Cingular Wireless: invalid early termination fee

Cingular Wireless: invalid early termination fee

Cingular Wireless: invalid early termination fee

To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to dispute the validity of the debt from Cingular Wireless. I signed a one-year contract with Cingular Wireless in December 2001. I initiated my service with Cingular at a kiosk in Concord Mall in Delaware. When my one-year was up, I contacted Cingular via telephone and asked them if my service would be disconnected. They explained that my service would not be interrupted, and that I would now be on a month-to-month contract with them, and that I have nothing further to sign. In addition, they stated that I could cancel at any time. I took advantage of my freedom in November 2003. I decided that I no longer wanted their service, so I called the customer service desk and canceled. As I expected, the cancellation process was easy: no questions were asked, no disclosures read, nothing. I expected this because at that time, I was not obligated to stay with Cingular. One month later, I received a billing statement stating that I owe $150.00 due to early termination. Cingular was asserting that my contract was up in December 2003 and that I canceled one month too early. I immediately called Cingular; the customer service rep claimed that he was looking directly at a two-year contract that I signed. Knowing that this was impossible, I asked him to send me a copy. He said that he would put it in the mail and that I should get it in two weeks. The alleged contract never came, so I called Cingular again in January 2004. This time the customer service rep stated that she could not find any contract on file. Feeling that she was incompetent, I asked to be transferred to a supervisor. The rep. explained that there was no supervisor available. The next time I called, I spoke to a different rep., who was able to transfer me to a supervisor. The supervisor stated that she would not send me a copy of my contract. She then concluded that I had to have signed a two-year contract because I got the phone in a mall. Not falling for her logic, I requested another copy of this so-called two-year contract. She told me to return to the place where I signed up and ask them for a copy of my contract. When I explained that I had relocated to Ohio since then, she stated that there was nothing that she could do. “Nothing she can do!” Cingular was offering no proof, yet wanted me to pay. I knew what I signed: a one-year contract. I also knew that I didn’t owe them anything. By the end on January, I was very frustrated with Cingular’s inability and unwillingness to resolve this problem with me. I continuously called their 1-800 number to avail. I was hung up on, transferred to “supervisor’s” voice mailboxes, given false promises and given the run around. Afraid that I was being railroaded by corporate America, I contacted the FCC via their website. Cingular has made no effort to neither resolve this issue nor provide documentation that proves I owe them anything. Their complaint is based solely on logic, not facts. They are assuming that because the phone was purchased at a kiosk in a mall, a two-year contract must have been signed. I strongly believe that if they expect me, or anyone to pay, they have got to do better than that. There is a saying about what happens when people assume, and it does not end, with the consumer paying. However, please note, that I will not take this laying down. I will not be intimidated by some big company for something I did not do. I am sure that I am not the only victim of this scam. (If becoming a martyr for consumers is my fate, then so be it.) Concerned Consumer and Victim of Cingular Wireless Brandi Renee E Miss Brandi H

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