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Metro PCS CRAZY WIRELESS illigal credit card charges, scam, charging for no service. Ripoff San Bruno California
This was a scam done by both private retailer for Metro PCS and also Metro PCS itself. Only reason I even got the phone from them was because my fiancee was insistant on getting it from them though regretted it not soon after. Heres the complete story:
New mall opens up few blocks from our home so my fiancee and I go and check it out. She wanted another Metro PCS phone which is a phone and service that allows calls long distance 24/7 throughout the US as long as the calls origionate from CA. They were not completely set up so had to call first mine them my fiancees card up to the store to get it charged. Each card got declined and the store employee tells us the cards are stolen which I take back and tell him hes full of it. Turnes out these people the first time were completely stupid, as they did not put in the 3 digit number in back of our cards for processing. They rushed it and put in 000's causing any bank to stop a card as stolen. After talking to our banks, got the blocks lifted, and one card had to be reissued. I stupidly let my fiancee goad me into going back there.
This gets better. Same guy who screwed up last time offers the opening discount and I inform him of what he did last time and he said he realized after and there wont be any problems. He sells us the phone and instead of activating it, tells both my fiancee and I that his computer is down and on our contract he wrote what we had to do to activate the phone. We calk 20 feet to try activating the phone. Put in the code and get Metro PCS who asks for the phone ESN number, then asks for personal information then tells me my first billing date will be December 2nd of 2005, but since their systems down they cant activate the phone and could be a few days to 2 weeks before I can use the phone. (funny, this happened with my first phone, took 3 weeks then they charged me for new month on thrid week)I then inform the serive that Im 20 feet from their vendor and that Im not having a startup date for a phone not in service. If its going to take 3 weeks, then you are required to start the date then. She insisted that is not the case. I then told her iM returning the phone and hung up on her.
I go back to the kiosk and tell the guy to take the phone back now. If you cant give us a working phone we are not paying and Ill call my card right now to do chargeback. His computer somehow was suddenly working. (wow, not 14 days to 3 weeks?) and got the phone working. (its not over yet, nightmare just begins)
I get home and log into my email which by the way, informs me of EVERY charge done. I then see multiple CRAZY WIRELESS charge emails and Im thinking (Why am I getting repeat emails?) so I log into my account and see multiple charges that took place right after I left. He charged my card after I left probably thinking it be weeks before I found out. I call him up and inform him that unless he reverses the charges hes done to my card which by the way emptied my account, I was going to go there with a sheriff and personally place him under arrest. He said go for it and hung up.
Guy was a moron, and stupid as he sure as heck didnt know that the main San Bruno Police department was right next to his busilding. I went their first. All windows were closed and a phone to get an officer. Im furiouse now. I pick up the phone and an officer asks if she can help me. This is my reply to her. "I want an officer now. I dont want to hear this is civil, its not. The vendor right next to this building has comited cerdit card fraud and made multiple charges to my card after we left his kiosk thinking I wouldnt see it. Credit card fraud is a felony and unless I get an officer now, Im going into that mall and drag the vendor by the hair if I have to to this police station under citizen arrest wether anyone wants to see a scene or not!" Officer took some info, and in a few moments I was met by a police officer who asked me questions and then he and I took a walk over to the mall next door to the kiosk. The vendor was definately suprised. Probably thought I was bluffing and then realized he bit off more then he can chew. I confronted him in front of the officer who first states he charged my card again because I took his charge slip which both the officer and I knew he was lying, as if that was the case, he wouldnt have hd my card number to begin with. I called the card company by officers request who then talked with the merchant and had him do a printout right then and there of all the days charges. Officer asked the merchant how many phones I bought and the guy waited a bit before responding to one. Possably he was deciding wether to say it was more then probably realized he had no additional contracts to prove it. Officer then stated there should only be one and after talking to my bank with my permission saw that the emrchant in fact did do multiple charges and which my bank releaed to me after the officer told them that there was only one sale and should be only one charge. The officer also told me that merchants that do credit card fraud are forced to close up and are not allowed to sell in the mall and that the spots are hard to get. (My opinion he said this to scare the merchant)
I thanked the officer for his help and left the mall.
Despite I got my money back, Im reporting this as it wasnt the merchant who refunded my money, it was my bank after I had to get the police involved and dont want this happening to anyone else.
Scott
Sanbruno, California
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
trang
san jose,California,
United States of America
Its Crazy wireless not MetroPCS
#4Consumer Comment
Sun, March 07, 2010
I have also delt with these people and i am not happy at all. It is not just the San Bruno one. I have visited all 3 Crazy Wireless kiosks around the bay area. The owner or manager jumps to all locations during the week and promises up and down to fix your phone. I dont understand why this guy is still in business. After ocassional random mall shopping he will be at one of his stores. He will act suprised to see you all the time acting like he doesn't know why you are there. Please people do NOT trust this individual. For those that go often, you know who im talking about. Do get the police involved if he has scammed you. Crazy wireless need to learn their lesson. I am glad Scott did what he did. If not they would have just continued to charge him.
Scott
Sanbruno,California,
U.S.A.
Refunded
#4Author of original report
Mon, December 19, 2005
Never had to go to court on this matter. Corporate got a copy of the police report and made them refund me fully. I was offered another phone with $10 rebate which I kindly declined.Going back to my normal vendor.
Scott
Sanbruno,California,
U.S.A.
Update on Crazy Wirless
#4Author of original report
Tue, November 08, 2005
Totaly forgot to update this. Lot more has happened since this extra charges. The phone doesnt work unless plugged in, (Cell phones arent suppose to require a plug to operate except to charge the phone) Also no service. COnstantly get message if you attempt to use the phone NFS01 by recorded message. Turns out, the phone is a refurbished phone with new ISDN. Not sure if its METROPCS or CRAZY WIRELESS who did this. Anyways, I brought the phone back, and mind you this is the third day. The one who did the bogus charge must have known as he left the kiosk and never returned. Guy in his place I believe may be the owner. I give him the phone, and imidiately he tries to prove me wrong by pulling up the talk time which I believe comes from MetroPCS. In order to do this, he had to plug the phone in. Suprise suprise, 0 talk time. He then tells me now that he knows its defective "I can exchange it for a refurbished, but theres a 15% restocking fee" restocking fee to exchange a phone thats defective and not new? I tell him I dont think so, I want the phone returned. reply is "Returns are 15% restocking fee as well"
I then put the Metro PCS contract in front of him which would you believe METRO PCS states before you buy the phone isnt a contract but in relality is which states (If a cell phone is defective, or you are not satisfied it may be exchanged or refunded as long as it is returned within 7 days and as long as there are less then 100 minutes talk time.) Think 0 minutes counts at under 100.
Know what the owner states? "Contract doesnt state we arent allowed to charge a restocking fee,(note he did call it a contract) and it says on your receipt there is a restocking fee" Guess what, another place that doesnt post the terms by the register and also prints it on a recept after the transaction is done as it was debit.
I got the same officer that helped me as before. Unfortunately the end result despite the fact he knew the guy was dishonest was telling me it was civil matter, but put it all in a report for me. Now to describe what took place when I brought the officer back. First thing brought up was the fact the merchant sold me a used phone as new. Merchant tells me and officer that just because I bought a phone, it doesnt mean it will be new. Nor is it stated new or used on receipt. Yet get this, he got cought with this one. He told officer they have the restocking fee because once a phone goes out, they cant resell the phone as theres no way to add another 30 days to the phone for service. Can you say cought? Phone has to be new in order to have service, and the phone has no service because its used!.
By the way, I talked with METRO PCS who doesnt stand behind their contracts. Despite what their paper says, soon as there is any legal matter, they state the merchant is a private sellor, and may go by their own terms.
By the way, this has me a bit confused as I asked about the service which they stated I have and a lot of nonsence of why I get the no service message of NFS01. Far as they are consearned, the countdown from date of purchase is going and if I dont pay on december 2nd the phone will be shut off. Funny, phones off now, and broken to boot. Think both the merchants and phone company need some seriouse fines.
Btw, police report states the illigal extra charges from first time and also the dishonesty of the merchant. THink its time for small claims.