Complaint Review: Cingular Wireless

I am disputing this bill with Cingular Wireless for the following reasons:

It was never explained to my husband or to me that we could cancel this contract by paying a fee. My husband took out the account in February 2002. We were billed for two lines instead of one line per customer with two phones - mobil to mobil account as was purchased. The account plan was for $69.99 a month for 2 phones with 400 minutes and mobil to mobil. We were charged $139.98 for the first months bill. Donald would call every month have a long discussion with Cingular to get this rectified.

Then they would state they would credit our account properly. In May they talked us into upgrading the account from 400 minutes time to 1000 minutes of time stating this would rectify the problem. My husband tried to explain to them we had not used up our minutes - we never went over the 400 minute limitation. However, he did agree to up the phone $10.00 a month to increase the minutes to 1000 per month. Cingular again kept charging us for two cell phone lines.

In July 2002, I called Cingular to tell them I disputed with this account and wanted to cancel the account. I was told that I needed my husband's social security number to verify the account - which I did not have at the time of the call. I called Cingular back the next day with the social security number readily available. Cingular told me they could not discuss this account with me because my name is not on the account. the account was paid through October 2002. My husband then quit paying with the idea that if he quit paying for services the account would be canceled. Now they are charging us $584.62 for a phone we did not use due to the service we were getting from Cingular.

After receiving a bill stating we owed Cingular $ 584.62, I again called Cingular on February 3, 2003 at 8:15 a.m. central time to be told they could not discuss this account with me as I am not on the account. Cingular after being on hold for took my social security number stated they would transfer me to someone regarding past due accounts. After being transferred I was again told they could not discuss this account without my husband's social security number.

I called Cingular back to try to resolve this problem. I got the social security number and called Cingular. I talked to the lady there who said she was making notes as to this conversation. I gave Cingular the account number and my husband's social security number. Cingular then told me they could not discuss this account with me as I am not the one listed on this account.

My husband called Cingular and tried to discuss this bill with them. He asked Cingular if they could cut this into four payments and allow him to make payment plus cancel the service. Cingular replied we are not allowed to let you make payments on this account as it past due. It has been canceled due to the past owed bill. However, it will be sent to a credit collection company and you can make payments to them.

As my husband was talking to Cingular on February 3, 2002, Cingular they told him he could have paid 150.00 to cancel the account. He told them he had contacted Cingular on several ocassions regarding their overcharging him. This is the first we ever knew of the 150.00 cancelation option. They said they have no notes as to him calling them but they did show where there had been adjustments made to the account. My husband told Cingular on February 3, 2003- that I had tried to call them regarding the bill and they refused to discuss this bill with me as Cingular states that his wife is not on the account. However, the bill is made out to my husband and me. Therefore, I believe they would have my name on the account or they could not include it on the billing statement.

I believe Cingular is a rip off. I dispute these charges do to Cingular not willing to explain in full the contract and also refusing to discuss the bill with me.

Ruth
Topeka, Kansas
U.S.A.

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