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Report: #311089

Complaint Review: US Cellular - Tulsa Oklahoma Iowa

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Cedar Falls Iowa
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
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  • US Cellular 4700 S. Garnett Rd Tulsa Oklahoma, Iowa U.S.A.

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I was ripped off by us cellular. I decided to change my cell phone company because I needed nation wide coverage. Well I called and canceled and payed my bill up to date. Note: I was with this provider for eight years. I then turned off my phone and it went into a drawer. Now a year later I went to a bank to get a home loan and was denied. Apparently I owed US Cellular for some reason. I called the company and started to get this resolved. They informed me that they couldn't even talk to me because they had sold my account to a collection company. Remember they never sent me a bill or called my LAN line to tell me my account was still on or past due. Even though I called and canceled my account. They told me I never called to have it turned off. I actually did twice because I had friends who had a problem that was the same as my current problem. Well then I called the Collection company, This was a huge joke. They harassed me to settle my account and kept calling after They had my phone#. They told me to call US Cellular to settle the problem. So I did. They again told me to call the collection agency. So again I did. Again they told me to Call US Cellular. I finally got through to some manager type at US Cellular, She told me I would have to have a court ordered subpoena for them to let me see or talk to me about my own account information. Well for a couple hundred dollars I am not going to get a lawyer involved. So I called back the collection agency and talked them down 40% to settle the account. I felt robbed, They had held me hostage with my credit just to make a few hundred bucks. Now my credit is trashed and I cant buy a house. So I have decided to make my life a vendeta against this evil corperation. I have talked to about 20 other previous customers of US Cellular. This happens to 1 in 3 US Cellualar customers when they try to cancel their accounts. My next step will be to talk to my congressman, and get a lawyer involved to start a class action lawsuit.

Ripped
Cedar Falls, Iowa
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/22/2008 01:18 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/us-cellular/tulsa-oklahoma-iowa-74146-5299/us-cellular-rip-off-credit-fraud-tulsa-oklahoma-311089. 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
20Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#20 Consumer Comment

not exactly

AUTHOR: Paul - (USA)

POSTED: Friday, February 17, 2012

for more than a year or so, anybody can go to a non-contract deal where all is month-to-month.

I can walk away at the end of any month.....



Fact is, US cellular is no different than other cell providers.... 



As far as rewards, it has paid for itself twice for me in as many years... so its probably more about wasting the rewards than much else..

    

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#19 General Comment

The facts...

AUTHOR: home - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, February 17, 2012

First, US Cellular is unlike the big 5, as they are national companies. US Cellular is a regional company that is not looking to get into national competition. US Cellular has detailed contracts that explain the above about 50% usage. The contracts are very extensive and just like any other companies contracts. They protect the company. It is up to the individual to read what they sign, before they sign it.

The catch with the cell phone company, cable company or any other company that sells us a luxury, that society has convinced us is a need is that we ignore what the sales person is telling us because we as consumers are too busy looking at the cool features or how many channels we're getting or how nice the dash looks in the car when it's all lit up at night.

It is our responsibility as the consumer/customer to make sure as individuals that we read what we sign. Most sales people have to explain a lot of things before they can let you walk out of the store with what they're selling. But, we rush them and get out the door, not listening to what they have told us, which is why we get burned.

Additionally, all companies are out to make a profit at your expense. If not, they will eventually no longer exist. Even a doctor is selling a service. "US Cellular cares about one thing and one thing only their bottom line." They do care about this, but compared to other companies in most any industry, they care more about their customers.

This is why they have a proven track record for having the best customer service in the Mid-West. Look it up they have one numerous JD Power & Associates awards, which rate their customer service to a pretty strict standard. Don't believe me, pick the company you think has the best telephone customer service and compare their statistics against US Cellular on the same scale for JD Power.

Lastly, I know this has been a lengthy comment, but I have had US Cellular as a company and they have provided me better service than all but one of the big 5, which I cannot mention on this site. If I were still in their service area, I would still have them to this day. Not to mention the rate is waaaay lower than any of the national carriers and comparable to the pre-pay rates, which is unbelievable, since you can get the cool phone, without the hard prices.

That is all. Thanks for reading. Enjoy your day.

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#18 UPDATE EX-employee responds

US cellular contracts

AUTHOR: former US cellular employee - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, February 13, 2012

Customers with US Cellular who use more than 50% of minute usage or data off network or roaming can be diffinately have their service canceled. As far as charging customers after they have canceled their contracts I have seen this also. US Cellular cares about one thing and one thing only their bottom line. People believe that the rewars points are so great but wait until they start to find out that they cannot update their phones by buying out their contracts any longer they have to wait until the 18 months are up or they have enough points.

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#17 Consumer Comment

nope

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

POSTED: Saturday, April 11, 2009

Um.. no cell company will call to cancel on roaming unless you got roaming for free.. so I doubt that report is legit.

if they are charging for roaming, it will always be more than the cost.

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#16 Consumer Comment

Same Problem

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

POSTED: Thursday, March 26, 2009

I had the same problem with US Cellular. The kicker is, they CALLED ME to cancel my plan, because I was roaming too much due to travelling, and costing them too much $$. I agreed, got a new phone, but apparently was still being billed.

Ripped, please let me know how this all ended up working out.


Don't know where to go from here.

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#15 Consumer Comment

report them to the FCC and FTC

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

POSTED: Thursday, December 04, 2008

You can report issues with cell phone providers to the FCC and FTC.

Most business love to pad their bills with extra charges, ignore cancellation requests etc. They get away with it because people do not report them for it.

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#14 Consumer Comment

Has anyone noticed that US Cellular doesn't respond to any of these complaints?

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

POSTED: Thursday, December 04, 2008

It seems to me that out of all of the complaints about US Cellular in here, not one of them has a response from US Cellular. Doesn't that say something in itself?
You all are condescending to this person, but they are right. US Cellular does not communicate with it's customers. One of their customer service people actually told me to go ahead and cancel my account. They don't CARE!
Sometimes you need to step back and look at the whole picture... not just one perspective.

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#13 Consumer Comment

cell use

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

POSTED: Monday, June 16, 2008

All I know is that if I was to move anywhere I would:

1. chk to see if provider is available in new location.
2. Go national or regional for a short period.
3. If the new location precludes use of current service, then give phone to local
relative or friend who would take up the remainder of contract.

The above assumes that I cant actually cancel the contract.

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#12 Consumer Comment

cell use

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

POSTED: Monday, June 16, 2008

All I know is that if I was to move anywhere I would:

1. chk to see if provider is available in new location.
2. Go national or regional for a short period.
3. If the new location precludes use of current service, then give phone to local
relative or friend who would take up the remainder of contract.

The above assumes that I cant actually cancel the contract.

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#11 Consumer Comment

cell use

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

POSTED: Monday, June 16, 2008

All I know is that if I was to move anywhere I would:

1. chk to see if provider is available in new location.
2. Go national or regional for a short period.
3. If the new location precludes use of current service, then give phone to local
relative or friend who would take up the remainder of contract.

The above assumes that I cant actually cancel the contract.

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#10 Consumer Comment

cell use

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

POSTED: Monday, June 16, 2008

All I know is that if I was to move anywhere I would:

1. chk to see if provider is available in new location.
2. Go national or regional for a short period.
3. If the new location precludes use of current service, then give phone to local
relative or friend who would take up the remainder of contract.

The above assumes that I cant actually cancel the contract.

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#9 Consumer Comment

I wonder

AUTHOR: Tyler James - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Did you not wonder why you didnt get a last bill. I know it says last bill when you do get that last bill, I have had one. Also what was the few hundrid dollars for, ever think of a early termination fee. Yea you signed the contract you pay the bill not too hard, if that was problem then go prepaid. Just my .02 from a verizion employee.

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#8 Consumer Suggestion

suggestions

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

POSTED: Monday, April 14, 2008

most people who anticipate a major move...setup a national plan on the current phone long before the move.

If the provider doesnt have it most will have duplicate service for a short period.

I should know, ive moved enough myself.

as far as being a problem to understand.... .nearly everybody knows that with either 'fitness centers' or cell phone companies, you have to be very observant of the contract or details...

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#7 Consumer Suggestion

common sense

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

POSTED: Monday, April 14, 2008

common sense includes assuming the worst about any effort to cancel a service.

True that this isnt like utilities (btw I worked at one for 8 years) but it in fact can be the same as a cell contract.... potentially.


reality is,
no collection agency will care if u call the original vendor ... its their product now.
also, one a debt goes to collections the original seller (vendor,etc) no longer has the debt to care about (in some cases once sold its written off).

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#6 Consumer Suggestion

im not a employee - am same as u, a consumer.

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

POSTED: Monday, April 14, 2008

im not a employee - am same as u, a consumer.
In fact im a IT person at a major company in my town.

Just not as stupid as you appear to be.

when cancellilng any cell contract, its common sense to assume that there may be a remainder bill leftover after cancelling ...or to at least expect.

Simply getting current and turning off phone...is what a kid would think.

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#5 Author of original report

Thanks for confirming that their is a problem

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

POSTED: Sunday, April 13, 2008

Thank you, If you read the two rebuttals from US cellular employees you will see that they confirm what I said. Unlike other Utility services or other communication services, when you cancel your service It turns off and a final bill is sent, then paid by the customer. But US cellular doesn't tell its customers that they will receive further bills in the future. for so called extra charges. They also acknowledge that like Manny other customers I didn't understand their intentionally complicated and obviously misleading service terms and billing system. This is not what happened to me, but its similar.

I canceled my service and received my final bill. Then I paid them. But they never cancelled my service they continued to bill me. But like I said before I needed a new nation wide coverage plan because of a move. This is the main reason They lose cellular customers. So because I moved, my bills never came to my new place. I also received no phone call on my LAN line. Also I was able to find out that I had been charged three months after I had cancelled, and that my phone was not used at all for those three months. I was told this by a local rep. This to the average somewhat intelligent person would indicate that the error was not mine but theirs. But They say NO pay me. And I was definitely never offered the option to file a complaint by the collection agency. believe me, I would have!!! The options where Pay or suffer having this on my credit score.

So like I said, and like these two US cell employees confirm, their is hidden extra charges and many of their customers dont understand them. And I only put the blame where it belongs. With the company that ripped my self and many other hard working Americans off. ASK yourself this question. Why would a company have policies like this, if they know that most of their customers don't understand them and have issues when trying to cancel their service? hmmmm
P.S. I am currently waiting for my credit reporting company to let me know about my fraud claim. Hopefully it goes well and I can buy my house.

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#4 Author of original report

Thanks for confirming that their is a problem

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

POSTED: Sunday, April 13, 2008

Thank you, If you read the two rebuttals from US cellular employees you will see that they confirm what I said. Unlike other Utility services or other communication services, when you cancel your service It turns off and a final bill is sent, then paid by the customer. But US cellular doesn't tell its customers that they will receive further bills in the future. for so called extra charges. They also acknowledge that like Manny other customers I didn't understand their intentionally complicated and obviously misleading service terms and billing system. This is not what happened to me, but its similar.

I canceled my service and received my final bill. Then I paid them. But they never cancelled my service they continued to bill me. But like I said before I needed a new nation wide coverage plan because of a move. This is the main reason They lose cellular customers. So because I moved, my bills never came to my new place. I also received no phone call on my LAN line. Also I was able to find out that I had been charged three months after I had cancelled, and that my phone was not used at all for those three months. I was told this by a local rep. This to the average somewhat intelligent person would indicate that the error was not mine but theirs. But They say NO pay me. And I was definitely never offered the option to file a complaint by the collection agency. believe me, I would have!!! The options where Pay or suffer having this on my credit score.

So like I said, and like these two US cell employees confirm, their is hidden extra charges and many of their customers dont understand them. And I only put the blame where it belongs. With the company that ripped my self and many other hard working Americans off. ASK yourself this question. Why would a company have policies like this, if they know that most of their customers don't understand them and have issues when trying to cancel their service? hmmmm
P.S. I am currently waiting for my credit reporting company to let me know about my fraud claim. Hopefully it goes well and I can buy my house.

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#3 Author of original report

Thanks for confirming that their is a problem

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

POSTED: Sunday, April 13, 2008

Thank you, If you read the two rebuttals from US cellular employees you will see that they confirm what I said. Unlike other Utility services or other communication services, when you cancel your service It turns off and a final bill is sent, then paid by the customer. But US cellular doesn't tell its customers that they will receive further bills in the future. for so called extra charges. They also acknowledge that like Manny other customers I didn't understand their intentionally complicated and obviously misleading service terms and billing system. This is not what happened to me, but its similar.

I canceled my service and received my final bill. Then I paid them. But they never cancelled my service they continued to bill me. But like I said before I needed a new nation wide coverage plan because of a move. This is the main reason They lose cellular customers. So because I moved, my bills never came to my new place. I also received no phone call on my LAN line. Also I was able to find out that I had been charged three months after I had cancelled, and that my phone was not used at all for those three months. I was told this by a local rep. This to the average somewhat intelligent person would indicate that the error was not mine but theirs. But They say NO pay me. And I was definitely never offered the option to file a complaint by the collection agency. believe me, I would have!!! The options where Pay or suffer having this on my credit score.

So like I said, and like these two US cell employees confirm, their is hidden extra charges and many of their customers dont understand them. And I only put the blame where it belongs. With the company that ripped my self and many other hard working Americans off. ASK yourself this question. Why would a company have policies like this, if they know that most of their customers don't understand them and have issues when trying to cancel their service? hmmmm
P.S. I am currently waiting for my credit reporting company to let me know about my fraud claim. Hopefully it goes well and I can buy my house.

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#2 Consumer Suggestion

pay bill

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

POSTED: Sunday, April 13, 2008

Too often too many consumers think that paying a bill to current and then shutting off the product is all thats needed.

That is almost never the total picture.
In most cases you should always request either a final bill or similar conclusionary bill. Even with that, one could still incur some left over fees or charges (such as paying bill late).. etc.

Its a shame that too many blame others for their own mistakes.

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#1 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Pay your bill.

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

POSTED: Tuesday, April 08, 2008

If you cancelled your account with us and a balance was left, we try multiple times to contact you to pay the bill. We send bills and letters to the last address we have; plus we call any contact number that was left on the account. We just don't automatically send your bill to collections. If the address/contact number was changed, then we obviously couldn't get this information to you. Also, when you cancel your account, we tell you what to expect for the next bill and /or the final bill, and then a revised final bill is sent out with any other charges.

When your account is sent to a collection agency, we've sold it to them and no longer can give you any account information, which is why we refer you back to them. If you want to dispute any charges, they should take the complaint/question and forward it to us. We then send them the documentation they need. Consumers need to take responsibility for the debt they have and not place blame on a company who is just trying to collect on the bill. We work hard to make sure the customer knows exactly what to expect with any changes to their accounts.

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