Cellular One (Cellular One West) Dishonest and misleading business practices. Lying about coverage area and cell towers. Nationwide...but Coverage Is Not Nationwide

I worked for another similar company and have been complaining for years about the lack of adequate training. They finally got rid of me charging me with an untrue violation because I was viewed as a whistle blower. Living in an 'at-will-state- what was I to do? The stress was unbelievable!. It still goes on today and no one will listen! Like that ol' cliche' states---there should be a law!
Truly,
Sick & Tired!

I worked for another similar company and have been complaining for years about the lack of adequate training. They finally got rid of me charging me with an untrue violation because I was viewed as a whistle blower. Living in an 'at-will-state- what was I to do? The stress was unbelievable!. It still goes on today and no one will listen! Like that ol' cliche' states---there should be a law!
Truly,
Sick & Tired!

I worked for another similar company and have been complaining for years about the lack of adequate training. They finally got rid of me charging me with an untrue violation because I was viewed as a whistle blower. Living in an 'at-will-state- what was I to do? The stress was unbelievable!. It still goes on today and no one will listen! Like that ol' cliche' states---there should be a law!
Truly,
Sick & Tired!

I worked for another similar company and have been complaining for years about the lack of adequate training. They finally got rid of me charging me with an untrue violation because I was viewed as a whistle blower. Living in an 'at-will-state- what was I to do? The stress was unbelievable!. It still goes on today and no one will listen! Like that ol' cliche' states---there should be a law!
Truly,
Sick & Tired!

Great suggestion. I'll try that. I may not win, but at least there's a chance. Thanks for that info. and the explanation as to why this might have occurred.

One of two things was going on with your phone that caused you to roam while travelling.

1) Your phone's network setting is set to automatic instead of home only. This means that when you leave your home area, if the phone cannot find its normal SID (network ID) then it will pick up the strongest signal available, which will probably be roaming.

2) Your company doesn't have its own coverage is So. Cal, but uses a partner company (for example, Qwest Wireless partners with Sprint for coverage outside of its home area). If your PRL (Preferred Roaming List) is out of date then your phone may lock onto a roaming tower thinking that it is a local tower.

I would suggest you get a number for Cellular One's executive relations department and send them a letter (CC the Federal Communications Commission and the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) stating that you feel you've been charged unfairly and you've acted based on misinformation given by their company's reps. Tell them you've paid in good faith in order to make sure that there was no negative effect to your credit, but you don't consider the matter closed. Request arbitration if they are unwilling to cooperate.

Wireless companies are a tough nut to crack, and you might have shot yourself in the foot by paying it off instead of disputing the bill formally, but don't give up yet.

One of two things was going on with your phone that caused you to roam while travelling.

1) Your phone's network setting is set to automatic instead of home only. This means that when you leave your home area, if the phone cannot find its normal SID (network ID) then it will pick up the strongest signal available, which will probably be roaming.

2) Your company doesn't have its own coverage is So. Cal, but uses a partner company (for example, Qwest Wireless partners with Sprint for coverage outside of its home area). If your PRL (Preferred Roaming List) is out of date then your phone may lock onto a roaming tower thinking that it is a local tower.

I would suggest you get a number for Cellular One's executive relations department and send them a letter (CC the Federal Communications Commission and the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) stating that you feel you've been charged unfairly and you've acted based on misinformation given by their company's reps. Tell them you've paid in good faith in order to make sure that there was no negative effect to your credit, but you don't consider the matter closed. Request arbitration if they are unwilling to cooperate.

Wireless companies are a tough nut to crack, and you might have shot yourself in the foot by paying it off instead of disputing the bill formally, but don't give up yet.

One of two things was going on with your phone that caused you to roam while travelling.

1) Your phone's network setting is set to automatic instead of home only. This means that when you leave your home area, if the phone cannot find its normal SID (network ID) then it will pick up the strongest signal available, which will probably be roaming.

2) Your company doesn't have its own coverage is So. Cal, but uses a partner company (for example, Qwest Wireless partners with Sprint for coverage outside of its home area). If your PRL (Preferred Roaming List) is out of date then your phone may lock onto a roaming tower thinking that it is a local tower.

I would suggest you get a number for Cellular One's executive relations department and send them a letter (CC the Federal Communications Commission and the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) stating that you feel you've been charged unfairly and you've acted based on misinformation given by their company's reps. Tell them you've paid in good faith in order to make sure that there was no negative effect to your credit, but you don't consider the matter closed. Request arbitration if they are unwilling to cooperate.

Wireless companies are a tough nut to crack, and you might have shot yourself in the foot by paying it off instead of disputing the bill formally, but don't give up yet.

One of two things was going on with your phone that caused you to roam while travelling.

1) Your phone's network setting is set to automatic instead of home only. This means that when you leave your home area, if the phone cannot find its normal SID (network ID) then it will pick up the strongest signal available, which will probably be roaming.

2) Your company doesn't have its own coverage is So. Cal, but uses a partner company (for example, Qwest Wireless partners with Sprint for coverage outside of its home area). If your PRL (Preferred Roaming List) is out of date then your phone may lock onto a roaming tower thinking that it is a local tower.

I would suggest you get a number for Cellular One's executive relations department and send them a letter (CC the Federal Communications Commission and the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) stating that you feel you've been charged unfairly and you've acted based on misinformation given by their company's reps. Tell them you've paid in good faith in order to make sure that there was no negative effect to your credit, but you don't consider the matter closed. Request arbitration if they are unwilling to cooperate.

Wireless companies are a tough nut to crack, and you might have shot yourself in the foot by paying it off instead of disputing the bill formally, but don't give up yet.

I take great offense to the inferences made above that I am stupid. I hate to disappoint you, but I did read my contract, I did understand it fully, and I operated under the assumption that I could only use my "anytime" minutes while out in California. That is, until I was told by a Cellular One rep that I could use all my minutes out there without overages. My mistake was believing them! I was not under a contract when I switched my service. I have not been under contract since 2003, so I did NOT break the contract. Instead of making insinuations and unfounded assumptions, give constructive criticism or keep your comments to yourself!!

Sir....I noticed your from South Dakota...did you purchase your phone through Western Wireless...because if so...you need to be filing a claim with WESTERN WIRELESS....thats your service provider not cellular one....and if you were on a GSM nationwide plan it would not have mattered if you were in cali you would have bounced off cingulars towers and would have been fine...because you would not have had roaming charges.....what i dont understand is that you wanted to get a different service provider for the 5 weeks you were in cali? But thats your business not mine....but if you were still in contract with WESTERN WIRELESS and decided to do this...you screwed yourself over becuse you broke contract and now have to pay EARLY TERM FEES....oh well.....merry christmas

we love you,

Mr. Grinch

They offer a coverage map free of charge. Did you bother to get one and look at it BEFORE signing the agreemenT?

You get what you pay for. Dont you have any major carriers like Verizon, Sprint, Cingular, or even T-Mobile in your area.

Why not use one of these carriers. They all have nationwide coverage.

I guess you were focused on CHEAP and not so focused on GOOD.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!