SunCom phone service - unknowingly account subjected 12 month autorenewal - told must pay $ 200 cancellation fee due to not giving 30 days cancellation notice prior to the anniversary date

Complaints.com received the following on March 29, 2003:

From: Christine Petrella [Email User]

RE: SunCom phone service - unknowingly account subjected 12 month autorenewal - told must pay $ 200 cancellation fee due to not giving 30 days cancellation notice prior to the anniversary date I have been a SunCom customer for about 3 years now and today I finally found out what all the horror

stories were about. I called SunCom in order to consolidate my two accounts into one account, saving me money. In order to complete this process I was told, I would have to cancel one of my accounts. The catch was that

on the cancelled account I was told that I would have to pay a $200 cancellation fee. I protested that I

had had this account for more than 1 year and would therefore not be liable for the cancellation fee.

They responded by saying that each contract is automatically renewed for a full 12 months and you

have to give 30 days notice prior to the anniversary date in order not to be liable for the cancellation

fee. I was aware of this fairly common ploy so I protested, thinking that they would back down. Not

so. They transferred me three times, the service reps each progressively ruder. My demeanor remained

lighthearted and amused. I was, in fact, amused. I asked them to show me the contract where this “12 month autorenew” clause was

written. They said they couldn’t do that. I was scolded: “That’s why we send you a copy of the

contract.” (I am in the process of moving and my actual paperwork is still in my old residence). I

then asked that they instead just send me a letter stating that I am liable for the $200 due to the

autorenew clause. They said they couldn’t do that.

I erupted in a huge belly laugh! THEY WERE TRYING TO HOLD ME TO A CONTRACT THEY COULDN’T SHOW ME AND CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING THEY WEREN’T WILLING TO PUT IN WRITING. If that doesn’t sound like shady business I don’t know what does. They were, however, absurdly unrelenting in the face of logic. I told them not to cancel and that I would be in fact communicating this to all my friends and posting it on the internet. This letter fulfills the second part of that promise. Of course I will be canceling my service after I let my lawyer friend in on this hilarious scheme they have

going. I think he’ll get a charge out of it. Sadly, I am sure that many people actually pay this fee. Be

assured that I will not. Desired Outcome: That SunCom recognize that hostage-taking is not good business and that they

allow me to rearrange my accounts as I desired. After my experience, though, I have little faith this

outcome will be achieved. Christine Petrella

Glen Allen, VA