Complaint Review: InPhonic

I have received numerous spam emails touting a free Nokia 3390 and unfortuantely, I read one of them and decided to order. The actual day I did this was Dec. 21, 2001. I went all the way through the small print etc and was promised a Nokia 3390 for basically, $9.99 shipping and the phone was free. I went through with the online sign up thing and just before committing my credit card number to the server, I decided to call the 800 number and order instead. The monotone script-reader at the other end of the line basically re-iterated everything that was on the webpage - you will only be charged for shipping, etc etc.

So on Dec 23 I get this Nokia with an invoice enclosed quoting almost $150 in fees! I call inphonic, ask them what the hell, and their rude person on the phone says it wasn't their charge, but Voicestream's "fee". I said this wasn't detailed on your web page nor in the phone call, and this smells like a rat, so I am returning the phone. It says here in the small print that I may be subject to $25 restocking fee, I can live with that. I also Call Voicestream, and they reassure me that I will not get a bill, that I never activated the phone anyway.

I shipped the phone out to them overnight on Dec 26 and have proof they received it in Largo MD on Dec 27. Surprise surprise, the January credit card bill - that &%$#@ $150 fee is still on there. So now I call Discover and tell them to do a chargeback and complain about the InPhonic. They say they will credit my account, research the charges and let me know their decision. Several weeks later I get the February Discover bill, and the d**n charges are reinstated? I mean WTF? I'mpaying $150 for a phone I never used, never activated, and to who? Those inphonic people are so rude on the phone. Please do yourself a favor and don't order through them.

And the worst part is, I still get spam from them! Same ad, same deal! "Free Nokia phone!" Arrrgh.