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Cell Phone Customer Service Ranked Next to Last
Paulrothrock writes "A recent report shows that cell phone companies are the second lowest ranked industry in terms of customer service, just above cable companies. Also, they are second only to car dealers in number complaints to Better Business Bureaus. Complaints include being charged a fee to cancel a cell phone contract for a deceased husband and being double-billed for using an online bill-pay system. I guess I've been lucky, the only problem I've had is getting reception."
You already know the answer to "can you hear me now?!"
I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven...
I remember reading a true story in a book. It was about a man who was having problems with his cellphone [it had been disconnected]. When talking with the lady working tech support, the lady worked up the idea he was an 'arrogant bastard'. The call ended by normally but the next month the client recieved a bill with a $148 charge. The charge was for 'penalty for being an arrogant bastard.'
Shows how good cell phone customer service is.
Here's the deal. The BBB only thinks that they have a bunch of cell phone complaints. Most of the time they only can make out something like "fucking cell pho..." before the call is dropped, so they mark it as a complaint about the service.
Until Slashdot fixes the funny modifier, use insightful or interesting. The poster knows your intentions.
"Mine has got Dance Dance Revolution on it."
--Chag
Commenting upon their second place finish, Verizon and Cingular Wireless both vowed to try harder next year.
Unknown host pong.
I love the pictures in the article. They just show people merrily using their cellphones. It would make more sense if they showed the angry users, you know, the ones who smash their phones to teeny tiny bits, feed the bits to a squirrel, and then smash the squirrel into teeny tiny bits.
I also reply below your current threshold.
I once had to make a long distance call to a company to order a development board, and being a bit paranoid at the time I wanted to ask my provider (T-Mobile) about cell phone security. (I don't have long distance service on my landline) Here's how it went down from what I remembered:
Me: Yes, I'd like to know if your cell phone service is secure for making an order over the phone?
Support: Ah, you want to buy a new phone?
Me: (?!!) No. I'm asking about the security of cell phone usage. See, I'm planning on placing an order over the phone from a company.
Support: You have a phone from another company?
Me: No. I want to know if someone can intercept my cell phone call.
Support: T-Mobile does not record and monitor your calls.
Me: Thanks.....have a nice day.
I was hoping for a "Yes, the service is encrypted" or something. Guess that's what I get for being lazy to research myself.
$cat
It's funny. The customer service reps can be rude, disrespectful, and have unacceptable wait times.
But then try calling a payment hotline, I've never talked to such a group of prompt, cheerful jerks in my life!
Always happy to take your money (obviously).
But have you ever had a billing error in YOUR favor?
Yeah, but it's been a while. I haven't played Monopoly since I was eight.
I also reply below your current threshold.
then calling Dell....
When the nifty new features that modivated you to purchase the phone in the first place don't work, or when "customer support" uses paying customers to beta test nifty new features, THATs MLIFE.
When you have to hold for AT&T's billing department FOR OVER AN HOUR to explain to them that you canceled their so called service a month ago, and that you just ain't gonna pay 'em any more, THAT'S MLIFE.
When AT&T bills you after you've canceled the contract because AT&T didn't deliver the promised service, THATS MLIFE.
When AT&T sends you to collections because you are so f$cking fed up with AT&T's complete and utter lack of service that you just can't stand another Minute on hold, THAT'S MLIFE.
When you carefully read the terms of service and contract before you sign up, then try to cancel the contract within 30 days without penelty as specified in the contract, you your life goes to hell, THATS MLIFE.
When you've been on hold for so long that you start writing sarcastic replacements for AT&T's marketing, THATS MLIFE.
When you start looking at cell phone sales droids as generally having less integrety than your typical car salesman, THAT'S MLIFE.
When you've had such a searingly horrible experience with a big nasty f'ed up corperation such as AT&T that you VOW that you will never use ANY service from them EVER EVER AGAIN, THATS MLIFE.
"Can you hear me now?"
[silence]
It's official. Someone finally found the Verizon guy and shoved his fucking cell phone back up where it belonged.
yeah, my cell phone provider, sprint, was giving me grief. they kept calling me on my sprint phone to sell me sprint service. I kept yelling at them "i already HAVE sprint service, this is a SPRINT telephone." they kept calling me anyways. i told them that if they didnt stop calling me, i was going to shoot my dog. they kept calling me. eventually i shot my dog. i mailed them the dog in a box. i knew i was screwed with the dogs name on his leash got in their DB cause i started getting calls on my SPRINT phone for the dog, for additional service plans. I miss my dog.
slashdot: where everyone yells sarcastic metaphors to themselves to understand the issue
The only remarkable thing about this story is that they placed second worst.
Whatever it is I'm complaining about, I'm sure the Republicans did it. This is
I work* for a cellular phone company, and I can tell you that we get very few** complaints*** despite what this survey says. One thing we care very much for is that customers know what they're going to be charged****. So naturally I'm very disappointed***** to hear this kind of thing.
* Does not include actual employment, work implies any form of work including having to try and figure out what AT&T intends to charge me this month.
** The word "few" should not be implied to have any specific, non-subjective, definition.
*** Excludes concerns about service quality or hidden charges
**** Does not include monetary amounts
***** Disappointment should not be read to imply any desire to make anything better.
OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS
While completely free, this message may be subject to an additional $1.75 fee payable per reader to cover the costs of making this message conform to government regulations. This is not a tax, it is simply a fee squiggleslash levies to cover mandated improvements in honesty.
There are no lies in this message, because you can make any claim you like as long as you say it's completely false in the small-print.
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Of course, the grandparent post and linked article actually place AT&T in the number three spot.
I think I've found the problem....
~Idarubicin
Ahhh... reminds me of my days making german scheisse films...