Is it legal for a cell phone provider to add for services that I did not ask for.?

Question

The past few months my cell phone provider has added on options that I have not asked for. I have to call them every month to have it removed. Is it legal for a wirless company to add things with out being. I feel they are trying to hide things in the bill every month.

I do have Cingular. In the past 5 months, they have added "Roadside Assistance and a Media Bundle. Neither of which I have asked for. Neither of them were on my bill the first 5 years of having the same exact plan.

Thank you for the response. I have taken this all the way up to the office of the President, no one could find any reason/record of why these things have been added to my account. Every time they have no problem to issue the credit, and the staff is very helpful. However it is a real pain to have to call every month and waste 45 minutes to have these things removed. Thanks to everyone for your help.

Answer 1

Cell phone companies can be such a pain you can go round and round with them. I don't think what they did was ok or legal, and they probably know it but figure most people won't notice. Or if they do notice, will give up after weeks of trying to get it straightened out. Have a letter written or phone call made on your behalf by a lawyer, I bet that will fix it real quick.

My advice is to speak to a lawyer and the best, most inexpensive way to do this is through Pre-Paid Legal Services. For more information visit the website below, and feel free to contact me through that site if you have further questions on how this service may be able to help you. I encourage you to find out what your rights and options are in this situation.

I wish you the best of luck.

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Answer 2

No one should be adding features to your account that you did not ask for. What I reccomend is to call into customer service 1-800-331-0500 and find out if anyone has called in on your account. They do have notes and documentation as to when the features were added and by who. And if it was someone whom you know or they say that it was you, be sure to add a passcode to your account so that no one can call in to access or reference your account. Also let them know the situation, its not a problem usually to remove the features and retroactively credit the amount back to the account due to error. Also since the features were added to the account, did you make any recent changes in the store? Many times with an upgrade or something features are put on the account by a sales agent, i.e. someone who gets "commissions" for sales and stated in your contract, but not fully explained to the customer. If this is the case then cingular takes full responsibility and will credit back to your acct. The bottom line is that in any situation, you have the right to request who added features to your account and when. From there it is cingulars responsibility to fix it. If it is not fixed from that standpoint then thats where the BBB comes in. However when u report a problem to them, they will ask if and why you did not contact the main party involved for resolution before accepting a complaint. However in a case like this, cingular is usually good with customer service and shouold have no problem correcting it all for you. Hope this helps!

:)

Answer 3

I love the person that told you to just not pay them. That'll cause tons more problems for you, but I get that you are smarter than that.

No, it's not legal but there might be something in your contract that states that they will do something like that, and that you'd have to cancel if you don't want the services.

Would you be interested in having an attorney in your area view your contract and perhaps send them a letter on your behalf? I have had some things happen to me that has been resolved within days because an attorney sent something to give the companies a heads up. Most companies don't want to have to deal with legal problems if you are serious because it would cost them MUCH more to do that than to just resolve your issue. Basically, I am suggesting a Pre Paid Legal plan. The cost is anywhere from $17 - $26 a month depending on the coverage plan you choose.

Anyway, this is a valuable service to have. Check out the link below and please contact me for more information or if you have questions. You may also check out my blog on my 360 page as it contains some info as well.

Good luck.

Answer 4

This isn't meant to be insulting... However are you on any type of medication, and have you ever talked to a psychologist? This actually seems to be paranoia of the primary order. I've gone to institution with people who have been otherwise average, and who would finally speak about how the Air drive or what have you was once trying to track them down, and how folks at tuition have been in reality govt spies (once I understand the people good and so they without doubt don't seem to be whatever however scholars). To recount your story, if you are a minor, some of these matters can be accessible to your mothers and fathers if they've custody, however it will be a full time job monitoring down all these matters, and nearly inconceivable to entry. If you are an adult, it is actually not possible for a few of these matters to happen. Your moms and dads seeing your mail before you? If mail is sent from one place to another, they are going to now not exhibit it to a single soul, that will be wholly illegal, and even the state and city cannot entry it, as something wanting a federal warrant is not going to suffice. As for harassing you in shops with offers of telephone telephone purchases, and freezing your money owed unless your addresses were confirmed when you move... That's average, that happens to everybody, its speculated to. A few things are possible, though unlikely, like them seeking to call your rental difficult and maintaining monitor of your public records, but thats all legal, mainly if they are worried about you. Severely, I've seen this earlier than, and whether or not or not you love it, or even supposing you believe i'm nuts, you will have to talk to a psychologist as quickly as possible. If they are saying that you're adequate and would not have remedy or treatment, then you would most effective help your case for those who go to the police. However, do you could have a history of intellectual health problem or healing? If that is so, you will have to fully grasp that this can be a relapse. Its satisfactory to keep in mind that nobody goes to spend night and day looking to hunt you down, if they understand you do not want them round. Folks just should not have the time or energy, exceptionally in the event you don't have money or whatever else they can use. Simply seem at your query, the bit about the mobile telephones is some thing that simplest any individual who needed support would say, no traditional individual would ever don't forget that a signal of whatever, its just so obvious. So are you able to try this for us?

Answer 5

What are they adding to your account, I severely doubt that some peon in the back corner of the office is adding stuff onto your bill. You probably just don't remember puting the options onto your phone when you first got it. I work for a cell phone company on the sales floor and I get at least 80% of my customers from the previous month come in and yell about how big their bill is cause they didn't pay attention when they were signing up. People only pay attention to the phone when they sign up, which is stupid cause you pay for the phone once, but you have to pay for the plan for the next 2-3 years. If you don't want the items on your account go down to the store and have them taken off.

And please don't start off on taxes cause everyone has to pay for them and your not special enough to get them waived.

"But...but...but the plan says 39.99!" yeah right if you go up in the grocery store are the prices on the selve including taxes... no there not, and neither are they on your plan, cause taxes fluctuate with your usage..... ie. if you go over on your minutes, if you roam, if you buy ringtones or videogames.

Answer 6

This is not supposed to be insulting... however are you on any variety of treatment, and have you ever talked to a psychologist? This actually looks to be paranoia of the primary order. I have long past to university with men and women who have been or else ordinary, and who might finally speak approximately how the Air Force or what have you ever was once seeking to monitor them down, and the way men and women at university have been honestly govt spies (whilst I recognize the men and women good they usually absolutely are not something however scholars). To recount your tale, if you're a minor, SOME of those matters might be obtainable for your father and mother if they've custody, but it surely might be an entire time process monitoring down a lot of these matters, and practically unattainable to entry. If you're an grownup, it's actually unattainable for a few of these matters to occur. Your father and mother seeing your mail earlier than you? If mail is distributed from one location to yet another, they'll NOT exhibit it to a unmarried soul, that might be utterly unlawful, or even the state and the town can't entry it, as something wanting a federal warrant would possibly not suffice. As for harassing you in retail outlets with presents of mobile cell purchases, and freezing your money owed till your addresses have been demonstrated while you transfer... that is general, that occurs to everybody, its intended to. A few matters are viable, although not likely, like them seeking to name your rental tricky and maintaining monitor of your public files, however thats all authorized, certainly if they're concerned approximately you. Seriously, I've obvious this earlier than, and whether or not or no longer you adore it, or despite the fact that you feel I'm nuts, you will have to speak to a psychologist as quickly as viable. If they are saying that you're good enough and should not have treatment or therapy, you then might handiest aid your case if you happen to move to the police. However, do you've gotten a historical past of intellectual health problem or therapy? If so, you will have to realise that it is a relapse. Its first-rate to recall that nobody goes to spend night time and day seeking to hunt you down, in the event that they recognize you do not desire them round. People simply wouldn't have the time or vigour, certainly if you happen to wouldn't have cash or some thing else they are able to use. Just appear at your query, the bit approximately the mobile telephones is some thing that ONLY any person who wanted aid might say, no ordinary individual might ever take into account that a signal of something, its in order that visible. So are you able to do this for us?

Answer 7

If they are extra options with additional cost such as text messaging, data package, MMS, etc which you would normally have to call and request be added, then YES IT IS illegal for them to add them as a MONTHLY subscription to your bill without you calling and requesting these services. If this keeps happening every month, make sure nobody in your family is calling and adding them on. Call and put a password on your account and request the operator verify that password before any changes are made. Let them know you have had trouble with unauthorized package additions and are taking this precaution for your own protection. If they refuse, then note the date, time, and name of the person you are speaking to. That way if you do decide to terminate or take legal action at a later date you can say "well, I tried to password protect my account and so and so refused to do so on this date"

If however, you find one time use charges for these services on your bill, you need to 1-make sure you have not used them, and 2-make sure nobody in your family used them before calling your carrier.

Answer 8

No, You need to contact the carrier and require that they put a password on your account so that nobody can make any changes without your permission and also demand to speak with a supervisor with your carriers cust serv dept and ask them to compensate you somehow for the inconvenience

Answer 9

Go to the Better Business Bureau website, you can complain. Also, you can check the business profile and see if there has been more people complaining with the same situation.

Answer 10

What do you have Cingular?

I heard numerous complaints like yours about Cingular..

You gotta call them to get rid of it..

OR else they might charge you for it.. and their goin to take time taking it out.