Comments on: Splitting up with your cell phone carrier

Sprint Nextel's breakup with some customers may not be popular, but it could make financial sense.
Images: Sprint's Dear John letter

[jeremyblaze]

what about phone cost issue

Why is no one asking the question why Sprint isn't refunding their customers for the purchase price of their phones. If you purchase something that will not work for you, then you deserve a refund. Look at the woman in the story, she said she just upgraded to the Treo a few months ago. I am certain she didn't get the phone for free. If they dont refund her the purchase price of the phone, then they are raping their customers. I hope this angle doesnt get overlooked, and I hope Sprint loses its ass in this regard

If Tmobile pulled this, I would definitely be gone in the first wave. I got my first Blackberry in Feb, and since, have had many issues with billing, phone, service, BB network. None of which were in regards to me not understanding the blackberry, I have the internet for that. But between the warranty replacements and the billing issues, I wouldn't seem like a good customer on paper, although, I have no plans on leaving. Should I be dropped, I would have a very expensive BBbrick.

Just hope someone pushes the phone cost issue!

[seannj427]

You have got to be kidding me

SPRINT is running away from their problems. Spring used to call me when I had them, asking me if I wanted to add extra services. I would always hang up on them.
Regarding Verizon -- I know someone who exceeded the 5 meg limit. He works for Verizon. When he told them that his boss TOLD HIM TO USE THE CARD TO DO HIS JOB they did not cancel his service. However I can't possibly understand why a cell phone company would reject one of their own. It doesn't make good sense.
Go ahead Verizon, reject me for using your unlimited bandwidth. I'll have your keister in court with the FTC for faulty advertising.

[Susie Rae]

Nextel/Sprint

I have had Nextel for about ten years & while they sometimes overcharged for my three phones I was always able to get credited or get additional minitues added to receive compensation. Once Nextel became Sprint I have had terrible customer service. I had to almost pull teeth to get one phone line dropped which I had no current contract on and during the 6 plus months of going back & forth with them they continued to charge me for the phonee service even though I was not using it & was repeatedly asking for the line to be cancelled. Finally they did cancel & offered to not charge me the fee for the cancelling of the line as if I did have a contract which I had not had for three years. Duh, that was one nightmare. Now I have only two phones, but am not happy with the service I am receiving. I got talked into changing an old Nextel plan which I was supposedly allowed to keep which was a good deal, but which Sprint kept adding extra costs to because of their billing; and they offered me unlimited minutes for $ 99.00 per month. Sounded good, but now I am paying around $150.00 to $ 175.00 a month for just the one line as there are additional charges for the use of long distance etc., I told them it would need to be nationwide at acceptance & was asured it was at no additional cost, I thought. Overall I am not happy at the way they treat business customers and their lack of appreciation for long time customers who should, one would think be getting the best deals not being exploited as they are already involved. I will be finding a different business cell & internet provider for my two phones & notebooks when I am out of the darn contract, Also I had my phone stolen & to receive a replacement at the lower rate I was told I had to extend my service contract for a addtional two years or pay full price for the replacement phone even though 8 months prior I had already paid full price for the stolen phone to avoid being tied into a contract. No customer loyalty as far as I can see. Also had better reception with Nextel than Sprint Nextel. I am not a happy customer & they sure do not care.

[TV James]

Then they delete those records

But if you're contesting something they previously said, and you give them the date, time and name of the operator you talked to, they'll say they have no record of you ever making a call to them at that time.

[towerclimber37]

Sprint blows goats!!

I had next tel for about a year, then they got bought by sprint..
during my time with next tel I had a 50 dollar a month plan with unlimited radio. I stayed within my minutes and used my radio mostly.
after sprint got ahold of next tel, my bill went from 50 to 90 to 150 dollars a month with no change in my usage. I finally gave them 200 dollars to get out of my contract...I couldn't afford to pay their extra charges.

[Jim_Mattos]

Easy way to get out of your contract!

Well, I guess for those who have more then average customer
service calls and like their service provider, this would suck. But
it seems to be a loop-hole for anyone who wants to end their
contract without being penalized with the early termination fee.

So, if you want out of your Sprint/Nextel contract, start making
as many customer service calls as you can. Become a nuisance
and thy'll drop you like a hot potato!

Great news if you want out now and can't wait to get your hands
on an iPhone.

Thanks for the heads up;o)

[airwickb]

Getting out of your contract

i'm on an unlimited plan. $133/mo for as much as I want of
everything except their lame web access. I've burned up
hundreds of frustrating hours per year over billing errors,
changes in reception here in our fast evolving Las Vegas and
poorly made hybrid type Motorola phones. In Sprint/Nextel's
defense, they've comped me free phones & access., lots of
airtime and bent over backwards, as long as I'm dealing with
their "customer retention" dept. They finally offered no-fee
termination and/or to name my end-of-contract date, a option I
selected. The wholesale cost of our cel phones is pathetic...
attend our CES convention and you'll find that there isn't a cel
ph. made that I could find, costing over about $65, wholesale.
We're getting reamed! My Sprint rep is allowing me to purchase
the upcoming new (finally includes bells and whistles like othe
brands) hybrid Motorola cel, at their cost and without a contract
extension. I've wanted to bail many times over the last 8 years
but am hanging in there. Nextel has gone through huge growing
pains and I sympathize with their customer svc reps... nonstop
rants from people like me. My biggest beef was when they
turned off my service, just to force me into a contract. This
occured just as my elderly mother was being transported to the
hospital. And, a week earlier, I'd just purchased a new Nextel
phone (which can only be used on their system) while filming in
Sacramento and my original phone malfunctioned. Even they had
no defense as to my intentions (I never asked to have my service
cut off). I've basically won every time and doubt they've made
much money on me to date. But, their service and reception
suck. The best deal out there was when Cingular offered
unlimited for $99/mo. Haven't seen that in about a year. They
would run it for about 2 weeks, then take it away. Figures.

[kdrobb2k]

Create a Perfect Storm to Bail from Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel is the worst according to many relatives who have their 'hrmm ...service'. To bail out with no early termination fees just call customer service willy - nilly and complain. They will drop you like a hot potato with no problem. As bad as many competitors out there are ... getting dropped by Sprint/Nextel will be a blessing. Complain at will and switch without guilt!

[Kimberae]

Sprint Billing

I would gladly join a class action or any other type of lawsuit. Here is an outline of my billing issues with Sprint.
-Called in July to upgrade one phone line from 300 to unlimited text messaging
- Sprint took away all text messaging
-Caught the overage in October when the bill was more than $100.00
- Customer service was suppose to go back and credit the account for all overage billed and paid and give me unlimited text messaging
- Some credits applied but not full credit
-Still no text messaging on account
-Billed more than $100 November
-Called suppose to issue credit inquired about prevous credits not issued
-Told cannot go back to July spoke to supervisor case opened, some creidits issues again no text messaging on account said it would be added
-December bill charges for text messaging more than $100 though unlimited text messaging was added in November
-Now contract extended to Nobember of next year
-Sprint owes me to much money for Customer service to handle have to open another case
-Outgoing call privelages suspended, I was put on a hot list since the bill had not been paid in full
-Was instructed in December to only make a $50 payment so phone service would not be disconnected. I made the $50 payment
-Customer service could not take me off hot list had to transferr me to Technical Support
-Technical support cannot take me off hot list until the credits are issued to my account which could take up to 5 days
-Transferred back to customer service but it was customer service on old billing system. I am aparently on the new billing system therefore I need to be transferred again.
-Still no outgoing phone service
-Still due money back to my account for overbilling

[SLEIB]

Yes

I just spent 2.5hours on the phone about a $1600.00 dollar bill I feel like I have been torture and it still not resolved I have to hope that they can find why their empolyees lied about free phone and who going to pay for my torture had enough