Donna
ny,#2Author of original report
Wed, August 23, 2006
This afternoon I retrieved a voicemail message from Fatou indicating she had a tracking number for me relative to my rebate check delivery and requesting I kindly call her back at the number provided. This coincided with my receipt of an "Overnight Delivery" from Fedex. I am extremely please to report I have received a rebate check reflecting the full amount $400.00. I took the liberty to call Fatou and apprise her I was in receipt of the check and I sincerely thanked her for all her time and attention. I as well conveyed my feeling that if there is to be a light at the end of the Inphonics debacle tunnel, it will be substantially due to the integrity and professionalism of individuals such as herself. She was most appreciative. I have learned a significant lesson here and will be extremely conservative in terms of any future transactions. ED and Teams active intervention, close monitoring and oversight was influentially instrumental. I can only say that I hope they will continue in their efforts as they are in no way unsung heroes. Perhaps 'Customer Loyalty' and ' Customer Appreciation' is a lesson to be learned by this firm and will become their Motto, provided they manage to endure. I certainly hope so~! I will continue to monitor the legal matters and public groundswell evolving around this company and it's subsidiaries. May all those people as well legitimately entitled be fortunate to have a similar update to share here. I will certainly keep my fingers crossed for you~! Thanks ALL and.. . High Five~!
Richard
San Bernardino,#3Consumer Suggestion
Wed, August 23, 2006
Hi Donna, Yes. The "trained monkeys" at Inphonic, aka A1 Wireless, aka Wirefly, aka Liberty Wireless, aka etc., etc., are always, as you put it, very cordial. So are most, if not all other scam/con artists out there. While I'm sending you good thoughts and wishes for a positive resolution for your situation, please also consider the following: I, along with what may be a couple thousand or more other consumers have been scammed by this company with regard to their rebate program. The Office of the Attorney General, Washington D.C. (the headquarters of Inphonic, Inc., the parent company of A1 Wireless) is suing the company in September regarding this fraud. Anyone who has been scammed by this company should contact the Washington D.C. Attorney General's office as soon as possible in order to be included in this lawsuit (the lawsuit is not limited to people living in the D.C. area). You can read about the upcoming lawsuit at: http://occ.dc.gov/occ/site/default.asp The lawsuit details can be viewed at the above site by clicking on "DC's AG sues popular wireless marketer" The Attorney General's office has advised that rather than submitting a complaint via their website, consumers should either fax the complaint to: (202) 727-6546 or landmail the complaint to: Office of the Attorney General Consumer and Trade Protection Section 441 Fourth Street NW, Suite 450 North Washington, DC 20001 This "Jon" character "from the office of the president" and all of the other little Inphonic minions must truly think that we are imbeciles if they think we are going to be appeased by their machinations such as "I am escalating this matter to our Department of All Things Important." To them I say, KNOCK OFF THE B.S. AND PAY US OUR PROMISED REBATES! Best regards to you Donna, Richard San Bernardino, CA
Donna
ny,#4Author of original report
Wed, August 23, 2006
I called Inphonic once again in Washington DC late today and a representative answered on the first ring~! Again, I was met with a most cordial reception. Although, this individual as well did not have direct access to my account information, he'd assured me that my impression of Ms Fatou Broderick; Escalation Team Manager is most accurate. Based upon her personal assurances to me, he cited it is simply a matter of my receiving the check which should be arriving within a few days or less. He'd suggested I perhaps follow-up with them tomorrow and apologized for any inconvenience. I notated my calendar and We concluded most pleasantly. To my surprise Fatou followed up this date and subsequently contacted me once again telephonically. She conveyed her further assurances and said she would call and see to it a check was in fact cut today, if it was not too late, as it was approx 4:46PM (EST). Otherwise, definitely tomorrow AM and en route to me promptly. I thanked her for being thorough and for her time and personal attention. I do sense a discernable measure of true professional and personal integrity resonating here. She's requested I contact her again within five days. Will do~! and hopefully to say Thank You~! To be continued!
Donna
ny,#5Author of original report
Tue, August 22, 2006
After corresponding with ED and his team here, I subsequently received a most cordial telephone call from "Fatou" an account manager of the 'escalation team' assigned to Inphonics headquarters in Washington DC. After careful review of my account she'd advised me that she was personally approving my entitlement. Hence, I would be receiving a rebate check in the full amount of $400.00 within 8 to 10 business days. In the event I did not I should contact her office. I as requested inturn corresponded with Ed and his team and as well a Jon Delahay of Inphonics whom i had posted an inquiry with relative to the matter. On business day 10, unfortunately no check had arrived. In follow-up I contacted the telephone number provided by the representative and chose to remain on the line, as opposed to being referred to voice mail (where one is assured a response within 72 hours). The representative was most pleasant but was unable to provide me with an update as my account is evidently assigned to a restricted access file deemed "Special". I communicated the status to Ed and his team and have yet to hear from anyone further. Today is day eleven and the postal service has once again come and gone~! I remain guardedly optimistic and at this juncture feel it a matter of principle. It's my understanding the Offices of The Attorney General, Washington DC is requesting all participants to fax or post via USPS their desire too be a party to the governments action by no later than Sept 01, 2006. We shall see as I am marking the days off on my calendar. I would much prefer to resolve the matter informally if possible. I am inclined to believe 'Ms. Fatou Broderick' (as I was subsequently informed), in fact holds appropriate authority and has as well integrity. Time will tell and I will update any future developments or resolve regarding the matter.
Donna
ny,#6Author of original report
Sat, August 05, 2006
On July 15, 2005 I ordered and completed the purchase of two (2) cellular telephones through a company indicated as MyRatePlan.com AKA: wirefly.com as per email correspondence.
Date Ordered:
7/15/2005 6:08:18 PM
The amount charged to Credit Card $436.46
(1.) New Motorola Razr V3 from MyRatePlan.com
activated your wireless device with the Cingular Nation FamilyTalk 500 w/ Rollover with 1 additional line - 2YR plan you selected and the following mobile number XXX new Motorola Razr V3 from MyRatePlan.com
(2.) secondary wireless device with the Cingular Nation FamilyTalk 500 w/ Rollover with 1 additional line - 2YR plan you selected and the following mobile number XXX
The advertised promotion indicated a full rebate provided all criteria were met.
On February 09,06 via the United States Postal Service I sent all required documentation via priority mail with delivery confirmation and full tracking. Mailed in four separate envelopes at an expense of $18.20 for which I have all postmarked/stamped and printed receipts.
original posting to Great Bear MN-Customer Loyalty & Customer Appreciation (two mailings each: 4 total)
Delivered PHOENIX AZ 85072 02/16/06 INELIGIBLE
Forwarded SAINT PAUL MN 55110 02/13/06
Arrival at Unit SAINT PAUL MN 55110 02/13/06
Acceptance NEW YORK NY 10014 02/09/06
Subsequently, I contacted the company via email to attempt to establish the status of my rebates after not being able to establish status via their website. I contacted telephone number: 1-866- 800-4303.
Initially I was apprised that my correspondence had apparently been "Lost in the Mail" as No documentation was ever received by them. I had failed to meet the postmark deadline required which was stated as between 180 and No Later than 210 Days. I informed them that I had sent the documents with full tracking and a confirmation of delivery and communicated the particulars. My declaration was met with surprise. It was stated the majority of customers do not send the documents in this manner due to the cost associated.
Next the company maintained the postmarks indicated in their system reflected that of 2/12/06 making my submissions ALL INELIGIBLE. I apprised them the Date of February 09, 2006 reflected the 209th and 210 day. Hence, I had indeed met the deadline specified and could produce hardcopy corroboration in evidence.
I subsequently corresponded and communicated telephonically an apparent error had occurred on their part. I had confirmation of the deliveries to their facility of the four separate mailings reflecting an initial delivery to MN.
I was told that was the issue perhaps as they moved to Arizona. I explained I was aware of that as the United States Postal Service showed a record of subsequent tracking with delivery to their Arizona address. I was as well apprised that apparently an employee had entered the date of February 12th, 2006 as a processing date into the system. I explained this seemed extraordinary as according to the USPS the correspondence was Not in their possession but still in the custody of the USPS, as per confirmation via USPS. The date of delivery was not until that of 2/16/06.
Evidently this was due to their having moved their facilities operation from MN to Arizona.
Next they advised me the UPC Codes I'd Submitted Did Not Qualify for the Rebate Program. I apprised them that I had retained possession of all the original packaging and the documents submitted were the UPC codes removed from the boxes in which they had shipped the equipment. They stated often times customers discard the boxes containing the UPC codes. I explained I had not.
Subsequently, I was requested to resubmit the USPS receipts which I'd claimed and as well copies of the UPC labels and additional information. Faxes were submitted in accordance with their 30-day deadline from a postcard dated 3/13/06 received 3/28/06 citing UPC labels Not eligible. They were sent 3/28/06 to FAX Number: 480-606-4313. I had furthermore as well submitted (7) months of statements reflecting billing dates and payments made in full from the assigned service carrier Cingular
Repeated attempts to confirm via their online site met to no avail.
Meanwhile numerous calls were placed to the Rebate Center facility responsible for processing and issuing the rebates due me.
On March 27, 06 I was notified via email that the submitted UPC Codes were INELIGIBLE for this rebate. On this same date I was apprised as well via email of Two (2) Valid Rebates being processed.
I again agreed to submit documentation requested and did so on March 28th, 06.
On April 3rd advised of New submission ID assignment: 69780286
On 4/3/06,
[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Consumer:
Thank you for submitting the necessary documentation via fax. We have reviewed the documents that you provided and are pleased to inform you that your rebate is currently being reviewed. Please allow 2 weeks to check the status of your review.
New submission id: 69780286
Thank you for contacting us.