T-Mobile couldn't get the job done right after a billion calls to customer service!

On 11/15/05, I ordered a cell phone and agreed to a contract with T-Mobile over the phone. The salesman was quick to take my order, which had to be taken that night in order to get this phone at this "deal". On 11/17/05 the phone was shipped via UPS. I wasn't home to receive the phone on the 1st attempt, nor on the 2nd attempt on 11/18/05. Coincidentally, 11/18/05, I received an email telling me my phone had been activated with a long distance phone number. I immediately called T-Mobile customer service to inquire about this. They told me there were no phone numbers available in my home area code. I told them I did not wish to accept the phone or contract with them since they did not live up to my requests for service in my area. Don't you think the salesman should have been required to tell me up front that my phone number would be in a different area code? The customer service rep told me to return the phone with "Buyer's Remorse" as the reason and that this was all I needed to do to cancel my contract/order with them. I was told that I would owe nothing! I was cancelling my order within 3 business days and returning the phone, which I hadn't even received yet mind you.

I have confirmation from UPS, via the tracking number that the phone was returned to T-Mobile within 2 days. But on 12/27/05 I received a statement from T-Mobile saying I owed them $61.04. I then spent a great deal of time on the phone with their customer service department, billing department, sales department etc. etc. etc. and finally thought I had this cleared up. The final representative I spoke to said there would be no charges and the plan was cancelled and apologized for their error. She also said that someone would call me around 1/24/06 to follow up on this fiasco. Ok settled - right? Wrong!

On 1/17/06 I received a call from T-Mobile, saying I owed $61 and something and "how much would I care to pay on this past due account?" At first I thought this was just my follow up call but when they said I had a balance and it was past due, I quickly realized that this nightmare was continuing. I tried to maintain my composure and starting to explain that the phone was returned and the contract was voided due to "Buyer's Remorse" but this "collection person" just told me that I still owed them this balance anyway because the contract wasn't cancelled until 12/27/05. I told him this was the date they were to have corrected their mistake not the date I actually cancelled the service and when I asked to speak to his supervisor he said "He is going to tell you the same thing". I became enraged and told him that I owe them nothing and not to call me again and hung up, after a few other choice words. My husband & I have excellent credit and I fear that this stupid company's error will somehow be a black mark on our pristine credit history. This whole thing is extremely upsetting and I feel they are harassing me unjustifiably. I truly feel what they are doing and done is illegal. What can I do to get this cleared up once and for all? Do I have any legal recourse against T-Mobile for their harassment? I will never pay one red cent to T-Mobile now or ever!!!! But I can honestly say I am glad I am not a current T-Mobile customer - imagine how horrible their service would be once you are in a contract with them!