Singularly inconsistent
Written: Apr 03 '06
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Pros: wide service area
Cons: inconsistency of service, poor information on phones, poor technical support
The Bottom Line: I'll try one of their new plans, but this time I'm hoping to get good information, a decent deal and the features I am promised!!
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| didelk's Full Review: Cingular Mobile Phone Service in Houston |
I purchased my first cell phone and this service four years ago. Single line with 250 anytime minutes, 5000 night and weekend, nationwide, roaming charges apply (and it's hard to know exactly when!) includes international calling, no rollover minutes - costs me about $45/month.
I bought the Cingular package because it was on special and because the little orange map of the service areas in the US just looked like it would go where I go.
My first phone worked OK, but my husband couldn't hear it, so I replaced it with another Nokia phone. My issues are not with the phone, but with the customer service and service area.
When I went to get the new phone, I walked into a large Cingular store in the area. I specifically chose a store with a service department, hoping to find someone who would really know the answer when I asked a question.
The phone was represented to me to be an "international phone". I travel frequently and specifically asked about Mexico Canada, the UK and Spain, and was told that it would work anywhere there was cell service in all of those countries.
I also was told that once I bought the phone for their "special price" that I would be ineligible for upgrade of the phone or cancellation/upgrade/modification of service for two years. After I questioned the young lady extensively about what the phone would do, I signed on the dotted line.
On my first trip to Mexico, the phone would not make calls even though it would receive them. Seems the young lady had not set it up for international calls, which was odd, as we had discussed this at length. After returning home, I called customer service and had my international calling activated - at an additional cost of about 5 bucks per month.
The phone was deader than a doornail in both Spain and the UK - seems it was not an international phone at all - just the "new technology" which still allows me to access the GATE network while also accessing the GMRS network (or so I was told - I do not know!)
I have been getting a gradually declining signal at my home during the four years, and in the last year it has been really bad -- about 2 days out of seven I am roaming at my home, after receiving good service at home for the first two years. I have called and gone in several times, and in spite of adjustments, my service area seems to be shrinking.
In the Houston airport, my service is terrible - I can be struggling to find a signal when folks all around me are talking away!! Very annoying!!
I can't ever get a straight answer to questions: Am I roaming? "maybe" Can I call from abroad? "perhaps"
On the plus side, service personnel on their customer service line are always very polite.
I will probably re-up another Cingular plan - this time I will negotiate for one of the plans they advertise instead of the clunky one I have now. The main reason I will continue with them is that a lot of the people I call are on Cingular and so we can call each other for free minutes (or at least I think so!!)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 45/month
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Epinions.com ID:
didelk
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Location: Houston, Texas
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Piano teacher.
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