InPhonic Inc VoiceStream Phone is a ripoff. DC, USA

I received via email an offer for a Voicestream cell phone service plan through InPhonic. Since I had been looking for a better cell phone plan than the one I have, I clicked on the link to check out the offer. It sounded like a great plan so I applied. I chose the family plan and all the equipment. Later, I received an email saying that I did not qualify for the plan they had advertised but they had another plan that I might be interested. If I did not reply to the email, they would set it up.

I replied back and told them no thanks to the alternate plan and I told them that I did not need another cell phone since I already have one better than what they were willing to give me. I only applied to get a family plan. I received another duplicate email. I replied again. Then I received an email telling me my new phone was on it's way. I was very angry. On top of this email, they had charged my Visa (which is actually a checkcard and connected to my bank account) for $140 of which I wasn't aware that I was being charged.

I had six checks bounce at $30 each for a total of $180. (One of the checks was for my son's school lunch in the amount of $12 so his lunches for that week cost me $42. Can you imagine how many lunches I could have bought with that $30?) In the meantime the phone arrived. I called InPhonic and was passed to the returns department. They gave me a number to put on the outside of the box so I could ship it back. It cost ME $5+ to ship it and I did not insure it. I then had to call Voicestream and have the account cancelled.

I was told that I wasn't the first person that this had happened to. They cleared it up and did not charge me the cancellation fee of $200, thankfully. However, I would have to call back the following month because I would be receiving a bill for the time between when the phone was sent and when I called the. (I received the bill a couple weeks ago for $12+. That has been taken care of.) I emailed InPhonic to check the status of my refund a few days after I returned the phone. I was told that they wouldn't credit me until the received it. I checked the status of the package and it had already been received.

I emailed them again. They then said they had received the package and forwarded my account to a different department for reimbursement. I was told it would be another 7-10 before I'd be credited. Finally, I was credited but only for the amount they had charged me. I asked for reimbusement for the shipping and for the bounced checks. I was ignored. I felt that it was their error and they should pay the damages. I repeatedly told them I didn't want the phone.

I even saved the emails. I am a single mom who was laid off in February and I don't have money to throw away. I basically lost over $185 on InPhonic's error. I could sure use that money right now. I am still unemployed and still a single mother. I am writing this in the hopes that I can save others the hassle and expense of dealing with this company.

Joy
Spring Grove, Illinois