Complaint Review: MCI Worldcom Wireless

I had began my relationship with worldcom wireless last April 2001. I had gotten a "Free Phone" due to my good credit and didn't even have to pay an activation fee of $15. This was at a kiosk in Carlsbad, California. The plan that i had agreed to and signed up for was $34.99 plus about $3.95 for insurance on the phone which i thought was well worth it.

I agreed to be billed this amount monthly adding for additional calls made outside of the purchased minutes. My phone worked fine.

A month or so had gone by and I hadn't gotten a bill from Worldcom Wireless. I was concerned. I had called them to see about that and apparently they said I didn't have an account with them that they have no record of my number. I was in shock. I felt like i had a free phone but it was aggrevating because i couldn't understand how a major company can let a customer slip through the cracks as i have and not just for one month, but about six months. Since Worldcom Wireless had not fullfilled their agreement with me and couldn't collect their money as they agreed for six months then how can my agreement with them hold water.

I was put on hold for 30 minutes or more and then just to be more confused upon closing the phone call or even worse redirected to other 800 numbers which made me wait to be helped. The following are all numbers I have called trying to rectify the situation : 800-632-9372, 888-642-2089, 800-449-2269, 800-254-8991, 877-294-0112, 800-983-2220, and 866-926-6669. I still can't believe that even calling all those numbers not one person answering the phone could be of any service. I am amazed they are in business at all, but still the stroy continues.

I finally recieved a bill in September in the amount of $75.17. It was the only billed i recieved and i payed it in full upon reciept. I was happy to have gotten billed, ironically, but the amount it was for really stuck me as odd. I know i didn't sign a contract agreeing to pay nothing until September and then only have to pay $75.17. Paying that bill made me feel better knowing that now my account it recognized. I then tryed to switch my number to a local Albany NY number since I had moved. I was informed that Worldcom Wireless does not own any phone numbers in this area, they were all owned by another company(Monopoloy anyone).

Anyway, I tryed to use the phone a month after recieving the bill and dialing a friend I was alarmed that my call patched directly to accounts receivable. They informed me that my phone is temporarily out of service due to an outstanding balance of $478.64. I told them that was ridiculous. I don't get billed for all this time and now they bill me this lump sum. Not to mention a month ago when i got a bill for 75.17 it said nothing of this past due money. In one month I ran up a $400 phone bill.

If they decided to all of a sudden bill me for the months not accounted for how do I know what i am being charged for. they didn't have a record of my account at first so how would they know if i was withing my 1000 minutes or not. I told them I would not pay anything unless i received a written invoice.
If you are playing devils advocate you may be saying in defense of this company that i knew i owed payments and that i should have sent them money anyway to be safe. I would like to point out that i was not about to send money to a company that had no record of my account, not to mention I had no idea about where to send the payment.

I hope that all who read this learn benefit in knowing how horribly run this company is.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Vanacore

Click here to read other Rip-off Reports on MCI Worldcom