Sprint's Parting Shot

[Frazod]

After years of so-so-at-best service, last month I switched from Sprint to AT&T so I could get an iPhone. I made sure I was no longer under contract, paid my current monthly bill right before the switch, and switched. AT&T changed our phones over, and I think that's the end of it. But then, about a week later, the wife reminded me that we had a third Sprint phone. Several years ago, some Sprint asshole cold-called us with the idea of a third phone line, which we could use in the event of emergencies or a lost phone, which wouldn't cost us anything extra. Seems like a good idea, so we made the deal, and got this extra phone, which has been buried in my sock drawer with a dead battery since the last time I lost my primary phone a couple of years ago. I'm sure the amount of calls I've placed on it could be counted on one hand.

Well, I call, and sure enough, the account's still active. So I told the lady to cancel it and my account. I asked if I'd get any refund from the final bill I paid and she says no, because I didn't cancel in time. She mentions nothing about me owning Sprint any further money. She then tells me that she's sorry I'm leaving, that I'm welcome back in the future, and that's that. This was over a month ago. My relationship with Sprint is now over, right?

WRONG.

Yesterday, we get a "Collection Agency Alert" from these shit-sucking lowlifes claiming that we owe them - no shit - $328.38! No explanation, no other bill or e-mail, or even a phone call in the past month - just this ****-you-pay-me letter that says I'm seven days away from collection procedures. Oh, and apparently I'm still a valued Sprint customer! Lucky me. So I call them, and find out that they're trying to stick me with an early termination fee (even though I was no longer under contract when I cancelled), and of course I owe them for a month's service for the third phone I hadn't used in years, because I cancelled it THREE DAYS into the monthly billing cycle.

Anyway, I finally get them to relent on the early termination fee, yet I still have to pay them $93.12 for a phone that I took no calls on and received no calls on, that wasn't even on, that they know I didn't use, because I cancelled their ****ing service THREE DAYS LATE. I guess the thousands of dollars I've paid them over the course of the last eight years just didn't matter; it was more important for them to bill me nearly a hundred ****ing dollars for three days worth of service I never used.

If you are reading this, and considering using these pricks for your service, I really hope you'll reconsider and use another carrier. I want that $93 they took from me to be a mere pittance of what this story will cost them later in lost business. DO NOT LET SPRINT HAPPEN TO YOU.

**** YOU SPRINT



That is all.

[rageeumr]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Sprint is awful. I wish they weren't. I have dear friends who work there. I won't ever use them again.

I'm with you on that one. I almost feel like I'm being disloyal to KC, but if anyone asks my opinion, I will recommend against Sprint. I used to have them for my personal phone, and my company used to use them as well (We had Nextel, switched to Verizon after they merged with Sprint).

Both Sprint and Nextel's coverage in this area is unacceptable, IMO. Not to mention customer service issues such as this one. I personally never had a problem with billing, but there's a reason they are consistently rated the worst cell carrier for customer service.

In fact, this year they are ranked the 3rd worst company in the country for customer service (Linky). They've been as high as #1 in the last 2 or 3 years in that same survey.

[The Franchise]

All cell phone companies suck. They care more about getting new customers than they do about keeping their current ones.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

so you had the service you wanted, but are mad they expected you to pay for it?


Sorry, but it's not their fault the phone was unused turned off and in your sock drawer.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

so you had the service you wanted, but are mad they expected you to pay for it?


Sorry, but it's not their fault the phone was unused turned off and in your sock drawer.

So, how long have you worked for Sprint?

[kepp]

So the third phone was on a totally separate account? If it was on the same account shouldn't it have been canceled at the same time as the others?

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by frazod

So, how long have you worked for Sprint?

never. what an original comeback though.

Sure, they could have as a courtesy comped the service, but in this economy I don't see how you can blame them for not doing so.

Again, did someone wearing a yellow polo shirt show up at your home with a gun and force you to sign up for an unnecessary phone, put it in a drawer, forget about it, and then cancel your service?

If they did, then I take back my comment.

BTW, why didn't you notice the phone and it's line and number on your bill when you reviewed it?

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by kepp

So the third phone was on a totally separate account? If it was on the same account shouldn't it have been canceled at the same time as the others?

This. If it was a third line...then it should have been cancelled along with the other two lines.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

This. If it was a third line...then it should have been cancelled along with the other two lines.

If it was added at a later date, it may very well have extended his contract and required separate cancellation.


We have about 45 phones here at the office, with numerous different contract dates and they are all cancellable independent of each other.

[Kerberos]

I've used PCS for going on ten years now and I have never had a problem with customer service, phone service or anything in general.

Sorry for you problems dude. But I have to say they would ALL do the same thing if given a chance as far as your last bill is concerned.

Is it right? Hell no... but that is big business for you. **** the little guy and his mere $100 a month bill.

What bothers me the most about Sprint right now is they have no low dollar plan with lets say 400 Anytime minutes for less than $50 bucks or something equivalent. 800 anytime for $69.99 is the best they offer. bastages.

Originally Posted by Pestilence

All cell phone companies suck. They care more about getting new customers than they do about keeping their current ones.

THIS

[SLAG]

All Cell phone companies **** you in the ass.. with no lube.
its just the way it is..

This is more anti- sprint bias from frazod that we have come to expect.

Sprint has had to do alot to win me back as a customer but they did, most recently the sprint store rep drove from the P&L District out to overland park during rush hour to personally deliver my new phone.

Sprint is really trying to turn things around, and have greatly improved in the last year or so.. especially in areas of customer service, and coverage - again especially in the KC area.
Its going to take some time, they are going to have to continue to work EXTRA hard to overcome this huge negative perception that they generated for many years, but may I suggest giving them another try - they are NOT the same old sprint that everyone loved to hate.

Verizon was the absolute worst carrier that I ever had - they would put extra charges on almost every bill

ATT's Data network was way too slow and the GSM quality was not that great.

again.. they all suck.. pick your poison and .

[BigMeatballDave]

I dumped Sprint about a yr ago. I really glad I did now...

[TinyEvel]

I am about to switch from Sprint to ATT for the iPhone too and I'm TERRIFIED this type of thing will happen to me.
VERIZON boned me for $175 when I switched to SPrint because we had moved to a new house where Verizon had NO service.

THey all are the devil.

[tk13]

I think the customer service for all of them is about the same. I think in terms of quality Verizon and AT&T blow Sprint out of the water though. But everybody's story is different.

[Lumpy]

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

THey all are the devil.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by kepp

So the third phone was on a totally separate account? If it was on the same account shouldn't it have been canceled at the same time as the others?

It was on the same account; but since I didn't transfer that particular number (which I never used) AT&T didn't do anything to it.

Now, a proactively intelligent person FROM EITHER COMPANY might have thought "Hmm, he's cancelling two lines, perhaps we should ask him about the third line. That's the sort of thinking I'm EXPECTED to employ in my job. Of course, I assume looking the other way so the customer gets jobbed is something they tell these people to do.