Cingular Cell Phone Lost Cell Phone & was charged $200 now they want $129.99 for new phone consumer rip-off fraud Florence Alabama
I purchased a family cell phone plan (2 phones - 2 different numbers)from Cingular through Sam's in Florence, Alabama. One for each child. Each phone cost $5.00 each. Used the phones 3 months when one phone was stolen from my son at work. I was out of town when he notified me so I called and ask Cingular to cut off the phone so the minutes could not be run up by the person who stole it.
When I returned, I went to Sam's and ask them to get me another phone in the same number and of I was informed they only sold new service and that I would have to visit the Cingular store on Cox Creek Parkway in Florence.
I then went to the Cingular store and they pulled up my account and informed me that another phone would cost $129.99. Also told me that because I had the phone shut off that I was charged $200. Also ask me if I had taken out insurance on the phone. I said "NO", why would anyone take out $5 a month insurance on a $25 phone?
I was not even asked if I wanted insurance anyway and think this is the biggest rip off. HELP!!!!!!!!!
Stelola
Florence, Alabama
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Mark
Mesa,Arizona,
Clarification
#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, August 01, 2002
In response to the above rebuttal. I am not involved in any way with Cingular. Cingular Wireless is not even available in Arizona. I am just a consumer making a comment.
Mark
Mesa,Arizona,
Take some responsibility
#3UPDATE Employee
Tue, July 30, 2002
Ok, so let me get this straight...you want Cingular to give you another phone for low cost or no cost because it was stolen? How is this any fault of Cingular? If you bought a car at a discount price and it gets stolen, you don't ask the car company for another car at the same price you paid. You contact your INSURANCE company.
The phone you buy with a new line of service is cheap because it is subsidized with a contract for service. Since the "replacement" phone is not going to another contract, you have to pay the retail price of the phone since they can't recoup the cost of the phone. The $25 you paid is not the retail price. Notice somewhere near the phone is says "Price with activation".
On the $200 fee-Did you tell them the phone was
stolen and to suspend your service or did you tell
Cingular to terminate the contract or stop service
to the phone? Be careful how you word it: Instead
of paying $200, it might only cost you about $25
for a reconnect fee.
You might have some recourse on the $200 penalty
depending on the circumstances surrounding your
case. However, expect to pay full price on your
phone. No company would be able to stay in
business if they had to replace products every time they got stolen. If your phone gets lost or
stolen again, are you going to expect Cingular to
give you another phone for free? Not likely.