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Cricket Communications Cricket Wireless continued charging for service after cancellation San Diego, California
I used Cricket for a few months in 2010. I was charged monthly through recurring debits directly from my bank account. In December, I moved to Canada. Once I crossed the border, the phone became useless, not being able to send or receive any kind communication. I called shortly after arriving to cancel my Cricket service. I'd like to mention as well, that everyone I talked to at Cricket's 1-800 line understood english and spoke english very well, but had heavy foreign accents.
I talked to the representative on the phone (December 28, 2010), I told her I wanted to cancel my service as it is now useless. She confirmed there is no service where I am in Canada, and offered me another month of service to find somebody to take over payments and use my phone. I explained to her that would be impractical and I'd simply like to cancel my service.
The representative continued to attempt to talk me out of cancelling service, to which I refused all offers and demanded that the account be cancelled. I've dealt with call center representatives before and I fully understand it is their job to do what they can to keep me as a customer. Concerned about possible language barriers, in very simple terms, I expressed sternly that I simply needed my service cancelled. Eventually, the conversation seemed to have reached a resolution. Just before hanging up, I explained once more that I wished to not be billed any further and for the service to be cancelled. I was reassured it was done and I hung up.
I recently checked the bank account I had in the states and noticed Cricket had continued to charge me for monthly service. I was not charged for the month immediately after I called to cancel, but in February and March, I was charged for full service. I called once again to request a refund and make sure once again the service would be cancelled.
I explained to the representative what had happened, that I had called 3 months ago to cancel, but they continued to charge me, and I'd like a refund. The representative had "apologized for the incovenience" (a phrase repeated many times today) BUT they could not give me a refund, because they have a "no refund" policy, which she said was clearly stated on the website. I told her that these charges were unauthorized and I demanded a refund. She persisted in telling me the would not give me any refund what so ever. I requested to speak to a supervisor.
On the phone with the supervisor, I was once again denied a refund. He proceded to check their records to see if I had indeed called previously to cancel. He confirmed that I indeed called to cancel, but I had decided to keep the service. I told him that was impossible as the phone is completely useless here. He told me, as if I was trying to cheat them, that their phone calls with customers were recorded, seemingly implying that I was lying to him. I pleaded with him to listen to that phone call I made in December, and he would hear me repeatedly demand that my service be cancelled. He refused to listen to the recorded conversation, and continued to refuse me a refund.
I realized that talking to the supervisor was getting me nowhere closer to my refund, and I ended the phone call at that point. I'm not sure what else to do right now. I'm going to attempt to contact their head office as soon as I can get some information, but I'm realizing that their contact info is hard to find. I can only rationalize this as straight up theft of my money. I plan on doing what I can to get my money back. They can't tell me I didn't cancel my service when I called in December. If they indeed record those conversations, there is irrefutable proof I demanded my account to be turned off.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Nick
United States of AmericaCall Your Bank
#3Consumer Suggestion
Tue, March 22, 2011
First, let me start by saying I also use cricket wireless and as of today they have angered me greatly. The difference is that i chose to be a pay-go customer on the unlimited $35.00 a month plan and I have for no reason whatsoever been shorted about five days on my account out of the $35.00 a month (30 days) plan I am on. I prepay $35.00 and am supposed to get 30 days of unlimited service.
I kept getting text messages just days after I had topped up my account that I only had a few days left on my account and that I should top up.
I was told by customer service to ignore these messages and they were sent in error. So, I did, and seemingly for the most part they were sent in error. How does that explain my account being completely shut-off for no reason five days early though, and when i try to call *PAY to make a payment it says there is no account associated with my phone! WOW am I amazed at how great of a company cricket wireless is.....
Anyways, on to your solution. I am sure this will work as I've had to do it for other companies that like to rip people off. Call your bank and dispute the charges. Tell your bank that they were in no way authorized, and you would like to block cricket from being able to ever charge your account again. You might have a few hoops to jump through, and it might take a few phone calls, but eventually you'll be successful. Then you won't have to deal with their b/s any longer.
Mike
LAKESIDE,California,
U.S.A.
think about it
#3Consumer Comment
Sun, March 13, 2011
all you really need to know about the company is that they do not own any cell sites or equipment, they just sell phones and time on the real cell phone companies systems