AT&T GSM Wireless Service - 50% of calls dropped - still not able to cancel contract without being charged cancellation fee

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on January 22, 2003:

From: Diane [Email User] RE: AT&T GSM Wireless Service - 50% of calls dropped - still not able to cancel contract without being charged cancellation fee

At&t gsm wireless service (Unlimited minutes plan for $99/mo)

I purchased an At&t gsm wireless phone late in Nov last year. I cancelled my service today 1/22/03, with less than 60 days of using the phone, after experiencing a myriad of problems. Unfortunately, the real problems developed after the 30 day return window, which was late in Dec 2002.

Starting in January, I not only had roughly 50% of the calls dropped, I was unable to re-contact these people immediately after being dropped due to the service level diminishing to zero.

This was an incredibly frustrating situation, as I used this phone not only for personal use, but for business as well. I called At&t numerous times to complain about the level of service, each time my demeanor becoming more and more frustrated. I do not believe that all of these calls were logged.

Today after much exasperation, I cancelled my service and requested that the cancellation fee be dropped because of my extenuating circumstances. After talking to six people, they not only denied my request, but were extremely rude as well.

I believe this is an issue of fairness. I experienced phone hell for the last month, not only having calls dropped, but not being able to call these people back right away due to the lack of a service level. And, about half of these times, I was in my own home! Needless to say, my home is in the service area, as well as where the other call drops/callbacks originated.

At&t never acknowledged that any other people have had similar problems, and instead blamed me, the customer, for the problems. My time is valuable, and I have much better things to do with my time than sit on the phone (land phone, mind you) waiting for their customer service representatives.

Is there something more that I can do? I feel incredibly ripped off here. At&t should not be allowed to get by with this non-existent level of customer service.

Sincerely,

Diane Lee