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: A warning to Cingular customers using their cell phones abroad
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 14:41:06 -0400
-----Original Message----- From: Eric Glover <eric () ericglover com> Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 13:31:21 To:dave () farber net Cc:frisbee2 () yahoogroups com 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 ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- : A warning to Cingular customers using their cell phones abroad Dave Farber (Feb 28)