Cingular And M_qube ripoff m_qube billed charges to phone with no internet access Nationwide

Cingular had rescinded all charges on my direct billing for the charges from M_Cube and its subsidiarys. It took from December to February to get all the charges cleared, but it is done, and also the FCC checked into it and they have been notified that all the charges were dropped. It just takes persistence and some good customer service reps to get it done. I was not pleased with the responses of some of the customer services reps, who insisted that I had to pay those charges whether or no, but the really good ones, who was interested in keeping customers happy, and treated me fairly and worked hard to make things right, have my deep appreciation for their hard work. I commend them, Cingular should be proud of the ones who want to make customer relations work for them Thanks to all!

Please read this very carefully!

While it may be true that the internet site said "Free Ringtones," that is the whole hook for these third party vendors to make a buck. Let me explain.

I actually work for Cingular wireless as a floor tech/supervisor position. I see this issue all the time. As unfortunate as it is, these companies practically take an Act of God to stop. For anyone else reading this, this is vital information!

NEVER text to ANY short code (ie 6646) you see on TV.
NEVER text to ANY short code that comes up as a popup on your computer.
BEWARE of ANYTHING that says "Free ringtone" unless it is coming from the provder you are with.

Yes, the first download/event is free, but it comes with a catch. In itty bitty two point type that no human being can read, there is a statement that will say something like "First download/event is free. After the first download a subscription service of xx.xx will be billed to your wireless bill daily/monthly/weekly unless you unsubscribe within the free trial period."

While the ringtones you obtain at cingular.com or any other provider's website may not be as cool as some of the so-called "freebies," at least getting your content from there will assure you that you will not get signed up for a subscription service that is next to impossible to remove.

Furthermore, a TEXT OR INTERNET BLOCK will NOT stop these charges from happening. The third party content providers cannot distinguish between a phone that has internet capabilities and one that does not--it is a system limitation on THEIR end, not ours.

If you are still seeing these charges, call up customer service (nicely) and ask for the rep to call the third party content provider and ask the services be stopped. I have dealt with several reps from M-qube and M-blox, and the minute I say I am from Cingular Wireless customer care, they honor the request with no attitudes or questions asked.

Personally, I would like to see these third parties barred. However, that is a decision that is left to those higher than myself.

On my bill there are no numbers, just ringtones, and some kind of internet chat charges, and most of the charges happened while he was in school, sometimes up to 10 charges a day, they were bogus, if he tries to get on the internet, a message comes up on his screen, no internet service, he knows this and he did not try anything. I was the person who did a search for free ringtones and we went to that website to see what ringtones were free, we downloaded nothing and signed up for nothing, I saw no fine print on the screen. When he first got his phone, he got a lot of ringtones, and games, and ran the bill up, so we put a block on the phone so he couldn't and they stopped. His phone quit working and we had to get a new one, and he asked me if I would let him get some ringtones, and I said maybe later after the bill with the new phone on it was paid./ He is very good he accepted that, but we did go online for free ringtones, and found that sight, which falsely advertised free ringtones, but we did not try to download anything because I didn't want to take the block off for several months and he knew that instead his dad got him an ipod,for music, and so he forgot about getting any ringtones, and he is not one who would set and chat with anyone for any length of time, he is too hyper for that. These charges were bogus, this company is doing this to a lot of people, and getting their names and phone numbers from this supposedly free ringtone web sight. I am sending this information to the attorney general of our state, and hopefully they can shut these sites down. There are too many sites out there who charge people if they just visit their sites. Be aware folks when you visit sites offering free ringtones, free movies, free music, because they will start charging you for thing you never receive.

Ma'am I do understand your upset about the charges for M-qube on your bill. They are very confusing if you dont get to the bottom of the charges. Your grand son can have the internet blocked and still be charged from m-qube. If you look on your bill it will say a number by what is charging you for m-qube like 42222 or 66969 it will be numbers like that then it might say polyringtone/image or blink joke of the day or dirty hippo...im not exactly sure which one your grandson has subscribed too....you need him to text message the word STOP or QUIT or UNSUBSCRIBE to all of these numbers. Then you need to call m-qube the company that bills you...not the company that charges you....just bills you....there number is 1-866-626-2823...they might hang up on you they might not answer and it might say not in service....you keep dialing until you get through to an m-qube rep....they are very rude be cautious. you give them the number being charged and advise them that you would like to be unsubscribed from EVERYTHING you are being charged for. They will ask you for an email address. GIVE IT TO THEM! I know you dont want to see anymore charges or fraudulent BS but give them you email because they will then email you a list of names you are being charged by and you can either call these companies for a refund...or you speak with a sup from cingular if the reps will not request a refund for these charges....i know at Cellular One the customer will see credits on the next bill....the supervisors credit it off through a different system....as for Cingular charging you...no....its like if you called a 1900 number and was charged....you just see the charge on your monthly telephone bill....that is what m-qube is doing charging your montly cell phone bill....your grandson probably was curious and text messaged these numbers for joke of the day or some kind of ringtone...he didnt even have to down load it....he is still going to be charged....if you need anymore help...I can help you...I know I am not Cingulars customer service and i shouldnt be helping them out...but i know how difficult this can be if you want give me your email address and I will email you more about m-qube....