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Report: #142032

Complaint Review: Cingular Wireless, Former AT&T - Phoenix Arizona

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  • Reported By: Las Vegas Nevada
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  • Cingular Wireless, Former AT&T cingular.com Phoenix, Arizona U.S.A.

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I was a loyal AT&T customer for over five years. As with most people during the past five years, I was contacted by other wireless companies, including Cingular. I never swithced services, butdue to corporate mergers, I was forced to become a Cingular customer.

All former AT&T customers should file a class-action suit against Cingular. Cingular never gave us AT&T customers the right to choose our wireless service. Yes, this is big business and mergers occur every day, but our right of choice was compromised because Cingular never considered the customer's choice. They say they purchased the rights from AT&T. I say we need to stand up for the consumer's right of choice. All former AT&T customers, your rights were taken from you. I chose AT&T and not Cingular. Let's stand up for our rights.

Upon receiving my first ever Cingular bill instead of the usual AT&T bill, I paid it and promply switched to another service. I just received my final bill from Cingular and they billed me $350.00 for early cancellation of my contract.

I ended up talking to a supervisor that informed me that AT&T no longer exists and they got all of AT&T's contracts. They also have the right to charge me the cancellation fee, although I never signed a contract with Cingular and the only contract I signed was with AT&T (a now non-existance company).

During the merger did any former AT&T customer ever contacted by Cingular to agree to continue their service? I certainly was not contacted by Cingular. They certainly did soliciate my business to take it away from AT&T during the past 5 years.

I'm getting Cingular shoved down my throat and if I don't pay their $350.00 cancellation fee, they will turn me over to a collection agency.

I think it was a violation of my rights and during the merger process, Cingular being the buying company, should have at least contacted all AT&T customers and given the opportunity to continue with Cingular. I was not given that right and now I have to pay $350.00 for that right to a company that I will not do business with.

Michael
Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 05/09/2005 09:55 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/cingular-wireless-former-att/phoenix-arizona-85062/cingular-wireless-former-att-cingular-never-contacted-att-customers-to-continue-service-142032. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
13Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#14 Consumer Comment

Isn't anyone able to challenge Cingular?

AUTHOR: Howard - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, August 01, 2005

I have had similar experiences with Cingular like many other consumers. As a contracted customer with AT&T I am not able to make any changes to my account without "migrating" to Cingular and buying all new equipment. I have 3 very good AT&T locked phones on my plan and now find that I am using more minutes. The only way to change plans is to buy 3 new Cingular phones (if I want comperable equipment) and extend my contract 15 more months.
Since AT&T contracted to provide me service why am I bound by this contract with a new company when they offer me no service. This is old fashioned black mail. Isn't any clever attorney filing a class action against both AT&T and Cingular yet?
This strong arming tactic has got to be stopped. Either release me from my contract, or migrate me and replace my phones with comperable new phones for the duration of my current contract.
Can anyone help me?

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#13 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Cingular Makes The News

AUTHOR: Jeff - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, June 06, 2005

Just to let you know, Cingular Wireless made the "Trouble Shooters" in NBC in San Antonio. They were featured for giving customers the run around and for applying false charges on customers bills.

As an exemployee, I know this is true... I was in the "Saves" department, and all I dealt with for 40+ hours weekly was customers that we managed to screw. Leave it to Cingular...

The biggest problem is that Cingular now uses West Telemarketing to act as customer service. Check out the rip off reports about West Telemarketing, West Corporation and West Business Services, then you will see why Cingular's customer service is terribly degraded.

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#12 Consumer Comment

No problem with merger Susan

AUTHOR: Sheina - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, June 06, 2005

Let me begin by saying that I am well educated, I did read my contract before I signed it, and I had never had a problem with AT&T Wireless in the ten years I was a customer.

I really had no problem with the AT&T Wireless merger with Cingular Wireless. But I do have a problem with Cingular now, trying to bully me into signing a contract extension just to purchase a telephone when one of mine broke. AT&T customers are being lied to and railroaded. God forbid if you have an AT&T cell phone and it breaks. I was on the phone with Cingular for an entire week. Finally, I was able to talk to someone that sold me a phone (at an inflated price) so that I can finish out my AT&T Wireless contract with Cingular. I lost a whole week where I could not use my phone and countless hours trying to negotiate with these hooligans (not to mention the mental anguish of speaking with people who would only read from a script over and over for days). I felt like I was being brainwashed at one point it got so bad.

I was told at least fifteen different stories about my options and none of them included just being able to purchase a cell phone to replace the one I had that went bad. I have a family plan and I have two other members of my family along for the ride. I can't just extend the contract without getting the people on my plan to agree; and after the treatment we have received from Cingular, we will never sign anything with them.

All this nonsense was not in my original contract, Susan.

My contract with AT&T Wireless expires April 2006 and I can't wait!

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#11 Consumer Suggestion

Cingular Puppet?

AUTHOR: Susan - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, June 06, 2005

I happen to be one of the AT&T customers that is now a satisfied Cingular customer due to the merger. I knew what a merger was and what changes were going to take place. I suppose not everyone does. AT&T, the company that you were so loyal to, should have educated you on this issue. I received many notes on my bills and seen the commercials on the television as well. Just because a company merges does not give you the right to tear up the contract that you signed. If you wanted another wireless company, with a better deal, you should not have signed the AT&T contract. Cingular Puppet? I don't think so. Just an honest customer living out my contractual responsibility.

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#10 REBUTTAL Individual responds

Thanx for the insight

AUTHOR: Michael - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, May 19, 2005

Thanks Charles for the insight on Cingular. I knew that it was a management issue and I have now started a campaign to run them out of business. My mortgage banker was a customer for one week, on a 30 day start plan. He switched to another wireless company. I made my extortion payment to them, sent a letter an a copy of the check to the Anaheim office (awaste of a good stamp) but wrote all over the envelop about how bad their service is. Several postal workers will get a laugh out of that. I did file a complaint with the BBB and your right, I did contact several TV stations and that was a waste of time.

I am taking options on the long term fall of there stock due to bad service and I will make my money back. I have a copy of the check I sent to them pasted on my computer and I am telling every one that I know about my bad experience with Cingular. I do know a lot of people. At the very least, I will get my money back in the satification that I will cost Cingular a lot of money in lost customers and sales.

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#9 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Stacey Sounds Like A Cingular Puppet

AUTHOR: Charles - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, May 19, 2005

Cingular is the Darth Vader in a three stooges flick. People are generally the three stooges attempting to get the best quality service for their money. However, Cingular Wireless is as Darth Vader was. Darth simply ripped your heart out no matter the consequences - Cingular does the same through customer service.

Do not blame the customer service. The CSR's of Cingular is threatened with their job if they do not do as 'management' says. CSR's are over worked and under paid. On any given week there is ambulance services at the Cingular building picking them up off the ground from the stress and anxiety. Cingular does not care about anyone but money.

As far as the contract is concerned. Michael, I hate what Cingular does to people. Cingular was produced from Southern Bell and SBC. The merger was designed to make Cingular the largest wireless company in the world. They succeeded.
I was employed as a CSR for eight months. I was tired of ripping customers off. When a screw up occurred on a billing statement, Cingular implemented a HLA (High Level Adjustment) department that consists of two or three people. The people that are in those positions are anti-customer service. They are the ones that make the decisions to grant a credit or waive a fee. Each employee has $175.00 limit that they can credit towards each account if needed.

The management has a higher limit that I cannot recall. However, between those two people they can waive that fee.

If too many credits are given, and too much revenue is 'given' away, then the managers are threatened with their jobs. That is why customer service is lowsy at Cingular.
The executive officers of Cingular Wireless are domestic terrorists (no doubt). The retail stores lie to people all the time - its nothing new to Cingular Customer Service.

There are many more things I can share on the 'inside scoop' but have limited time and space.

By the way, Don't listen to stacey. She sounds like a broken record. Cingular has catch phrases that they use to attempt to calm people down. That is exactly what Stacey was doing.
I would call the Attorney Generals Office, the FCC, BBB (Which Cingular is not a member of), and the local news channel (Which I did and the television news station said they would 'check thngs out' and never did - Cingular pays them off too). Just food for thought

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#8 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Stacey Sounds Like A Cingular Puppet

AUTHOR: Charles - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, May 19, 2005

Cingular is the Darth Vader in a three stooges flick. People are generally the three stooges attempting to get the best quality service for their money. However, Cingular Wireless is as Darth Vader was. Darth simply ripped your heart out no matter the consequences - Cingular does the same through customer service.

Do not blame the customer service. The CSR's of Cingular is threatened with their job if they do not do as 'management' says. CSR's are over worked and under paid. On any given week there is ambulance services at the Cingular building picking them up off the ground from the stress and anxiety. Cingular does not care about anyone but money.

As far as the contract is concerned. Michael, I hate what Cingular does to people. Cingular was produced from Southern Bell and SBC. The merger was designed to make Cingular the largest wireless company in the world. They succeeded.
I was employed as a CSR for eight months. I was tired of ripping customers off. When a screw up occurred on a billing statement, Cingular implemented a HLA (High Level Adjustment) department that consists of two or three people. The people that are in those positions are anti-customer service. They are the ones that make the decisions to grant a credit or waive a fee. Each employee has $175.00 limit that they can credit towards each account if needed.

The management has a higher limit that I cannot recall. However, between those two people they can waive that fee.

If too many credits are given, and too much revenue is 'given' away, then the managers are threatened with their jobs. That is why customer service is lowsy at Cingular.
The executive officers of Cingular Wireless are domestic terrorists (no doubt). The retail stores lie to people all the time - its nothing new to Cingular Customer Service.

There are many more things I can share on the 'inside scoop' but have limited time and space.

By the way, Don't listen to stacey. She sounds like a broken record. Cingular has catch phrases that they use to attempt to calm people down. That is exactly what Stacey was doing.
I would call the Attorney Generals Office, the FCC, BBB (Which Cingular is not a member of), and the local news channel (Which I did and the television news station said they would 'check thngs out' and never did - Cingular pays them off too). Just food for thought

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#7 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Stacey Sounds Like A Cingular Puppet

AUTHOR: Charles - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, May 19, 2005

Cingular is the Darth Vader in a three stooges flick. People are generally the three stooges attempting to get the best quality service for their money. However, Cingular Wireless is as Darth Vader was. Darth simply ripped your heart out no matter the consequences - Cingular does the same through customer service.

Do not blame the customer service. The CSR's of Cingular is threatened with their job if they do not do as 'management' says. CSR's are over worked and under paid. On any given week there is ambulance services at the Cingular building picking them up off the ground from the stress and anxiety. Cingular does not care about anyone but money.

As far as the contract is concerned. Michael, I hate what Cingular does to people. Cingular was produced from Southern Bell and SBC. The merger was designed to make Cingular the largest wireless company in the world. They succeeded.
I was employed as a CSR for eight months. I was tired of ripping customers off. When a screw up occurred on a billing statement, Cingular implemented a HLA (High Level Adjustment) department that consists of two or three people. The people that are in those positions are anti-customer service. They are the ones that make the decisions to grant a credit or waive a fee. Each employee has $175.00 limit that they can credit towards each account if needed.

The management has a higher limit that I cannot recall. However, between those two people they can waive that fee.

If too many credits are given, and too much revenue is 'given' away, then the managers are threatened with their jobs. That is why customer service is lowsy at Cingular.
The executive officers of Cingular Wireless are domestic terrorists (no doubt). The retail stores lie to people all the time - its nothing new to Cingular Customer Service.

There are many more things I can share on the 'inside scoop' but have limited time and space.

By the way, Don't listen to stacey. She sounds like a broken record. Cingular has catch phrases that they use to attempt to calm people down. That is exactly what Stacey was doing.
I would call the Attorney Generals Office, the FCC, BBB (Which Cingular is not a member of), and the local news channel (Which I did and the television news station said they would 'check thngs out' and never did - Cingular pays them off too). Just food for thought

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#6 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Stacey Sounds Like A Cingular Puppet

AUTHOR: Charles - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, May 19, 2005

Cingular is the Darth Vader in a three stooges flick. People are generally the three stooges attempting to get the best quality service for their money. However, Cingular Wireless is as Darth Vader was. Darth simply ripped your heart out no matter the consequences - Cingular does the same through customer service.

Do not blame the customer service. The CSR's of Cingular is threatened with their job if they do not do as 'management' says. CSR's are over worked and under paid. On any given week there is ambulance services at the Cingular building picking them up off the ground from the stress and anxiety. Cingular does not care about anyone but money.

As far as the contract is concerned. Michael, I hate what Cingular does to people. Cingular was produced from Southern Bell and SBC. The merger was designed to make Cingular the largest wireless company in the world. They succeeded.
I was employed as a CSR for eight months. I was tired of ripping customers off. When a screw up occurred on a billing statement, Cingular implemented a HLA (High Level Adjustment) department that consists of two or three people. The people that are in those positions are anti-customer service. They are the ones that make the decisions to grant a credit or waive a fee. Each employee has $175.00 limit that they can credit towards each account if needed.

The management has a higher limit that I cannot recall. However, between those two people they can waive that fee.

If too many credits are given, and too much revenue is 'given' away, then the managers are threatened with their jobs. That is why customer service is lowsy at Cingular.
The executive officers of Cingular Wireless are domestic terrorists (no doubt). The retail stores lie to people all the time - its nothing new to Cingular Customer Service.

There are many more things I can share on the 'inside scoop' but have limited time and space.

By the way, Don't listen to stacey. She sounds like a broken record. Cingular has catch phrases that they use to attempt to calm people down. That is exactly what Stacey was doing.
I would call the Attorney Generals Office, the FCC, BBB (Which Cingular is not a member of), and the local news channel (Which I did and the television news station said they would 'check thngs out' and never did - Cingular pays them off too). Just food for thought

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#5 Author of original report

Hide behind the fine print that's a rip-off tactic

AUTHOR: Michael - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, May 09, 2005

The fact is that I had two phones with AT&T for over five years and never even had a miss-charge. In less than two months with this gothic, bad attitude monster threaten my excellent credit. This is not a good company to be associated with, especially in a service related business. They really have "raised the bar", on rip-off tactics and they hide behind the fine print.

Fact 1. Cingular never contacted me to see if I wanted their service.

Fact 2. I signed a contract with AT&T and had no problems with them for over five years.

Fact 3. AT&T no longer exists, but if they start a new company, I will be the first in line, so long as Cingular or its parent companies have nothing to do with them.

Fact 4. I've seen more bad attitude with Cingular in less than 2 months than I ever experienced with AT&T, Nextel and Sprint combined.

I've read more bad experiences about Cingular, than any other company.

Let's face it with this attitude, in five years they won't have any customers.

All Cingular customers that read this get your contract out, find out the expiration date mark it on your calendar. Cancel it the next day. There are better wireless companies, certainly with a better attitude and know how valuable a customer is. These people don't.

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#4 Author of original report

Hide behind the fine print that's a rip-off tactic

AUTHOR: Michael - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, May 09, 2005

The fact is that I had two phones with AT&T for over five years and never even had a miss-charge. In less than two months with this gothic, bad attitude monster threaten my excellent credit. This is not a good company to be associated with, especially in a service related business. They really have "raised the bar", on rip-off tactics and they hide behind the fine print.

Fact 1. Cingular never contacted me to see if I wanted their service.

Fact 2. I signed a contract with AT&T and had no problems with them for over five years.

Fact 3. AT&T no longer exists, but if they start a new company, I will be the first in line, so long as Cingular or its parent companies have nothing to do with them.

Fact 4. I've seen more bad attitude with Cingular in less than 2 months than I ever experienced with AT&T, Nextel and Sprint combined.

I've read more bad experiences about Cingular, than any other company.

Let's face it with this attitude, in five years they won't have any customers.

All Cingular customers that read this get your contract out, find out the expiration date mark it on your calendar. Cancel it the next day. There are better wireless companies, certainly with a better attitude and know how valuable a customer is. These people don't.

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#3 Author of original report

Hide behind the fine print that's a rip-off tactic

AUTHOR: Michael - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, May 09, 2005

The fact is that I had two phones with AT&T for over five years and never even had a miss-charge. In less than two months with this gothic, bad attitude monster threaten my excellent credit. This is not a good company to be associated with, especially in a service related business. They really have "raised the bar", on rip-off tactics and they hide behind the fine print.

Fact 1. Cingular never contacted me to see if I wanted their service.

Fact 2. I signed a contract with AT&T and had no problems with them for over five years.

Fact 3. AT&T no longer exists, but if they start a new company, I will be the first in line, so long as Cingular or its parent companies have nothing to do with them.

Fact 4. I've seen more bad attitude with Cingular in less than 2 months than I ever experienced with AT&T, Nextel and Sprint combined.

I've read more bad experiences about Cingular, than any other company.

Let's face it with this attitude, in five years they won't have any customers.

All Cingular customers that read this get your contract out, find out the expiration date mark it on your calendar. Cancel it the next day. There are better wireless companies, certainly with a better attitude and know how valuable a customer is. These people don't.

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#2 Author of original report

Hide behind the fine print that's a rip-off tactic

AUTHOR: Michael - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, May 09, 2005

The fact is that I had two phones with AT&T for over five years and never even had a miss-charge. In less than two months with this gothic, bad attitude monster threaten my excellent credit. This is not a good company to be associated with, especially in a service related business. They really have "raised the bar", on rip-off tactics and they hide behind the fine print.

Fact 1. Cingular never contacted me to see if I wanted their service.

Fact 2. I signed a contract with AT&T and had no problems with them for over five years.

Fact 3. AT&T no longer exists, but if they start a new company, I will be the first in line, so long as Cingular or its parent companies have nothing to do with them.

Fact 4. I've seen more bad attitude with Cingular in less than 2 months than I ever experienced with AT&T, Nextel and Sprint combined.

I've read more bad experiences about Cingular, than any other company.

Let's face it with this attitude, in five years they won't have any customers.

All Cingular customers that read this get your contract out, find out the expiration date mark it on your calendar. Cancel it the next day. There are better wireless companies, certainly with a better attitude and know how valuable a customer is. These people don't.

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#1 Consumer Comment

Your contract was transferred

AUTHOR: Stacy - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, May 09, 2005

Since the annoucement of the merger between AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless had taken steps to ensure a smooth transition to Cingular. Review your old AT&T Wireless statements (bills) from summer of 2004 to present - I guarantee that there is information about the merger and that you would be receiving a statement from Cingular instead of AT&T.

Nothing had changed on your AT&T account - your rate plan remained the same as well as your contract term - one or two years. The only thing different was you were being billed by Cingular instead of AT&T and you had to keep your service active to continue on with the AT&T portion. If you cancelled your service and you were still under your AT&T contract - Cingular has every right to charge the cancellation fee and they will hold you liable for that fee.

I would recommend that you read the terms and conditions that you agreed to with the latest AT&T Wireless contract.

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