Sprint put me on a new contract without my permission!

My current contract does not expire until 1/26/04.
I just got the following E_Mail from Sprint:

"Thank you for continuing to choose the clarity of Sprint®. This
letter confirms recent service changes you have requested, and
provides you important information about your service plan and new
agreement for wireless service with Sprint. As always, we look forward
to making wireless easy for you.

In the box below is your current PCS Account information. Take a
moment to review your account information, then save this letter for
your records."

This is complete BS as I never made ANY requests. And yet they show me
with a new 2 year contract starting on 12/18/03 with a $150.00
cancellation fee! It also takes my PCS to PCS minutes from unlimited
down to 500 a month!

What is it with these people! I got a CSR rep very quickly but I am
now waiting for 1/2 hour waiting for her to "check on this".

I'm amazed that these people stay in business!

Anybody have any idea what is behind this?

BTW I pay my bill by automatic credit card deduction and have never
been late.

Thanks,

---

› See More: Sprint put me on a new contract without my permission!

"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My current contract does not expire until 1/26/04.
> I just got the following E_Mail from Sprint:
>
> "Thank you for continuing to choose the clarity of Sprint®. This
> letter confirms recent service changes you have requested, and
> provides you important information about your service plan and new
> agreement for wireless service with Sprint. As always, we look forward
> to making wireless easy for you.
>
> In the box below is your current PCS Account information. Take a
> moment to review your account information, then save this letter for
> your records."
>
> This is complete BS as I never made ANY requests. And yet they show me
> with a new 2 year contract starting on 12/18/03 with a $150.00
> cancellation fee! It also takes my PCS to PCS minutes from unlimited
> down to 500 a month!
>
> What is it with these people! I got a CSR rep very quickly but I am
> now waiting for 1/2 hour waiting for her to "check on this".
>
> I'm amazed that these people stay in business!
>
> Anybody have any idea what is behind this?
>
> BTW I pay my bill by automatic credit card deduction and have never
> been late.
>
> Thanks,

Out of curiosity, did you make any changes to your account last week. Did
you change plans, like moving your N & W to 7:00 PM?

Bob

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 04:44:02 GMT, "Bob Smith"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> My current contract does not expire until 1/26/04.
>> I just got the following E_Mail from Sprint:
>>
>> "Thank you for continuing to choose the clarity of Sprint®. This
>> letter confirms recent service changes you have requested, and
>> provides you important information about your service plan and new
>> agreement for wireless service with Sprint. As always, we look forward
>> to making wireless easy for you.
>>
>> In the box below is your current PCS Account information. Take a
>> moment to review your account information, then save this letter for
>> your records."
>>
>> This is complete BS as I never made ANY requests. And yet they show me
>> with a new 2 year contract starting on 12/18/03 with a $150.00
>> cancellation fee! It also takes my PCS to PCS minutes from unlimited
>> down to 500 a month!
>>
>> What is it with these people! I got a CSR rep very quickly but I am
>> now waiting for 1/2 hour waiting for her to "check on this".
>>
>> I'm amazed that these people stay in business!
>>
>> Anybody have any idea what is behind this?
>>
>> BTW I pay my bill by automatic credit card deduction and have never
>> been late.
>>
>> Thanks,
>
>Out of curiosity, did you make any changes to your account last week. Did
>you change plans, like moving your N & W to 7:00 PM?
>
>Bob
>

No I did not. I haven't changed anything. We are planning a move to
Idaho where the coverage sucked last summer so we were going to
investigate another provider out there. So there is now way that I
wanted to enter into a new agreement.

Hans wrote:

> No I did not. I haven't changed anything. We are planning a move to
> Idaho where the coverage sucked last summer so we were going to
> investigate another provider out there. So there is now way that I
> wanted to enter into a new agreement.

If what you say is true, then by definition, there is no "agreement."

-mike

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 23:41:13 -0600, Mike <[email protected]> wrote:

>Hans wrote:
>
>> No I did not. I haven't changed anything. We are planning a move to
>> Idaho where the coverage sucked last summer so we were going to
>> investigate another provider out there. So there is now way that I
>> wanted to enter into a new agreement.
>
>If what you say is true, then by definition, there is no "agreement."
>
>-mike




I waited for about 40 minutes for a CSR to come back on line and I
gave up and called back. The next person was more helpful and told me
the renewal came from a local store. This should be interesting as all
I ever did there was buy a replacement phone. I asked the CSR if this
would/could trigger a new contract. She was emphatic that it shouldn't
unless I signed an agreement. (I signed nothing and the subject of
renewal never came up) She even gave me the employees ID # that
submitted the new contract and asked me to go back to the store for an
explanation. I am off to do that tomorrow. This should be interesting.

Question: Do store employees get some sort of incentive to renew
contracts?

"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I waited for about 40 minutes for a CSR to come back on line and I
> gave up and called back. The next person was more helpful and told me
> the renewal came from a local store. This should be interesting as all
> I ever did there was buy a replacement phone. I asked the CSR if this
> would/could trigger a new contract. She was emphatic that it shouldn't
> unless I signed an agreement. (I signed nothing and the subject of
> renewal never came up) She even gave me the employees ID # that
> submitted the new contract and asked me to go back to the store for an
> explanation. I am off to do that tomorrow. This should be interesting.
>
> Question: Do store employees get some sort of incentive to renew
> contracts?
>

I have noticed that store employees don't often pay attention to what is on
their screen, they just click through the menus to get the deal done. I
suspect somewhere in there you agreed to a new contract via this person.
However, if this is true, it will have printed on your receipts .. they
always print the contract.

BTW, to get a phone at the new customer rate nearly always requires a new
contract. It also seems to require 18 months with your old phone first.

Tom Veldhouse

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 08:23:12 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I waited for about 40 minutes for a CSR to come back on line and I
>> gave up and called back. The next person was more helpful and told me
>> the renewal came from a local store. This should be interesting as all
>> I ever did there was buy a replacement phone. I asked the CSR if this
>> would/could trigger a new contract. She was emphatic that it shouldn't
>> unless I signed an agreement. (I signed nothing and the subject of
>> renewal never came up) She even gave me the employees ID # that
>> submitted the new contract and asked me to go back to the store for an
>> explanation. I am off to do that tomorrow. This should be interesting.
>>
>> Question: Do store employees get some sort of incentive to renew
>> contracts?
>>
>
>I have noticed that store employees don't often pay attention to what is on
>their screen, they just click through the menus to get the deal done. I
>suspect somewhere in there you agreed to a new contract via this person.
>However, if this is true, it will have printed on your receipts .. they
>always print the contract.
>
>BTW, to get a phone at the new customer rate nearly always requires a new
>contract. It also seems to require 18 months with your old phone first.
>
>Tom Veldhouse
>

It's not on the receipt and it was never discussed. Also the CSR I
spoke to last night said that WAS not true. A new phone did not
require a new contract. She also said a new contract requires a
separate signature which I never gave.

"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 08:23:12 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >> I waited for about 40 minutes for a CSR to come back on line and I
> >> gave up and called back. The next person was more helpful and told me
> >> the renewal came from a local store. This should be interesting as all
> >> I ever did there was buy a replacement phone. I asked the CSR if this
> >> would/could trigger a new contract. She was emphatic that it shouldn't
> >> unless I signed an agreement. (I signed nothing and the subject of
> >> renewal never came up) She even gave me the employees ID # that
> >> submitted the new contract and asked me to go back to the store for an
> >> explanation. I am off to do that tomorrow. This should be interesting.
> >>
> >> Question: Do store employees get some sort of incentive to renew
> >> contracts?
> >>
> >
> >I have noticed that store employees don't often pay attention to what is
on
> >their screen, they just click through the menus to get the deal done. I
> >suspect somewhere in there you agreed to a new contract via this person.
> >However, if this is true, it will have printed on your receipts .. they
> >always print the contract.
> >
> >BTW, to get a phone at the new customer rate nearly always requires a new
> >contract. It also seems to require 18 months with your old phone first.
> >
> >Tom Veldhouse
> >
>
> It's not on the receipt and it was never discussed. Also the CSR I
> spoke to last night said that WAS not true. A new phone did not
> require a new contract. She also said a new contract requires a
> separate signature which I never gave.
>

A new phone in and of itself does not require a contract. A new subsidied
phone (or one with a promotion ... same beast, different face) does require
a contract.

Tom Veldhouse

Hans wrote:

>
> It's not on the receipt and it was never discussed. Also the CSR I
> spoke to last night said that WAS not true. A new phone did not
> require a new contract. She also said a new contract requires a
> separate signature which I never gave.
>

I'm a big fan of writing letters in these sorts of situations. A letter
is persistent - you don't have to explain yourself five times to five
different people. If five people need to look at your letter, then five
people will look at your letter. Besides, while IANAL, there is more
legal weight to a letter, and less room for misinterpretation.
-mike

"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hans wrote:
>
> >
> > It's not on the receipt and it was never discussed. Also the CSR I
> > spoke to last night said that WAS not true. A new phone did not
> > require a new contract. She also said a new contract requires a
> > separate signature which I never gave.
> >
>
> I'm a big fan of writing letters in these sorts of situations. A letter
> is persistent - you don't have to explain yourself five times to five
> different people. If five people need to look at your letter, then five
> people will look at your letter. Besides, while IANAL, there is more
> legal weight to a letter, and less room for misinterpretation.
> -mike
>
This is excellent advice. You definately want to respond in WRITING, and
within 30 days of your original complaint if possible. Send your letter
certified mail, that way it will require a signiture, therefore giving you
proof of delivery.
good luck,
-Matt

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 17:45:05 GMT, "Matt"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Hans wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > It's not on the receipt and it was never discussed. Also the CSR I
>> > spoke to last night said that WAS not true. A new phone did not
>> > require a new contract. She also said a new contract requires a
>> > separate signature which I never gave.
>> >
>>
>> I'm a big fan of writing letters in these sorts of situations. A letter
>> is persistent - you don't have to explain yourself five times to five
>> different people. If five people need to look at your letter, then five
>> people will look at your letter. Besides, while IANAL, there is more
>> legal weight to a letter, and less room for misinterpretation.
>> -mike
>>
>This is excellent advice. You definately want to respond in WRITING, and
>within 30 days of your original complaint if possible. Send your letter
>certified mail, that way it will require a signiture, therefore giving you
>proof of delivery.
>good luck,
>-Matt
>


Thanks!

Where should I send it?

"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 17:45:05 GMT, "Matt"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
<snipped>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> Where should I send it?

Here ya go ...

Sprint PCS
8140 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64112

Their direct line is: 913 624-3000

Bob

Hans wrote:


> Thanks!
>
> Where should I send it?

Still IANAL.

Other posters suggested certified mail, that's excellent advice. If
there's anyone else that you think might be interested (bigwigs at
corporate, state attorney general, Sprint PCS store manager) list in all
copies of the letter who you've CC'd. Don't be afraid to give a
deadline. Ten or fifteen business days is common. Tell them that you
expect to hear from them within that time, or will assume that they
agree that you are not under a contract. If you don't give a deadline,
your letter may get filed away. It's just like your sprint bill. You
have fifteen days to raise an issue. If you don't, it's assumed that you
agree with the bill.
-mike

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 09:48:39 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 08:23:12 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> >news:[email protected]...
>> >> I waited for about 40 minutes for a CSR to come back on line and I
>> >> gave up and called back. The next person was more helpful and told me
>> >> the renewal came from a local store. This should be interesting as all
>> >> I ever did there was buy a replacement phone. I asked the CSR if this
>> >> would/could trigger a new contract. She was emphatic that it shouldn't
>> >> unless I signed an agreement. (I signed nothing and the subject of
>> >> renewal never came up) She even gave me the employees ID # that
>> >> submitted the new contract and asked me to go back to the store for an
>> >> explanation. I am off to do that tomorrow. This should be interesting.
>> >>
>> >> Question: Do store employees get some sort of incentive to renew
>> >> contracts?
>> >>
>> >
>> >I have noticed that store employees don't often pay attention to what is
>on
>> >their screen, they just click through the menus to get the deal done. I
>> >suspect somewhere in there you agreed to a new contract via this person.
>> >However, if this is true, it will have printed on your receipts .. they
>> >always print the contract.
>> >
>> >BTW, to get a phone at the new customer rate nearly always requires a new
>> >contract. It also seems to require 18 months with your old phone first.
>> >
>> >Tom Veldhouse
>> >
>>
>> It's not on the receipt and it was never discussed. Also the CSR I
>> spoke to last night said that WAS not true. A new phone did not
>> require a new contract. She also said a new contract requires a
>> separate signature which I never gave.
>>
>
>A new phone in and of itself does not require a contract. A new subsidied
>phone (or one with a promotion ... same beast, different face) does require
>a contract.
>
>Tom Veldhouse
>


Which I am currently under. My existing contract does not expire until
late January.

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 09:48:39 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 08:23:12 -0600, "Thomas T. Veldhouse"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >"Hans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> >news:[email protected]...
>> >> I waited for about 40 minutes for a CSR to come back on line and I
>> >> gave up and called back. The next person was more helpful and told me
>> >> the renewal came from a local store. This should be interesting as all
>> >> I ever did there was buy a replacement phone. I asked the CSR if this
>> >> would/could trigger a new contract. She was emphatic that it shouldn't
>> >> unless I signed an agreement. (I signed nothing and the subject of
>> >> renewal never came up) She even gave me the employees ID # that
>> >> submitted the new contract and asked me to go back to the store for an
>> >> explanation. I am off to do that tomorrow. This should be interesting.
>> >>
>> >> Question: Do store employees get some sort of incentive to renew
>> >> contracts?
>> >>
>> >
>> >I have noticed that store employees don't often pay attention to what is
>on
>> >their screen, they just click through the menus to get the deal done. I
>> >suspect somewhere in there you agreed to a new contract via this person.
>> >However, if this is true, it will have printed on your receipts .. they
>> >always print the contract.
>> >
>> >BTW, to get a phone at the new customer rate nearly always requires a new
>> >contract. It also seems to require 18 months with your old phone first.
>> >
>> >Tom Veldhouse
>> >
>>
>> It's not on the receipt and it was never discussed. Also the CSR I
>> spoke to last night said that WAS not true. A new phone did not
>> require a new contract. She also said a new contract requires a
>> separate signature which I never gave.
>>
>
>A new phone in and of itself does not require a contract. A new subsidied
>phone (or one with a promotion ... same beast, different face) does require
>a contract.
>
>Tom Veldhouse
>


The store manager called today and said they were in error. He is
canceling the new contract.