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  1. #1
    James Higgins
    Guest
    I am just glad this happened to me before my final recommendation, to
    my company, we move to Sprint.

    Extreme caution should be taken when doing business with this company.
    They are borderline fraudulent. If you have problems with them I
    suggest going to www.bbb.org and file a complaint. It only take a few
    minutes and you might get results. Also send a formal complaint letter
    to any Sprint address you can find. Here is mine.

    8-16-04

    Sprint PCS
    6160 Sprint Parkway
    Overland Park, KS 66251

    Re: PCS Internet card overture dispute.

    Dear Sprint,

    In March 2004 I signed up for a PCS Internet card for my laptop
    (832-754-4921). I was advised by the salesman to get, at least, the
    30-megabyte plan so I did so. I was advised of the overture cost and
    to check my usage regularly. I used the card with minimal problems
    except I could never get my current usage. The hardware and connection
    software did not give this information and when I logged into my PCS
    account it always said "Unavailable" and still does. I was able to get
    my current usage one time when I called and spoke to your tech support
    people. This took over 30 minutes.

    Several months went by and according to my records paid about $45 a
    month for the service. Suddenly on July 21 I received a bill for $595
    and I immediately called customer service. I was told I exceeded my
    30-megabyte limit and the outrageous bill was a result. I told the
    story of being unable to check my current megabyte usage and disputed
    the bill. The person I spoke with agreed and recommended that I move
    to the 300-megabyte plan, which I did. He also insured me the July
    bill would be based on the new plan so I would owe about $100 instead
    of $595.

    Last week I went to the Sprint store to move my Wife and I from
    Nextel, which we have had for 8 years, onto Sprint. I was told my
    current account was in collections and was thus denied. We have not
    received anything via mail or phone indicating the account is
    delinquent. This as not only embarrassing but very upsetting. I
    immediately called customer support again and was told we don't roll
    previous usage into new plans and that there is nothing could do
    because the account is now in collections.

    As a new customer and stockholder of Sprint I don't have a very good
    first impression. Although we have been very happy with the service I
    feel this $595 bill fringes on being fraudulent. If you can't provide
    a reasonable method for me to know my usage how can you charge me for
    it? I would have certainly changed my plan if I knew I needed to.

    I ask for is this ridiculous $600 bill be based on the new plan
    implemented on July 21. Your agent insured me it would, although this
    is not reflected in the "Notes" section of your records it did occur.
    I insist this phone call be listened to so I am not considered a liar.
    I want to continue doing business with Sprint and move my family and
    business to it, but unless this can be reasonably settled I don't see
    how that can happen.

    Best Regards
    James Higgins
    TOSC International

    CC: Gary Forsee, Sprint Headquarters, FON Group, Sprint PCS, Sprint
    Store Houston, Kingsbury & Associates



    See More: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.




  2. #2
    Jim85CJ
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    "Although we have been very happy with the service I feel this $595 bill
    fringes on being fraudulent. If you can't provide a reasonable method
    for me to know my usage how can you charge me for it?"

    You went over your minutes and were billed correctly. Pay the bill.
    You could have tracked your usage by calling customer service. Either
    way, you agreed to pay if you went over so pay. Your "excuse" is weak
    at best. BTW, unlimited MB is only $80. I would ask how the connection
    was (because I'm considering getting a card/service) but apparently it
    was pretty good since you used it a lot.

    James Higgins wrote:

    > I am just glad this happened to me before my final recommendation, to
    > my company, we move to Sprint.
    >
    > Extreme caution should be taken when doing business with this company.
    > They are borderline fraudulent. If you have problems with them I
    > suggest going to www.bbb.org and file a complaint. It only take a few
    > minutes and you might get results. Also send a formal complaint letter
    > to any Sprint address you can find. Here is mine.
    >
    > 8-16-04
    >
    > Sprint PCS
    > 6160 Sprint Parkway
    > Overland Park, KS 66251
    >
    > Re: PCS Internet card overture dispute.
    >
    > Dear Sprint,
    >
    > In March 2004 I signed up for a PCS Internet card for my laptop
    > (832-754-4921). I was advised by the salesman to get, at least, the
    > 30-megabyte plan so I did so. I was advised of the overture cost and
    > to check my usage regularly. I used the card with minimal problems
    > except I could never get my current usage. The hardware and connection
    > software did not give this information and when I logged into my PCS
    > account it always said "Unavailable" and still does. I was able to get
    > my current usage one time when I called and spoke to your tech support
    > people. This took over 30 minutes.
    >
    > Several months went by and according to my records paid about $45 a
    > month for the service. Suddenly on July 21 I received a bill for $595
    > and I immediately called customer service. I was told I exceeded my
    > 30-megabyte limit and the outrageous bill was a result. I told the
    > story of being unable to check my current megabyte usage and disputed
    > the bill. The person I spoke with agreed and recommended that I move
    > to the 300-megabyte plan, which I did. He also insured me the July
    > bill would be based on the new plan so I would owe about $100 instead
    > of $595.
    >
    > Last week I went to the Sprint store to move my Wife and I from
    > Nextel, which we have had for 8 years, onto Sprint. I was told my
    > current account was in collections and was thus denied. We have not
    > received anything via mail or phone indicating the account is
    > delinquent. This as not only embarrassing but very upsetting. I
    > immediately called customer support again and was told we don't roll
    > previous usage into new plans and that there is nothing could do
    > because the account is now in collections.
    >
    > As a new customer and stockholder of Sprint I don't have a very good
    > first impression. Although we have been very happy with the service I
    > feel this $595 bill fringes on being fraudulent. If you can't provide
    > a reasonable method for me to know my usage how can you charge me for
    > it? I would have certainly changed my plan if I knew I needed to.
    >
    > I ask for is this ridiculous $600 bill be based on the new plan
    > implemented on July 21. Your agent insured me it would, although this
    > is not reflected in the "Notes" section of your records it did occur.
    > I insist this phone call be listened to so I am not considered a liar.
    > I want to continue doing business with Sprint and move my family and
    > business to it, but unless this can be reasonably settled I don't see
    > how that can happen.
    >
    > Best Regards
    > James Higgins
    > TOSC International
    >
    > CC: Gary Forsee, Sprint Headquarters, FON Group, Sprint PCS, Sprint
    > Store Houston, Kingsbury & Associates





  3. #3
    Frank Thomas
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.


    "Jim85CJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > "Although we have been very happy with the service I feel this $595 bill
    > fringes on being fraudulent. If you can't provide a reasonable method
    > for me to know my usage how can you charge me for it?"


    Good luck, let us know if they give you any consideration. From past
    experience, I can give sympathy but I bet they jam it up there high and
    tight, sorry. I have had the $80 a month unlimited plan for a year. I use
    the modem maybe 10 times a month, and the merlin card interface I have does
    tell me how many bytes are going up and down. You pay for both. I think my
    typical on line session runs may be 3-8 megs. I am glad you shared this, I
    have often thought maybe I could go to a more limited plan, but I see if you
    go over once, the get screwed potential is stratospheric. In fact I
    suspect those lower megabyte plans are just sucker bait. Always get an
    unlimited plan if you can.







  4. #4
    Jim85CJ
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    "the get screwed potential"
    explain how paying for what you use is getting screwed?

    Frank Thomas wrote:

    > "Jim85CJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >
    >>"Although we have been very happy with the service I feel this $595 bill
    >>fringes on being fraudulent. If you can't provide a reasonable method
    >>for me to know my usage how can you charge me for it?"

    >
    >
    > Good luck, let us know if they give you any consideration. From past
    > experience, I can give sympathy but I bet they jam it up there high and
    > tight, sorry. I have had the $80 a month unlimited plan for a year. I use
    > the modem maybe 10 times a month, and the merlin card interface I have does
    > tell me how many bytes are going up and down. You pay for both. I think my
    > typical on line session runs may be 3-8 megs. I am glad you shared this, I
    > have often thought maybe I could go to a more limited plan, but I see if you
    > go over once, the get screwed potential is stratospheric. In fact I
    > suspect those lower megabyte plans are just sucker bait. Always get an
    > unlimited plan if you can.
    >
    >
    >
    >





  5. #5
    Jim85CJ
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    In-Reply-To: <[email protected]>
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
    Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
    Lines: 41
    Message-ID: <[email protected]>
    Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 02:21:18 GMT
    NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.225.90.159
    X-Complaints-To: [email protected]
    X-Trace: newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net 1092882078 24.225.90.159 (Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:21:18 PDT)
    NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:21:18 PDT
    Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net
    Xref: news.newshosting.com alt.cellular.sprintpcs:148363

    "how does Sprint get away with charging me $80 for 100 megs and some
    other schmoe hundreds of dollars?"
    Interesting argument. But if I were to buy a $35, 300 minute phone plan
    and I use 2500 minutes, I'd pay a LOT more for the $35 minute plan then
    I do for my $130 unlimited plan that I have. If I bought the wrong plan
    it would be up to me to pay the bill and upgrade to a more appropriate
    plan for the next month. Sprint has NO IDEA what my usage will be. It
    is up to me to buy the correct plan. The pricing model for data is very
    similar as for the phones (pay for incomin/outgoing calls, pay for
    minutes used, etc where with data you pay for incoming/outgoing MB,
    etc). I don't think Sprint is doing anything wrong.

    Frank Thomas wrote:

    > "Jim85CJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >
    >>"the get screwed potential"
    >>explain how paying for what you use is getting screwed?
    >>

    >
    >
    > Fair question. The answer is when the overage charges are clearly
    > unreasonable. I get unlimited usage for $80 a month. On a limited data
    > plan, depending on you start paying from somewhere between 2-4 cents PER
    > KILOBYTE, and thats UP and DOWN. Figure for example a month where someone
    > on an unlimited plan and someone on a limited plan uses 100 megabytes each.
    > The unlimited user pays $80. Say the limited plan is $45 for 30 megs,
    > and say the overage charge is 3 cents per kilobyte. So the 70 meg overage
    > charge is going to 70 x 1024 kb/meg x 0.03 = $2150. Say its 1 cent a
    > kilobyte, 70 x 1024 x0.01 = $716.8 Say its a 1/2 cent, the overage runs
    > $358.
    >
    > Now, how does Sprint get away with charging me $80 for 100 megs and some
    > other schmoe hundreds of dollars? There are a few ways of looking at this,
    > but I think most reasonable people would say Sprint has an inherently
    > predatory pricing scheme on limited data plans.
    >
    >
    >





  6. #6
    RØß Vargas
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    In article <[email protected]>, x10
    @mycallsoft.com says...
    > As a new customer and stockholder of Sprint I don't have a very good
    > first impression. Although we have been very happy with the service I
    > feel this $595 bill fringes on being fraudulent. If you can't provide
    > a reasonable method for me to know my usage how can you charge me for
    > it? I would have certainly changed my plan if I knew I needed to.
    >=20
    > I ask for is this ridiculous $600 bill be based on the new plan
    > implemented on July 21. Your agent insured me it would, although this
    > is not reflected in the "Notes" section of your records it did occur.
    > I insist this phone call be listened to so I am not considered a liar.
    > I want to continue doing business with Sprint and move my family and
    > business to it, but unless this can be reasonably settled I don't see
    > how that can happen.
    >=20


    I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. What happened, is,=20
    unfortunately, very easy to do with Vision. Even at the reduced data=20
    pricing when you exceed your allotted MB's.

    When a data card is set up with SPCS, it is automatically given a 3-
    month grace period where you pay for the plan you ordered, but=20
    overage fees are forgiven. You're supposed to call in (and, dammit,=20
    that usage is not *that* hard for a rep to find. 20 minutes is just=20
    plain stupid), and the rep helps you determine if the plan is large=20
    enough for what you are doing. That's how it's SUPPOSED to happen. =20
    Obviously, it didn't.

    But yeah, these data cards (I had the Sierra 550 myself for a couple=20
    of months, just to see for myself), they can suck up some megabytes=20
    in a real big hurry. The plan you got was for 30 MB. And when the=20
    first three months ended, it started charging you for everything over=20
    30MB. A penny for every 5KB. $2/MB. For those who have noticed,=20
    yes, that's one-fifth the charge for a phone getting charged per KB.

    So... $595. I think $45 is, in fact, the monthly charge for the 30MB=20
    plan. So that leaves $550. Divide by 2, and that's 275MB. 305MB in=20
    a month? Yeah, that can be done. Easily.

    Reps are *supposed* to discuss this with you. It's in the policies=20
    they're taught. I was certainly taught them, and I can't imagine I=20
    was all *that* outside the norm (not so far being trained, at least).

    I certainly hope you get a proper resolution to this. If you can get=20
    through this, I think you're going to be very happy with the network=20
    and what it can do for you. Best of luck.

    --=20
    R=D8=DF
    O/Siris
    ~+~
    "A thing moderately good is not so good=20
    as it ought to be. Moderation in temper=20
    is always a virtue, but moderation in=20
    principle is always a vice."
    Thomas Paine, "The Rights of Man", 1792



  7. #7
    RØß Vargas
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    In article <[email protected]>,=20
    [email protected] says...
    > You went over your minutes and were billed correctly. Pay the bill.=20
    > You could have tracked your usage by calling customer service. Either=20
    > way, you agreed to pay if you went over so pay. Your "excuse" is weak=20
    > at best. BTW, unlimited MB is only $80. I would ask how the connection=

    =20
    > was (because I'm considering getting a card/service) but apparently it=20
    > was pretty good since you used it a lot.
    >=20


    Only if an account is configured as a Business account. And I can=20
    speak from experience that, even then, reps can be too lazy to even=20
    find it. I was on the 300MB one because of that very issue. Now I'm=20
    back on a phone simply because data was no longer my primary concern.

    If the 3 month grace period wasn't explained to him, then he had at=20
    least two bills that made it seem as though he was not going over. =20
    He had no way to see, and two bills (at least) to leave him the=20
    impression that he was fine.

    He's got a legitimate beef here, in my opinion.

    --=20
    R=D8=DF
    O/Siris
    ~+~
    "A thing moderately good is not so good=20
    as it ought to be. Moderation in temper=20
    is always a virtue, but moderation in=20
    principle is always a vice."
    Thomas Paine, "The Rights of Man", 1792



  8. #8
    Jim85CJ
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    Whatever is written in the contract is what should be followed. If he
    didn't understand the contract that is his issue.

    RØß Vargas wrote:

    > In article <[email protected]>,
    > [email protected] says...
    >
    >>You went over your minutes and were billed correctly. Pay the bill.
    >>You could have tracked your usage by calling customer service. Either
    >>way, you agreed to pay if you went over so pay. Your "excuse" is weak
    >>at best. BTW, unlimited MB is only $80. I would ask how the connection
    >>was (because I'm considering getting a card/service) but apparently it
    >>was pretty good since you used it a lot.
    >>

    >
    >
    > Only if an account is configured as a Business account. And I can
    > speak from experience that, even then, reps can be too lazy to even
    > find it. I was on the 300MB one because of that very issue. Now I'm
    > back on a phone simply because data was no longer my primary concern.
    >
    > If the 3 month grace period wasn't explained to him, then he had at
    > least two bills that made it seem as though he was not going over.
    > He had no way to see, and two bills (at least) to leave him the
    > impression that he was fine.
    >
    > He's got a legitimate beef here, in my opinion.
    >





  9. #9
    Frank Thomas
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    "Jim85CJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > "the get screwed potential"
    > explain how paying for what you use is getting screwed?
    >


    Fair question. The answer is when the overage charges are clearly
    unreasonable. I get unlimited usage for $80 a month. On a limited data
    plan, depending on you start paying from somewhere between 2-4 cents PER
    KILOBYTE, and thats UP and DOWN. Figure for example a month where someone
    on an unlimited plan and someone on a limited plan uses 100 megabytes each.
    The unlimited user pays $80. Say the limited plan is $45 for 30 megs,
    and say the overage charge is 3 cents per kilobyte. So the 70 meg overage
    charge is going to 70 x 1024 kb/meg x 0.03 = $2150. Say its 1 cent a
    kilobyte, 70 x 1024 x0.01 = $716.8 Say its a 1/2 cent, the overage runs
    $358.

    Now, how does Sprint get away with charging me $80 for 100 megs and some
    other schmoe hundreds of dollars? There are a few ways of looking at this,
    but I think most reasonable people would say Sprint has an inherently
    predatory pricing scheme on limited data plans.






  10. #10
    Frank Thomas
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.


    > .....I do for my $130 unlimited plan that I have. If I bought the wrong

    plan
    > it would be up to me to pay the bill and upgrade to a more appropriate
    > plan for the next month. Sprint has NO IDEA what my usage will be. It
    > is up to me to buy the correct plan. The pricing model for data is very
    > similar as for the phones (pay for incomin/outgoing calls,.....


    You are right, Sprint has no idea how you or I as individuals are going use
    your service, but,
    I am certain they have a well developed bell shaped curve for their customer
    base and can readily quantify
    the proportion of the customer base who will 1) opt for a lower price plan
    2) will go
    over it and 3) have identified this as a profit center of opportunity -
    preying on people who go over their base plans
    with price gouging surcharges.

    I go back to the example, I use a 100 megs, pay $80, Sprint's revenue is
    $80 cents a meg. Schmoe who buys a 30 meg plan and, like some people in
    the bell shaped curve, may have no idea how many kbytes are in a meg or
    how many megs are in a a typical web browsing session at say yahoo, and gets
    charged, min case, 358+45 = $403, or about 4 bucks a meg. If Sprint is
    making money on my $80, then they have to be making at least $320 profit
    on Schmoe's bill. (Especially when Schmoe says he can't find the data usage
    on his bill. Just for giggles, I went to check mine, and lo, the my
    account web page says the data is not available at this time - which is what
    it said when I looked at it 3 months ago. The only way I have to meter my
    usage is through the Merlin software, which just tells me usage per session,
    so I would have to keep a manual log to know my total monthly usage - now
    Schmoe says his software does not do do that, so how is he supposed to
    monitor his usage?)

    Should the buyer beware? Sure, this is a free market economy. Is Sprint
    entitled to collect something from Schmoe's overuse of his plan, even be
    punitive about it to a reasonable extent? No reasonable person would argue
    otherwise.
    But, in our economy, we also say things like, no price gouging for water
    and hotel rooms after a hurricane, things like interest and lending
    practices must be regulated to guard against lender abuse, and most
    utilities most places are regulated by some kind of public service
    commission so the lights stay on, the water flows and the toilet flushes

    To me, it looks Sprint's pricing structure for limited data plans is not
    only punitive, its crosses the line and is predatory.









  11. #11
    Scott
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 09:15:30 -0400, "Frank Thomas" <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    >
    >> .....I do for my $130 unlimited plan that I have. If I bought the wrong

    >plan
    >> it would be up to me to pay the bill and upgrade to a more appropriate
    >> plan for the next month. Sprint has NO IDEA what my usage will be. It
    >> is up to me to buy the correct plan. The pricing model for data is very
    >> similar as for the phones (pay for incomin/outgoing calls,.....

    >
    >You are right, Sprint has no idea how you or I as individuals are going use
    >your service, but,
    >I am certain they have a well developed bell shaped curve for their customer
    >base and can readily quantify
    >the proportion of the customer base who will 1) opt for a lower price plan
    >2) will go
    >over it and 3) have identified this as a profit center of opportunity -
    >preying on people who go over their base plans
    >with price gouging surcharges.
    >
    >I go back to the example, I use a 100 megs, pay $80, Sprint's revenue is
    >$80 cents a meg. Schmoe who buys a 30 meg plan and, like some people in
    >the bell shaped curve, may have no idea how many kbytes are in a meg or
    >how many megs are in a a typical web browsing session at say yahoo, and gets
    >charged, min case, 358+45 = $403, or about 4 bucks a meg. If Sprint is
    >making money on my $80, then they have to be making at least $320 profit
    >on Schmoe's bill. (Especially when Schmoe says he can't find the data usage
    >on his bill. Just for giggles, I went to check mine, and lo, the my
    >account web page says the data is not available at this time - which is what
    >it said when I looked at it 3 months ago. The only way I have to meter my
    >usage is through the Merlin software, which just tells me usage per session,
    >so I would have to keep a manual log to know my total monthly usage - now
    >Schmoe says his software does not do do that, so how is he supposed to
    >monitor his usage?)
    >
    >Should the buyer beware? Sure, this is a free market economy. Is Sprint
    >entitled to collect something from Schmoe's overuse of his plan, even be
    >punitive about it to a reasonable extent? No reasonable person would argue
    >otherwise.
    >But, in our economy, we also say things like, no price gouging for water
    >and hotel rooms after a hurricane, things like interest and lending
    >practices must be regulated to guard against lender abuse, and most
    >utilities most places are regulated by some kind of public service
    >commission so the lights stay on, the water flows and the toilet flushes
    >
    >To me, it looks Sprint's pricing structure for limited data plans is not
    >only punitive, its crosses the line and is predatory.
    >

    It could also be that they plan for how much data tranfers there might
    be in an area due to the plans purchased. If they have 95 people who
    purchase a 30 MB plan and only 5 people who purchase the unlimited
    plan, Sprint can make a reasonable assumption on how to allocate
    resources to this area as opposed to an area where 95 people purchase
    the unlimited plan and only 5 people purchase a smaller plan. Not
    everyone needs unlimited and are willing to pay a lesser rate for the
    access. This is not punitive, it is poor planning on the CUSTOMERS
    part,



  12. #12
    Frank Thomas
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.


    "Scott" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    .......
    > >
    > >To me, it looks Sprint's pricing structure for limited data plans is not
    > >only punitive, its crosses the line and is predatory.
    > >

    > It could also be that they plan for how much data tranfers there might
    > be in an area due to the plans purchased. If they have 95 people who
    > purchase a 30 MB plan and only 5 people who purchase the unlimited
    > plan, Sprint can make a reasonable assumption on how to allocate
    > resources to this area as opposed to an area where 95 people purchase
    > the unlimited plan and only 5 people purchase a smaller plan. Not
    > everyone needs unlimited and are willing to pay a lesser rate for the
    > access. This is not punitive, it is poor planning on the CUSTOMERS
    > part,...




    No arguement on some of that , buying a cheap plan and crossing your
    fingers you will be below the limits is not good planning. So is continuing
    to use it when you can't measure how much you used. Kinda like driving a car
    in which the gas gauge don't work.

    I am not sure about the "reasonable assumption" Sprint makes about how much
    usage occurs based on who pays what
    plan though. I think Sprint probably has a base cost for recovering capital
    invested in the equipment and then almost assuredly has costs that are
    proportional to usage. I would challenge someone in the industry to say
    it ain't so, but charging me 80 cents a meg for 100 megs and charging
    someone else $4 a meg for some bloke who wonked his estimate of usage, or
    didn't care, or couldn't find out, or what, can't be seen as anything other
    than opportunistic.

    We can back and forth on this, but lets put it another way: Supposed you
    booked a hotel, got a weekend special of $200 on a really great room at a
    swank joint, had such a great time decided to stay another day, and without
    thinking it through, told the front desk, I am staying anothe day. Next day
    you choke on his inroom coffee with a bill for $700. it seems the extra
    day is on week day rate and no discount, yahdayada.

    Are you stuck with the bill? Yup. Were you a dunderhead for not asking how
    much an extra night costs? Yup. Are you gonna pay the bill and self
    flaggellate yourself are you going to ask for consideration? Unless your
    rich, you will probably suck it, go to the front desk, cry the blues, and
    ask for some consideration. Are they going to give you any relief?
    Probably Not..

    Bottom line: How are you going to feel about the hotel and how soon are ae
    you going back and what will you tell your friends about the place?






  13. #13
    O/Siris
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
    says...
    > I am not sure about the "reasonable assumption" Sprint makes about how much
    > usage occurs based on who pays what
    > plan though. I think Sprint probably has a base cost for recovering capital
    > invested in the equipment and then almost assuredly has costs that are
    > proportional to usage. I would challenge someone in the industry to say
    > it ain't so, but charging me 80 cents a meg for 100 megs and charging
    > someone else $4 a meg for some bloke who wonked his estimate of usage, or
    > didn't care, or couldn't find out, or what, can't be seen as anything other
    > than opportunistic.
    >


    Is that supposed to be a negative, being opportunistic? Look, SPCS
    offers plans and are very up-front about those plans having limited
    usage. And SPCS *does* train reps in some rough figures to give
    customers an idea of usage. But, as SOME point, the customer has to
    accept responsibility for knowing what they've used.

    Now, in that regard, there *is* a fault in the system. But the Merlin
    software isn't the only means to determine usage. Reps at *2 *do* have
    the ability to see how much data usage has been incurred, and in fact we
    are warned to warn the customer about this. Call us back during that
    three months. That's what that first three months is for.

    And remember that, too. Three months in which overage is not charged,
    and the customer is able to just use the service and decide for himself
    or herself if that plan is right for what they intend or need to do.

    So, *if* the system was followed as it's designed to be used, then your
    analogy needs some modifying. You didn't just use that extra day once.
    You were given several warnings, didn't take note of the forgiven charge
    on your bill, and then, on the fourth such extra day, NOW you're
    complaining.

    Let me reiterate, though, that the OP's description of what happened
    suggests to me that the system was *not* explained to him, so, in his
    specific case, I think he's got a case. But I think equally as much
    that your general complaint does not.

    --
    RØß
    O/Siris
    -+-
    "A thing moderately good is not so good
    as it ought to be. Moderation in temper
    is always a virtue, but moderation in
    principle is always a vice."

    Thomas Paine, "The Rights of Man", 1792



  14. #14
    Joseph Huber
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 09:15:30 -0400, "Frank Thomas" <[email protected]>
    wrote:
    >To me, it looks [like] Sprint's pricing structure for limited data plans is not
    >only punitive, its crosses the line and is predatory.


    To me, a longtime Wireless Web user who would really like to upgrade
    to 3G, it looks like Sprint's entire data plan structure is really
    designed to deter me from buying a data plan.

    First, why make me buy a phone and a wireless card, and deal with two
    different phone numbers and pieces of hardware for voice and data?
    Obviously, because Sprint wants to make money, since there is no
    technological reason for it. Many Vision phones work fine as modems.
    Requiring two pieces of hardware is not user frienldy.

    Secondly, given the data transfer speeds that can be achived and the
    hardware investment, the cost of the data plans seems way too high for
    the service recieved. I get Comcast cable Internet (unlimited data
    transfer and I get their increased speed version in my area) for
    $50/month. Comcast is probably 15-20 times faster than what I would
    get with the data card, yet the unlimited data card plan costs over
    $100/month. Granted, I wouldn't be tied to a cable with the data
    card, but it's not like I'm free to roam anywhere I want to with the
    data card, I still have to be within the range of 3G Sprint tower.

    I'd be interested to know how successful Sprint has been at selling
    these data plans under their current scheme, or if they really care
    about selling data plans. To me, it seems like Sprint wants to be
    able to say that they have data capability, so the company looks
    progressive to shareholders and prospective investors, but that Sprint
    really doesn't want folks using their network for data. Sure,
    hardcore data users will buy the plans, but people like me, who travel
    occasionally and could use data while traveling, will be deterred
    because of the pricing and hardware costs.

    The Wireless Web modem is just getting too slow for the content of
    most websites now. I'll probably just get Vision, use it as a modem
    when I travel, and hope not to cross the magic threshold of abuse.
    Actually, with most airports and many medium priced hotels offering
    wireless Internet, I'm finding that I can get by ok without Wireless
    Web or Vision data.

    Joseph Huber
    [email protected]



  15. #15
    O/Siris
    Guest

    Re: Sprint PCS' Internet card overture dispute.

    In article <[email protected]>, Joseph=20
    [email protected] says...

    > Secondly, given the data transfer speeds that can be achived and the
    > hardware investment, the cost of the data plans seems way too high for
    > the service recieved. I get Comcast cable Internet (unlimited data
    > transfer and I get their increased speed version in my area) for
    > $50/month. Comcast is probably 15-20 times faster than what I would
    > get with the data card, yet the unlimited data card plan costs over
    > $100/month. Granted, I wouldn't be tied to a cable with the data
    > card, but it's not like I'm free to roam anywhere I want to with the
    > data card, I still have to be within the range of 3G Sprint tower.
    >=20


    I've only ever been able to speculate about this, because I=20
    never accepted the claim that heavy data usage of the=20
    phones as modems hurt the network.

    On the other hand, I think you skirted around the real=20
    reason: home-based broadband. Again, I'm speculating, but=20
    I've always thought the pricing structure was deliberately=20
    high so as to *not* compete with "wired" solutions like=20
    DSL, cable, etc. Sprint designed their network with an eye=20
    on the mobile worker, not on some generic consumer sitting=20
    at home on a PC that never goes anywhere.

    That's not to say that Vision *couldn't* support the=20
    stationary consumer. Only that a deliberate decision was=20
    made to design the system without that consumer in mind. =20
    And the pricing just simply works to deter that same=20
    consumer.

    BTW, I think the plans have done very well. As a Vision=20
    Tech, I was getting 2-3 calls per night during the troubles=20
    we had early this year. Almost all of them were truckers. =20
    Not as high-volume as phones, obviously. But definitely=20
    noticeable.

    --=20
    R=D8=DF
    O/Siris
    -+-
    **A thing moderately good is not so good as it=20
    ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a=20
    virtue, but moderation in principle is always a
    vice.**
    -Thomas Paine. The Rights of Man. 1792-



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