I love my cell phone. If I didn't love my cell phone so much I would have switched to another provider months ago. (If I find out I can use my phone with another service, I'm going to.) I've had to make 2-5 calls to Pacific Bell/Cingular's customer service every month since January. I was paying $39.99 for 250 peak and and 1000 minutes for night and weekends, plus $9.99 for free long distance. But I was consistently charged for minutes after 8pm on weekdays, and these are supposed to be included in my night minutes. I was also consistently charged for peak minutes that are supposed to be part of my included fees. These charges are always refunded, but with a great amount of confusion, frustration, and time wasted on the phone explaining the situation for the hundredth time.

Here's the best part. For a couple of months I was given many apologies and told just to pay the monthly fee - the adjustments would be made "later". Well, while I was being asked for several hundred more dollars than I owed, the monthly fee was an underpayment. I received a notice in the mail saying I had 10 days to pay $200.00 or my service would be cut off. I called, collections department this time, and was told, no, sorry, just $100.00. Fine. I paid within a week, with a debit card by phone. My phone was turned off that day. It took two days for them to turn it back on. I was assured I wouldn't be charged a restoral fee. I was.

Sure, they refunded it, but I'm sick of calling every other week to get this taken care of.

I was convinced to sign of for another plan which essentially gives me the same time -- 300 minutes $39.99 plus unlimited nights and weekend for an additional $9.99. Apparently their billing system won't gag on this billing arrangement.

It's really sad, too. The coverage is great, the plan is fine *when I'm charged correctly*, which has been never, and customer service is always friendly despite the fact that they are regularly being verbally abused for this billing mayhem.

Recommended: No

Amount Paid (US$): 39.99