InPhonic, Wirefly Delayed Service + Very Poor Customer Service Ripoff Washington DC

Executive Summary: Lured by companies 'sweet deals' of 'free-after-rebated' expensive phones. Four (4) days of "problems" with order - and order still NOT processed after all the hassle. I got wise and researched the company - and canceled the ordered before it went through. God forbid any credit card problems.

Details: InPhonic/Wirefly (through the eCost.com website) offered a "free-after-rebate" Nokia 6230 which retails at about $130.00. Ordered (2) phones + request to port a SprintPCS number to a Cingulair number.

Issues:
(1) Had to wait the next day to find out there was "problem" with the order. Whereismyorder.com says "customer action required". Called number - you wont get anybody. I had to wait till the next day. InPhonic says they cannot port the number because the billing address of the credit card was different from the shipping address -- I resolved that with the CCard company; changed billing address so that it matches. Talked with a Customer Service Rep - after a long, long wait. Problem solved? ..... no

(2)Had I not checked the website, I would not have known the order was not yet processed. Of course, "customer action required" message. Again, not able to reach any body at their CS number, had to wait till next day again. Problem: they claim they CAN NOT port over the number - they can't explain why. I called CINGULAIR directly - they said there shouldn't be any problem as the phone numbers i wanted to port were both eligible for porting. CINGULAIR suggested that to make post- activation porting easier, a new SIM card will be required - maybe InPhonic can provide blank SIM card with the phones to facilitate post-activation porting.

(3) InPhonic declines to do the suggestion. In fact, started to offer other options such as looking at another carrier (which I do not understand why it should be an option it the problem is with them not being able to port a number.) To make things easy, I decided NOT to port my old number, and get new numbers instead. So the CS supposedly made the changes on my order, and that it will be shipped via air without charge. Problem solved? ..... No

(4) I check on the order on the website: Guess what ..."Customer Action Required" - again with instruction to call the verification department. The explanation offered by the CS about why the order was not processed was specious -- meanwhile I've done my research on InPhonic on the web -- I decided to let go of dream to have a Nokia 6230 for "free" and canceled the order.

(5) Apparently they have already charged the credit card -- which they shouldn't have because they have not processed the order nor shipped anything . Will update on the status.

J
Durham, North Carolina
U.S.A.