
> kaboodle back to Cingular and get your money back.

I am responding from misc.consumers so I didn't see the OP, but when I
had a problem with a sales pitch from Cingular (not a rebate) that went
bad, I wrote a letter to:

Stanley T. Sigman, President
Cingular Wireless
Glenridge Highlands Two
5565 Glenridge Connector
Atlanta, GA 30342

and received complete satisfaction plus a $100 credit to my account. A
complaint to the top man CAN get (good) results. They may have some
idiots working the phone banks, but they will make good if you point out
the problem (at least they did for me). I admit, we shouldn't have to
go through this, but when it happens, don't go away quietly - complain.

--
-Ernie-

"There are only two kinds of computer users -- those who have
suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure, and those who will."

Have you done your backup today?

A minor distinction, at best. It's still not rocket science to ask when a
rebate expires before plunking down your hard earned. Live and learn....

"Stan Brown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Jeff Hansman" <[nospam][email protected]> wrote in
> misc.consumers:
> >"This is why you never ever EVER buy a product on the basis of a
> >mail-in rebate."
> >
> >Hogwash. I have bought dozens of products with MIRs and have yet to be
> >burned. You just have to be smart enough ( no reflection on the OP) to
know
> >when they expire.
>
> Ah -- always an indication of bogosity, posting upside down.
>
> Scott did not say never to buy a product with a rebate, he said
> never to buy one ON THE BASIS OF a rebate.
>
> --
> Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
> http://OakRoadSystems.com
> "Sticklers unite! You have nothing to lose but your sense of
> proportion (and arguably you didn't have a lot of that to
> begin with)." -- Lynne Truss, /Eats, Shoots & Leaves/

I don't think you can fault someone for buying an item
advertised with a rebate on the company's website only to find
out that the rebate had expired. And presumably the salesperson
confirmed that there was a rebate on the phone when he bought
it.

Now, he should have noticed the expiration date as soon as he
got the rebate form and complained then. And I'm making an
assumption that he called the same day he saw the rebate on the
website.

Bill

Jeff Hansman wrote:
>
> A minor distinction, at best. It's still not rocket science to ask when a
> rebate expires before plunking down your hard earned. Live and learn....
>
> "Stan Brown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > "Jeff Hansman" <[nospam][email protected]> wrote in
> > misc.consumers:
> > >"This is why you never ever EVER buy a product on the basis of a
> > >mail-in rebate."
> > >
> > >Hogwash. I have bought dozens of products with MIRs and have yet to be
> > >burned. You just have to be smart enough ( no reflection on the OP) to
> know
> > >when they expire.
> >
> > Ah -- always an indication of bogosity, posting upside down.
> >
> > Scott did not say never to buy a product with a rebate, he said
> > never to buy one ON THE BASIS OF a rebate.
> >
> > --
> > Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
> > http://OakRoadSystems.com
> > "Sticklers unite! You have nothing to lose but your sense of
> > proportion (and arguably you didn't have a lot of that to
> > begin with)." -- Lynne Truss, /Eats, Shoots & Leaves/

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

Nonetheless, the entire issue could have been easily resolved by canceling and
returning the equipment within the 14-day grace period.

In <[email protected]> on Mon, 02 Aug 2004 04:58:35 GMT, Bill
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I don't think you can fault someone for buying an item
>advertised with a rebate on the company's website only to find
>out that the rebate had expired. And presumably the salesperson
>confirmed that there was a rebate on the phone when he bought
>it.
>
>Now, he should have noticed the expiration date as soon as he
>got the rebate form and complained then. And I'm making an
>assumption that he called the same day he saw the rebate on the
>website.

>Jeff Hansman wrote:
>>
>> A minor distinction, at best. It's still not rocket science to ask when a
>> rebate expires before plunking down your hard earned. Live and learn....

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

"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I don't think you can fault someone for buying an item
> advertised with a rebate on the company's website only to find
> out that the rebate had expired. And presumably the salesperson
> confirmed that there was a rebate on the phone when he bought
> it.
>
> Now, he should have noticed the expiration date as soon as he
> got the rebate form and complained then. And I'm making an
> assumption that he called the same day he saw the rebate on the
> website.
>
> Bill

I did, I saw it rat then and called.

bamp
>
> Jeff Hansman wrote:
> >
> > A minor distinction, at best. It's still not rocket science to ask when
a
> > rebate expires before plunking down your hard earned. Live and learn....

I did she said there was a rebate, what would you have done??? Guess I ain't
as smart as you rocket scientists!!!

bamp

> >
> > "Stan Brown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > "Jeff Hansman" <[nospam][email protected]> wrote in
> > > misc.consumers:
> > > >"This is why you never ever EVER buy a product on the basis of a
> > > >mail-in rebate."
> > > >
> > > >Hogwash. I have bought dozens of products with MIRs and have yet to
be
> > > >burned. You just have to be smart enough ( no reflection on the OP)
to
> > know
> > > >when they expire.
> > >
> > > Ah -- always an indication of bogosity, posting upside down.
> > >
> > > Scott did not say never to buy a product with a rebate, he said
> > > never to buy one ON THE BASIS OF a rebate.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
> > > http://OakRoadSystems.com
> > > "Sticklers unite! You have nothing to lose but your sense of
> > > proportion (and arguably you didn't have a lot of that to
> > > begin with)." -- Lynne Truss, /Eats, Shoots & Leaves/

"Jeff Hansman" <[nospam][email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> > I told him the same deal was on the website now, the Samsung X427 phone
is
> free. He first told me
> >that deal is for new customers
>
> I got two of these phones online, for $14.50 apiece (S&H) with the car
> charger and earbud; had to re-up for two years.
>
That's exactly what they told me I'd get.

bamp