WirelessAdvisor.com

08-06-2002, 9:05 AM

I happened to notice an option on Cingular's new automated menu which lists "Minutes Used." Upon selecting this option I was told the amount of Peak/OffPeak Minutes used up to date. Cingular also has a disclosure prior to the release of information that the records could be delayed by up to five business days. Nevertheless, this is a benefit long overdue for TDMA users and will allow some of us to better gauge our usage and make plan adjustments accordingly.

bobolito · 08-06-2002, 11:34 AM

Yes, I noticed that also. You can call their toll-free number and they have redesigned the menus. Its easier to follow and you can check your minutes used. You can check your minutes online and pay your bill as well. They just need to reconfigure 611 access because since the recent change you can't connect to them anymore. It's not easy to bring about 10 different companies (from which they were born) under one single operating structure, from the phone display, to the bill statements, to online account access.

08-06-2002, 1:35 PM

Sounds good to me . I sure wish AT&T Wireless would do this for Dig Adv , Reg Adv TDMA customers .

Jack · 08-06-2002, 6:49 PM

Cool.

At&T is behind in that service

Jack

IdiOTeQnoLogY · 08-06-2002, 8:14 PM

good for cingular. while they are progressing, sprint, which has been ahead of the game in letting you check minutes used.....is regressing. from now on dialing *4 to check account usage will now take airtime away from you. however, as i tell all spcs customers i talk to you can still check your minutes free online or by dialing *2 and simply telling Claire to 'check minutes used' or something to that nature.

bobolito · 08-06-2002, 9:24 PM

Idiot, if you call Sprint's customer svc number, isn't there an option to check the minutes? It would be free that way. Whenever you call Cingular's toll free number from your cell it doesn't take your minutes away.

IdiOTeQnoLogY · 08-07-2002, 6:42 AM

pardon.......for a moment i forgot we arent all sprint customers [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] when i say *2 from your handset that is sprint Customer Service. at first you get that ever popular Voice Recognition person named CLAIRE...........but which you can ask "check minutes used" and she will tell you your account usage or you can also check your balance etc........*2 is a free call.......so is *3 which is where you can pay your bill over the phone with a CC or check.

RBOCMAN · 08-07-2002, 8:47 AM

Whoa...i guess being a GSM user has spoilt me. I always thought that daily updates to cell phone minutes was too long, I guess minute usage checking is actually new to some users here. I cant imagine that kind of lag time in reporting minutes, I wonder what switches we use that take this long to update CSR records. Must be some extremely old bay switches...

08-07-2002, 2:42 PM

Thus far, I have not noticed a delay in reporting minutes and there are no inaccuracies when comparing with my manual log. I assume that calls made on Cingular TDMA towers are reported relatively fast whereas AT&T/Roamer partners may take sometime to be accounted for..

IdiOTeQnoLogY · 08-07-2002, 3:07 PM

i just found out that sprint users will no longer be able to check account usage via *2 starting on august 28th. thus making the only way to check minutes used over the phone via *4 which takes airtime. the only free way is via the web. very stupid move on sprint in order to save themselves a few minutes of airtime they are eating into customers minutes.....its not that big a deal just check your minutes during N&W hours when airtime is more then plentiful; but I still view this move by sprint as very customer unfriendly and i strongly disagree with it.

ComicalMoodyDan · 08-07-2002, 3:58 PM

Why Is Sprint becoming so cheap lately? They just seem to be getting worse and worse. Their maps haven't been updated in forever, their rate plans suck and aren't competive at all, and now they are getting rid of the free air time checking. Sprint PCS [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

bobolito · 08-08-2002, 6:54 AM

Smarteqnology [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] what I meant was if you actually dial Sprint's toll-free number (from your home phone maybe), can you check your minutes that way? With Cingular, if you dial 1-866-CINGULAR from your cellphone it does not eat up your airtime minutes. Can you do this with Sprint as well instead of dialing *2, *3 or *4?

IdiOTeQnoLogY · 08-08-2002, 7:29 AM

well from what i know the toll free CS number you can call from home is the same as dialing *2 from your handset which is free........they both goto the same place. so i am assuming (and i will test it from home later) that if you call the toll free # from home and check minutes that way it will be unavailable starting 8/28 as well. they are leaving no loopholes on this one i think. they must want that airtime bad.

bobolito · 08-08-2002, 7:49 AM

I've noticed how Sprint has that same control-freak attitude that AT&T has.

IdiOTeQnoLogY · 08-08-2002, 9:30 AM

it didnt used to be this way ....sniff

smalltalker · 08-09-2002, 8:22 AM

I saw somewhere that Sprint charges to talk to a rep. True?

IdiOTeQnoLogY · 08-09-2002, 9:34 AM

if you are a credit challenged customer who calls a live rep to check something that you can do with the automated system easily (like say check your balance or check you rminutes etc) they will charge you$3. if you are not on a credit challenged plan there should be no fee for CS period.

if you are a credit challenged customer who needs to speak to a rep for an issue that could not be taken care of automated they will waive the fee.

personally i wish that there was no fee period. basically CS has limited resources and i have seen a lot of customers call CS just to ask about minutes used or bill amount and all this info is available automated so they are trying to free up CS time from all that time wasting issues in order to deal with more problem related calls.

unfortunately sprint CS could use some help as a lot of the reps aren't too knowledgeable but i have also gotten great reps as well.

bobolito · 08-09-2002, 9:55 AM

Perhaps they don't have enough staff or they are simply trying to keep costs down. It is ironic how credit troubled people get to pay more than those with good credit in any kind of business.

nessa · 08-09-2002, 8:56 PM

AT&T will be offering the service later this year (online checking of minutes used) but only for pcs (obviously).

rockon83 · 08-09-2002, 11:39 PM

Where on cingular's website can you check your minutes??

bobolito · 08-12-2002, 9:28 AM

Enter your area and click on "Manage my account". Then, click on "View Minutes Used". If you don't see a "View Minutes Used" option then the feature is not available in your area yet.

08-06-2002, 9:05 AM	#1
Guest Posts: n/a	TDMA Minute Checking Available I happened to notice an option on Cingular's new automated menu which lists "Minutes Used." Upon selecting this option I was told the amount of Peak/OffPeak Minutes used up to date. Cingular also has a disclosure prior to the release of information that the records could be delayed by up to five business days. Nevertheless, this is a benefit long overdue for TDMA users and will allow some of us to better gauge our usage and make plan adjustments accordingly.

08-06-2002, 11:34 AM	#2
bobolito iPhone 3G 16GB (White) Join Date: May 2002 Location: in front of my computer Posts: 12,575 Phone(s): iPhone 3G, Sierra 875 3G Aircard Provider(s): AT&T Mobility Devices: WiFi cards/Access points Thanks: 3 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Images: 50 My Auctions	TDMA Minute Checking Available Yes, I noticed that also. You can call their toll-free number and they have redesigned the menus. Its easier to follow and you can check your minutes used. You can check your minutes online and pay your bill as well. They just need to reconfigure 611 access because since the recent change you can't connect to them anymore. It's not easy to bring about 10 different companies (from which they were born) under one single operating structure, from the phone display, to the bill statements, to online account access. __________________

08-06-2002, 1:35 PM	#3
Guest Posts: n/a	TDMA Minute Checking Available Sounds good to me . I sure wish AT&T Wireless would do this for Dig Adv , Reg Adv TDMA customers .

08-06-2002, 6:49 PM	#4
Jack Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,475 Phone(s): Motorola T720 Provider(s): Alltel Devices: Sirius Satellite radio, ipod, laptop, pda Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available Cool. At&T is behind in that service Jack __________________ Current Plan with alltel 3000 anytime minutes w/nationwide LD $74.95 a month---Waiting not so patiently for the Alltel version of the V710

08-06-2002, 8:14 PM	#5
IdiOTeQnoLogY Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,567 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available good for cingular. while they are progressing, sprint, which has been ahead of the game in letting you check minutes used.....is regressing. from now on dialing 4 to check account usage will now take airtime away from you. however, as i tell all spcs customers i talk to you can still check your minutes free online or by dialing 2 and simply telling Claire to 'check minutes used' or something to that nature.

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08-06-2002, 9:24 PM	#6
bobolito iPhone 3G 16GB (White) Join Date: May 2002 Location: in front of my computer Posts: 12,575 Phone(s): iPhone 3G, Sierra 875 3G Aircard Provider(s): AT&T Mobility Devices: WiFi cards/Access points Thanks: 3 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Images: 50 My Auctions	TDMA Minute Checking Available Idiot, if you call Sprint's customer svc number, isn't there an option to check the minutes? It would be free that way. Whenever you call Cingular's toll free number from your cell it doesn't take your minutes away. __________________

08-07-2002, 6:42 AM	#7
IdiOTeQnoLogY Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,567 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available pardon.......for a moment i forgot we arent all sprint customers [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] when i say 2 from your handset that is sprint Customer Service. at first you get that ever popular Voice Recognition person named CLAIRE...........but which you can ask "check minutes used" and she will tell you your account usage or you can also check your balance etc........2 is a free call.......so is *3 which is where you can pay your bill over the phone with a CC or check.

08-07-2002, 8:47 AM	#8
RBOCMAN Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 144 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available Whoa...i guess being a GSM user has spoilt me. I always thought that daily updates to cell phone minutes was too long, I guess minute usage checking is actually new to some users here. I cant imagine that kind of lag time in reporting minutes, I wonder what switches we use that take this long to update CSR records. Must be some extremely old bay switches...

08-07-2002, 2:42 PM	#9
Guest Posts: n/a	TDMA Minute Checking Available Thus far, I have not noticed a delay in reporting minutes and there are no inaccuracies when comparing with my manual log. I assume that calls made on Cingular TDMA towers are reported relatively fast whereas AT&T/Roamer partners may take sometime to be accounted for..

08-07-2002, 3:07 PM	#10
IdiOTeQnoLogY Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,567 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available i just found out that sprint users will no longer be able to check account usage via 2 starting on august 28th. thus making the only way to check minutes used over the phone via 4 which takes airtime. the only free way is via the web. very stupid move on sprint in order to save themselves a few minutes of airtime they are eating into customers minutes.....its not that big a deal just check your minutes during N&W hours when airtime is more then plentiful; but I still view this move by sprint as very customer unfriendly and i strongly disagree with it.

08-07-2002, 3:58 PM	#11
ComicalMoodyDan Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 6,085 Phone(s): Blackberry 8520 Provider(s): T-Mobile Devices: T-Mobile @Home Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available Why Is Sprint becoming so cheap lately? They just seem to be getting worse and worse. Their maps haven't been updated in forever, their rate plans suck and aren't competive at all, and now they are getting rid of the free air time checking. Sprint PCS [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

08-08-2002, 6:54 AM	#12
bobolito iPhone 3G 16GB (White) Join Date: May 2002 Location: in front of my computer Posts: 12,575 Phone(s): iPhone 3G, Sierra 875 3G Aircard Provider(s): AT&T Mobility Devices: WiFi cards/Access points Thanks: 3 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Images: 50 My Auctions	TDMA Minute Checking Available Smarteqnology [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] what I meant was if you actually dial Sprint's toll-free number (from your home phone maybe), can you check your minutes that way? With Cingular, if you dial 1-866-CINGULAR from your cellphone it does not eat up your airtime minutes. Can you do this with Sprint as well instead of dialing 2, 3 or *4? __________________

08-08-2002, 7:29 AM	#13
IdiOTeQnoLogY Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,567 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available well from what i know the toll free CS number you can call from home is the same as dialing *2 from your handset which is free........they both goto the same place. so i am assuming (and i will test it from home later) that if you call the toll free # from home and check minutes that way it will be unavailable starting 8/28 as well. they are leaving no loopholes on this one i think. they must want that airtime bad.

08-08-2002, 7:49 AM	#14
bobolito iPhone 3G 16GB (White) Join Date: May 2002 Location: in front of my computer Posts: 12,575 Phone(s): iPhone 3G, Sierra 875 3G Aircard Provider(s): AT&T Mobility Devices: WiFi cards/Access points Thanks: 3 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Images: 50 My Auctions	TDMA Minute Checking Available I've noticed how Sprint has that same control-freak attitude that AT&T has. __________________

08-08-2002, 9:30 AM	#15
IdiOTeQnoLogY Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,567 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available it didnt used to be this way ....sniff

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08-09-2002, 8:22 AM	#16
smalltalker Fresh Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available I saw somewhere that Sprint charges to talk to a rep. True?

08-09-2002, 9:34 AM	#17
IdiOTeQnoLogY Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,567 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available if you are a credit challenged customer who calls a live rep to check something that you can do with the automated system easily (like say check your balance or check you rminutes etc) they will charge you$3. if you are not on a credit challenged plan there should be no fee for CS period. if you are a credit challenged customer who needs to speak to a rep for an issue that could not be taken care of automated they will waive the fee. personally i wish that there was no fee period. basically CS has limited resources and i have seen a lot of customers call CS just to ask about minutes used or bill amount and all this info is available automated so they are trying to free up CS time from all that time wasting issues in order to deal with more problem related calls. unfortunately sprint CS could use some help as a lot of the reps aren't too knowledgeable but i have also gotten great reps as well.

08-09-2002, 9:55 AM	#18
bobolito iPhone 3G 16GB (White) Join Date: May 2002 Location: in front of my computer Posts: 12,575 Phone(s): iPhone 3G, Sierra 875 3G Aircard Provider(s): AT&T Mobility Devices: WiFi cards/Access points Thanks: 3 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Images: 50 My Auctions	TDMA Minute Checking Available Perhaps they don't have enough staff or they are simply trying to keep costs down. It is ironic how credit troubled people get to pay more than those with good credit in any kind of business. __________________

08-09-2002, 8:56 PM	#19
nessa Get me out of Newbieville! Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available AT&T will be offering the service later this year (online checking of minutes used) but only for pcs (obviously).

08-09-2002, 11:39 PM	#20
rockon83 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 134 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TDMA Minute Checking Available Where on cingular's website can you check your minutes??

08-12-2002, 9:28 AM	#21
bobolito iPhone 3G 16GB (White) Join Date: May 2002 Location: in front of my computer Posts: 12,575 Phone(s): iPhone 3G, Sierra 875 3G Aircard Provider(s): AT&T Mobility Devices: WiFi cards/Access points Thanks: 3 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Images: 50 My Auctions	TDMA Minute Checking Available Enter your area and click on "Manage my account". Then, click on "View Minutes Used". If you don't see a "View Minutes Used" option then the feature is not available in your area yet. __________________