Gary’s mom uses a prepaid T-Mobile phone, but doesn’t use it a whole lot. She missed the deadline to re-up her account by three days, and is now stuck with a useless $50 refill card and a shut-off cell phone. After four fruitless attempts at calling regular customer service, Gary tracked down the executive customer service number, hoping to reach someone in the United States with some power. Instead, the person he reached was hostile and unhelpful. When Gary eventually reached that person’s boss to complain, the boss said that if he kept contacting the executive offices, they’d have him charged with harassment. All of this seems like a lot more trouble than turning some old lady’s phone back on. [More]
t-mobile
Sprint Officially Asks FCC To Block AT&T Purchase Of T-Mobile
By 6.1.11
Since AT&T announced its plans to purchase T-Mobile USA for around $39 billion, the folks at Sprint have been quite public about their opposition to the deal, taking out mocking ads and testifying before lawmakers in Washington. Yesterday, Sprint made its stance official, filing a “Petition to Deny” the deal with the Federal Communications Commission. [More]
AT&T, Consumer Advocates Spar Over T-Mobile Deal In DC
By 5.26.11
In a Congressional hearing this morning over AT&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson reiterated his earlier comments that the deal is “all about consumers.” However, advocates such as Parul P. Desai of Consumers Union argued that the merger “would result in a highly concentrated market, which will likely lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.” [More]
AT&T, Comcast Rank Last In Customer Satisfaction Surveys
By 5.17.11
The folks at the American Customer Satisfaction Index have released their annual report on the various elements of the information sector. And it probably won’t come as a surprise to Consumerist readers that AT&T’s wireless division and Comcast each brought up the rear in their respective fields. [More]
Sprint Bets $125 That You Really Want To Switch To Its Smartphone Service
By 5.16.11
With AT&T’s pending purchase of T-Mobile USA threatening to push Sprint into a very distant third place in the wireless wars, the cell phone company is offering to put its money where its mouth is (or something like that) by offering $125 service credits to new customers who defect from other carriers. [More]
AT&T CEO Grilled By Senators Over T-Mobile Deal
By 5.11.11
There was much anticipation in Washington, DC, for this morning’s Senate Sucommittee hearing on AT&T’s pending purchase of T-Mobile USA. Interested parties hoping to get a seat inside the crowded hearing room had hired dozens of place holders to stand in line for them starting as early as Tuesday afternoon. [More]
Sprint CEO Has A Few Things To Say About The AT&T/T-Mobile Deal
By 5.10.11
As mentioned earlier today, the CEO of AT&T will have his first chance to make his case for purchasing T-Mobile USA in front of a Senate subcommittee. But not without the Senators hearing from some parties opposed to the deal, including Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, who pulls no punches in his prepared remarks. [More]
AT&T CEO: T-Mobile Purchase Is "All About Consumers"
By 5.10.11
Tomorrow morning the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights will hold a hearing titled “The AT&T/T-Mobile Merger: Is Humpty Dumpty Being Put Back Together Again?” It’s the first in what looks to be numerous hearings on AT&T’s pending purchase of T-Mobile USA and earlier today, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson released his prepared statement to the subcommittee, where he explains that his company isn’t spending over $39 billion to leapfrog ahead of Verizon in the standings. No, it’s all about you, the consumer. [More]
Will Customers Shafted In Verizon/Alltel Deal Get Shafted Again By AT&T/T-Mobile Merger?
By 5.6.11
While most of the country wasn’t directly affected by Verizon’s purchase of Alltel, a handful of both companies’ former customers have now ended up — through no choice of their own — as AT&T subscribers. Many of these people are peeved about being stuck with a company they never signed up with. They also want to know if AT&T’s pending purchase of T-Mobile means in terms of their already slim pickings. [More]
Verizon To Warn iPhone Buyers: We're Watching You!
By 5.2.11
After consumer uproar over the fact that Apple’s iPhones can record and store users’ locations, Verizon Wireless says it’s going to warn potential customers of such acts, via a handy little sticker. Neat. [More]
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps Talks Mergers With Consumerist
By 4.22.11
Of the commissioners on the FCC, Michael Copps is easily the most outspoken in his opinion on media consolidation. In January, he was the only commissioner to vote against the sale of NBC to Comcast, saying that the deal “grievously fails the public interest.” More recently, he’s expressed his skepticism about how smoothly the AT&T purchase of T-Mobile USA will go. And he’s also a cool enough guy to sit down for a chat with Consumerist. [More]
T-Mobile Upgrade Error Leads To Unwanted Data Plan
By 4.20.11
Were Michael’s troubles with Target and T-Mobile due to miscommunication, or did someone intentionally mislead him? Everyone’s pointing fingers at each other, but the lesson is clear: if your mobile phone company tells you that you have an upgrade available for which you’re not eligible, it’s probably a good idea not to take it unless you’re able to quadruple-verify that taking the upgrade won’t lead to a data plan you can’t use and don’t want. [More]
T-Mobile Announces $80 Unlimited Voice, Text & Data Plan For Smartphones
By 4.13.11
T-Mobile has announced a new unlimited plan for cellphone customers. For $80 per month, subscribers can sign up for an Even More two-year contract that offers unlimited voice, text, and data for any smartphone in its stable. But there is one slight catch. [More]
Survey: T-Mobile Not Only Cheaper Than AT&T, But It Also Sucks Less
By 4.11.11
Last week we showed you how T-Mobile gives customers a significantly better bang for their buck than AT&T. But it’s apparently not just pricing at which the smaller cellphone company bests its suitor. According to a recent survey done by our publishing kin at Consumer Reports, T-Mobile customers are not as displeased as AT&T subscribers are with their service provider. [More]
Analysis: T-Mobile Gives You More For Your Dollar Than AT&T
By 4.8.11
As AT&T prepares to head into the regulatory review of its pending purchase of T-Mobile USA, the telecom giant’s CEO has stated, however noncommittally, that existing T-Mobile customers should not see their rates go up. And according to a comparison done by our number-crunching cousins at Consumer Reports, many of those T-Mobile customers will be saving between $15 to $50 per month for similar service. [More]
T-Mobile Doesn't Particularly Seem To Care That My Phone Is Posessed
By 4.7.11
Okay, Tristan’s phone probably isn’t possessed by anything supernatural, but it does definitely have a defect that leaves it making phantom keystrokes, freezing, and dropping calls. T-Mobile’s support isn’t all that interested in helping him, though, and even hung up on him for “threatening legal action” when he quoted his warranty. [More]
Make Your Voice Heard On The AT&T/T-Mobile Deal
By 4.5.11
AT&T’s pending $39 Billion purchase of T-Mobile USA hasn’t even gotten into the governmental review process but it’s already managed to get people on both sides of the debate talking. That’s why our benevolent benefactors at Consumers Union are looking for folks willing to go on the record with their concerns and comments on the deal. [More]
AT&T CEO: "I Don't See Why" T-Mobile Customers' Rates Will Go Up After Sale
By 4.4.11
Among the big concerns surrounding the pending sale of T-Mobile USA to AT&T are the potential for rate increases for current T-Mobile customers and the near-duopoly that would exist in the aftermath of the sale. In a new interview with USA Today, the Death Star’s CEO attempted to assuage worries on both fronts. [More]
