THIS IS RATHER LONG, BUT ANYONE USING CINGULAR OR PLANNING TO CHANGE TO THEIR SERVICE NEEDS TO READ THIS.
Last week I received my Cingular bill and noticed a new "plan" featured on my bill. It showed that I was now receiving a limited time offer of unlimited text messages for three months.
I did not add this feature, even though it was FREE, so I called CS and asked for an explanation as to why it was now on my plan. The Rep argued with me and tried to claim that *I* added this feature myself. I said, "NO, I did not add this feature, and you don't have proof that I added it, because I DID NOT ADD IT..." He then argued some more and claimed I had added it online into my account in August, which I also knew I had not. I told him he needed to provide me with PROOF that I logged into my account from my IP address and made the change. He said "We don't track that information.." (Idiot.)
I then asked him to connect me with a supervisor, and he refused. He told me he had no supervisor. I then told him to cut the crap and get someone on the phone. Then he put me on hold. After a long time he came back on the line and informed me that someone from my LOCAL STORE had added this to my account. He gave me the name of the sales person who added the feature and telephone number of the store. I never got to talk to a supervisor.
So after that, I called the store and talked to a manager there. It turns out that the person who "added" these features to my phone plan was the salesman who sold me my Palm Treo 8 months ago. He never called me to get my permission or consent to access my account. I am sure he thought he was doing me a favor, but I am extremely disturbed by this. The manager told me that he should not have done this without my consent.
I called CS back AGAIN and spoke to another rep. I inquired as to whether I could put some kind of safeguard/password feature on my account so that this did not happen again. She stated that I could NOT- and that any salesperson in ANY CINGULAR STORE can access anyone's account at any time and see my payment details and social security number. She did notate the account that no changes were to be made without my consent. It is also disturbing because of the sheer number of people who have access to your personal details which can be used to commit identity theft or other crimes.
I realize that this feature added to my account was FREE- but the issue for me is that this person in a Cingular store who I interacted with ONE TIME 8 months ago TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF to go into my account and make changes without my permission. Even worse, the CS Rep in the call center then BLAMED ME for making the changes when I did not.
I think that anyone who uses Cingular needs to be aware of this. I personally think this is an extremely scary business practice on a number of levels. As soon as I can, I plan to change carriers.
Last week I received my Cingular bill and noticed a new "plan" featured on my bill. It showed that I was now receiving a limited time offer of unlimited text messages for three months.
I did not add this feature, even though it was FREE, so I called CS and asked for an explanation as to why it was now on my plan. The Rep argued with me and tried to claim that *I* added this feature myself. I said, "NO, I did not add this feature, and you don't have proof that I added it, because I DID NOT ADD IT..." He then argued some more and claimed I had added it online into my account in August, which I also knew I had not. I told him he needed to provide me with PROOF that I logged into my account from my IP address and made the change. He said "We don't track that information.." (Idiot.)
I then asked him to connect me with a supervisor, and he refused. He told me he had no supervisor. I then told him to cut the crap and get someone on the phone. Then he put me on hold. After a long time he came back on the line and informed me that someone from my LOCAL STORE had added this to my account. He gave me the name of the sales person who added the feature and telephone number of the store. I never got to talk to a supervisor.
So after that, I called the store and talked to a manager there. It turns out that the person who "added" these features to my phone plan was the salesman who sold me my Palm Treo 8 months ago. He never called me to get my permission or consent to access my account. I am sure he thought he was doing me a favor, but I am extremely disturbed by this. The manager told me that he should not have done this without my consent.
I called CS back AGAIN and spoke to another rep. I inquired as to whether I could put some kind of safeguard/password feature on my account so that this did not happen again. She stated that I could NOT- and that any salesperson in ANY CINGULAR STORE can access anyone's account at any time and see my payment details and social security number. She did notate the account that no changes were to be made without my consent. It is also disturbing because of the sheer number of people who have access to your personal details which can be used to commit identity theft or other crimes.
I realize that this feature added to my account was FREE- but the issue for me is that this person in a Cingular store who I interacted with ONE TIME 8 months ago TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF to go into my account and make changes without my permission. Even worse, the CS Rep in the call center then BLAMED ME for making the changes when I did not.
I think that anyone who uses Cingular needs to be aware of this. I personally think this is an extremely scary business practice on a number of levels. As soon as I can, I plan to change carriers.
