Planet Wireless - T-Mobile Planet Wireless ripped me off $100.00 for phone T-Mobile ripped me off for service San Antonio Texas
7/26/04: Purchased T-Mobile cell phone and service from Planet Wireless in San Antonio Texas. Was ASSURED by salesman, Anthony, that service would be available in my area in rural Georgia....even after I specifially asked that question.
7/29/04: Within 100 miles of my home, got "No serice" message on phone. Called Planet Wireless from my home and was told to call T-Mobile.
7/30/04: Called T-Mobile and told them situation and WHERE I purchased phone. Was told it would be at least a year before service will be available within a 50-100 mile radius of my home. Contract was cancelled (supposedly) and was given address in Augusta, GA (60 miles from my home) to return phone for "100% refund."
8/2/04: Drove to Augusta to return phone. Was told, pretty much, "Too bad."...even though T-Moble sent me there! Was told to return phone to Planet Wireless...1300 miles away! Came home and called Planet Wireless. Was told to package phone and send back to Planet Wireless for "full refund."
8/5/04: Paid to have phone overnighted to Planet Wireless so it would be within mandated 14 days of purchase (they required this even though THEY are the ones who gave me the wrong information during the sale and sold me a worthless phone).
8/7/04: According to US Post Office, phone was delivered on this day. Anthony at Planet Wireless confirmed when I called him later that he had taken delivery himself.
8/20/04: Called Planet Wireless to see what was hold up on refund. Anthony told me that he had in fact gotten the phone back in "perfect condition." (The phone was still brand new!). Anthony gave me phone number of main office and told me to speak with Val Palmer. Val Palmer was not in when I called. Message and return number left.
8/21-8/25: Numerous messages left for Mr. Palmer. No response.
8/25/04: Called main office and asked to speak with owner. After putting me on hold, secretary told me that owner was on another line and took my number. I called back in 30 minutes and was told by the same lady that owner had "left two hours ago." When confronted with the discrepancy in time (she had JUST told me he was there!), she became nasty. I became miffed and told her what a shoddy operation I thought they were running there. She told me, "That just went in one ear and out the other." I told her to put this in her ear and then tell it to her boss: "If I don't have my refund in five days, I will spatter your name all over the net and contact every consumer protection agency I can find."
9/7/04: Received a BILL from T-Mobile for $50.43. Called them to remind them that contract was cancelled. Their answer: "Well you did use the phone when you had it!" I responded that even Ma Bell doesn't charge over 50 bucks for ONE DAY's service and that I had used only 65 minutes anyway. They said they would take $35.00 off the bill. I said "NO DEAL!" They sent me on a 120 mile round trip wild goose chase to Augusta and if anything, they owed ME money! I told them that I will not pay this and it had better not show up on my credit. The man I spoke with was just as nasty as he could be. I then called the Federal Consumer Protection Agency and was given several addresses to complain to. I called Planet Wireless ONE MORE TIME to give them the opportunity to do the right thing. Val Palmer would not take my call.
I really need help with this. I want Planet Wireless to return my money for the phone and after all this, to pay AT LEAST $25.00 for the long distance phone calls I have had to make. I want T-Mobile to wipe the slate clean. I don't feel that I owe them a thing. It is just redicuous what we consumers have to put up with in today's world! Thank you so much,
Beth Mother of an American Soldier (I was visiting him in Texas when all this happened!)
Beth
30434, Georgia
U.S.A.
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6 Updates & Rebuttals
Jimbo831
Lawrence,Kansas,
U.S.A.
RE: Planet Wireless
#7UPDATE Employee
Thu, August 09, 2007
I understand your position John and I know that there are many good dealers at third party dealers. But, you can't imagine the amount of calls I take from people who are promised rediculous things by indirect dealers. Unfortuantely not all of them are as honest as you seem to be and will do anything to get that contract and get that comission.
It's not just Planet Wireless or any other dealers. I have received calls about so many different stores, I can't count them all. You are right that the other employee shouldn't make assumptions about your situation, but it is hard to believe that all these customers who call us complaining about outside dealers are all making it up.
John
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
From Planet Wireless
#7UPDATE Employee
Mon, January 29, 2007
Planet Wireless let go of Anthony shortly after the who incident. As far as T-Mobile remarks, they should not be critizing third party dealers. T-Mobile has a habit of doing that, they rely on us to sell phones for them but will not back their dealer. We canceled our dealer contract with T-Mobile. They have little to no dealer support and only allow dealers to sell service with local area codes where the dealer is located.
If the customer changes the area code within the first six months, T-Mobile does not pay the dealer ANY commission, So in the last example, unlike what t-mobile wants you to think, We didnt make ANY commission on that deal if she went to GA anyways. And if the company loses the commission, the sales person does also.
We only sell Sprint (the HAVE the largest mobile broadband and all digtal network in the USA) and Pocket in our stores. Not sure why your refund was not taken care of promptly but T-Mobile reps have no authority or ground to speculate on the activities of Planet Wireless or any other dealer.
Giovanni Petrone
General Manager, Webmaster
Planet Wireless
John
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
From Planet Wireless
#7UPDATE Employee
Mon, January 29, 2007
Planet Wireless let go of Anthony shortly after the who incident. As far as T-Mobile remarks, they should not be critizing third party dealers. T-Mobile has a habit of doing that, they rely on us to sell phones for them but will not back their dealer. We canceled our dealer contract with T-Mobile. They have little to no dealer support and only allow dealers to sell service with local area codes where the dealer is located.
If the customer changes the area code within the first six months, T-Mobile does not pay the dealer ANY commission, So in the last example, unlike what t-mobile wants you to think, We didnt make ANY commission on that deal if she went to GA anyways. And if the company loses the commission, the sales person does also.
We only sell Sprint (the HAVE the largest mobile broadband and all digtal network in the USA) and Pocket in our stores. Not sure why your refund was not taken care of promptly but T-Mobile reps have no authority or ground to speculate on the activities of Planet Wireless or any other dealer.
Giovanni Petrone
General Manager, Webmaster
Planet Wireless
John
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
From Planet Wireless
#7UPDATE Employee
Mon, January 29, 2007
Planet Wireless let go of Anthony shortly after the who incident. As far as T-Mobile remarks, they should not be critizing third party dealers. T-Mobile has a habit of doing that, they rely on us to sell phones for them but will not back their dealer. We canceled our dealer contract with T-Mobile. They have little to no dealer support and only allow dealers to sell service with local area codes where the dealer is located.
If the customer changes the area code within the first six months, T-Mobile does not pay the dealer ANY commission, So in the last example, unlike what t-mobile wants you to think, We didnt make ANY commission on that deal if she went to GA anyways. And if the company loses the commission, the sales person does also.
We only sell Sprint (the HAVE the largest mobile broadband and all digtal network in the USA) and Pocket in our stores. Not sure why your refund was not taken care of promptly but T-Mobile reps have no authority or ground to speculate on the activities of Planet Wireless or any other dealer.
Giovanni Petrone
General Manager, Webmaster
Planet Wireless
John
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
From Planet Wireless
#7UPDATE Employee
Mon, January 29, 2007
Planet Wireless let go of Anthony shortly after the who incident. As far as T-Mobile remarks, they should not be critizing third party dealers. T-Mobile has a habit of doing that, they rely on us to sell phones for them but will not back their dealer. We canceled our dealer contract with T-Mobile. They have little to no dealer support and only allow dealers to sell service with local area codes where the dealer is located.
If the customer changes the area code within the first six months, T-Mobile does not pay the dealer ANY commission, So in the last example, unlike what t-mobile wants you to think, We didnt make ANY commission on that deal if she went to GA anyways. And if the company loses the commission, the sales person does also.
We only sell Sprint (the HAVE the largest mobile broadband and all digtal network in the USA) and Pocket in our stores. Not sure why your refund was not taken care of promptly but T-Mobile reps have no authority or ground to speculate on the activities of Planet Wireless or any other dealer.
Giovanni Petrone
General Manager, Webmaster
Planet Wireless
John
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
U.S.A.
be very careful when dealing with purchasing ANYTHING and making sure that you are getting it directly from the "horses mouth "
#7UPDATE Employee
Thu, September 09, 2004
Beth I would first like to say I am sorry to hear of your poor experience with our company.
Planet wireless is an Indirect dealer that sells phones for other major companies like sprint and att and verizona and nextel and tmobile. Unfortunately indirect dealer provide almost %50 percent of business to large companies due to the fact that they are aggressive salespeople that contact others at their homes and through email and by phone so that they can earn their commissions. It is unfortunate when an indirect dealer provides a customer with such shoddy service that the main company is affected by it.
as a consumer I advise yourself and all others out there to be very careful when dealing with purchasing ANYTHING and making sure that you are getting it directly from the "horses mouth " as it were.
If you had called tmobile directly or checked out our website at tmobile.com we have coverage maps that would have shown there there is no coverage currently in your area.
When it comes to the phone that you purchased from planet wireless my suggestion to you would be to contact your credit card company and speak with them about what you can do to get the charge for your phone reversed off your account especially since you should have proof with your mail receipt that the phone was returned and the purchase was not kept. they might be able to help you with that.... Tmobile never got the money for that phone and will not be able to help you there.
The instructions for returning your phone also should have come inside the original box that your phone was in if you choose not to keep it unless for some reason planet wireless declined to include them as they are supposed to. the reason you were unable to return your phone to the tmobile store was because it was not originally owned by tmobile and therefore we had no right to take it back and no way to refund money we never took...
as to your first bill .... that included a one time $35 activation fee that all customers are required to pay if the do not cancel the account... I see that tmobile offered to waive that activation fee because you cancelled your phone within the 14 day "buyers remorse" period of time... in which we waive any contract or penalty fees on the account... however trial periods are not free if the phone is used... the prorated period of time that the phone was used before the contract was cancelled is valid charges and should be charged... whether or not the phone was used at home or elsewhere.. it was still used so the airtime charges are valid. and the service is charged base on a 30 day month not how many minutes you use so if your plan happens to be 29.99 per month you are charged $1 prorated charges for each day of use and so on. (example based on the $29 plan only math works the same for every plan though)
you are certainly welcome to report planet wireless to our consumer relations dept. in most cases what we do when we receive enough complaints about a company that works as an indirect dealer is we refuse to do business with them. the address to write to is
Customer Relations
T-Mobile Customer Relations
PO Box 37380
Albuquerque, NM 87176-7380
good luck with getting the phone off your credit card.