Cingular Wireless ripoff Deceptive company con artists scammed and lied to us Los Angeles California
I bought my service plan and phone at a Cingular booth at a local mall. I had to prematurely cancel my contract due to an unemployment situation.
I was aware that there would be a cancellation fee, and I was fine with that. I was told that the cancellation fee was $150/phone at the time I signed up for the contract.
Due to the economic situation, I felt it was in my best interest to cancel the phone and have a one time charge of $300 (2 phones) than to continue with the service. So I cancelled.
Little did I know when I was signing the contract, I was also signing a contract for a company called Mobile Systems Wireless. I was at a Cingular booth with no mention of a company called Mobile Systems Wireless.
Come to find out, both parties for which I signed the contracts for (Unknowingly with Mobile Systems Wireless)each had their own cancellation fee of $150/phone
So my charge wasn't $300 it was $600 to cancel. I did not know this at the time I cancelled. I distinctly remember asking the sales rep how much it would cost to get out, and was told $150/phone.
I was lied to, deceived, and downright robbed. I wouldn't have signed the contract if I would have known it was going to cost $600 to get out. Further, I wouldn't have cancelled, but rather would have switched to a lower cost plan.
Now I am stuck with a phone that is shut off, out $300 from Mobile Systems Wireless, and now Cingular wants $300.
I was deceived because I thought I was signing one contract from Cingular Wireless when in reality it was two contracts. I was lied to by the rep when he told me $150/phone. He did not say $300/phone.
Im furious with this company and only wish somebody would stop them from doing this to consumers. This is outrageous. Any help/suggestions from anyone????
Matthew
Arlington, Washington
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Branden
Inland Empire,California,
U.S.A.
I am one of the most reputable salespeople in the company
#4UPDATE Employee
Wed, June 23, 2004
I have worked for mobile system wireless for 3 years now. I am one of the most reputable salespeople in the company month to month since I started.
People have to remember, when a customer runs across a situation they dont like, they dont always tell the truth. You have to keep in mind that some people are aware of some things, but they dont like paying extra or something of that sort, so they'll fib to get out of it.
Mind you, some people DO get lied to and DO get mislead, but those salespeople who perform those types of transactions dont last in the business.
People in the call center should have no say in this, they have a biased opinion on MSWireless because they sit down on their a*s all day and listen to people COMPLAIN. If they worked at a call center where people called in to THANK cingular, it would be the exact opposite.
In the end, just remember it could go either way, if the salesperson could lie, so could the customer. Keep in mind the "BUYERS ARE LIARS" rule, never ALWAYS assume the worst.
I believe most of the complaints and feedback about MSW that is negative is miscommunication or misunderstanding, more than misleading or false information.
THANKS.
Lauri
Harrison,Arkansas,
U.S.A.
Mislabled Rip-off
#4UPDATE Employee
Mon, February 24, 2003
As an employee of a REPUTABLE Cingular Wireless agent, I feel that this complaint was unfairly labeled against Cingular. The real scammers in this deal are Mobile Systems Wireless. I do agree with the former customer service rep, if your husband calls in and calmly explains that he was not informed by the kiosk agent that there was another company involved and that they failed to provide him with their policies, I am confident that Cingular will work with him on this.
I get calls every day from folks who see ads for Cingular service via other agents, and although the service is provided by Cingular, the agents are less than honest about THIER policies, and sometimes about Cingular's as well. Speaking of policies, it IS Cingular's policy to not discuss accounts with persons who are not listed on the account, and there is a good reason for that. I've seen many accounts where folks called in POSING as the account holder, made changes to the account that the account holder was unaware of, ran up HUGE bills, then didn't pay.
All the while, the account holder was responsible and had no idea that the changes had been made. If your name shows on the outside of the envelope when your bill arrives, then you are considered to be an authorized user of the account and can therefore make changes and/or discuss the account.
If it does not, then the account holder (your husband) can very easily call Cingular and have you added to the account. I hope you get your problems straightened out, and next time, please choose a good agent to handle your wireless account. A good agent makes all the difference!
Alicia
merced,California,
U.S.A.
Mobile Systems Wireless
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, December 11, 2002
I used to work for Cingular Wireless Customer Care Call Center and I had to deal with numerous complaints from customers in regards to Mobile Systems Wireless. Unfortunately, they are all about volume and so Cingular continues to do business thru them. There have been so many complaints its not even funny. They lie to get your business and then could care less when something goes wrong.
In my opinion Cingular should eat the cost and if I still worked there, I would gladly credit you the ETF's on each phone. My recommendation to you is this.
Call Customer care again. Argue the fact that you were lied to, you know that MSW does this repeatedly and that you will take it to the CPUC and BBB if not rectified and ETF's waived. They can and should do this for you. I have seen it done time and time again.
If it is not done, then by all means, contact the BBB and the CPUC, as well as send a letter to the Office Of The President, P.O. Box 755 Atwater, CA 95301. The staff in the office of the president are wonderful people and strive to make right where MSW goes wrong. Hope this helps :)