Complaint Review: Cingularwireless - Carol Stream Illinois

I'm a current ATT user still, I really hate the way they actually handled the merger, first they did not state that they would treat this as two different companies for the life of the contract, originally I got two very expensive phones, a Motorola MPX200 that was about $350 and a Audiovox Smart phone for my wife that was about the same. When Cingular took over the coverage did not get any better for the ATT customers, the plans they have are not getting any better like they used to be when the ATT network was still available. They have completely frozen all the offers ATT customers have, obviously, they are honoring the contracts, but what is that doing for me when the Cingular network is advancing and the ATT is pretty much left dead. I would gladly swtich to Cingular and sign another 2 year contract if they give me similar phones, they have told me numerous times that I have to buy new ones or get the crappy phones they offer for little money. So to say that we're better off because we can get free phones or dirt cheap, I spent almost 700 dollars in two phones that they are telling me are useless because they won't work in the cingular network. That I feel not fair at all, the plans at Cingular are a lot better than the ones I have, but of course I have no choice unless I switch to Cingular, which means another 600-700 dollars if I wnat something equivalent to what I have now. That by no means is like having a merger between MacDonals and Burger King, tha is a pretty stupid comparison, when you have a contract that you can't get out of, plus when you have to buy a table that is worth 300 dollars so you can eat at Burger king and then they tell you you can't use the table at the McDonnals, then you would be ripped off as well. Hopefully my contract will expire in a few months and then I can switch to a different network.

Did you know that AT&T started to phase out TDMA service almost 2 full years before talks of Cingular purchasing them existed? Your service would have gotten just as bad regardless. This, i know was communicated to all of their customers, nationwide, in bill inserts, on television, newspaper, internet, everywhere. Cingular simply purchased AT&T, BECAUSE their networks were compatible. Neither company breeched a contract, or customer/company aggreement by upgrading their service, to the type of network that the rest of the world is using. You can no longer buy an 8track player, or 8track tapes, correct? Was the electronics industry doing customers wrong by advancing their technology in the US and keeping up with the rest of the world? Yes, your service on your TDMA network will still work...poorly. Why? Because Cingular spent big bucks to finish re-vamping the network that AT&T started. It's the largest wireless network in the country. No, I'm not a Cingular advocate. They laid me off b/c of the buyout. As they did with thousands of employees, both from Cingular and AT&T, nationwide. BUT, what I am saying is simple... They told you what was happening. In fact, if you actually took a close look at your bills, you would have seen inserts in about 2001 from AT&T telling you about THEIR GSM network. Customers on the AT&T network, as well as existing Cingular customers, were given MANY options, including dirt cheap phones to existing AT&T customers for switching to Cingular, something Cingular customers DIDN'T get offered. If you don't like your TDMA network, leave. It's that simple. Or, get your free phones, get the better network, and sign the contract... same thing you have to do everywhere else. It's business. And it's not unfair business either. Remember, the FCC oversaw the entire buyout, including contract negotiations. Too bad, So sad. Stop crying.

Steve indicated that they HAVE to provide us with written notice of changes and give us the option to leave with no penalties.....We have received NOTHING in writing of all the changes that have occured with our account, not even the termination of the TDMA service. I have read every paper, every bill, absolutely everything I have received from Cingular (and I have kept it all). So I have not missed any notice. The Cingular rep I spoke to even agreed that no notice had been given on these issues.

I am an AT&T wireless customer....and when I contact Cingular I am told that our phones are STILL AT&T Wireless. The AT&T customers who do not wish to migrate to Cingular and want to finish out our contracts are getting screwed. And NO Cingular has continued to make changes to our service WITHOUT the option to end our contracts without being penalized with the early termination fees. My service has continually been reduced, often we have "No Service" and theses areas of no service are getting larger. Our calls do not go through (I have stood next to my boyfriend and called his phone yet his phone does not ring and vice versa. Text messages get delivered days after sending them. They changed our text messaging options without our consent, allowing them to bill us many times more than our plan stated. They removed our ability to view our bills online and the ability to pay online (which I always used). Now I pay by phone, but even that takes be 3-4-5 attempts before I can get the payment processed. Sometimes I'm told our billing info is not available and other times its because I can get a call that is clear enough for the computer to process my key punched info. These are just some of the problems. I actually spoke to a Cingular rep in their business division (our account is a business account) and explained that our service is getting worse and worse and asked what we are suppose to do if our service becomes nonexistent(we are on TDMA which is being phased out). I was told nothing. We were sold these TDMA phones with the expectation of being able to receive service for two years. It was known by AT&T that the buyout was happening (we did not find out until about 45 days after we got the phones, too late to cancel). So Cingular bought out AT&T, they also bought the contracts. Therefore, they should fulfill those contracts. I'm willing to fulfill my end but it appears that they will terminate the tdma service before our contract expires and we will have no service... So NO Steve, they are not being fair and are ripping off AT&T holdouts. How is that not a rip-off?

I Agree with steve whole heartedly. If Cingular called you and said sign a new contract or we'll cancel your service and charge you the $175, that would be a ripoff. You existing plan is grandfathered. They are not making you change anything. You can keep the same plan, same terms and same phone that you originally purchased. If you want a new phone they will have you sign a new contract. AT&T would of had you do the same if you stayed with them. It's a industry wide standard to sign contracts on upgrades. The company got bought out. Their plans are gone, their phones are gone, and their billing platform is going to be gone. How do you want to sign up for something that dosen't exist anymore?

First, it was NOT a "merger". AT&T wireless no longer exists. Cingular PURCHASED AT&T wireless. You do have rights. If they change any of the terms of your EXISTING contract, they have to give you 30 days written notice, and you have the right to opt out and close your account without penalty. They cannot force you to sign a new contract. This is your choice. You can let this contract expire, and go to another carrier. Again, the choice is yours. What exactly would the AG's office do? This deal was approved by federal regulators and is perfectly legal. What EXACTLY is the Rip-Off here? I don't get it.