My service was turned off for the following reason.

[NokiaKrazy]

Last night, I noticed that both of my wireless phones that I have with Cellular One were disconnected. Attempts to call anyone from the wireless phone directed me to customer service. But customer service was closed. I figured they disconnected my phones before going home for the night.

I checked my payment history. It was all good. No late or missed payments. I'm current.

When calling customer service this morning, I was told that the reason my service was turned off was because my post office marked my bill as "return to sender". I could not believe that they would turn off service because the bill was returned by the post office. I've had the same address since 1997 and have not missed one bill.

Is this type of behavior normal with all cellular companies? Bill gets returned, off goes the service?

I asked why didn't they call me? After all, They have my phone number!

[ILUVSOCAL]

I am guessing the Post Office did that because you might have put the address thing in wrong (my dad did that once, instead of the bill payment center address showing through the plastic window, it was the backside of the slip, so it just showed a blank) I'd tell them Cell One to fix it ASAP or they will lose a long time cusotmer in a heartbeat, I would not put up with that.

[NokiaKrazy]

Absolutely! I told Cell One that I am very disappointed with them right now. I told them that Verizon is starting to look good. There is more than one provider in my area.

They stated that what they didi is company policy. I cannot believe it. I am considering writing a letter to someone in charge there. I don't know where to turn.

[ILUVSOCAL]

Hey, number portability is coming to those of us in rural areas in May, I would say hey, I'm a long time, loyal and good customer, and if you can't fix this I will move my service and number to Verizon come May, or, if you are not concerned with losing your number, switch sooner, you didn't say if you were in contract with Cell One or not? I would definitely write to their management or whoever is in charge, and if it still can't be resolved, consider writing the Utah State Attorney General, good luck and I hope you can get it all fixed! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[NokiaKrazy]

I'm in contract until October 2004

[ILUVSOCAL]

Oh, okay, well, write the higher ups in the company anyway, and the Attorney General in UT if needed, if you can't change service yet, at least let them know as a long time, loyal customer you are not happy at this treatment! I mean, that's absurd to do that over one missed bill, yeesh, talk about mean. My dad had that happen with Dish Network once (we have Directv now), it was the incident I told you about where he put the slip in backwards in the bill, and he got it back in the mail, they were threatening to cut our service off, and he had never missed a payment not ever been late, he told them nicely, but bluntly they had better think again about doing that, needless to say, they got it fixed, and my dad sent the bill off again. You're in Beaver, right? With 911? Has Cell One turned on their GSM there yet?

[NYCDru]

Also write the BBB in your area.

[NokiaKrazy]

Originally posted by: ILUVSOCAL
Oh, okay, well, write the higher ups in the company anyway, and the Attorney General in UT if needed, if you can't change service yet, at least let them know as a long time, loyal customer you are not happy at this treatment! I mean, that's absurd to do that over one missed bill, yeesh, talk about mean. My dad had that happen with Dish Network once (we have Directv now), it was the incident I told you about where he put the slip in backwards in the bill, and he got it back in the mail, they were threatening to cut our service off, and he had never missed a payment not ever been late, he told them nicely, but bluntly they had better think again about doing that, needless to say, they got it fixed, and my dad sent the bill off again. You're in Beaver, right? With 911? Has Cell One turned on their GSM there yet?

Correct. I am in Beaver with 911.

I don't know if Cell One has turned on GSM here yet. If they did, I don't know if they would offer it to me. Isn't that just for the roamers from the AT&T, T-Mobile and Cingular crowd?

I'm going to write a letter to them here in just a minute. I'm still in disbelief that this could happen. Now I find myself actually "testing" my service every few hours to ensure that is still on. I feel that I cannot trust my service to be there at all times now.

[DCinSEA]

AT&T Wireless does cover Beaver with GSM already, so they don't need WW to cover it. Good luck with the contract.

My insurance company cancelled my auto policy because they got a return to sender when I moved. That happened AFTER I already updated my home owner's policy with the same company. WTF? Apparently if I move my house, my cars still live at my apartment and aren't accepting mail from AMEX Insurance.... And AMEX Home doesn't update AMEX Auto.

*gets scissors to cut up his green AMEX card*

[ILUVSOCAL]

It must be 1900 PCS coverage then, according to WA, AT&T only has a PCS License for Beaver, Cellular One (WW) and Verizon are the A and B band carriers there.

[ZaphodB]

Originally posted by: DCinSEA
AT&T Wireless does cover Beaver with GSM already, so they don't need WW to cover it. Good luck with the contract.

My insurance company cancelled my auto policy because they got a return to sender when I moved. That happened AFTER I already updated my home owner's policy with the same company. WTF? Apparently if I move my house, my cars still live at my apartment and aren't accepting mail from AMEX Insurance.... And AMEX Home doesn't update AMEX Auto.

*gets scissors to cut up his green AMEX card*

Way back when, Pacific Bell Wireless used to have a "service address" and a "billing address" -- probably a remnant of the first iteration of their software which was based on Pacific Bell's billing software. So when I moved (before PBW became Cingular), I called and said we were moving to Santa Monica and I needed to change my address.

They duly changed the address and I waited, and waited, and waited, and got no bill. So finally I called them and when I did, the auto-answer automatically sent me straight to "delinquent collections" -- after 32 days, mind you -- where I was humiliated by the rep for having failed to pay my bill. (He also said they were reporting me to the credit bureaux.)

I was livid -- and I'm not quiet and docile when I'm livid. I pitched a full-scale Brooklyn B!tch Fit and demanded that he troll through the notes for my account to see that I had, in fact, changed my address. Turns out they changed the service address but not the billing address. He told me (the more fool, he) that I should have made sure that both addresses were changed. I pointed out that I couldn't be expected to know that there WERE two addresses let alone that the phone reps were too bloody STUPID to change both.

Then he said, and I quote, "So will you be paying the bill with your credit card, or would you prefer to send us a cheque? If you send us a cheque I can't guarantee that your service won't be turned off for non-payment."

"I don't pay 'imaginary' bills," said I, "and so if you want the bill paid sooner you had better send me a copy sooner, then." This continued in the same vein for quite a while. Eventually, after going through two levels of 'management', I got the bill next-day delivered to my new home, paid it, and then the next month found a double-credit. I didn't call them about that.

[NokiaKrazy]

I still haven't recieved my bill yet. Getting worried.

[BillRadio]

NK,
It's too bad C-1/WW is among you best coveage options. While you want to "get even" by leaving, you also don't want to cut off your nose to spite your face. The best therapy would be to call their corporate offices in Seattle. I find them relatively easy to get to. I would just consume as much time with them as possible 'discussing' their "policy."

They will either do something to make it worth your while, or convince you there is no future with them. Both AT&T and T-Mobile offer GSM in Beaver. WW only offers GSM where T-Mobile does not, and for now, only to roamers.

Don't lose any sleep. But get ready for the next disappointment. If it happens, you won't be surprised. If it doesn't, the surprise will be pleasant. Make sure that this episode is noted in your account record. When you call next October, THEN your threat to leave will be taken seriously. "Why should I renew with you? Look what you did to me last January! Oh? 2 months, free? well...maybe."

-Bill

[NokiaKrazy]

Bill,

Thank you for your reply. Cell one is my best coverage option for this area. I did write them a letter and sent it to their customer relations dept. I recieved a response basically telling me that they have now corrected my address.

I would assume that this incident is noted somewhere in my account. I will remember it when October comes around. See how I feel then.