$900.00 Bill!!!!!!!!!

We have been cingular customers for about a year now with 5 phones and 2 accounts. On about January 16, my husband took my son into Cingular and decided to change his and his sister's plan. The sales rep told them that for $7.50 or so they would get unlimited internet access. My son specifically asked the sales rep if this included AIM and he was told that it did included it. Well, we just got a $900 phone bill!!! My husband called Cingular and they told him there is nothing we can do. I tried to go up to the store and it was closed, but the guy who told them this was in there so we know which sales rep it is. Is there anything we can do??? We cannot afford a $900 bill!!!!!!!!

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I've been hearing this same story a number of times now... what exactly was the reason for the extra charge? Do they charge for AIM? ...and whoever told you there was nothing you can do is wrong. You always have options... everything should be disclosed on your plan... I'll look into it now... see what I can find... in the meantime you can keep bugging your provider... and don't listen to what one or two reps say... keep calling them until one eventually tells you what you want to hear... or at least attempts to try and help you out...

Thanks so much for looking into it. Yes, they charge for AIM which they did not tell us. When my husband switched plans, they never even gave him a receipt or anything. The guy just did it on the computer. I'm going to go into the store tomorrow and see what they say, but I seriously doubt they'll do anything. Do you ever hear of them taking charges off?

Originally Posted by Flashyzipp

Thanks so much for looking into it. Yes, they charge for AIM which they did not tell us. When my husband switched plans, they never even gave him a receipt or anything. The guy just did it on the computer. I'm going to go into the store tomorrow and see what they say, but I seriously doubt they'll do anything. Do you ever hear of them taking charges off?

The Sales Rep. was right. There is no charge to usa AIM directly. The charge comes in the form of IM's. An IM is considered a text message, and the charge is .10 for everyone sent. The Rep. should have notified you of that. I work for Cingular and my suggestion would be to talk to the Rep. who sold you the new plan. Have him call Cingular for you and see if he can negotiate something. If he admits fault to Cingular, they may help you.

If he can't get any of the charges taken off, then there's nothing else you can do other than pay it. The charges are valid, and charges are only removed if there is a mistake on Cingular's behalf.

thats where they trick you, instead of telling u that it costs to send text messages thru aim, they just say its free to use aim.....but that means he used about 8000 text messages or so. wow

Originally Posted by scott14661

The Sales Rep. was right. There is no charge to usa AIM directly. The charge comes in the form of IM's. An IM is considered a text message, and the charge is .10 for everyone sent. The Rep. should have notified you of that. I work for Cingular and my suggestion would be to talk to the Rep. who sold you the new plan. Have him call Cingular for you and see if he can negotiate something. If he admits fault to Cingular, they may help you.

If he can't get any of the charges taken off, then there's nothing else you can do other than pay it. The charges are valid, and charges are only removed if there is a mistake on Cingular's behalf.

I was going to say this same thing, The messages is where you get it

Actually, the sales rep was wrong!!! He told us specifically my son could use AIM text messaging free of charge. He has admitted his error and called Cingular. They are working on getting approval on refunding our $900.00.

Karen

Originally Posted by Flashyzipp

Actually, the sales rep was wrong!!! He told us specifically my son could use AIM text messaging free of charge. He has admitted his error and called Cingular. They are working on getting approval on refunding our $900.00.

Karen

You clarified yourself now, you didn't say that in the original message, you said that the rep. said there was no charge for AIM, which there isn't. Cingular doesn't charge you to load your AIM other than internet charges which were included in your package. Now your telling me that he told your son, he could use AIM text messaging free of charge. I'm not sure which one is correct, but if the rep. makes a mistake then you should have it credited off.

WOW

Thank god my kids are grown.. I would have to break there fingers. 10 cents a msg. Why would anybody txt. msg anything with the way a cell phones keypad is layed out. having to push a button 1 to 4 times or so per charactor? Only a kid would waiste time doing that. Man do we spoil the brats now days

Originally Posted by psyshack

WOW

Thank god my kids are grown.. I would have to break there fingers. 10 cents a msg. Why would anybody txt. msg anything with the way a cell phones keypad is layed out. having to push a button 1 to 4 times or so per charactor? Only a kid would waiste time doing that. Man do we spoil the brats now days

Someone would text message to save their minutes. It's great to have if you're in a particular area where you many not have a cell signal. Many people now days have packages that include ulimited text messages or a high number, so they don't spend .10 cents per message as the OP did.

You are very much misinformed on two statments. It does not take a long time to send a message, unless you're new to text message. I personally and I know a lot of people just like me can probably type a text almost as quick as typing on a regular PC.

It's now 2005, and it't not just kids that are texting. I have just as many adults come into my store and purchase a texting plan. Just because you don't find texting useful, doesn't mean it's not to millions of others, nor does it make the kids who do use it spolied brats.

Originally Posted by KareemRush21

thats where they trick you, instead of telling u that it costs to send text messages thru aim, they just say its free to use aim.....but that means he used about 8000 text messages or so. wow

Yikes. Best to find a plan that gives you Unlimited Text Messaging for a low flat fee of maybe $5-$10/mo so you don't have to worry about that.

Originally Posted by scott14661

Someone would text message to save their minutes. It's great to have if you're in a particular area where you many not have a cell signal. Many people now days have packages that include ulimited text messages or a high number, so they don't spend .10 cents per message as the OP did.

You are very much misinformed on two statments. It does not take a long time to send a message, unless you're new to text message. I personally and I know a lot of people just like me can probably type a text almost as quick as typing on a regular PC.

It's now 2005, and it't not just kids that are texting. I have just as many adults come into my store and purchase a texting plan. Just because you don't find texting useful, doesn't mean it's not to millions of others, nor does it make the kids who do use it spolied brats.

Just for giggles I checked with all three of my college age children on txt. Two are in school waisting my money and one with a young family. Only one of the three does any txt. And she agrees its a real pain. And only got into it as subject matter in a com. course she had to take in college. Isnt that a great use of dads money None of the adults Ive been around over the years dont txt either. But drive by any grade, middle or high school around here at lunch and the kids be pecking away at those phones. Looks like birds on a wire. But to each there own. Still glad my kids are raised. Theres a reason why yout to have children at a young age... So you can keep up with them.

I really hope that bill can be worked out.

Have fun
psy

I have been fighting Cingular since receiving my bill three days ago. They show that I have been on AIM for 24 hours a day since 3/10/05. I have spoken to ten different technical support personnel who have all told me that their computer system is not making a mistake. Interestingly enough, I called AOL (Cingular told me to) and they confirmed that my cell phone number is not on their records. I went to the store where we purchased the phones and was told there was nothing they could do.