Glad I don't work for them...

[Jammrock]

From the "how the hell do they think they can get away with this" category...

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3600

In an effort to get customers upgrading to newer and snazzier phones, Cingular announced that it will impose a $5 fee every month, to those customers with older phones...

The $5 mandatory fee will generate approximately $23.5 million every month for Cingular. The company claims that the majority of its customers (92 percent) use phones based on Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology, while the rest use TDMA phones or even older analog phones. Despite the small minority of older phone users, Cingular is required by the FCC to support analog users until early 2008....

Earlier last month, DailyTech reported that Cingular along with Verizon ended up being sued over service degradation. The lawsuit claimed that Cingular degraded phone reception to older users in an effort to get them to upgrade to newer phones despite the company promising uninterrupted phone service. Customers were also upset that they had to pay an $18 transfer fee to switch from AT&T Wireless' network over to Cingular’s plans. They were also required to purchase new phones from Cingular or face more charges...

Wow... wow... and I thought some of the other service fees were bad, but this takes the cake.

Jammrock

[ND66]

You've got to be kidding me!

.

[cjolley]

Yours truely is a long time Cingular customer and NOT happy.
If they don't come up with a pretty ****ing good discount on the new phone they are going to force me to buy, Cox Cable will have a new customer for phone and internet, along with whatever company we change Becky's cell phone to.
What a crock.
AT&T just can't help being AT&T I guess.

[KvHagedorn]

I guess so many people are addicted to cell phones that the providers can afford to act like pushers.

[Wombat]

I don't know. I'm insanely happy with my T-mobile account. The plan's good, the coverage is good, and the customer service has been great.

Compare that to the hell that is dealing with Qwest, and it's no wonder I don't have a landline anymore.

[TnT]

I have as many dropped calls with Cingular as I did T-Mobile. I'm on a family plan so just kinda switched with the rest. The kicker is that Cingular probably won't tell those people they are charging that they will start charging the $5. On the bill it will also probably just say FEE .... $5 without any explanation.

[GT98]

Question of the hour is does Cingular offer any deals where you can upgrade your phone for a reduced rate? I know with Verizon Wireless I have a new phone every 2 years (with a 2 yr contract, up to $100 bucks for the new phone)..so you keep your customers updated with the newest tech by offereing this carrot sort to speak to you. Plus most people I know like to get the newest and greatest phone every year or two.