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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / March 2005OT: Is this dumb or what?
I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still got a bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax them a copy of my SBC bill where it showed they were indeed my local phone company. I did, so I called today to verify they got my fax. The guy I was talking to (probably in Bangalore, based on the accent) asked me, what I wanted to do with the charges on my bill???? I said, cancel them, of course! (no, please, keep my money, I insist!) So he went ahed and issued the credit on my account and told me I should see the credit for the cancellation in my next statement. Then he asked me if I wanted to switch to ATT for my local and long distance telephone service!?!?!?!?!?! Dude, I just *cancelled* my service with your guys, what on Earth makes you think I'm interested in switching back?????  SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com > I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still > got a bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > service with your guys, what on Earth makes you think I'm interested > in switching back????? Gotta love it! A couple of years ago I was getting small monthy service charges on my Bellsouth phone bill from MCI for long distance. I don't use MCI; never have. It even took me a while to notice the charges. When I talked with Bellsouth they had a term for this - I can't remember what it was now - and said MCI was notorious for this activity. So I called MCI and raised hell about it. They said oh, sorry, we'll issue a credit. But would you like to switch to MCI for your long distance? Hell NO! Jill > Gotta love it! A couple of years ago I was getting small monthy service > charges on my Bellsouth phone bill from MCI for long distance. I don't > use > MCI; never have. It even took me a while to notice the charges. When I > talked with Bellsouth they had a term for this - I can't remember what it > was now - "Slamming" > and said MCI was notorious for this activity. So I called MCI and > raised hell about it. They said oh, sorry, we'll issue a credit. But > would > you like to switch to MCI for your long distance? Hell NO! SBC is also infamous for doing this - actually they all are! I can't see how this could be legal, but I guess it is. Hugs, CatNipped > Jill >> Gotta love it! A couple of years ago I was getting small monthy >> service charges on my Bellsouth phone bill from MCI for long [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > "Slamming" Thanks; that was the term. I don't see how they can do this but apparently they do until you notice it and tell them to cut it out! Jill > SBC is also infamous for doing this - actually they all are! I can't see > how this could be legal, but I guess it is. It's not legal to slam customers. However, it is up to the customers to notice, because it is usually done "quietly". There are a lot of little tricks that can be used to gain consent to transfer your service with "your consent". Once I can think of is some sort of give away (SUV, etc.) that many people will enter and not read all the rules. In the rules somewhere is a note that your service will transferred from your current provider to company XYZ. If you have filled out the form, and this is on the form, you have "technically" given consent. Most of the companies have been sued for this, by individuals, state, and federal goverments, especially in the 1990's. Unfortunately when their compensation is tied to the number of customers they sign up with the company, not the longivity of the customer, this type of behavior will occur. Note: I do not condone this practice, but I have heard of this, since I do work in the telecommunications industry. Diane >> SBC is also infamous for doing this - actually they all are! I can't see >> how this could be legal, but I guess it is. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Diane And it *does* happen, which is why you should ask for a carrier freeze whenever you change long distance carriers. Karen (also works in telecommunications) > It's not legal to slam customers. However, it is up to the customers to > notice, because it is usually done "quietly". There are a lot of little [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > company XYZ. If you have filled out the form, and this is on the form, you > have "technically" given consent. We got slammed once when we were living in Texas. I'd used my phone card to make a call at a pay phone and the company that "owned" the pay phone used that as an excuse to slam our service. We found out when we got a call from ATT asking if we were unhappy with their service. That is when I learned about slamming and about locking your carrier. Funny thing. We cut off all long distance service before we got our cell phone. We were paying for it, but couldn't use it and both Sprint and ATT were pointing their fingers at each other as the reason we couldn't use long distance. We use our cell for long distance as we don't get charged extra for it, and shred the weekly come-ons from both Sprint and ATT pleading with us to come back to them for long distance service. Pam S. > > I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still > > got a bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Jill It's called "slamming". Joy >>>I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still >>>got a bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Joy You know I do this all the time in this newsgroup. I respond before reading all of the replies. Then I later find out someone has already mentioned what I say. DUH! But with this group how can I keep up? <g> Bob >>I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still >>got a bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Jill It's called "slamming" and MCI did it to me too a few years ago. However they refused to credit my account since as they said "You used the service." Anyway I got the Texas Attorney General's office invloved as well as the FCC and the problem was taken care of. Bob Then > > he asked me if I wanted to switch to ATT for my local and long > > distance telephone service!?!?!?!?!?! Dude, I just *cancelled* my > > service with your guys, what on Earth makes you think I'm interested > > in switching back????? Nearly as good as what happened to a friend of mine....He got a gas bill for £22,000 for 3 months supply! So at once he was on the phone to them. Ahhh....agreed the gas company.....we have made a mistake but how about this? They proposed that it would be easier for their accounting system if he were to pay the bill....Then every quarter he would be in credit and would never have to pay again probably for the rest of his life.... "All well and good" he replied, "But my flat is all electric" Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs (Who love gas central heating and are probably asleep on that hot bit of the hallway floor right now!) > Nearly as good as what happened to a friend of mine....He got a gas bill for > £22,000 for 3 months supply! So at once he was on the phone to them. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Lesley The gas company suggested that he give them a 22K interest-free loan? I would not have been pleased. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Then >> > he asked me if I wanted to switch to ATT for my local and long [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Slave of the Fabulous Furballs (Who love gas central heating and are > probably asleep on that hot bit of the hallway floor right now!) Buwaahahahaha... >I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still got a >bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax them a copy [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > service!?!?!?!?!?! Dude, I just *cancelled* my service with your guys, > what on Earth makes you think I'm interested in switching back????? What's gonna make you crazy is that they's keep sending you monthly "bills" showing that credit and if you send it in they will take that as authorization to start up their service again and "apply" that credit. I just kept ignoring the bill and after about a year they finally issued a check for the credit amount. Hugs, CatNipped >>I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still got >>a bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax them a [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > What's gonna make you crazy is that they's keep sending you monthly > "bills" *They's*!!!! Um, where's my spellchecker when I need it???!! They'll - as in they will! AARRGGGHHHHH! Hugs, CatNipped > showing that credit and if you send it in they will take that as > authorization to start up their service again and "apply" that credit. I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > CatNipped > *They's*!!!! Um, where's my spellchecker when I need it???!! They'll - > as in they will! AARRGGGHHHHH! > > Hugs, > > CatNipped 'Fess up... you've been at the cat's 'nip stash ;-) Cheers, helen s >> *They's*!!!! Um, where's my spellchecker when I need it???!! They'll - >> as in they will! AARRGGGHHHHH! [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Cheers, helen s Ooooo, yeah. Man, what pretty dust specks in the sun beam, pass the sardines dude and quit bogeying the 'nip!!! Hugs, CatNipped >>> *They's*!!!! Um, where's my spellchecker when I need it???!! >>> They'll - as in they will! AARRGGGHHHHH! [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > CatNipped ROFL! That's 'bogarting', dear ;) >> Ooooo, yeah. Man, what pretty dust specks in the sun beam, pass the >> sardines dude and quit bogeying the 'nip!!! [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > ROFL! That's 'bogarting', dear ;) Ah well, I'd never make a good doper I guess! ;> Hugs, CatNipped > Ooooo, yeah. Man, what pretty dust specks in the sun beam, pass the > sardines dude and quit bogeying the 'nip!!! > > Hugs, > > CatNipped "bogeying the 'nip"... isn't that something that's on web sites where you have to give over your credit card information and be over 18??? Cheers, helen s ;-) > I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still > got a bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > service!?!?!?!?!?! Dude, I just *cancelled* my service with your guys, > what on Earth makes you think I'm interested in switching back????? I have recently had a run in with MCI. We switched to another long distance company and payed MCI in full. Everything was fine for a few months and then they started billing me for .05 Yes, a nickel. Five cents. It didn't say why and the charge was dated after we had been with the other long distance service for a few months. This bill for a nickel was 4 pages long. I ignored it for a few months until they threatened my credit rating for this nickel. So I called and they said and I quote "we bad! That was a mistake on our part, dude." Uhhh, I am not a dude but whatever. So the guy told me that they will immediately cancel the nickel out and that my credit rating was never in any danger and that after seven billing cycles they would have written it off as "bad debt" anyway. It wasn't bad debt, but whatever. So everything was fine and then about 3 months pass and I get another 4 page bill for a nickel. I thought about calling them but decided what the heck and let them bill me for 7 months and then the bills stopped. Hopefully they stay stopped. And every time they call to ask why I don't switch back I make them listen to this story. They've stopped calling me now, too. ;-) SignatureMargaret Fine mefine@mindspring.com >> I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I still >> got a bill from ATT, so I called to complain. They said I had to fax [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> accent) asked me, what I wanted to do with the charges on my >> bill???? I said, cancel them, of course! (no, please, keep my money, >> I insist!) >> So he went ahed and issued the credit on my account and told me I >> should see the credit for the cancellation in my next statement. >> Then he asked me if I wanted to switch to ATT for my local and long >> distance telephone service!?!?!?!?!?! Dude, I just *cancelled* my >> service with your guys, what on Earth makes you think I'm interested >> in switching back????? > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > but decided what the heck and let them bill me for 7 months and then > the bills stopped. Hopefully they stay stopped. And every time they > call to ask why I don't switch back I make them listen to this story. > They've stopped calling me now, too. ;-) They actually said "we bad" and called you dude??? Do they have teenagers working there? That's too funny! -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album >>> I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I > still [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > Check out pictures of Vino at: > http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album And I don't know any company that would write you off to bad debt for under 20 or 25 dollars. It costs the company at *least* that much per bad debt customer. (And is a PITA. I HATE writing off customers for bad debt.) >>>> I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I >> still [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > bad debt customer. (And is a PITA. I HATE writing off customers for > bad debt.) When I moved into my current apartment 8 years ago, they ran a credit check (of course). The apartment manager said "We had a bad report from the [local trash collection] people saying you still owed them $X. for trash pick-up." I laughed - really? I'd been living in the same old apartment for the previous 5 years and trash collection was included in the rent! She thought it was funny, too, since she'd gotten an excellent recommendation from my former apartment complex. Needless to say it didn't stop her from renting to me. But it's disturbing as hell what winds up on your credit report. I got a copy of mine and they had me listed as having worked for a company I never worked for; had my work address as my home address; stuff like that. Jill >>>>>I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I >>> [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Jill When we went to get a mortgage for our first house they showed that I was deeply in debt to chase bank credit card services and about 13 months behind in payments. I didn't even have a chase card. The weird thing is that they said that I did it under my "alternate ID and social security number" like I had an alias or something. They actually listed another name and social security number. Luckily we were working with a small town bank where we had been doing business for a few years and the loan officer believed that I didn't have an alias. It took some work to get Chase to remove that but they did eventually. Later they sent me a letter saying it was computer error on part of the reporting agency. Margaret (who is glad she doesn't really have an evil twin). SignatureMargaret Fine mefine@mindspring.com >>>>>> I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I >>>> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >>> bad debt customer. (And is a PITA. I HATE writing off customers for >>> bad debt.) it's disturbing as hell what winds up on your credit >> report. I got a copy of mine and they had me listed as having >> worked for a company I never worked for; had my work address as my [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Margaret (who is glad she doesn't really have an evil twin). I know - I went to apply for a loan for my car where I'd been banking for 20 years. The guy typed some things on the keyboard, frowned and said to me, "This is flagged for bank fraud." EXCUSE ME??! He said, "Did you have another checking account?" No. He called someone at the credit reporting agency who told him it was a computer glitch, disregard it. Whew! I was sitting there picturing the cops descending on the place with me in handcuffs protesting, "But I didn't DO anything!" It can be pretty scary what they show about you that isn't at all true. Jill > When we went to get a mortgage for our first house they showed > that I was deeply in debt to chase bank credit card services and [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > sent me a letter saying it was computer error on part of the > reporting agency. I'm glad they found the error! I've heard that sometimes it takes forever to get that stuff cleared up. I mean seriously, the computer said so, so it must be true. SignatureCheryl >>>>I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I >> [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] > 20 or 25 dollars. It costs the company at *least* that much per bad debt > customer. (And is a PITA. I HATE writing off customers for bad debt.) I got the impression that basically what he meant was that they'd just stop trying to collect after 7 billing cycles for anything under a set amount. I think he might have actually mentioned that the limit was $5. I think what he meant about "writing off" was just like resigning themselves that they were not going to get it. :-) SignatureMargaret Fine mefine@mindspring.com >>>I switched my local phone service from ATT to SBC last month. I > [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > They actually said "we bad" and called you dude??? Do they have > teenagers working there? That's too funny! Yup. I couldn't even make this stuff up if I wanted to! :-) I wanted to ask if he was going surfing after work but I was good. :-) I had also wondered if he thought I was going to be irate with him and was trying to be funny or charming to ward it off. > -- > Britta > Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's > covered in fur! > Check out pictures of Vino at: > http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album SignatureMargaret Fine mefine@mindspring.com
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