Cannot upgrade - I'm an unprofitable customer

Marc wrote:
> Thanks for taking the time for a detailed reply.
>
> I looked over my last bills and do not have any charge or notation for
> roaming usage. As far as I can tell right now, there is no way to tell I'm
> not using cingular towers.
>
> I also went online to look at the minute detail for the suspected roaming
> user and there is no indication of roaming type calls.
>
> Since I'm on a nation wide plan, I guess they save clutter by not showing
> any info on non cingular connections.
>
> I have no problem with a business changing their services to stay
> profitable. However, after being eligible to upgrade for over a year and
> then having that revoked with no prior notification does not seem fair. I
> guess that was in some of the fine print that I did not read over.
>


I've always watched my bill like a hawk watching a rat, and the
occasional roaming call was always denoted. I never faced this same
issue, but last year I noticed the percentage of roaming calls went up
sharply. It was then I noticed history had been re-written - what once
had always been "in network" calls had magically become "roaming" calls.
After two billing cycles, my curiosity got the better of me, and my
inquiries led to some sort of programming error buried in the bowels of
Cingular's billing system, something related to the tower's ID. Turned
out that was the tower I always used in that area was near a lady
friend's place. Someone waved a wand and history was restored to
expected levels.


--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

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Appreciate all the input and ideas.

Son in San Marcos has girl friend in Houston = over half of time for 5
family phones in family talk plan.

I really like our plan so I'm not thinking of switching. $59.99 for 1st
phone and 4 more @ $9.95. with 850 minutes nationwide no roaming, which
rollover. We never go over and so my bill every month with all taxes and
surcharges runs about $125.00 for the five phones. We burn rollover every
month. We always try to make our calls to other cingular phones for the
free m2m.

I have an acquaintance at the local Cingular franchise store that I've been
trying to get in touch with. He's good about digging into problems and
finding a way around them. They do such a booming business, he hasn't had
time to call me back.

I'll post back if I make any progress.

"Todd Allcock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> At 21 Nov 2006 16:44:35 +0000 Marc wrote:
>> Thanks for taking the time for a detailed reply.
>>
>> I looked over my last bills and do not have any charge or notation
> for
>> roaming usage. As far as I can tell right now, there is no way to
> tell I'm
>> not using cingular towers.
>
> When I was a Cingular customer a few years ago, I never saw any
> breakout of roaming minutes either, unless of course, I was paying for
> them. In those days I roamed at least every other month or so, on AT&T
> in Omaha (which my phone would display as "extended area"- these were
> the TDMA days...)
>
>
>> I have no problem with a business changing their services to stay
>> profitable. However, after being eligible to upgrade for over a year
> and
>> then having that revoked with no prior notification does not seem fair.
>
>
>
> I'd call CS back an ask for a supervisor or some way to escalate this.
> Cingular might be making a mistake, or there might be a problem with a
> tower near campus causing customers there to roam (unlikely, but
> possible.) For laughs, go to the Cingular website like you are a new
> customer and see if you can buy service in the college's zip code- if
> not, that would indicate that the area is indeed a roaming area.
>
>> I
>> guess that was in some of the fine print that I did not read over.
>
> Does the phone off at college actually use more than 50% of the minutes
> of your entire family plan? Assuming every call made at school is a
> roaming call, and every call at home isn't, the phone at school would
> have to be making more than 50% of your entire family plan calling to
> hit Cingular's 50% rule!
>
> Does T-Mo, Verizon or Sprint service both areas? It might be time to
> switch carriers to one who'll appreciate your business...
>
>
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