The mandatory 2 year contract when signing up for wireless service is one thing because you're usually getting a free phone or a good discount on one but WHY MUST they make you renew the contract every time you make a change to the account.
This was my experience with Sprint a couple of years ago.
I had service through Sprint for several years. A co-worker had double my minutes for the same price. I called and asked about that plan and was told there was no such plan available. She had called to cancel her service and the cancellation department offered it to her to keep her as a customer. I asked to be transferred to that department. I got the plan I wanted but had to agree to another 2 year contract.
About a year later I moved from Chicago to Alabama. When I tried to change my number I was told that the plan I have isn't available in my area. I'd have to change plans. The cancellation department came through for me again. They changed my number while allowing me to keep my existing plan.
Later, Sprint came out with evening calling beginning at 7pm. I signed up for that and had to agree to another 2 year contract.
A few months later I receive a notice that I can add a phone for $20/month. I asked if I could keep my current plan and I'm told yes. Finally my husband agrees to get a cell phone.
That's when the problems started.
Over the course of 8 months I was calling customer service every month with billing problems or unauthorized changes to my plan. On several
ocassions I asked to be transferred to a supervisor which is a joke. The supervisors are rude and very unprofessional. I finally told a supervisor that I was putting Sprint on probation. If I have to call customer service for anymore billing or services problems I'm cancelling my service and I REFUSE to pay the early cancellation fee. I also wrote a letter to the States Attorney General's office.
I received a call from Sprint a few weeks later in response to my complaint. I got a $70 credit for my problems.
When my next statement arrived I found that additional services were again added to my plan. I called customer service and I'm told that sometimes when they ask if you want additional services and you do't answer, they can take that as a yes. I started searching for another wireless carrier.
I switched to carriers and called Sprint to tell them I was cancelling my service. I'm told that I need to pay the early termination fees. $250 per phone. I argue and tell them that as far as I was concerned THEY were the ones tho terminated my contract the first time they messed with my service. They weren't providing me the service I signed up for and as far as I was concerned that contract was null and void. I received a bill from Sprint for over $600. Another letter to the States Attorney General's office and I receive another statement from Sprint. Balance $0/00.
