Sprint Becomes Poster Child for Bad Service

In the news today, wireless provider Sprint has decided to call a spade a spade. Ranked as Americas worst for support and service they have decided that the best fix for them is to eliminate all customers who complain. Here is a the letter which they sent to all such customers:
PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE


Many people have had issues with many providers but it seems that Sprint is notorious for leaving their customers on the dangle. http://community.livejournal.com/bad_service/1284877.html

We are not immune to this on our side of the border either. Recently Rogers has taken over Sprint Canada and many familiar with Rogers can report a variety of horror stories. One local blog reader recanted a story about purchasing a service package from Rogers via Radio Shack for her retired mother. Her mom decided that she was not going to get involved with the wireless revolution so the daughter returned the phone within 24 hours but Radio Shack said they would not give a refund even though the box was clearly never opened. "Take it up with Rogers" was the answer. Rogers wouldn't let her out of the contract either. They suggested that the daughter put the service in her name but to do so would require the conscent of her mother who never ever used a cellphone in her life. Also, since she wasn't the original purchaser of the package she did not qualify for the same promotion and therefore had to pay a higher monthly fee. This was enough. The daughter marched back to the Radio shack where she purchased the package and demanded that something be done. She did so at the top of her lungs and in front of a store full of customers; some even pawing over the same bundle she was talking about. The nervous clerk brought in the store manager who in turn made a couple of calls and before long the whole problem was fixed. Here are other such stories:

http://www.rogersandme.ca/consumer_exp.html

http://www.complaints.com/directory/2005/march/8/26.htm

It's very interesting that Rogers now owns Telus and Sprint. One might think that the CRTC would regulate against such mergers to avert a potential monopoly. Oh well...The lesson to be learned in all of this is that we need to be vigilant at making the right choices. Research our purchases and buy smart. Avoid companies with bad customer support ratings such as Sprint at all costs. They obviously do not want to change their ways.



The following poll has to do with false roaming charges which some of us get because of our proximity to the U.S. border. Maybe you have noticed, maybe you haven't. Please check the appropriate box so that we can get a snapshot of whats going on out there:

There you have it. This brief poll suggests that there is a significant segment which is experiencing roaming charges (54%). The question then becomes: Are you adjusting your phone bills to have the roaming charges removed? It is doable and providers do recognize the problem which we experience as a border town. To eliminate the roaming hastle there is a fix which you can do within the menus of your cell phone. As follows:

Click on "Menu", Select "Settings", open up "setup" or "roaming", choose "set mode" and finally select "home only".

This will eleiminate your phones tendancy to search out the most powerful towers which around here are in Detroit. Call your provider to have your charge history corrected and adjust your cell phone. Money in the bank.