What is Digg?70 Comments
- nazadus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+29Why didn't you ask to speak to a manager? Then that managers manager?
Get names and ID numbers (if they have them) from each and every one. Keep asking until you get the ***** CEO of that bitch (Cingular).
Their is a reason it's called a 'contract' and it's not *just* to protect them (although it usually ends up that way) -- but they have to keep to their end of the bargin.
Record phone calls and tell them you will be handing over all phone calls to the BBB if they are caught not telling the truth and a complain will be filed and you will seek to have each person caught in a lie fired. Let them know that it's acceptable to say "I don't know" but they have to research the answer.
Another tip, after them getting your information (name, ssn, cell phone number, blood type, semen count, and whatever else they need) ask *them* for their information. THEN state your business. This way if they hang up ("get disconnected"; *cough* ***** *cough), you have ID's and can file complaints (assuming you honestly feel like they dicked you versus an accidental disconnect).
Remember though, the person that you get a hold of first is a low level peon, so don't vent your anger at them until they deserve it or it hurts your case against them.
edit: as others have said, be kind but firm. you can be unreasonable but yet kind. sometimes acting stupid is also very handy, assuming you know how to act stupid in your favor and not theirs. wasting time is also on your side, so talk slow -- it sometimes makes them want to get off the phone with you or pass the buck thusly getting closer to your goals or achieving your goal. - doubleblack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12This, along with everything else, WILL NOT WORK.
I tried to cancel my Cingular service after their privacy policy was abolished, and the CSR told me that they were allowed to do whatever they want to my contract because at the bottom it said: "Cingular can change these terms at anytime."
So, I posed a hypothetical questions saying so it's perfectly legal for Cingular to all of a sudden charge me $1,000 a month for service and I'm LEGALLY obligated to pay this? She answered yes.
It's plain and simple, CSR's don't know what they are talking about - and Wireless companies as a whole are monopolistic bastards. - nazadus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10umm, isn't Cingular called AT&T? Verizon is on it's own thing, right?
- implied, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7WRONG.
----SNIP----
Our Rights To Make Changes
Your service is subject to our business policies, practices, and procedures, which we can change without notice. UNLESS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW, WE CAN ALSO CHANGE PRICES AND ANY OTHER CONDITIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME BY SENDING YOU WRITTEN NOTICE PRIOR TO THE BILLING PERIOD IN WHICH THE CHANGES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE YOUR SERVICE AFTER THAT POINT, YOU'RE ACCEPTING THE CHANGES. IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE.
In other words, we can change your contract at any time, but if it has a price change (material adverse effect) you have the option to get out of the contract without a termination fee. If you got told "no" by a rep, you just weren't insistant enough. This will absolutely work.
Kthx. - tateswayz91, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Writing in all caps is sexy.
- implied, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Simply refer to this area of the Verizon Wireless contract to have success:
Our Rights To Make Changes
Your service is subject to our business policies, practices, and procedures, which we can change without notice. UNLESS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW, WE CAN ALSO CHANGE PRICES AND ANY OTHER CONDITIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME BY SENDING YOU WRITTEN NOTICE PRIOR TO THE BILLING PERIOD IN WHICH THE CHANGES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE YOUR SERVICE AFTER THAT POINT, YOU'RE ACCEPTING THE CHANGES. IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE.
Important part is, you will be having a material adverse effect (higher price on txt) and you are excersizing your right to terminate the contract with no penalty. Any push back from the reps = ask to speak to manager. - antiintel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6You're not the only one. I think the iPhone will be one of Apple's greatest blunders. Insanely expensive, not much storage space, no iTunes over the cell service, and locked down so much you can't put your own applications on it. Oh, and on top of that, you can't use it without looking at the screen the whole time because u can't feel where the buttons are. I just don't see how this could sell past the fanboys.
- Dmitrik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"Verizon's excellent reception and service"
Can they recognize the difference between 0.002 cents and 0.002 dollars? - turpenine, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7don't worry, you can get out of a cingular contact by being a weasle too.
- D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I have Sprint... :( but I don't really ever talk on the phone and I may be the only geek in America that doesn't want an iPhone...
- finkployd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Are you going to also submit something to The Consumerist on how to get that iPhone after people sign contracts now with Cingular and get a subsidized phone from them and try to get one again in 6 months?
Those Verizon phones don't have SIMs to pop out and put in for their new Cingular contracts.
If one wants a purty phone at a subsidized price at least wait until it comes out.
Note: I think 2 year phone contracts are insane because no one knows where they will be in 2 years but getting out of a contract so one can get a shiny phone is beyond stupid and I think all the people who try and have to pay an ETF should subsidize those who legitimately need to get out of one but can't because of the schmucks mentioned earlier in the sentence. - teamgwho, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4copyrighted is WRONG WRONG WRONG!
number portability only works for an active working telephone number. I work for VZ landline. If you have service with another company, you call me, and I arrange to get the # from your old provider. Whenever any customers cancels service themselves, yes there is a period of time (which varies from state to state and company to company) whereby the customer still retains the right to that number and then it goes into the pool of available numbers, BUT YOUR PROVIDER RETAINS THE RIGHTS. meaning they can reassign it to you, but another carrier can not.
Whether you want to switch a local landline phone or a cell phone to a different provider, you call the company you want to switch to, and ONLY them. They negotiate with your current provider and get the number from them. - bradphillips, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7I guess after the the first 10 customers try this, Verixon will figure out how it can still own you.
- cru99, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I recently left Cingular for Verizon and I don't regret it at all.
- spinningobo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Wow. Ease up, man.
- drpunkerz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3nazadas needs to be dugg up for his comments. Well said.
- implied, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3BearOwned brings up a great point, this is good incentive for reps to offer courtesy credits or exceptions to their upgraded phone policy if thats all you are looking for.
- jonknee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Don't get too excited here folks. It will take a few days for all the CSRs to get on the same page, but the vast majority of people will be out of luck. The contract verbiage is a little tricky, but not very confusing. Most users are reporting that the official party line from Verizon Wireless is that they can offer to turn off text messaging for you. Consider this statement:
"YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE."
Verizon is separating text messaging from voice service, which technically makes sense because they are billed separately, and is indeed offering to end the "affected service".
All of the national carriers have similar clauses, you can read the price change portion of each here:
http://www.mobiletracker.net/archives/2007/01/12/verizon-wireless-sms-price - Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"umm, isn't Cingular called AT&T? Verizon is on it's own thing, right?"
For now... - tokyopimp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Exactly, I don't get that people want to leave one mega piece of crap phone company for another POS company. Just for the iPhone, I'm glad some of you can afford a 600 dollar touch screen PDA.
Has anyone ever heard something positive about a wireless phone company when it comes to there policies, rates, customer service? Not me. - gojcaj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm curious, can you leave a contract with Verizon but still continue service with them? (my guess would be duh) Also would this effect the New Every 2 benefits from them?
- xelloss, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Would rather have Verizon over Cingular, Cingular just sucks.
- Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The iPhone is an iPod with phone capabilities, not a phone with iPod capabilities.
- Squill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I tried doing this last night, was on the phone for 30 minutes with a guy and nothing happened. Said it doesn't matter about international charges i still can't cancel without fee.
- SWiG, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If I wanted to get out of a contract but still keep my number, is this doable? Do I sign up somewhere else first and then call to cancel? What if I want to stick with Verizon until the iPhone comes out? Can I call, cancel and then sign back up without commitment?
- Brandondork, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1you'll be back... they'll all be back!
- bosstone1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I just did it. It worked and I do not even use text messages at all. Keep up the fight, be calm and just tell them you are following the path they outlined for you in there notice of text rate increase and customer agreement. I did it and it worked perfect.
- neomuzic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1question is, can I port my # ?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It looks to be working
http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?pg=qu&sid=182435&symb=VZ&time=10dy&uf=0 - bluepostcard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I have little mercy for companies who change their policies/prices and then say that my situation doesn't apply, particularly when they provide terms and prices in writing. The easiest way to avoid problems is to "not change the contract". Keep me at the rates you told me till day 365 of my contract. I don't have VZW, but got out of my Cingular contract in 30 mins. The 'friend' who sleights you in the middle of the game deserves a mob of angry customers. My sole obligation if to give $50/month and theirs is to honor the written prices for 12 months (or 24). Seems easy enough to me. I think too many customers are pushovers and don't stand up, granted most on Digg and Consumerist.com do. Companies wouldn't pull these backhanded changes if more called in, the profit vs. risk wouldn't' be worth it. In any other retail transaction business it's called false or misleading advertising.
- slicedoranges, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4neat, 3rd time (that i know of) this has been on the front page this month
normally i don't complain about reposts but this is insane - teamgwho, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I was just posting in my blog about how bad I weant an iPhone except I've got 18 mmonths to go on a contract and I'd have to pay $500 for the iphone (when it coems out) + the ETF and literally ran into this digg the second I finished posting my journal. THANK YOU!
That said, a lot a banter is going about quality of service. Consumer Reports survey of customers has consistantly shown two things. 1) VZW is the most expensive cell phone provider, and 2) they have the most satisfied customers, by a wide margin. in Cell phone, you get what you pay for apparently. In their latest survey VZW was #1 is customer satisfaction in all but one of the 18 major metro areas they had results for. Now luckily for me, in my area, Cingular aka AT&T wasn't too far behind, but generally Cingular was the 4th rated company out of 5 most of the time.
Your results may differ.
I may jump, I may not, haven't made up my mind, but if you do, just bear in mind that Cingular doesn't have as good of a track record as VZW.
disclaimer: i work for VZ landline. the fact that I'm seriously thinking of jumping should be enough to prove I'm not being biased in my above statements. - applehill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I just cancelled mine with no fee.Thanks guys
- endersg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1it worked! just called tonight...i hope i like my new place better...screw verizon...i got ex. numbers of both the rep that did it for me and the rep i called back 10 min latter to verify
- BigNate79, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I got it done tonight. I called in, took the first person's name and extension. I read the piece off of the website and then the piece from the contract and requested a supervisor. I got the supervisor and got her name and extension then read her the same stuff. She shocked me by saying ok. My contract terminates at the end of this billing month Feb 16th. I have 30 days after that to port my number to another company or sign a new contract with verizon.
Yes, a new contract with VZ even. It works, I can't believe it. - dcbebop, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wow, 11 signatures. I can almost see the torches and pitchforks now.
- wdelisi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This really works!! I sell phones at my place of business, we have gotten 4 people out of their contract with minimal problems! The thing to do is read and familiarize yourself with the reasons why it breaks your contract. Then call customer care and request a supervisor. Explain to them how this change will hurt you, and use the term "material change" to your contract. IT WORKS!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1my apologies. iPhone + Cell phone plans + hatred for particular celular companies =
Rogers Canada iPhone Data Plan Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/iPhone99/petition.html - GenxBear, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you have trouble getting out of your contract when talking to a Customer Service Representative (CSR) just ask to speak to a supervisor, and repeat the "IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE." If they still say no, then go to the Verizon home page & there is a contact us link where you can send an email to Verizon from there. I had a situation where I upgraded to a new phone (and a new 2 year contract) and I had a few games on my old phone that I wanted transferred to my new phone. I figured they would give me credit for the cost of the games so I could re-buy them on the new phone. When I asked the CSR at the Verizon store, he said that they don't do that and I would have to buy the games again. If the old phone was broken, then they would reimburse me for the games to be repurchased. I called went to the Verizon store & looked up their Get-It-Now license agreement, and nowhere does it mention that if you swap the phone the game has to be re-purchased. After all, I will only be using the game on 1 phone after I switch. After asking the Verizon CSR on the phone to point out to me where in the License agreement does it say that I can't transfer the games to the new phone, she put me on hold for 10 minutes & comes back saying she spoke to the supervisor and she said that it isn't stated in the license agreement, however their terms are subject to change at any time. So I told her, "OH, HOW CONVENIENT!" when things aren't in her favor, they change the rules so that it is in their favor. I then asked how can I write a letter to the corporate office & asked for her name & her supervisor's name. She provided me that info, and told me about the link on the homepage. I thanked her, and then she had the audacity to finish the call with, "Have I done everything your satisfaction?" and I said, you've done everything you can do, but not to my satisfaction.
I basically wrote a letter explaining everything I just wrote here, and added that I wanted the name, address & phone number of the arbitrator (Since the license agreement says you can't sue Verizon, but must instead go to an arbitrator) if they refused to give me my credit. I also stated that if they have rules about not allowing you to move your music or games to upgraded phones, they need to tell you this & agree to this BEFORE you download the game, and agree to those terms. How are you supposed to know this until you upgrade, and then you have already paid for the games & music? It is NOT in the license agreement.
The email I got back said that they would issue me a credit for the games & they are sorry about the inconvenience. If you don't push, they just say No, hoping you will forget about it, and just spend more money on new games & ring tones. - fatdog789, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I can understand wanting to leave Verizon, but why would you want to switch to AT&T (formerly Cingular)????
If you switch now, you don't qualify for the iPhone in 6 months because you won't get the contract renewal option with so few months of your (then current) plan used up.
In the meanwhile, you can enjoy the nation's most dropped calls, worst coverage, and worst customer service (on both sides, even before the merger). That's in addition to AT&T's nickel-and-diming, which makes Verizon look a benevolent saint. - jquinn, on 10/12/2007, -8/+8I submitted this to The Consumerist, Verizon fought pretty hard. But if you stick to your guns, and keep thinking that new Iphone or unlocked goodness at T Mobile you'll do it.
- extremer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Anyone know a way to get out of sprint contracts?
- flogger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i'm sick of signing up for every crappy store and service. phone service should be month to month, just like land lines
- dreamdust, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I canceled my account today, and I had 3 lines with unlimited txt messaging. I called and referred to the legal notice on their website which said that "All customers, regardless of whether they subscribe to a messaging package or not, will be charged $0.15 per message for text messages received from customers of foreign wireless carriers (international text messages)." They tried to tell me that it wouldn't have an adverse effect on me or any effect on me and I kept using the line "It doesn't matter, any quart of law will recognize my right to now have the terms of my contract change without my approval." It took two phone calls. I immediately asked for a supervisor and their name and extension. She kept trying to tell me it would never effect me, but I would just counter over-and-over again with the fact that they are still changing terms and need my approval. When she agreed to cancel without the fee I also got them to agree to send me a confirmation in writing.
It is possible! Stick to their own wording from the legal notice and contract! - endersg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0yes...just set the cancel date to be the end of your cycle...ie mine was the 12th i have plenty of time to get the f out with my number
- Serrac, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1As stated earlier, even the iPhone isn't enough to get me to switch back to Cingular. Bad service, ugly phones and awful customer support do not make a good combination.
Verizon works just fine for me. - Boatpunc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Your mother is a dork
- ArgyleCubist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0just cancelled the contract for the lady-type.
the first rep stated that any out of network texts not opened would not be charged. (not true, i tested this myself.)
the second rep stated that you will pay for any out of network texts received by your phone, opened or not. and agreed that we can cancel our policy because of the rate increase.
a second theory: the contract states that you can cancel "IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE." my question is this: why do they specifically mention the early termination fee if they state you can simply block international text messaging? they're obviously referring to the entire contract itself.
well chalk me up to another win for the good fight. - dcbebop, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I really doubt they're going to allow a ton of people to take advantage of this. But it's worth a try.
- s0uled0ut, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Could you cancel and then re-join? That way you could get a new phone w/ the discounted price w/ new contract. Anybody know?
I like verizon, although expensive, they have great coverage and I've never had a problem with them. -
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