Consumerist
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verizon
Verizon Configures Phones So You Incur Erroenous Data Charges? (To The Tune Of $300 Million)
If you have a Verizon phone, you've probably at one point accidentally hit a button that connects you to "Get It Now" or "Mobile Web." Arg. And it's double-arg when it turns out that even if you cancel right away, you still get hit with a $1.99 1MB data charge. According to a tipster, this is totally on purpose. More » -
call centers
10 Confessions Of A Telemarketing Insider
Out of the shadows steps a dark figure, sporting wrinkled khakis, a retractable namebadge, and a headset dangling from his ear. It's the telermarketing insider, and he's going to confess to you how his industry really works and how you can resist and even fight back: More » -
storm8
iPhone App Developer Sued For Stealing Users' Phone Numbers
For secretly stealing users' phone number by exploiting a backdoor iPhone vulnerability, app developer Storm8 got slapped with a class action lawsuit. More » -
droid
Verizon Wireless To Hike ETFs On "Advanced" Devices
Are you looking to get a smartphone on the Verizon network anytime soon? Make sure that you like it before you sign a contract, since starting November 15th, Verizon will be imposing a higher early termination fee—up to $350—on contracts for "advanced" devices. That means smartphones. More » -
price wars
T-Mobile Launches Unlimited Everything For $79.99 Plan
Codenamed "Project Dark," Tmobile has launched a $79.99 unlimited plan with no annual contract. More » -
show us your verizon face
Verizon Snatches Away Divorced Man's Unlimited Broadband Plan
They say that for people going through a divorce it can feel like you're losing half of yourself. As if it that wasn't bad enough, Verizon Wireless has taken away William's unlimited broadband plan on the account he used to share with his wife. More » -
tmobile
Reach T-Mobile Executive Customer Relations
If T-mobile's normal channels fail, you can try calling T-Mobile Executive Customer Relations. Here's a contact: Octavio Robertson, 505-341-8059.
(Photo: Schröder+Schömbs PR)
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potential for rudeness
Should Airplane Passengers Be Allowed To Make VoIP Calls?
Until now, airplane cabins have been blessedly free from idle phone chatter thanks to FAA regulations. Now, thanks to the introduction of wi-fi on commercial flights, it's time to ask: should passengers be able to use Skype, Google Voice, or another VoIP service of their choice to make phone calls in the air? More » -
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att
AT&T Robocalls Me Again For No Apparent Reason
Wow - just got another robocall from AT&T telling me that it was an important message and that I should call them. Either something is wrong with my account that yesterday's CSR couldn't figure out, or something is wrong with AT&T. Either way, annoying.
UPDATE: It seems there may have been lag in billing systems. Though it said zero balance when I checked online a few days ago, it has now updated to show this month and duhn duhn last month's unpaid bill. I didn't pay the bill last month because it also said then that I had a zero balance. There must be a definite lag problem that's not just me because otherwise the CSR yesterday would have told me that I had to pay up, instead of suggesting I take advantage of a free upgrade for my iPhone 3GS... Brad the friendly AT&T PR rep says he'll look into it. I declined his help and suggested that he solve the underlying issue for all consumers but not to give my account any special treatment.
PREVIOUSLY: AT&T Keeps Calling To Say I Qualify For Free Upgrade From My iPhone 3GS? (Image: Dyna Moe)
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tmobile
Tmobile Raising Overage Rates 9/01 - Cancel Without Fee
Tmobile will be raising overage rates September 1st, and customers can use it to cancel without early termination fee. More » -
number portability
Is The FCC's iPhone Investigation Really About Number Portability?
There's been a lot of talk online the past week about extending the principal of network neutrality to wireless networks, which may be partly why the FCC has asked Apple, Google, and AT&T to answer some questions about the rejected Google Voice iPhone app. Todd Barr at Bandwidth.com thinks that the reason may actually have to do with the concept of number portability. More » -
complaints
Switch To FiOs An Unmitigated Disaster
Do you know that Comcast commercial where this homeowner gets FiOs installed against his will and then all these bulldozers tear up his lawn and bumbling contractors cause an electrical short? Lelah's letter describes a process that's very similar, except worse and much longer. And then this salesman just picks up her guitar and starts playing it and singing without even asking first. No wonder, by story's end, she's been driven to the brink of insanity, demanding compensation for 5 missed days of work. So far, they're offering her $25. More » -
iphone
What Do You Want In A Consumerist iPhone App?
We're working on an iPhone app for The Consumerist, along with finally getting a mobile version, mobile.consumerist.com, for the site. Our first iPhone app will be extremely basic. This 1.0 will have iPhone-optimized version of the latest posts, and you'll have a few drill-down categories to choose from (top stories, features, personal finance.... something else? You tell us). That's about it. You will not be able to make comments. 1.5 will have comments. 2.0 will be a from the ground up rewrite with all the bells and whistles. So, questions: What categories should be in the 1.0? What dream features do you want to see in the 2.0? Leave your thoughts in the comments. -
antitrust
Verizon Limits Handset Exclusivity To 6 Months
Verizon announced it will limit handset exclusivity deals to 6 months, a bow to pleas by small wireless carriers, and in advance of possible Department of Justice action on its inquiries on the one-carrier deals for the iPhone, Pre and LG Voyager. In its announcement, Verizon noted 24 rural carriers had asked it to limit these anti-competitive deals. Yes, apparently there are that many small carriers still left.
Verizon Says It Will Limit New Handset Deals [Reuters] (Photo)
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how to
Cancel iPhone Without Venturing Outside
I cancelled an iPhone within the 30 days buyer's remorse period recently and learned something interesting. Before AT&T will let people who bought their iPhones from Apple cancel service, they want you to return the phone first. They also want proof it was returned. They also want you to print out this proof and take it physically to an AT&T store and show it to them. Returning the phone, I have no problem with. But trekking out to a store to show someone in person a printout of an email?Madness. More » -
skype
Hey, Skype, Why Can't I Change My Billing Information?
Reader "Ian" has a problem with Skype. It should be relatively easy to fix, but it isn't. His credit card was replaced in a Bank of America data breach, and all he wants to do is change the auto-billing for his Skype account to his new credit card number. Skype is apparently unable to do this, since subscriptions are tied to a specific credit card. Or something. More » -
iphone
Leaked Pix Of iPhone's New Firmware Upgrades
Leaked photos have surfaced showing off the iPhone's new firmware upgrades, which include:
- multimedia messaging
- horizontal typing
- compass
- video and voice recording an
- a camera autofocus that lets you select your point of focus by tapping your finger on the touch screen
The new iPhone: See all the leaked photos here [Apple 2.0, via The Awl]
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twitter
Having Problems With Skype Technical Or Customer Service? Use Twitter And, Well, Skype
A lot of Consumerist readers use Skype. (I mostly use it to call my cell phone when I can't find it, but I also use SkypeIn for my business line.) Many of said readers, such as George, have technical or billing problems with Skype, but can't get a response out of the Web-based customer support system. What should they do? More »
telephony
New York, 1:06 PM
Sat Nov 14
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