Cingular is Blackmailing Customers

Originally Posted by jack001

I had same experience with cingular. Some of their staff members try to confuse customers. They also try to create problems for AT&T plan holders. This is very shameful but very true. I don't know what sort of merger has taken place between two of them.
I think all AT&T plan holders would have the same experience sooner or later.

I don't think its a matter of staff members trying to confuse customers.... Cingular downsized call centers & cycled employees leaving some cust serv employees that lack the 5-10 year knowledge aquisition. Find a well-established store with employees that have been there a long time. Actually, if you are so hell-bent on getting facts, research the facts yourself. Shop around. Don't go into a store and expect them to teach you everything you need to know in 5 min. Its alot more complicated than that.

When I have an AT&T customer come in, it is often times hard for me to know where to start. First of all, I do not have access to their AT&T account as my location was never an AT&T store. Secondly, its never what they want to hear. Many customers won't listen, interupting & such. I am a teacher, I know how to teach. But it is hard. I usually start by explaining the merger, how Yes, your bill says Cingular, but within Cingular the two companies are basically kept separate (blue & orange). Why???? You expect Cingular employees to learn AT&T policy, plans, etc. for the last 10 years when it is being phased out? Not so efficient. That is why AT&T employees still exist... hence the blue & orange.

Cingular can't have this AT&T merger hanging over their heads for the next 10 years. So thats where they came up with the migrating. 'Just signed a 2yr contract with AT&T 3 mos ago & got a $200 phone for $50??? Thats ok, migrate to cingular & we'll void that contract. We'll even give you the discounted price on a phone, even though the $150 from the last phone never had a chance to be recovered.' They can't let AT&T customers keep changing their plans and adding new lines or it will never be phased out. Its harsh, and sometimes unfavorable to some customers (& yes, frustrating ) , but this new policy really does benefit alot of former AT&T customers. And its the only way to efficiently phase out the old technologies, plans, and companies for that matter. (just my opinion...)

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BEST WAY TO HANDLE CINGULAR FORCED CONVERSION OF YOUR AT&T WIRELESS SERVICE TO A NEW CINGULAR PHONE AND SERVICE:
Simply stop paying the bill.
New customers can still be added to all exisitng AT&T plans, TDMA, GSM, pre-paid and post paid. However, the Cingular policy is to NOT allow customers to make conversion to anything more affordable. The policy is to allow conversions only to HIGHER rate Cingular plans.
You will get better service and choices if you go into a Cingular store and pretend you are a new customer, buying a new phone and new service.
For me I found a better phone and plan with another carrier, for one phone. The other is on a great plan $100 per year with Cingular.
BUT BEFORE ABANDONING THE SERVICE ON THE PHONE I DID NOT LIKE.... LET IT RUN FOR 4 OR 5 MONTHS AND JUST DON'T PAY IT.
Once, you rationalize the poor customer service, refusal to convert the phone to the plan you really desired against the new rate $0.00. It's not such a bad deal for the last 5 to 6 months, pre or post contract.
Remember the caveat, "Buyer-beware"! Well every time you make another monthly payment you are letting the company take advantage of you. You would not keep paying a restaurant everyday if they gave you bad food. The same is true for your phone service.

BEST WAY TO HANDLE CINGULAR FORCED CONVERSION OF YOUR AT&T WIRELESS SERVICE TO A NEW CINGULAR PHONE AND SERVICE:
Simply stop paying the bill.

Collection Agency. Boy, you'll show 'em.... ???????????????????????

New customers can still be added to all exisitng AT&T plans, TDMA, GSM, pre-paid and post paid. However, the Cingular policy is to NOT allow customers to make conversion to anything more affordable. The policy is to allow conversions only to HIGHER rate Cingular plans.

Where exactly is this policy stated? I have actually migrated several customers who were paying more for less with ATT. It completely depends on the grandfathered plan you have... could be better or worse.

You will get better service and choices if you go into a Cingular store and pretend you are a new customer, buying a new phone and new service.

That is ridiculous. I get paid the same for an activation or a migration, and I wouldn't act differently even if I didn't. You will get the same plans no matter what. You will get the same phone prices at any corporate store.

BUT BEFORE ABANDONING THE SERVICE ON THE PHONE I DID NOT LIKE.... LET IT RUN FOR 4 OR 5 MONTHS AND JUST DON'T PAY IT.

Once again, why would you do this to yourself? Screw your credit in hopes that Mr. Cingular will notice you did not pay your $30 cell phone bill. Think you'll put a dent in the company?

You would not keep paying a restaurant everyday if they gave you bad food.

If you signed a contract promising payment, damn right you would.

Hey Wilson,
Good to see the Cingular sales reps hard at work out here defending the companies good name. - ha

Hey, if I get bad credit over this one conflict with an unscrupulous company - Cingular.... will I stop getting 3 to 4 Credit Card solicitations each month??

From my point of view Cingular has breached the contract!!
See you in small claims court to resolve!!

Or you could just let me convert my $55 per month plan to a $100 per year or $20 per quarter pre-paid plan to match my usage. I would love to see you make good on your proposal above to me and every other ATT Wireless customer out there.

Hey, if I get bad credit over this one conflict with an unscrupulous company - Cingular.... will I stop getting 3 to 4 Credit Card solicitations each month??

With the attitude you have, your credit is probably already in really good standing And I'm sure you will continue to get your 25% apr credit card solicitations.

From my point of view Cingular has breached the contract!!

Ha ha, very funny, did you read that contract you signed? Ha ha ha.......Not only did it say ATT, not Cingular, but I think they covered themselves...... Ha ha ha.....

See you in small claims court to resolve!!

you are one of a million.... not claims in small court, i mean idots.....

Or you could just let me convert my $55 per month plan to a $100 per year or $20 per quarter pre-paid plan to match my usage.

hmmm.... what do people not understand? Your plan is under ATT. If it is such a good plan, keep it til your contract runs out. If your contract is out, switch to a different company with half the coverage that has a similar plan. If it works in your area, you'd be set. You are right about one thing... you will need a prepaid phone in a couple years when you no longer have any credit standing with wireless companies after getting pissed and using your 'no-pay' method.

I would love to see you make good on your proposal above to me and every other ATT Wireless customer out there.

Um, pretty sure I didn't propose anything. But if in case I ever do, it does not apply to you.

Hey it could have been worse: Cingular could have bought ATT and simply turned off Blue towers until they got converted... Your contract was with ATT, NOT Cingular. It so happens that Cingular bought ATTs assets, but they were nice enough to keep your phone on.

The no-pay method is the damn dumbest thing I have ever... The only thing it does is bring in the collection agency and lower your credit score. When you buy a house in 5 years it'd be pretty dumb to have horrible credit over a $55 non-payment on a cell phone don't you think? Or maybe you like high interest rates on credit cards?

Small claims court... 8 hours at the courthouse to get $55... how much money would you have made working during that time?

my suncom plan was 60 bucks. they told me that my plan would stay the same. cingular says the plan costs 80 bucks. i told them that i coul dshow them my bill and show them. which i did. and they still refuse to offer what i was on before them. so i called the better business bureau and they are already into an investigation of contract situations. hopefully they get it straight

do u know the meaning of blackmale

basicly.. the only reason at&t customers would feel "screwed" is them HAVING to switch to cingular if they want to update their plans or get a new phone. mostly plan issue or adding an additional line. a new phone although, you can always purchase any gsm phone and unlock it

This is unethical behavior.
My phone broke today. It is an old AT&T CDMA phone. So I have to switch to a new Cingular contract to get it replaced. I don't want to do this, because I don't want to get into another $150 cancellation fee contract.

But I can't cancel my current contract without paying $150. So, since they won't provide me with service (they won't let me buy a new phone, they won't repair my phone) they should let me cancel without the $150. But they won't.

Originally Posted by fgater

As an AT&T wireless customer for the past 8 months, I went into a Cingular Store to add another phone to my plan. I was told if I wanted to change my account, I would have to go to a Cingular plan and purchase all new phones since the AT&T phones do not work with Cingular towers. (I currently have two phones on my plan). Did anybody else run into this situation?

thats 100% true I had the same problem I just switched fully to cingular cause the razr is only 100 bucks xmas special I work at fedex right we get discounts from cingular and was getting them from att but I been waiting since the 17th of this month to get my phone guess what some jerk did in shipping to my order sent it by usps and when you check the order status on cingulars site the tracking # is actually a conformation # for the post office so i have no way of tracking my stuff and it getting mighty close to xmas I dont think I will have my phone till after then cingular customer service sucks and The part you said about the att phones not being able to work on cingular towers is horse shyt cingular made new sim cards over a year ago that wont let any gsm phones use them(the cards) to make att customers switch over and use their plans and service (trust me I unlocked my att nokias and tried) and cingular towers are the same as everyone elses towers that use gsm if not your phone couldnt roam using a tmobile tower

Originally Posted by Norcim133

This is unethical behavior.
My phone broke today. It is an old AT&T CDMA phone. So I have to switch to a new Cingular contract to get it replaced. I don't want to do this, because I don't want to get into another $150 cancellation fee contract.

But I can't cancel my current contract without paying $150. So, since they won't provide me with service (they won't let me buy a new phone, they won't repair my phone) they should let me cancel without the $150. But they won't.

When you say "old", is it over 1 year old? If it's less than a year old it is still covered under the manufacturers warranty, as long as it does not have physical or liquid damage.

Originally Posted by drjekel_mrhyde

...part you said about the att phones not being able to work on cingular towers is horse shyt cingular made new sim cards over a year ago that wont let any gsm phones use them(the cards) to make att customers switch over and use their plans and service (trust me I unlocked my att nokias and tried) and cingular towers are the same as everyone elses towers that use gsm if not your phone couldnt roam using a tmobile tower

for my information, your nokias were 32k sims right? i think we were talking about this before. i would hate for someone to read your post and be misled to believe that cingular chips won't work in unlocked phones.

i actually noticed that you put pics up with the different sims. very cool! the orange (new 64k) sims should be the standards today. the older phones using 32k will probably not accept a new 64k sim.

but all current gsm phones that are unlocked should take your sim if you're a current customer.

hit a reply if you disagree or have more to add!

Originally Posted by Nic Hitchins

for my information, your nokias were 32k sims right? i think we were talking about this before. i would hate for someone to read your post and be misled to believe that cingular chips won't work in unlocked phones.

i actually noticed that you put pics up with the different sims. very cool! the orange (new 64k) sims should be the standards today. the older phones using 32k will probably not accept a new 64k sim.

but all current gsm phones that are unlocked should take your sim if you're a current customer.

hit a reply if you disagree or have more to add!

The following phones are not compatible with Cingular 3G SIM Cards.

Phone Make/Model Symptom-
LG 1400, 1400i, C2000, F7200, F9100, F9200:
The customer may state that the Message Icon does not appear when they have a voicemail.

Nokia 3220: The error message "Phone Restricted" appears, and the user cannot place or receive any phone calls.

Originally Posted by drjekel_mrhyde

thats 100% true I had the same problem I just switched fully to cingular cause the razr is only 100 bucks xmas special I work at fedex right we get discounts from cingular and was getting them from att but I been waiting since the 17th of this month to get my phone guess what some jerk did in shipping to my order sent it by usps and when you check the order status on cingulars site the tracking # is actually a conformation # for the post office so i have no way of tracking my stuff and it getting mighty close to xmas I dont think I will have my phone till after then cingular customer service sucks and The part you said about the att phones not being able to work on cingular towers is horse shyt cingular made new sim cards over a year ago that wont let any gsm phones use them(the cards) to make att customers switch over and use their plans and service (trust me I unlocked my att nokias and tried) and cingular towers are the same as everyone elses towers that use gsm if not your phone couldnt roam using a tmobile tower

Periods are your friends.