T-Mobile To Go Tmobil Tmobile Free incoming text advertised, now Incoming text messages are charged $.05 starting 8/15/06 ripoff Chicagoland NW Indiana Nationwide

The fine print is useless. Translated to more plain English it says that, should T-Mobile make a change you don't like, you're welcome to quit buying the service. The problem with that is that TMTG is prepaid: to "cancel" the service would mean walking away from whatever balance you've paid. I've seen nothing assuring the customer that a balance already paid is refundable. As the typical payment is $100 (voice usage charges skyrocketing for accounts paid in smaller increments), this is in effect a fairly hefty cancellation fee.

A workaround that blocks incoming text messages and avoids charges for the same is to keep your phone's text message storage area full. This does prevent reception of further perhaps behavior-modifying notices regarding policy changes.

I advise against phoning the customer service line. Every time I've had a real problem that required help from the other end I have found the customer service department absolutely unhelpful and unwilling to transfer my call to a supervisor. Each attempt just burned 20-50 minutes and left me frustrated and angry.

Thanks for your very well thought out and intelligent yet totally useless resposne to my report Robin. It appears that in your market they have tried a different tactic by reducing the charge for outgoing sms to off set the incoming maybe they are tracking which market screams louder. Or perhaps you are mistaken by the reduction because in the Indiana Market there was no mention of a decrease to go along with the increase.

I am glad you are amused and suggest that people should read. I am glad you were able to cut and paste the agreement and would love to discuss your interpretation of the following:

WITH YOU AND THE MODIFICATION WOULD BE MATERIALLY ADVERSE TO YOU, WE WILL NOTIFY YOU OF THE INCREASE OR MODIFICATION AND YOU CAN CANCEL{ THAT SERVICE }WITHOUT PAYING A CANCELLATION FEE (WHICH IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY)

If you reread my original postings you would see that while I found it unnecessarry to cut and paste the whole excerpt that you so graciously proivided, I have read my fine print. Hence the mention to the 14 day period.

Well back on topic! In the Indiana Market thru their customer service I have been unable to cancel the text service which is why I filed the report. Since they (T-Mobile) deem it necessary to use texting for updates it is not an option to us. I never signed anything because it was a TO GO phone. Therefore no CONTRACT to sign. Pay and go! Yeah! I sill read the fine print and I was making a call to arms to the people who fell for this blatant abuse of Truth in advertising.
I hopeed that if enough people responded to the report they would find another way to help their bottom line besides screwing with the customers they already have.

The website has since been updated to reflect that in 1 month incoming texts will no longer be free which is an admission of sorts in that now new customers will not be mislead. I was more interested in pursuing the false advertising legal aspect and the fact that as you so clearly addressed we can cancel that service which is increasing but since we cannot then the contract is very flawed. SO thank you again for your amusing and well thought out rebuttal.

I also rcvd this response again giving me the runaround to the Customer Service Line where they gave me the fax number again.

Dear Chris :

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at T-Mobile in regards to our planned price change for Text Messages. My name is Jerry and I
will be assisting you with this issue today. I certainly do understand how you would find this frustrating.

I understand your concern. Although we are introducing charges for received messages, you will not be charged for any message that T-Mobile
sends you to keep you updated about your service, balance, etc. Our new prices are still among the best in the market, combined with our low per
minute rates.

You should also be aware that in order to eliminate unwanted incoming text messages, T-Mobile is looking into creating a SPAM filter for
customers to use. This will be available when we launch the new price.

This price is half of what we currently charge our postpaid customers. They are charged $0.10 for each incoming text message. T-Mobile To Go
service is still a great value.

Should you wish to speak to a representative you will need to call. While we can address any concerns you have via email, we do not have the
ability to make or receive calls. I have included our number below in case you do prefer to speak with an agent directly.

If you have any further questions or comments please contact us at anytime by calling Customer Care at 1-877-778-2106 or replying to this
email. I thank you as well for being a valued T-Mobile customer.

Sincerely,

Jerry B 7260410
Customer Care Specialist
T-Mobile USA

Use that fax number in my first update and people and make it ring if you want to opt out... Our voices are strong when they are united.

First off, I use T-Mobile pre-paid and got the same text message. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but with this change outgoing sms also drops to 5 cents. Not a bad deal all in all.

Also, just an FYI, you don't have grounds for a suit or class action suit because of the Terms and conditions you agreed to. I'll post the relevent paragraph below. (Hint: This is why you should read before you sign)

3. Changes to the Agreement or Charges. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY LAW, IF WE: (A) INCREASE THE CHARGES INCLUDED IN YOUR MONTHLY RECURRING ACCESS RATE PLAN, OR (B) MODIFY A MATERIAL TERM OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH YOU AND THE MODIFICATION WOULD BE MATERIALLY ADVERSE TO YOU, WE WILL NOTIFY YOU OF THE INCREASE OR MODIFICATION AND YOU CAN CANCEL THAT SERVICE WITHOUT PAYING A CANCELLATION FEE (WHICH IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY) BY FOLLOWING THE CANCELLATION INSTRUCTIONS IN THE NOTICE. IF YOU DO NOT CANCEL YOUR SERVICE BY FOLLOWING THOSE INSTRUCTIONS, OR YOU OTHERWISE ACCEPT THE CHANGE, THEN YOU AGREE TO THE INCREASE OR MODIFICATION, EVEN IF YOU PAID FOR SERVICE IN ADVANCE. IF THE NOTICE DOES NOT SAY HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO CANCEL, THEN IT IS WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE NOTICE, UNLESS A LONGER PERIOD IS REQUIRED BY LAW. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY LAW, CHARGES FOR PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OPTIONAL SERVICES, OR ANY OTHER CHARGES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR MONTHLY RECURRING ACCESS RATE PLAN (SUCH AS DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE, ROAMING, DOWNLOADS, AND THIRD-PARTY CONTENT) ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND IF YOU CONTINUE TO USE THOSE SERVICES, OR YOU OTHERWISE AGREE TO THE CHANGES, THEN YOU AGREE TO THE NEW CHARGES. VISIT OUR WEB SITE, RETAIL LOCATIONS, OR CALL CUSTOMER CARE FOR CURRENT CHARGES.

If people would read before signing, they might not have as much to complain about....

The fax number for their customer service is 813-353-6545 I will be sending them this fax and an email containing the same information and will keep all of you posted as to their response.

7/12/2006
T- Mobile Customer service:
To whom it may concern,

Here is a link to a Rip Off Report concerning your company T Mobile TO GO

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff200610.htm

You can view this report and the responses to our concerns by entering that link into your browser or read the following which has been copied directly from the website www.ripoffreport.com.

Rip-Off Readers please note that the body of this message has been edited in an effort to avoid duplication of this rip-off report/post.

If you care to comment on this and discuss my concerns with this issue I am a customer of yours with three To GO Phones purchased and active within the last 4 months. I would like a refund of my purchase price and any remaining balances on these three accounts if you insist on going forward with this incoming text message rate increase that you will begin imposing on 8/15/2006.

Please feel free to contact me via email or phone at the following;

Regards from an unhappy Customer,
Chris xxxxxxxx
xxxx xxxx rd
Highland, In 46322
219-xxx-xxxx