The Bizarre and Unpleasant World of Cell Phone Services

Go watch "A day at the races", an old Marx Brothers movie, and focus on the scene at the race track. Nothing has changed since the early days of black and while film. In short, prior to placing a bet, one of the Max Brothers wishes to purchase a horse guide, but then to read it, he needs a "field guide" then to make sense of that, a "track guide" ,and so on and so forth, until making a simple bet ends up an expensive and complicated nightmare.

Cingular Sucks!!

I'm afraid I have to agree with the prior post. Cingular does suck! And this story was a great reminder as to why that is the case.

Since I am blind and, thus, unable to independently handle printed materials, I tend to miss out on most rebate offers. In that way, I guess my life is a bit simpler, if more expensive. The need to visit that Cingular store three times in a day's time would have also been a real killer, since transportation is much more of a challenge for me.

I purchased a Nokia 3650 from a seller on E-Bay, removed my T-Mobile SIM from the old Samsung phone and installed it in the 3650. I encountered no hassles with T-Mobile going this route. The Nokia 3650 is a Symbian phone that I have set up to run the Talx screen reading software, which makes the phone largely accessible by verbalizing the on-screen text.

I've been in the wireless incustry for 12 years. Sprint PCS seems to always be the forerunner on mobile phone technology. Their coverage isn't the best, but whose is. Your cordless phones don't even work that great at home, and the base, which represents the phone's "tower", is right in the other room. Therefore, we can't expect a device that's miles from a tower to work perfectly all the time. That's why when people say "ABC Company's service sucks", my answer is always whose doesn't? But as far as up front rebates, montyly pricing, mobile to mobile, 7 pm night and weekends, more daytime minutes, vision, the innovators of unlimited web access, the innovators of the camera phone, the innovators of the properly working pda phone, the innovators of the color screen phone, not to mention, the lowest industry deposits, the list goes on, it's gotta be sprint! www.Klazzy.com

Cingular doesn't suck. You suck! Sprint and Verizon suck. Did I mention you suck?

Many people go to Cingular for the very same reason - GSM. It allows easier international roaming.

However, Cingular has a bad reputation of the new phones. Not only they're slow getting the new phones, but also when they do they don't know how to support it.

One example, the V60g - The V60 phone with Cingular GSM. It's a nice phone, and I believe many people use it before.

Try to go to Motorola website. Tell me if you can find manual for V60g. You'll find V60i, V60g, v60t,...., just not V60g. In fact, a lot of phones that are Cingular GSM, are so hard to find the support information, even for Cingular people.

Well, to solve the problem, I'm staring to get un-locked tri-band GSM phones from Asian countries like Taiwan and Hong Kong. For example, A668 I'm using, is great! Phones are so cheap there, and I don't have to worry about the contracts. This way I'm using Cingular's GSM network, and not worrying about their slowness on getting new phones.

Anyway, I like Cingular just for GSM, and their decision of adding TDMA and buying AT&T really bothers me. Thank god I can transfer my number now. If I'm getting pissed off a bit more, I'm going with T-Mobile.

The story is so true, i still havent got my Treo 650 but when i get it i dont even know what data plan to get and if at the end of the month when the bill comes in i will get charge extra charges because the data plan was not explain to me correctly.

This story is 100% accurate with Cingular's customer service. I was on-hold for appr. 90 minutes over the course of 2 days trying to GET NEW SERVICE with them on the Treo 650. Unbelievable! At the end of that experience, I decided not to switch to Cingular. I'm (happily) staying with T-Mobile!

You know, reading these posts and previous posts, all I can do is think about how much money these companies are making off of cell phones. First you sell everyone something that they convince you that you can't live without it. Then they create a myriad of plans and pricing that make it impossible to compare with another provider. Then they add in all kinds of charges, fees, and penalites that tie you to the phone for years. I think back to the good ol' days that if I needed to talk to someone they can leave me a message at home and I can call them back when I can. Most people say they have it for emergencies, which makes sense, but most of the morons I see talking on their phones when they drive must be having one hell of an emergency to spend an hour on their phone.

Mike, I agree with all but one point, you look at the bottom line then you realize your stuck for two years!

I've been a Cingular customer for 14/24ths of my contract period now, and this story generally sums up my experiences with them when I tried to sort out my rebates, my first bill, and exchanging defective phones. But, I won't complain too loudly, because Verizon wasn't really any better when I dealt with them. Frankly, cell phone ownership is a lot of annoyance along with $65 a month (we share two lines) for little convenience. We will strongly reevaluate the need to have cell phones at all once our contract expires toward the end of this year.

The problem with most mergers, is, while they they claim it will benefit customers, that it really only benefits stockholders. It's a wonder they make any money at all,,heaven help the incompetants @ Cingular, if the Japanese ever take over the business, they'll be demoted to swabing out toilets. I called Cingular's customer (dis)service this weekend, & found that they're closed after 7pm, although At&t's is still open 24/7,go figure.

Im not going to go on like everyone else here, b/c I could more than quadruple the longest, saddest, heinous story on this post. So in short I will say, Cingular sucks, Im stuck for 2 years, and Im going to settle for this: If it works, i will use it, if its not working right now, i will try again in a minute.

Sincerly,
6 dropped calls/hour (average)

P.S.- heres a good one for you....try to contact Cingular by email...sends you for a loop....literally. ("click here to email customer service", "please login", click here to email customer service", "please login", etc...etc...2hrs later...etc.)

Cingular can raise their bar right up their a-holes. They suck.

Cingular can raise their bar right up their a-holes. They suck.

I just signed up for Cingular and I can't believe how sketchy they are. They promised 18 cent a minute calls to Bermuda (where I'm from). After I signed the contract they told me I'd have to pay $1.50 a minute for SIX MONTHS before I could get the International Plan.

I called numerous times and was told the plan didn't exist, that the sales people are on commission and sometimes overpromise (Wow! That's honest.) Finally I got the 19 cent calls to Bermuda.

Now I got my first bill. I got 240 rollover minutes and $106 in long distance charges. Over $100 of that is for domestic calls on my unlimited nationwide plan.

More calls. They said I need to pay for incoming calls, even on weekend. Then they backed down. They refused to redo the bill but said I could pay $76 instead.

I love the tax recovery fee! Can you imagin if you bought something in a store and they charged you an extra fee to collect the sales tax.

They also haven't received the rebate coupon I sent in a month ago. No surprise there I guess.

I can't believe they are a "real" company, they are so sketchy it's unbelieveable!

Hey! This is a bit off topic, except for the Cingular sucks part. I've been getting harassing calls from an ex using an ATT/Cingular phone. They (ATT) terminated her service after I raised a stink and then sold her THREE more phones. When I call them now, they are saying that she purchased the phones through a 3rd party and thus they are not responsible for terms of service even though they are the carrier of record. (the #'s are 7604703347, 7604703771, and 7604703443)How can I find out who this mysterious 3rd psrty is? There is a warrant out for my ex for harassment, they just can't find her. The police and DA say that they are too busy to track the info. I was successful in getting the ATT and two Virgin mobiles shut down because she had apparently contracted directly with the providers. Any suggestions that don't involve murder?

Hey! to protest your harassment by a cingular customer, we could ALL call the Cingular Corporate Offices, say, on Friday (phone # 4042366000, fax 4042366005) to report the abuse. Use 1800 CALLATT, they actually have real operators and Cingular/ATT would appreciate the business!

Hey! Has anyone noticed that Cingular probably runs alot of the "Cingular sucks" sites? I'll bet they make up some softball problems (Oh! I got TWO dropped calls last month..) or even some tough onesand then have some rep supposedly come to the rescue. Nah... that would be misleading

Does anyone have Stan Sigman's home phone#? He's the pres of Cingular/ATT...

CINGULAR PRES. IS STANLEY T SIGMAN HIS # IS 404-236-6000 HE IS AT 5565 GLENRIDGE CONNECTOR ATLANTA GA. 30342 HE IS A BUSH CRONIE FROM TEXAS !!THAT EXPLAINS WHY CINGULAR SUCK SO BAD PURE CORP GREED! AVOID AT ALL COST!

Thanks for the reply! I'm familiar with his corporate #, was kinda looking for his home phone. Or his mom and dad's. Or his kids. Then I can use a Cingular cell to harass him day and night, in sickness and in health, but NOT until we die...until he disconnects his customer Sandra Lee Travers (ph #'s 760-470-3347, 7604703771, and 760-470-3443) a sick puppy who calls my family day and night while we deal with my brothers stage 4 cancer.

For anyone interested, ZABA search (an excellent search tool) Stan T Sigman, born in March 1947, shows an address in San Antonio TX, ph # 210-930-1771. I called and left a message, and a woman called back. my Caller id showed "Sigman, Stan Ger" along with the above #. I do not in any way advocate the use of this information to harass or annoy any person. I used it ONLY to make Mr Sigman aware of a Cingular customer's illegal use of her phone (that's Sandra Lee Travers, using ph #'s 760-470-3443, 760-470-3771, and 760-470-3347) This is the same customer whose service they terminated only a month earlier (on ph # 760-208-0192). The legal department for Cingular in Palm Beach apparently felt that they had done enough the first time and refuse to even send Ms Travers a cease and desist letter. Their response now is that their custo9mer can call anyone she wants, which, of course means I can call anyone I want. That's why I sign myself...

cingular is a butt-rapist for money. the person i originally signed up with over the phone signed my second line up for the wrong plan so that when my husband and i went to los angeles, from detroit, we were using his phone under the idea that it was under a national plan and then i got a bill for $283 extra for roaming and long distance, charges for both! b/c i hadn't noticed in the first two bills (b/c it was the same cost plan, but local) they said they can't do anything and i have refused to pay it and they offer no other options. they just sent me a form saying that if i don't pay it by the end of april they'll shut off my service. if i cancelled and never paid them, what could they do? i think this should be illegal, it was their mistake and i NEVER physically si gned a contract...why should i pay almost $300 for a mistake they made? sorry i didn't notice it! but screw cingular and their cheap, sneaky ways of doing business. i never had this sort of problem with t-mobile, and w/t-mobile, 99% of the time the people were nice, can't say the same for cingular, besides if they even answer the call or take me off hold.

Does anyone know if it's possible to file a restraining order against a COMPANY. Cingular acknowledges that their customer is harassing my family and friends in violation of state and federal law. They already unilaterally cut off her service on one phone, then sold her three new ones!

As an employee, CSR's have to meet PAR or STAT's, remember, they would do more, but they have to keep the calls between 3-6 minutes! LOL Cingular would be great, if ol'Stan had to answer the phones and do everything perfect..or HE would get writtien up and lose about..oh...say...70 million...just a little of his worth...I WISH he would, I do!!!

Yes, yes, cingular does suck! You can get some laughs, though, if you call the toll-free service line after hours, which connects you to a center in India, a fact they try laughably to conceal. Want to see a rep dance? Ask'em if they are on the east coast or west coast. I am sure that these are very nice people, it's just funny hearing a rep who sounds like Apu on the Simpsons sidestepping questions about his or her location. I'd bet that rule #1 is "Don't tell the customer your location" to prevent any possible backlash that the company was using inexpensive third world labor.

I hear that companies like cingular send their Indian CSR's to the same kind of schools they'd send, say, a russian spy to, to immerse them in our culture, so that the deception process goes more smoothly. Go, Apu!

After more than 15 hours on the phone over the last two weeks trying to get "customer service" to actually help, . . . I have begun to urge the rare person I can actually get on the phone to try calling customer service themselves, . . . the circular forwarding of calls, numerous numbers that just go back to the beginning, . . . frustration doesn't begin to explain how I feel. I just got off the phone with the sixth "rep" I talked to during the last hour I wasted on the phone and heard the sixth different story for why the phone isn't working, . . . but they promise that they'll call me back. When I ask who I need to call if they don't call me back, . . . they say customer service, . . . round and round, . . . Still the phone doesn't work, . . . they bill me anyway, . . . if one out of ten calls goes through, . . . they say that is proof the phone is working just fine. I call back a few days later, . . . and after spending another twenty minutes wandering through the "automated service" have to start the whole process over yet again. No record I ever called before. I feel totally trapped, helpless and abused. So, if I commit suicide, . . . someone please call cingular and tell them they are not getting their termination fee. No one should benefit from their own worngful conduct, . . . not even a phone company.

does anyone have Stan Sigman's email address; I want to send him a copy of an email complaint letter I'm forwarding to Kevin Martin, the FCC Chairman?

Cingular - the people ypu are probably talking to are forerm ATT Wireless employees running their usual congames to suk you into a contract. Like ATT Wireless and Worldcom, I predict Cingular will go down the tubes because you are dealing with drop dead attitude that has become instutionalized at in the end result will drive SBC into the tolite.

Nowq try Cingular information services, they cant even provide a phone number that has been in eistance for years and are merely slamming customers with charges to drive renues up. Cingular claims their information service is a firm called "Live Source", which may or may not have an office. It is interesting that with Cingular they cant conenct you to an office of the corporation and employees have no idea who they are working for. Their peformance rate for wrong numbers is 9 out of ten are guarenteed to be wrong numbers, and remember you pay for the information call and the connection and it will either bring extra charges or use your minutes up like a raging fire out of control. Cingular information services has become the number one conartist operation in America, not that ARR was not. What is needed is a rash of complaints forwarded to the U.S. Attorneys or the Attorney General of the U.S..

Like ARR Wireless Cingular is a company that is incapable of providing customer services, has carried over the collection of human garbage in the telrecommunications industry from ATT and has now become that number one criminal emterprise in America. Consumers will wise up fast and it will all come crashing down like anotehr Worldcom disaster.

For SBC, ATT will prove to be the ulimate merger from hell because in the end result the consumers will finish them off.

By the way it took five hours to get access to a Cingular corporate official. Those whoare unhappy with Cingular service and the mess that was previously ATT wireless might start complaining to the Board of Directors of SBS and the stock holders. Until SBC puts a stop to the drop dead attitude toward consumers, cleans up their information connection service and fires all the ATT lowlifes in the operzation SBC stock will be going no where but down in the immmediate future since consumer disatisfaction is growing like a wildfire..

Cingular - the people you are probably talking to are foremer ATT Wireless employees running their usual congames to suck you into a contract. Like ATT Wireless and Worldcom, I predict Cingular will go down the tubes because you are dealing with drop dead attitude that has become instutionalized and in the end result will drive SBC into the tolite.

Now try Cingular information services, they cant even provide a phone number that has been in existance for years and are merely slamming customers with charges to drive revnues up. Cingular claims their information service is a firm called "Live Source", which may or may not have an office. It is interesting that with Cingular they cant connect you to an officer of the corporation and employees have no idea who they are working for. Their peformance rate for wrong numbers is 9 out of 10 are guarenteed to be wrong numbers, and remember you pay for the information call and the connection and it will either bring extra charges or use your minutes up like a raging fire out of control.

Cingular information services has become the number one conartist operation in America, not that ATT Wireless was not. What is needed is a rash of complaints forwarded to the U.S. Attorneys or the Attorney General of the U.S..

Like ATT Wireless Cingular is a company that is incapable of providing customer services, has carried over the collection of human garbage in the telrecommunications industry from ATT and has now become that number one criminal enterprise in America. Consumers will wise up fast and it will all come crashing down like another Worldcom disaster.

For SBC, ATT will prove to be the ulimate merger from hell because in the end result the consumers will finish them off.

By the way it took five hours to get access to a Cingular corporate official. Those whoare unhappy with Cingular service and the mess that was previously ATT wireless might start complaining to the Board of Directors of SBC and the stock holders.

Until SBC puts a stop to the drop dead attitude toward consumers, cleans up their information connection service and fires all the ATT lowlifes in the operation SBC stock will be going no where but down in the immmediate future since consumer disatisfaction is growing like a wildfire..

The wireless telecom industry has become a haven for some of the most seedist low lifes on the planet. The cell phone industry hasbecome the best con game in town and dont expect much help from the government.

Cingular - the people you are probably talking to are foremer ATT Wireless employees running their usual congames to suck you into a contract. Like ATT Wireless and Worldcom, I predict Cingular will go down the tubes because you are dealing with drop dead attitude that has become instutionalized and in the end result will drive SBC into the tolite.

Now try Cingular information services, they cant even provide a phone number that has been in existance for years and are merely slamming customers with charges to drive revnues up. Cingular claims their information service is a firm called "Live Source", which may or may not have an office. It is interesting that with Cingular they cant connect you to an officer of the corporation and employees have no idea who they are working for. Their peformance rate for wrong numbers is 9 out of 10 are guarenteed to be wrong numbers, and remember you pay for the information call and the connection and it will either bring extra charges or use your minutes up like a raging fire out of control.

Cingular information services has become the number one conartist operation in America, not that ATT Wireless was not. What is needed is a rash of complaints forwarded to the U.S. Attorneys or the Attorney General of the U.S..

Like ATT Wireless Cingular is a company that is incapable of providing customer services, has carried over the collection of human garbage in the telrecommunications industry from ATT and has now become that number one criminal enterprise in America. Consumers will wise up fast and it will all come crashing down like another Worldcom disaster.

For SBC, ATT will prove to be the ulimate merger from hell because in the end result the consumers will finish them off.

By the way it took five hours to get access to a Cingular corporate official. Those whoare unhappy with Cingular service and the mess that was previously ATT wireless might start complaining to the Board of Directors of SBC and the stock holders.

Until SBC puts a stop to the drop dead attitude toward consumers, cleans up their information connection service and fires all the ATT lowlifes in the operation SBC stock will be going no where but down in the immmediate future since consumer disatisfaction is growing like a wildfire..

The wireless telecom industry has become a haven for some of the most seedist low lifes on the planet. The cell phone industry hasbecome the best con game in town and dont expect much help from the government.

Cingular - the people you are probably talking to are foremer ATT Wireless employees running their usual congames to suck you into a contract. Like ATT Wireless and Worldcom, I predict Cingular will go down the tubes because you are dealing with drop dead attitude that has become instutionalized and in the end result will drive SBC into the tolite.

Now try Cingular information services, they cant even provide a phone number that has been in existance for years and are merely slamming customers with charges to drive revnues up. Cingular claims their information service is a firm called "Live Source", which may or may not have an office. It is interesting that with Cingular they cant connect you to an officer of the corporation and employees have no idea who they are working for. Their peformance rate for wrong numbers is 9 out of 10 are guarenteed to be wrong numbers, and remember you pay for the information call and the connection and it will either bring extra charges or use your minutes up like a raging fire out of control.

Cingular information services has become the number one conartist operation in America, not that ATT Wireless was not. What is needed is a rash of complaints forwarded to the U.S. Attorneys or the Attorney General of the U.S..

Like ATT Wireless Cingular is a company that is incapable of providing customer services, has carried over the collection of human garbage in the telrecommunications industry from ATT and has now become that number one criminal enterprise in America. Consumers will wise up fast and it will all come crashing down like another Worldcom disaster.

For SBC, ATT will prove to be the ulimate merger from hell because in the end result the consumers will finish them off.

By the way it took five hours to get access to a Cingular corporate official. Those whoare unhappy with Cingular service and the mess that was previously ATT wireless might start complaining to the Board of Directors of SBC and the stock holders.

Until SBC puts a stop to the drop dead attitude toward consumers, cleans up their information connection service and fires all the ATT lowlifes in the operation SBC stock will be going no where but down in the immmediate future since consumer disatisfaction is growing like a wildfire..

The wireless telecom industry has become a haven for some of the most seedist low lifes on the planet. The cell phone industry hasbecome the best con game in town and dont expect much help from the government.

Cingular - the people you are probably talking to are foremer ATT Wireless employees running their usual congames to suck you into a contract. Like ATT Wireless and Worldcom, I predict Cingular will go down the tubes because you are dealing with drop dead attitude that has become instutionalized and in the end result will drive SBC into the tolite.

Now try Cingular information services, they cant even provide a phone number that has been in existance for years and are merely slamming customers with charges to drive revnues up. Cingular claims their information service is a firm called "Live Source", which may or may not have an office. It is interesting that with Cingular they cant connect you to an officer of the corporation and employees have no idea who they are working for. Their peformance rate for wrong numbers is 9 out of 10 are guarenteed to be wrong numbers, and remember you pay for the information call and the connection and it will either bring extra charges or use your minutes up like a raging fire out of control.

Cingular information services has become the number one conartist operation in America, not that ATT Wireless was not. What is needed is a rash of complaints forwarded to the U.S. Attorneys or the Attorney General of the U.S..

Like ATT Wireless Cingular is a company that is incapable of providing customer services, has carried over the collection of human garbage in the telrecommunications industry from ATT and has now become that number one criminal enterprise in America. Consumers will wise up fast and it will all come crashing down like another Worldcom disaster.

For SBC, ATT will prove to be the ulimate merger from hell because in the end result the consumers will finish them off.

By the way it took five hours to get access to a Cingular corporate official. Those whoare unhappy with Cingular service and the mess that was previously ATT wireless might start complaining to the Board of Directors of SBC and the stock holders.

Until SBC puts a stop to the drop dead attitude toward consumers, cleans up their information connection service and fires all the ATT lowlifes in the operation SBC stock will be going no where but down in the immmediate future since consumer disatisfaction is growing like a wildfire..

The wireless telecom industry has become a haven for some of the most seedist low lifes on the planet. The cell phone industry hasbecome the best con game in town and dont expect much help from the government.

Cingular - the people you are probably talking to are foremer ATT Wireless employees running their usual congames to suck you into a contract. Like ATT Wireless and Worldcom, I predict Cingular will go down the tubes because you are dealing with drop dead attitude that has become instutionalized and in the end result will drive SBC into the tolite.

Now try Cingular information services, they cant even provide a phone number that has been in existance for years and are merely slamming customers with charges to drive revnues up. Cingular claims their information service is a firm called "Live Source", which may or may not have an office. It is interesting that with Cingular they cant connect you to an officer of the corporation and employees have no idea who they are working for. Their peformance rate for wrong numbers is 9 out of 10 are guarenteed to be wrong numbers, and remember you pay for the information call and the connection and it will either bring extra charges or use your minutes up like a raging fire out of control.

Cingular information services has become the number one conartist operation in America, not that ATT Wireless was not. What is needed is a rash of complaints forwarded to the U.S. Attorneys or the Attorney General of the U.S..

Like ATT Wireless Cingular is a company that is incapable of providing customer services, has carried over the collection of human garbage in the telrecommunications industry from ATT and has now become that number one criminal enterprise in America. Consumers will wise up fast and it will all come crashing down like another Worldcom disaster.

For SBC, ATT will prove to be the ulimate merger from hell because in the end result the consumers will finish them off.

By the way it took five hours to get access to a Cingular corporate official. Those whoare unhappy with Cingular service and the mess that was previously ATT wireless might start complaining to the Board of Directors of SBC and the stock holders.

Until SBC puts a stop to the drop dead attitude toward consumers, cleans up their information connection service and fires all the ATT lowlifes in the operation SBC stock will be going no where but down in the immmediate future since consumer disatisfaction is growing like a wildfire..

The wireless telecom industry has become a haven for some of the most seedist low lifes on the planet. The cell phone industry hasbecome the best con game in town and dont expect much help from the government.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to read AND understand every word in a written contract. "the large print giveth and the small print taketh away" is axiomatic. Go ahead and reAd your contract. You'll find sentences that, upon your fifth slow reading, still don't make sense, but raise the hackles on your neck. Don't count on your interpretation of the wording being superior to the authors unless you have studied contract law, which all the people who wrote the contract certainly did. Ethics is not an issue in a contract except for some very basic issues. If you say that things were promised to you, they have to be written down. After that, if you signed, and they signed, you both are expected to perform according to the contract. READ the contract, or have someone read/access it for you.

Re: Contracts. The reality of the situation is that it is much wiser to read the contract before signing it. If you don't, you'll end up reading it anyway along with your signature, meaning it's too late and you are screwed. Look at it as a game, maybe. See how many clauses benefit you as opposed to the "company". Be aware of sly or slick wording. Look up terms you don't understand. DON'T count on the company to do anything that is not spelled out If you do a thorough job of it, you should have no surprises, or if you do, you should have a good case in small claims court.

Speaking of slick dialogue, has everybody seen the Cingular commercial where the announcer says "We're building the largest blah blah blah" To the casual listener, it sounds A LOT like "We've BUILT blah blah blah" "We're 'building'?" That could mean they've got a whole bunch of cans connected by string. And judging by the posts here, that may not be far off...

How much to CSR's make at Cingular? Are they paid more for their ability to hornswoggle confused innocents?

I am an AT&T customer for over 5 years - although I have had problems with AT & T, they were always willing to give me additional minutes or credits or something other than nothing -for something gone wrong. That is good customer service; Whereas Cingular their customer service laughed at me when I asked to speak to their supervisor; As a solution to my phone not working I was instructed to drive five miles or more to see if my phone gets sevice in areas other than where I live and work. I don't live in a rural area, rather the opposite of that - Burbank, CA - the home of NBC, Warner Bros., Bope Hope airport etc. this place is jumpin' - the media capital of the world. Simply; My phone worked Sunday 7/24/06 at 8:15 am and didn't work later that evening (6:30pm). Monday morning 7/25 I was on the phone for 1 hour and 50 minutes - I talked to two reps - Rep 1 Barry Beckner and Rep 2 Daryll Long. They both refused to transfer me to their supervisors; although Barry did try to pawn Daryll off as the boss; but Daryll said he was a rep just like Barry.. Although they wouldn't transfer me to anyone that could offer resolve it was only after much ranting - that Barry did give me some supervisior's name that in the end didn't match the name Daryll gave me; so I doubt these reps use their real names either. I still can't believe this happened. It is sick. This isn't customer service; never should a customer be instructed to drive around tosee if they can find service .....that is asking me the customer to become tech support, right? I said I may enterian this crazy idea - provided they put me on their payroll for doing their jobs. I explained that I was upset for being on the phone for so long and all they could tell me to do was drive around. I said LISTEN! The customer only has one job and that is to pay for the service and buy phones - I do that; I buy lots of phones and I pay my bills early - I am not additional tech support for Cingular - I pay them for that! As of yesterday 7/24 I am paying for a service they are unable to provide. They care little about the fact that I have two accounts, and have been a customer for over 5 years in excellent standing. The company I work for has a corporate account with Cingular for it's emplyees; I am going corporate with this and going to our company rep - because our company should not support anything other than the highest of standards. Cingular is the lowest and I fully intend on taking our business away from them. I checked out other phone services today... good bye Cingular - YOU ARE FIRED.

I am an AT&T customer for over 5 years - although I have had problems with AT & T, they were always willing to give me additional minutes or credits or something other than nothing -for something gone wrong. That is good customer service; Whereas Cingular their customer service laughed at me when I asked to speak to their supervisor; As a solution to my phone not working I was instructed to drive five miles or more to see if my phone gets sevice in areas other than where I live and work. I don't live in a rural area, rather the opposite of that - Burbank, CA - the home of NBC, Warner Bros., Bope Hope airport etc. this place is jumpin' - the media capital of the world. Simply; My phone worked Sunday 7/24/06 at 8:15 am and didn't work later that evening (6:30pm). Monday morning 7/25 I was on the phone for 1 hour and 50 minutes - I talked to two reps - Rep 1 Barry Beckner and Rep 2 Daryll Long. They both refused to transfer me to their supervisors; although Barry did try to pawn Daryll off as the boss; but Daryll said he was a rep just like Barry.. Although they wouldn't transfer me to anyone that could offer resolve it was only after much ranting - that Barry did give me some supervisior's name that in the end didn't match the name Daryll gave me; so I doubt these reps use their real names either. I still can't believe this happened. It is sick. This isn't customer service; never should a customer be instructed to drive around tosee if they can find service .....that is asking me the customer to become tech support, right? I said I may enterian this crazy idea - provided they put me on their payroll for doing their jobs. I explained that I was upset for being on the phone for so long and all they could tell me to do was drive around. I said LISTEN! The customer only has one job and that is to pay for the service and buy phones - I do that; I buy lots of phones and I pay my bills early - I am not additional tech support for Cingular - I pay them for that! As of yesterday 7/24 I am paying for a service they are unable to provide. They care little about the fact that I have two accounts, and have been a customer for over 5 years in excellent standing. The company I work for has a corporate account with Cingular for it's emplyees; I am going corporate with this and going to our company rep - because our company should not support anything other than the highest of standards. Cingular is the lowest and I fully intend on taking our business away from them. I checked out other phone services today... good bye Cingular - YOU ARE FIRED.

CINGULAR NEEDS TO LOSE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS TO GET THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MESSAGE
I spent over 5 hours on the phone with Cingular reps who were some of the most ignorant, uninformed, rudest people I have ever dealt with. This is after two weeks of simply trying to change service from AT&T to Cingular.

First of all, the entire system is redundant. You wind up going through the same mechanical menu to get to a real person to whom you have to repeat the exact same information regardless of how many dunces you talk to.

Each one gives a new level to how dumb can one get.

I experienced everything from supervisors who would not come to the phone to help me the customers to employees who transferred me back to the main menu to one who ended his shift by putting me on hold and leaving.

This company's treatment of customers in atrocious and I hope every person who was rude will lose their jobs in the near future.

Also, I hope this company loses most of it's major accounts both corporate and personal within the next year.

It is not necessary for customers to be treated as I encountered in this three week half day process when it takes the same time for people to just do a good job.

The company I work for is a mega government entity and I have some say so in who get's their wireless account. Had any of these small time jerks realized that a multi-million dollar deal was hanging in the balance of how I was treated, or any supervisor who refused to come on the phone realized how much was at stake, I am sure someone in the corporate office would be as ticked as I am.

Now, as of Monday afternoon, I intend to laugh all the way to the bank with Verizon.......:) :) :) :)

May Cingular employees eat cell phones for Christmas.

This is a copy of the letter that we sent to Cigular regarding some truly horrible customer service. Now, they want to know what to do to settle the matter. Any advise?

Cingular Office of the President
Stanley T. Sigman
2221 N. University
Lubbock, TX 79415
ATTN: President/CEO
Re: Customer Service Experience

Dear Sirs,

My name is Leah Coulter and my husband and I have been customers with Cingular Wireless for two years. I am writing to you today to tell you about our experiences with Cingular, including the most recent on August 1, 2005.

On June 21, 2005 my husband and I decided to upgrade to a family plan with Cingular. We went to the Caprock Plaza location in Midland to purchase our new plan and phones. After listening to the salesperson and discussing our wireless needs we opted for a 1500 minute plan. The salesperson was new, not very knowledgeable, but seemed to have a sincere desire to help his customers select the appropriate plan for them. We selected our phones, signed our new contract, and paid for our service upgrade and phones. At this time, we were told that they were out of the phones that we had selected but they were expecting more to arrive in the next few days. At this time, we made plans to come back two days later to pick up our phones.

Two days later, I went to pick up our phones. However, they still had not arrived and a different salesperson told me that they had expected them, but now he wasn?t sure when they would arrive. We arranged to have the store call us when the phones arrived. As expected, the salesperson called a couple of days later to let us know that our phones had arrived. I went to the store to pick up our phones and was surprised when I was told that we would have to fill out the paperwork again. Apparently, it was misplaced. The store staff looked for it, but to no avail they were unable to locate the previously completed documents. Yet again, I filled out the paperwork and an hour and ten minutes later I was on my way with our new phones.

Now, we had no other concerns until we received our bill, which seemed extreme at the amount of $236.00. Upon viewing the details, we noticed some billing errors. We contacted customer service on July 15, but did not receive any help. Instead, we were told by the customer service representative that he could do nothing about it, this was the amount that we had to pay, and that if we wanted we should go to the Caprock location to discuss the bill discrepancies with the store personnel. My husband and I went to the Caprock location and I waited in the car while my husband went in to discuss our concerns. Unfortunately, after waiting about 15 minutes Chris received unprofessional, discourteous, an ambivalent service from the store employee, Laura. In fact, she directed us back to the corporate customer service center and was not interested in helping us at all. At this time, Chris was very displeased with the service we were receiving and told Laura that we wanted to change our plan to the most basic. Laura said fine and then demanded that Chris give her his phone. He did. This was the phone that we had just purchased on June 21 but did not receive until later. At this time, Laura did not give Chris a receipt for the phone that she demanded he give her, nor did she give us a refund for the phone. Additionally, we did not turn in the box, the charger, or the smart card that accompanies the phone, nor did she request them. Chris thought this odd at the time, but he had been treated so poorly that he had no desire to continue to subject his self to continued subjugation.

Now, we were on vacation July 17-25 and decided to re-express our concerns upon our return. Therefore, we contacted customer service on July 29, and Chris spoke with Jamie in your customer service department. Unlike our previous experiences while trying to resolve these issues, Jamie was very helpful. She intently listened to Chris and our concerns, Chris pointed out the errors in our bill. The account had been back-dated at the new plan rate for the entire month instead of the six remaining days. This amounted to an overcharge of about a $100.00, Jamie reviewed the bill and confirmed that there was indeed an error and ensured us that it would promptly be corrected. Also, when we had to complete new paperwork, because the store misplace the original, it was not for the same price but was $20.00 more for the 1500 minute plan. Additionally, she told Chris that since we had paid for the phones we should either have kept the phone or received our money back. Jamie advised us to contact Laura at the Caprock location and request our phone or money back. Although, we were not looking forward to another encounter with Laura, since our previous experiences had been so unpleasant, we took her advice.

August 1, 2005, I went to the Caprock location to speak with Laura about having our phone returned to us or having the money we paid for the phone returned. Upon arriving at the store, Priscilla and another male employee were behind the counter. There was one customer in the store for which the gentleman employee was completing a transaction. Priscilla asked me if she could help me and I asked to speak with Laura. She told me that Laura was not in, but that she was on vacation and would not return until the next day. When I asked her to call Laura because the issue was pressing and I would like to speak with someone today, she said she could not. I then asked her to call someone else who could process my concerns regarding the phone and I gave her some information that my concerns regarded. She said that there was no one to call. I asked her if she could call the customer service center and maybe they could help us resolve this issue. She said that she could not. I asked her who she would call if she could not reach Laura and she needed to and she stated that she would call Ray. I asked her to call him so that maybe he could help us. Not only was she unwilling, but at this time she told me that she had to process some orders for customers who were not in the store. Also, I now was the only customer in the store. Since Priscilla was unwilling to help, I started to call the customer service center to seek their help. Only then, did Priscilla call Laura who she immediately contacted. She told her that I wished to speak with her regarding a concern I had about a phone. Since I was the only customer in the store I asked Priscilla to put Laura on speaker. I felt that this would have expedited the process by allowing all of us to participate in resolving this issue. Laura agreed and we began to speak about my concerns regarding the phone, not receiving our money back for a phone that we were coerced to turn in, not receiving a receipt for the item, and that we would like either the money we paid for the phone or the phone back (preferably the phone returned). A few minutes into the conversation, a customer came into the store. At this time, Laura asked if there was another customer in the store, we replied yes, at which time she ordered that we take her off speaker. Now, I understand the need for discretion, however, the manner if which she did it was completely inappropriate. When we did not comply quickly enough Laura hung up. A few minutes later she called back and requested that I go alone to the back room of the store to continue our conversation. At this time, I tried to explain to her that I would be uncomfortable in the store office/back room. After all, I had no desire to place myself in a precarious position. By this time, I again was the only customer in the store and I requested that an employee accompany me. At first, Priscilla said that Laura wanted to talk to me alone. I again stated that I was not comfortable being alone in their back room. Eventually, Priscilla received permission to accompany me. We went to the office at the back of the store, and Priscilla shut the door. Laura and I resumed our conversation. By this time, Laura was very hostile and she seemed very upset. Indeed, her tone expressed very clearly that she did not care about our concerns, returning the phone, or the money that we paid for the phone. Indeed, at one point she did not know where the phone was. I found this very odd, and stated such to Laura. Then she stated that she had turned the phone in, although she did not have the charger, smart card, or box. After she made this statement, she continued to say that she would not refund our money or return the phone. I stated that I would return to the store on Wednesday, after she had time to consult the corporate office. She stated that there would be no need for me to return. I said that the issue had not been addressed and that I thought it would be appropriate for her to consult her supervisors and we could re-address the issue on Wednesday. Again, she stated that she would not and did not think it necessary. At this time, I thanked her for her time and we ended the call. Priscilla and I went back to the main part of the store. When at the front of the store, I asked if I could sit at the table that was in the lobby so that I could contact the Customer Service Center. The gentleman employee had a friend visiting, not a customer, who was also sitting at the table and I was given permission to make my call. I sat down at the table and called Customer Service using my own cell phone. I immediately was connected to Mr. Joseph Hernandez. Please keep in mind that there were no customers in the store. After I had been speaking to Mr. Hernandez for about 5 minutes, Laura called the store, spoke to Priscilla and asked her if I was still there. Priscilla told her I was and that I was speaking to Customer Service. At this time, Laura told Priscilla to tell me that I needed to leave the store or she would call the police. Priscilla conveyed this message to me and Mr. Hernandez heard. He seemed incredulous, as was I, that I was being threatened in this way when I was only trying to resolve a serious customer service issue. Please keep in mind that Mr. Hernandez and I were having a quiet conversation and he was trying to determine a way to resolve the issue. Next, Mr. Hernandez asked to speak with Priscilla because he didn?t understand, nor did I, why I was being treated in this way. He spoke to Priscilla; she told him that she was only doing what Laura, apparently her supervisor, had told her to do. Priscilla gave my cell phone back to me and Mr. Hernandez asked if I would mind going outside the store to finish our conversation. He apologized, seemed bewildered and apologetic to make such a request. Although, I did not fully understand why, I complied. I did express to Mr. Hernandez that I thought that it was possible that Laura was trying to use intimidation tactics because she had done something that she shouldn?t have. I went outside to my car and continued to speak with Mr. Hernandez. About 5 minutes later a police car pulled up. I told Mr. Hernandez, ?A police car just pulled up.? He asked, ?Are they approaching you?? I said, ?No, but the policeman went into the store.? He said, ?Ok? and we continued to work together to resolve the issue. However, a minute later another police car arrived and the policeman that was in the store started to approach me in my car. I told Mr. Hernandez and I put my window down to speak with the officer. The officer asked me if there was a problem, (Mr. Hernandez was still on the phone) and I replied, ?No, I?m just talking to the Customer Service Center.? At this time, Mr. Hernandez asked me if he could speak with the officer. I asked the officer, he was willing, and I passed my cell phone to him. Mr. Hernandez and the officer spoke briefly, at which time Mr. Hernandez told him that there was no cause for concern. The officer told him that Laura had called and said she did not want me to be in the parking lot. The police officer handed my phone back to me and asked if I would move my car. I asked him if I could just move over two spaces. He said ?Yes.? Mr. Hernandez was very apologetic and waited on the phone for me while I moved my car. At this time, I was very upset and humiliated. In fact, I was crying and was very embarrassed. However, Mr. Hernandez was patient and kind as he waited for me to compose myself. Now, two parking places over, we resumed our conversation. Ultimately, Mr. Hernandez assured me that our concerns would be addressed regarding the phone. I also expressed to him that I felt an apology was in order for the treatment I received and that I truly hope that Cingular would investigate why Laura would resort to such intimidation tactics. Again, he assured me that he would consult his supervisors and would call me the next day. Our call ended with Mr. Hernandez apologizing and telling me to go home, relax, and we would speak again.

Overall, I must say that I have never had an experience such as this. As a woman, a wife, a teacher I would never expect this and frankly I am bewildered at the course of action that Laura chose. Mr. Hernandez, his infinite kindness and willingness to help, was an oasis in what seems to be a futile attempt to resolve a customer service issue. After speaking with my husband, he was appalled and upset, but frankly he was not overtly surprised by Laura?s decisions as she has shown us nothing but discourteousness, disrespect, dishonesty, and an extremely conniving character. Moreover, it is our hope that Cingular will address these issues in a professional and expedient manner.

Sincerely,

Once they have your signature on the contract, all pretense of sincerity evaporates. The confusion, or outright subterfuge that is prevalent in this company's customer service department can only have one source. I think that if I were a stock-tradin' kinda guy, I'd be keeping an eye on their financials, and then short-selling a couple thousand shares. Don't forget, if they lie to their customers, they'll lie to their shareholders... Here's to raising the bar!

You people who are criticizing Cingular customer service ought to be ashamed of yourselves! What other company has dedicated itself to hiring the mentally retarded, or those with severe mental problems including sociopaths and those suffering from short-term memory loss?

What other "company"??? You'd be talking about the US Government...

If you don't have anything nice to say, you BELONG on a "Cingular sucks" site. An attorney representing cingular has been "helping" me with a harassment issue involving my ex, who has three cingular cells and an intense desire to cause me grief. In the course of cingular's investigation, on at least two occasions, they denied being the provider. Turns out they were. How a company with presumably the most advanced computers etc could not accurately state whether they mailed out a bill for these #'s is perhaps an indication of a more severe problem. Sell Cingular short!

Seems like a company could save itself a lot of trouble by advertising the truth, but not the cellular industry- they've got CSR's to absorb the shock wave of complaints. Try using their current ad "we're BUILDING" as, say, an ad for a new car: "we're building a car with a possibility of not breaking down between your point of departure and your destination. If it does break down, though, we'd prefer not to talk about it. It's too depressing. And no, you can't have your money back. We spent it on some new Consumer's Digest ads.

What the wireless industry needs is the equivalent of the auto industry's LEMON LAW, whereby a phone that doesn't deliver gets BOUGHT BACK>

Does anyone ever read this stuff, cause I personally think it's pretty funny, and of course tragic. Hey! Remember the old line, "there is no gravity; the earth sucks!" Maybe we can retool it for cingular...

I've been a Cingular customer since 1998 when it was Pacific Bell at the time. I've had the same number for all these year.

Last month my phone broke and I went to the Cingular shop. They said a new phone can be issued with "two year agreement". I'm working in the wireless parts inductry and I know that the phones in these days don't last two years. Two year agreement is just a bad approach.

Then I decided to just use one of my old phones for a while. I requested to change my plan and told I had to do this over the phone for "security reason". Well, don't you think that I showed up with a government issued ID is the most secured way?

Then I requested to remove the WAP (internet) feature since my old phone doesn't support it anyway. I was also told that I have to do this over the phone. hmm......

Then I requested them to unlock the old phone since it's a Cingular phone and I've fullfill the contract. This way I can use my international pre-paid SIM card when I go overseas. I was also told that I have to do this over the phone.

Well, so, that the heck they have the stores for?

I was furious at the time. Walked into the t-mobile next door, got a free phone (after rebate), $35 activation, one year contract, AND, I brought the number with me! Cingular, See ya!

So far, anything that's SBC/Pacbell/Cingular has been disappointing me. I hated the phone service, the Internet, and the cell phone. I'm so glad that my cable company COX has those all-in-one deal so I'm not stuck.

I think one reason these wireless companies buy each other out so frequently is that a name like "cingular" gets burned into peoples memory for crappy service. I'll bet that within a year, they get "bought out" get a new name with the same policies ready to attract a new group of suckers.

If you don't have anything nice to say, you BELONG on a cingular sucks site!

I have been a go phone customer since At&T and never had a problem with them until Cingular bought them out. I stayed with them because I have been dealing with an idenity theft and my credit is not the best. Recently I went into a Cingular store and was told that as long as I had my phone on for 8 months continuously, I could change over to a regular contract account with no deposit. I then called my brother who works at a cingular store and he knew of the same promotion that it was in fact one of the sales pitches that they use to go phone customers. So I proceed to call customer service and the guy I speak to on the phone tells me the same thing. I was then told that I would need to go into the store to have my credit run so they could get a ban# because I didn't have a credit card for them to run it over the phone. He gives me the address to a corporate store and I go yesterday to have my credit run. That guy confirms everything that I have heard so far and gives me the BAN number. Today I call and the lady I spoke to first had never heard of the promotion but proceeds to call around to see if there was anyone who did. This first lady was actually very helpful and really did do her best. She ends up getting back to me and tells me that the promotion does exist but only for cingular customers and that I was an At&T and I needed to get the ok to waive the deposit from them and it shouldn't be a problem. I then proceed to be transfered and transfered hearing yes I can no I can't, and everything in between for the next three hours, ending with the "Manager of the floor" saying that the "manager" of the floor in the credit department says the promotion for all of the customers ended in August and that they won't waive the deposit. I called the Office of the President and spoke to Denise and she says someone from the resolutions department will contact me in 5-7 business days. I have never been this poorly treated by a company ever and I would like to send an email to the president about my treatment. I have had that phone for almost three years now, and not once have I paid late. Let's see what happens in 5-7 business days. PS. does anyone know the president's email address?

zaba search shows that stanley sigmans (president of cingular wireless) home phone # in san antonio is... look it up, it's there.

You are right Cingular SUCKS! They have been charging me for a aircard that did not work in Miami (a small township in FLA.) for 5 months. I returned the card within the 30 days and cancelled the service. They are still charging me and EVERY time I talk with one of there customer service animals they call me a liar and thief. I then politely give them the FED-X tracking number so they can see for themselves it was recieved and they say well we do not have anybody by that name; and the charges keep coming every month.

Yes they SUCK!

Cingular is Great!

Your right, I have been with them for five months and compared to my last two providers vzw & sprint, I have no complaints. I visit the store for routin questions and always get positive feedback and bill is relativly consistant.

The reason why MOST people complain about Cingular is not because the company sucks, but because the company does not give them everything that they want. Consumers purchase a mobile phone because they want/need the service. Consumers tend to get greedy (just as the company does)... Consumers expect things for free, expect the mobile to work all the time (we are dealing with wireless service)... when someone doesn't get what they want, when they want it, they tend to put blame or make the company the bad guy, so to speak. Cingular offers a 30 day money back guarantee if you?re not satisfied. If you?re not happy with Cingular, simply go somewhere else; simple as that.

sigmans a cock sucker and cingular sucks moose cock

Cingular does suck!! I was in the Army and deployed to Iraq Feb 05. Soldiers get a break on early disconnect due to the fact that we cannot control where we go. I was charged the early disconnect even though I did everything I was supposed to to not get charged. I returned a year later and since then I have been trying to get the early disconnect fee returned and have gotten nothing but the let me transfer you to this department game. I am now ready to send a letter to the president Mr Sigman himself, even though he probably won't reead it someone else will, and need to know if anyone knows the address.