Complaint Review: MCI Worldcom Wireless - Garden City New York

This is a report of an ongoing dispute with MCI Worldcom Wireless dating back to Oct. 26, 2001!!

On that day, I got a call from someone identifying himself as a representative from AT&T. I was already an AT&T long-distance customer so a call from them was not unusual. The call was concerning my cell phone and the offer he made was a much better deal than I already had with Verizon, so I took it.

When the phone came, it was an AT&T phone, the plan was an AT&T plan - but when the bill came, it was from Worldcom! I called AT&T to inquire why I was getting a bill from Worldcom? They informed me that 'people' in Washington D.C. (read: special interest with lots of dough and friends in the right places) had worked out a way to force AT&T to allow other companies to sell AT&T's plans.

I was appalled by this but I asked them if it was also OK for Worldcom to SAY they were AT&T? No, they said. That was not OK!

I called, e-mailed, I called some more, I wrote several letters, I called again to explain to Worldcom that because they'd gotten my business under false pretenses, they couldn't keep me as a customer. In fact, I told them that had they identifiied themselves properly, I would have just hung up on them - instantly! (Probably WHY they paraded as someone else - must have happened to them a lot!) I'd heard the same story from everyone who'd ever used Worldcom Wireless' service - THEY SHAMELESSLY PAD THEIR BILLS! After hearing those stories, I knew I NEVER wanted to be in business with them!

All of my efforts were to no avail. The customer service representatives I spoke to were the most arrogent, unhelpful and just plain rude people I've EVER dealt with! The people I e-mailed and wrote to NEVER replied to any communique I sent.

They did, however, keep sending me bills and, yes, they padded mine shamelessly. The real bone of contention came over the Cancellation Fee. I wouldn't pay it because that would be rewarding their fraudulent business practices. They got my business under false pretences and I got out as soon as I realized it! Consistent with their crooked billing practices, the Cancellation Fee listed on the never-signed Service Agreement is $200. The subsequent bills list the Cancellation Fee charge at $250. Eventually, with interest charges, they ultimately tried to rip me off for $317.20!

Shameless, you bet. These miscreants followed up with collection agencies. I, on the other hand contacted the FCC to complain. My initial complaint was filed on April 9, 2002. The first collector contacted me on June 5, 2002. I informed him of the situation the FCC complaint & file # and advised him to go to his superiors with a recommendation that his company cease collecting for MCI and instead, file a class-action suit againt them on behalf of people like me - so assured was I that there are many of us.

As we all know, the ___hit the fan for MCI Worldcom Wireless shortly thereafter. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving company. Unfortunately, they haven't been punished for their crimes and they've caused immense amounts of damage.

So, because the___hit the fan and because the first collector assured me the whole thing would be taken care of, I thought I was done with MCI Worldcom Wireless - but no! Two years later, I receive a letter from another collection agency demanding the $317.20!

I really couldn't believe the cheek of this company! I contacted the FCC to find out why I'd never heard anything further from them. They claimed they couldn't find the complaint. I told her the date AND the file number - but still no info. Very disappointing - But that's government efficency for you! So, I asked to file a new complaint, which I did on Jan. 27, 2004. I'm still waiting to hear from them.

In the meantime, I sent the new collection agency all the paperwork I have in my thick file, including letters to Senators Feinstein and Boxer. I don't know if THEY will cease and desist but I will NEVER pay and NEVER stop fighting them!

Please let me know of any class-action suits against them I can join. Thank you.

Kathryn (kate)

Santa Monica, California
U.S.A.

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on MCI Worldcom aka Paragon Cellular