Bell South Cellular WARNING

Signed up for what I was told a 1 year contract. Turns out to be a 3 year contract, the cellular phone never worked from day 1 so I stopped payment. Several attempts to contact Bell South and my sales rep have failed, no-one returns calls, on hold for several hours at a time. Bell South Mobility put a "charge off to bad debt" on my credit report for not paying the $400 contract brekage fee even though the cell phone never worked to begin with. This credit comment will remain on my credit report for 7 years and has caused me to loose several attempts at a car loan and a home re-finance loan...