Complaint Review: MCI

I received an offer from MCi offering me 5,000 Northwest Worldperks miles and first month free if I joined "The Neighborhood" plan for $49.95 a month. On Dec. 23, 2002, I called to check into it. I talked with Customer Service Rep by the name of Terry (female).

After spending quite a bit of time on the phone with her, she informed me that this plan was not offered yet in my area. However, she offered me another plan, 500 Anytime Anywhere minutes for $29.99 which included in-state, out-of-state, and local long distance calling with 6 cents a minute charge over the first 500 minutes. I asked about the 5,000 airline miles.

She said she would give me a 5,000 mile bonus if I signed up PLUS 500 miles per month for as long as the plan stayed in effect. I was hesitant to switch. She then offered me the first month free as in the Neighborhood Plan. Still being hesitant, she stated "if you switch to MCI, right now, I will give you 10,000 bonus miles, plus 1,000 miles per month for each month the plan remains in effect, plus the first month free."

Dumb me took the bait. I then get my "welcome package" from MCI stating "your new rates are in-state, 12 cents/minute; local long distance, 10 cents/minutes; state-to-state, 20 cents, 30 cents, 35 cents/minute depending on the day and time and $6/month service charge." I instantly called them and they claimed they set me up on the "wrong" program.

I asked about my free month, my 10,000 bonus miles, and the 1,000 miles per month. They denied ever offering me this and were only willing to give me 500 miles.

I immediately cancelled my account and went back to Sprint the same day, Jan. 4, 2003. I now am getting threatening phone calls and letters from MCI, a collection agency for bills I never created, namely some d**n international calling plan I never signed up for which they started billing me for on Jan. 5, 2003, the day after I cancelled my account with them.

Deception, fraud, and a bunch of headaches to go along with it. They should be sued! I can't get rid of them either, nor am I sending them one lousy penny!

Jan
Mellen, Wisconsin
U.S.A.