Why do companies get away with this?
By Signal20
@Signal20 (2281)
United States
September 9, 2007 2:39am CST
I'm sure most of you heard how Sprint/Nextel "fired" thousands of customers because the customers complained too much. Now, Comcast has "fired" some customers the use high speed connections through them, because they downloaded too much. Here's that article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070908/ts_alt_afp/ustechnologyinternet_070908061617
Ok, I can kind of see their point, especially Comcast. They did warn the people, and informed them they needed to upgrade their service. But, like the guy points out in the article, my contract says "unlimited" internet use.
So, my point, I'm getting ready to do battle with my cell phone carrier(Sprint). Long long story, but been an excellent customer with them for 8 years-no late payments, no major complaints, and the last few months have been awful, poor customer service, no signal, dropped calls, can't pay my bill lol and I've tried 7 times in the last 2 days now!!! And trying to get a hold of someone who speaks English....but that's a whole other story in itself lol. But of course I'm in the middle of a contract with them(that's common here in the US, we get the phones real cheap, but have to do a 1-2 year contract with that company) which will most likely cost about 300. to break.
So, why can't I fire my cell phone company-with no fee/charge for poor customer service and poor cell service? These companies are setting a precendent in my opinion by breaking the contracts they have with their customers, and getting away with it. Why can't the customers do that? I'm waiting for my fiancee to come home this weekend before I call and pull everything I can out of my a** to get out of my contract with them. They suck. Anyone planning on doing service with them, I strongly advise against it. I suppose everyone has a complaint about every other carrier out there as well though....I'm just tired of them getting away with so much, and we the customers end up screwed....
2 people like this
8 responses
@devilsangel (1817)
• United States
10 Sep 07
Well I can understand why sprint/nextel cut people from their service a lot of times. Not to sound mean or anything but with any cellular company it is never guaranteed that you will always have reception or service. So as far as dropped calls or lost signal its a part of having a cell phone. Not sure why you're not able to pay you're bill, are you trying to call in and pay or go into a store? As far as English speaking customer service agents there are thousands of them I know I worked in a building full of them. Yes some agents are out sorced but thats the luck of the draw with anyone.
As far as comcast cutting service of people who abuse it, I can understand that too. I mean they sent the guy a warning telling him to decress his downloading and he didn't. Why the hell does anyone need to download 1,000 songs a day anyway?
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
10 Sep 07
I personally have not dealt with this sort of thing but my daughter did and with Sprint. It was horrible. In the end it cost her as you said about 300.00 to buy out of her contract. The customer service was absolutely horrible. Every other week , I would walk in to hear her arguing on the phone with these people. She is normally a very patient and quiet girl but she is also very smart and has a strong sense of right and wrong. She does not put up with unfair business practices and does not let people walk all over her. In the end she just gave up the fight and said it was worth the 300.00 to be done with them.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Sep 07
I don't know how or why they can get away with breaking a contract. Maybe it's only the user who contracts to do something. It's a bit cheeky saying you've unlimited downloads buT don't use too much. Once again it's the big guy that get's away with cheating while the little guy gets squashed. I'll bet that for the dozens exceeding recommended downloads there are thousands using very little. It's simplty not fair.
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
10 Sep 07
Oh do I have some horror stories about Nextel/ Sprint call centers! And the outsourcing of jobs doesn't help when I am trying to explain a problem and the customer service rep on the other end barely speaks fluent english! Not to mention that these days you spend so much time going through thier stupid automated machines before ever getting a real person!!!! I would love the opportunity to FIRE my cell phone company- but unfortunetly- I am contracted in with them for two years. I am not renewing my contract once it is over- thats for sure- I will pay monthly in case there is a problem - that way I can cancel it right then and there!!!
@angel_of_charm (4134)
• Philippines
10 Sep 07
Gee, i don't know what to say..i just currently got hired from the sprint account handling the finance..i am a filipina and i speak quite well of the english language though but i'm still on training..so far i;m not yet handling calls and just basically knowing the whole thing and system navigation..i hear some calls also and some got irate due to their bills and their line got interrupted..i didn't know there is such more of those complaints..i'm so scared to handle it now :D now that i know your sides but i will see to it that i can manage your inquiries if ever you bump on me if your still with sprint.from what i have known so far in the training if you want to cut the contract they will be charging you for early termination fee..then if you just leave it behind i guess it will reflect from the credit status..i just started the training for one week now so i just know little yet..
@goinliveinfive (561)
• United States
10 Sep 07
Why bother? Sprint is a HORRIBLE service with HORRIBLE customer service personnel. If you've "complained too much" they're giving you the opportunity to find a better service so what are you waiting for? GO FIND IT.
@mikeyr6000le (2123)
• United States
9 Sep 07
I have Sprint too for my carrier. I thought it was just me having problems lately. I've been having dropped calls in places where I didn't use to. I understand having bad reception in the basement though for me. Here is a tip about contracts. DON"T RENEW THEM I had a 1 year contract with sprint and after the year was up I didn't renew it but just keept paying the same amount and had the same service as beore. The thing now is if I want to drop them I just call them up and say cancel me please. There will be no fee for dropping them. Which I might be doing because of alck of money. I might switch to Verizon if they have abetter plan and will let me keep my phone.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
9 Sep 07
We have Sprint (well it's Embarq now) and most of the time they are really great. I did a cell phone from them a few years back and when I got my bill and it was like $200 for a two week period I called them up. They claimed it was from long distace calls during the hours that they charge for. I told them I had to call long distance b/c it wouldn't take the call any other way. Here to find out even standing in my own living room and calling my own house phone 2 feet away they were charging me for. It turned out I was too far from the changing station and thats why it was doing it. I cancelled the service and they cancelled the contract.
Personally, I don't see why anyone would download that much music or movies...especially when I don't know of too many sites that you can do that legally. Maybe I'm wrong since I don't do it but I'd just as soon go buy the movies and music anyways.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
