Results 1 to 15 of 86
- 09-14-2005, 01:24 PM #1DrewGuest
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
› See More: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
- 09-14-2005, 03:11 PM #2Tropical HavenGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
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 $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm renaming
>the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones the
>more the surprise.
>
>Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs, sales
>to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
>
>My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will be
>broke of the next couple of months.
>
>Thank you.
>
>Drew
>
>
What were the titles of the line charges in the phone bill?
TH
- 09-14-2005, 04:10 PM #3rwolf12Guest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
It is really hard to equate the song with the download but here's a couple:
Rocket Man, Call Me, Barbie Girl, Don't speak, I Love Lucy...
The bill is not very clear. The Data transfer actually denoted it was data
"out" of her phone.
The rep said that can mean either in or out depending on what it means.
When I look at the bill I think they really don't know either.
I think we need to get the public service commissioner in on this.
I don't think they want to be clear. I feel cheated!!!!!!
"Tropical Haven" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:wm0We.14801$Cc5.3516@lakeread06...
> 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 $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
renaming
> >the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones the
> >more the surprise.
> >
> >Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs,
sales
> >to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
> >
> >My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will
be
> >broke of the next couple of months.
> >
> >Thank you.
> >
> >Drew
> >
> >
>
> What were the titles of the line charges in the phone bill?
>
> TH
- 09-14-2005, 05:21 PM #4Michael MacMahonGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
I have a Family Plan, with my wife and daughter having two phones. Tha plan
is MINE. MY name is on the contract. I am responsible for charges run up by
any of us. If you cannot control your kids use of the phone, take it away
from them. Don't blame Cingular. Pay your bill.
--
MICHAEL J. MacMAHON
Captain (ret.) KCPD
Remember, Golf is not a matter of Life or Death;
it is MUCH more important than that.
NOTE: All outgoing mail is scanned by McAfee Virus Scan for your safety.
"Drew" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:6L_Ve.2174$%[email protected]...
> 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
>
>
- 09-14-2005, 05:27 PM #5Peter HesslerGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 14:24:53 -0500
"Drew" <[email protected]> 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!?
I assume the $1.99 is the price of the ringtone, but where is the $8.81
coming from?
- 09-14-2005, 05:54 PM #6drewGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
Had I known I would have.
I did not know she could download ring tones.
I'm sure most people have no idea that this feature is automatically
activated.
I resent the comment.
"Michael MacMahon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a Family Plan, with my wife and daughter having two phones. Tha
plan
> is MINE. MY name is on the contract. I am responsible for charges run up
by
> any of us. If you cannot control your kids use of the phone, take it away
> from them. Don't blame Cingular. Pay your bill.
>
> --
> MICHAEL J. MacMAHON
> Captain (ret.) KCPD
>
> Remember, Golf is not a matter of Life or Death;
> it is MUCH more important than that.
>
> NOTE: All outgoing mail is scanned by McAfee Virus Scan for your safety.
> "Drew" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:6L_Ve.2174$%[email protected]...
> > 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 $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
> renaming
> > the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones
the
> > more the surprise.
> >
> > Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs,
> sales
> > to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
> >
> > My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will
be
> > broke of the next couple of months.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > Drew
> >
> >
>
>
- 09-14-2005, 05:55 PM #7drewGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
That is the cost of down loading the ring tone.
"Peter Hessler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:Cl2We.13674$p%[email protected]...
> On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 14:24:53 -0500
> "Drew" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> : Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son
> : or daughter can download a ring toneit that cost $1.99 + $8.81 =
> : $10.80!?
>
> I assume the $1.99 is the price of the ringtone, but where is the $8.81
> coming from?
- 09-14-2005, 06:02 PM #8drewGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
I WAS NOT ADIVISED THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT SHE COULD DO THAT WE COULD
BE CHARGED FOR. I BET THAT WAS BY DESIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THAT FEATURE SHOULD BE TURNED OFF BY DESIGN UNLESS THE CUSTOMER IS MADE
AWARE OF ITS EXISTANCE. A HIDDEN FEATURE AND A HIDDEN CHARGE!!!!!!!!!
I SHOULD HAVE TO TURN IT ON BEFORE IT CAN BE USED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF THERE ARE ANY CINGULAR FOLKS OUT THERE, LET"S START
ARBITRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Michael MacMahon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a Family Plan, with my wife and daughter having two phones. Tha
plan
> is MINE. MY name is on the contract. I am responsible for charges run up
by
> any of us. If you cannot control your kids use of the phone, take it away
> from them. Don't blame Cingular. Pay your bill.
>
> --
> MICHAEL J. MacMAHON
> Captain (ret.) KCPD
>
> Remember, Golf is not a matter of Life or Death;
> it is MUCH more important than that.
>
> NOTE: All outgoing mail is scanned by McAfee Virus Scan for your safety.
> "Drew" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:6L_Ve.2174$%[email protected]...
> > 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 $10.80 for a single ring tone. I call that hidden cost. I'm
> renaming
> > the "Family Plan" to the "Family SURPRISE Plan". The more ring tones
the
> > more the surprise.
> >
> > Does any one know Louisiana Law concerning undisclosed (hidden) costs,
> sales
> > to minors, or the time period for resending sales made of the phone.
> >
> > My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will
be
> > broke of the next couple of months.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > Drew
> >
> >
>
>
- 09-14-2005, 06:03 PM #9dmthomasGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
Buy a data cable for her specific phone. Probably no more than a few bucks
on Ebay. Download free ringtones from websites and install them directly
through the data cable... not through Cingular's network. Takes a bit more
know how, but it's free.
Also make sure your daughter pays for every single ringtone she downloads.
She'll learn quick...
"Drew" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:6L_Ve.2174$%[email protected]...
> My daughter has to pay for the ring tones out of her allowance and will be
> broke of the next couple of months.
- 09-14-2005, 06:05 PM #10[ a m z ]Guest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
"drew" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Peter Hessler" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > "Drew" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > : Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son
> > : or daughter can download a ring toneit that cost $1.99 + $8.81 =
> > : $10.80!?
> >
> > I assume the $1.99 is the price of the ringtone, but where is the $8.81
> > coming from?
>
> That is the cost of down loading the ring tone.
That doesn't seem right. The cost for by-the-minute data is $.01/kb. $8.81
would mean that it was an 881k ringtone -- which wouldn't be the case.
Ringtones are 5k, 10k... sometimes bigger, but not THAT big.
And two points of netiquette, drew... First, please don't top-post. Makes
it hard to follow threads. Second, regarding another of your posts in this
thread, please don't use all caps. It means you're shouting and people will
ignore you.
People on this NG want to help. Just be polite and we'll do what we can.
- 09-14-2005, 06:13 PM #11CliffGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
One of the important things to remember about cell phones in the 21st
century is that they can have ring tones, music tones, graphics, games and
applications all downloaded to them from different sites.
I think what Michael was trying to get across is that being an aware
consumer is important with anything these days, and if you are going to give
your daughter a cell phone that could download tones/graphics, etc. then it
would have been an appropriate action of your part to read the service
agreement that came with your new account (the Welcome Package) where you
would have seen mention of downloads, extra charges and so forth.
Further to that point - your daughter didn't "accidentally" download a
ringtone to the phone. The way the entire process works makes any
"accidental" downloads impossible. She would have had to known that there
was a cost involved.
And if the additional charges were over $ 8.00 then she would have had to
transfer over 800 Kbs of data to get that cost. That is a little more than
one song I am afraid. Some internet surfing probably.
So call 611 and have the internet blocked if you have not already, take the
money from your daughter for the tones, it will be a good lesson in life,
and for god sakes don't ever give her a credit card.
"Drew" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:6L_Ve.2174$%[email protected]...
> 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
>
>
- 09-14-2005, 07:00 PM #12drewGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
I talked to my daugher and she said she was quoted $1.95 plus tax for the
ring tone.
She was NOT told that there would be an additional charge of $10.80 for the
download.
THAT IS A HIDDEN COST.
THAT IS WHAT I CALL UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES.
Anyone interested in a class action?
"Cliff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> One of the important things to remember about cell phones in the 21st
> century is that they can have ring tones, music tones, graphics, games and
> applications all downloaded to them from different sites.
>
> I think what Michael was trying to get across is that being an aware
> consumer is important with anything these days, and if you are going to
give
> your daughter a cell phone that could download tones/graphics, etc. then
it
> would have been an appropriate action of your part to read the service
> agreement that came with your new account (the Welcome Package) where you
> would have seen mention of downloads, extra charges and so forth.
>
> Further to that point - your daughter didn't "accidentally" download a
> ringtone to the phone. The way the entire process works makes any
> "accidental" downloads impossible. She would have had to known that there
> was a cost involved.
>
> And if the additional charges were over $ 8.00 then she would have had to
> transfer over 800 Kbs of data to get that cost. That is a little more
than
> one song I am afraid. Some internet surfing probably.
>
> So call 611 and have the internet blocked if you have not already, take
the
> money from your daughter for the tones, it will be a good lesson in life,
> and for god sakes don't ever give her a credit card.
>
>
>
>
> "Drew" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:6L_Ve.2174$%[email protected]...
> > 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
> >
> >
>
>
- 09-14-2005, 08:32 PM #13drewGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
Poor analogy.
I'm not naive.
I know there are those out there that will rationalize it.
(Probably sell cingular or in some what need to be on their good side.)
I know that CNN gets too much advertizing dollar to pick up the story.
Fox news probably also gets too much advertising dollar to risk a story.
That's where the Net come in handy - to get the truth out.
Bottom line.
You should not tell someone, "Oh by the way we added 10.80 to the $1.99.
That's like not being able to check the shipping charge before you order.
Only 1.99 + 10.80 shipping. What would you say? Keep it!
I was not given the chance.
I know what fits in my car. I know a 4x8 sheet can fit in my van with the
hatch closed and I can let other sizes stick out the back with a red flag.
To sell a ring tone to a child for $1.99 then add 10.80 is not what I call
fair.
Let's face it. It's you could only charge a child for that.
Most parents would say no it they knew about it.
Try another analogy.
"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <Lm3We.3208$GK2.2906@lakeread07>, "drew" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> > I talked to my daugher and she said she was quoted $1.95 plus tax for
the
> > ring tone.
> > She was NOT told that there would be an additional charge of $10.80 for
the
> > download.
> > THAT IS A HIDDEN COST.
> > THAT IS WHAT I CALL UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES.
> >
> > Anyone interested in a class action?
>
> The people who sold the ring tone, did so for $1.95. And that's what
> they received.
>
> They are not responsible for how she gets the ring tone. That's up to
> her.
>
> Think of it like buying lumber at Home Depot: they sell you the lumber
> for $100. Now you have a bunch of 12 foot boards you need to get home.
> You have only a small car. What do you do?
>
> Why, you rent one of their trucks for $20 or whatever, and take the
> boards home in that. Or you pay someone to do it.
>
> But now, you say, your lumber cost you $120! THAT IS A HIDDEN COST.
> THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES.
>
> Bollox. Home Depot did sell you the lumber for $100, but it's not their
> problem how you get the lumber to where you need it.
>
> And it's not the ring tone vendor's problem how you get the ring tone
> into your phone. There are many ways, and if you do it using the
> phone's internet connection, everyone has a different plan with
> different costs. Do you expect the ring tone vendor to have any clue
> about any of it?
>
- 09-14-2005, 08:45 PM #14drewGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
OK amz.
Understood.
no more caps.
I do think there are probably a lot of people out there that should specify:
turn text messaging and internet access off
when they sign on for the "Family Plan".
Tell the Cingular rep you would like to use a password on your account.
That way someone can not turn these options on without you knowing about it.
I'm sure you will never be told this by cingular - just consider how much
they can make by not telling you.
I'm going to contact the public service commissioner tomorrow to see if we
can have some of those charges reversed.
and maybe some punitive damages if there was any fraud involved.
"[ a m z ]" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "drew" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > "Peter Hessler" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > "Drew" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > : Did you know that when you sign up for the family plan that your son
> > > : or daughter can download a ring toneit that cost $1.99 + $8.81 =
> > > : $10.80!?
> > >
> > > I assume the $1.99 is the price of the ringtone, but where is the
$8.81
> > > coming from?
> >
> > That is the cost of down loading the ring tone.
>
> That doesn't seem right. The cost for by-the-minute data is $.01/kb.
$8.81
> would mean that it was an 881k ringtone -- which wouldn't be the case.
> Ringtones are 5k, 10k... sometimes bigger, but not THAT big.
>
> And two points of netiquette, drew... First, please don't top-post.
Makes
> it hard to follow threads. Second, regarding another of your posts in
this
> thread, please don't use all caps. It means you're shouting and people
will
> ignore you.
>
> People on this NG want to help. Just be polite and we'll do what we can.
>
>
>
- 09-14-2005, 08:47 PM #15drewGuest
Re: the "Family SURPRISE plan"
Never signed a contract. I guess they forgot that too.
"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <Dw2We.3204$GK2.2126@lakeread07>, "drew" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> > I WAS NOT ADIVISED THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT SHE COULD DO THAT WE
COULD
> > BE CHARGED FOR. I BET THAT WAS BY DESIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> >
> > THAT FEATURE SHOULD BE TURNED OFF BY DESIGN UNLESS THE CUSTOMER IS MADE
> > AWARE OF ITS EXISTANCE. A HIDDEN FEATURE AND A HIDDEN CHARGE!!!!!!!!!
>
> You mean, like in the contract you signed but NEVER READ?
>
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