[IP] : A warning to Cingular customers using their cell phones abroad
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Glover <eric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 13:31:21
To:dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc:frisbee2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: A warning to Cingular customers using their cell phones abroad
I recently traveled to Europe, specifically Hungary. Surprisingly when
in Hungary, my cell phone had very good service, I was able to send and
receive text messages, however GPRS did not work for me.
While there I figured I would save myself some money by leaving my phone
on, and whenever someone called, I would read the caller ID (which only
worked sometimes), and or check for a voicemail alert, and then use a
calling card from a landline, or local cell phone - this way I could
receive calls, but not have to pay $2/minute. I did answer a small
number of calls, and even placed a few calls.
When I received my bill I noticed several charges to calls placed TO my
voicemail. I immediately determined what had happened was that the call
was forwarded to my voicemail when I didn't answer, and for some stupid
reason the European carrier actually forwarded the call, as opposed to
the call being terminated in the US and sent to voicemail domestically.
When I called Cingular to complain, the customer service person insisted
that the call appeared as if *I* had called to my voice mail, which
certainly I did not, and that she would not credit my account.
Eventualy I said I had not made the calls, and was not going to pay. She
even agreed that IF the calls had been to my phone and I didn't answer
(and went to voicemail) I should not get charged, however she still
refused to credit me. So I said that it must be fraud, and she
transfered me to the fraud department.
What the fraud department said was that they could not credit me for any
calls which came from a foreign carrier, unless my phone was actually
stolen or cloned AND that the way the foreign carriers work, I could end
up being charged for not answering my phone - even though clearly in the
US an unanswered call will not be charged, nor would a call that is sent
to voicemail.
WARNING: If you are a Cingular customer and travel outside the US, YOU
COULD BE CHARGED $2/MINUTE FOR UNANSWERED CALLS. Even though their
customer service reps are not notified of this, and will tell you
otherwise. I say per minute, because one of my "unanswered calls" was 2
minutes and they are trying to charge me $3.98.
Supposedly if your phone is off, you won't get charged, but what's the
point of that?
Later,
Eric
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