My cell phone company was SUPPOSED to make my number Private, they made a BIG mistake, what can I do?

Question

My cell phone company was suppossed to make my cell number Private.

I have been communicating with them, and they completely acknowledge that the error is 100% their's and they have made small offers to financially reimberse for any inconvenience they have caused.

However, there are MAJOR reasons why I wanted my number private....including the fact that people I communicate with and mutual aquaintances of people I communicate with, are not suppossed to know ANYTHING about me...not just a simple phone number, but not even the state that I live in.

So even though a simple solution would be to change the number so people do not call, now, people know what state, AND city I live in (thanks to area codes)...

regardless of the details of WHY I needed my number private...the cell phone company has caused MAJOR privacy breaches because of their mistake....

CAN I SUE? If so, about how much would I get?

It may seem absurb to you, but I may have to relocate because of this!!!!!

Answer 1

have them give you a new number

Answer 2

I understand that there may be job-related or domestic-related reasons where you would not want your phone number or address publicly listed.

However, there is actually a solution to this that won't require you moving, and that the cell phone company may go with.

Pick a random city and state, anywhere in the United States. Have the cell phone company register a public phone number for you in that city. Do that in two or three different cities and states. Finally, choose a number that is unlisted that is NOT in your area code. You can keep all these numbers on a "family plan". For example, AT&T will do this - My mother has a 480 area code (Arizona) on her cell phone even though she lives in Michigan.

If the phone company is willing to work with you, they may bill you for the cheaper plan even though you're using up more than one phone number, since it was their mistake.

However, if you really are forced to relocate because of personal danger to you, you may have a valid case, especially if you stressed to them that the number MUST be kept private.

Answer 3

Feel free to sue and expect to either be tied up in litigation for a very, very long time. How petty can you be? This screwup as you put it sounds like the best thing that could have ever happend to you if you believe you can get money out of it. Due to some error on the phone companies part your name and number was displayed...ok...they've admitted fault and want to compensate you...great...now you want to sue the company for the error in the hopes you win the litigation lottery. What in gods name do you do that you think your privacy is important enough to sue?

Answer 4

Relocate for sure, and have that cell phone turned off. Also, the next time you get a cell phone, talk to a human being who cna be held accountable, in person, about your special situation. Also: if you were to sue: don't you think that, as a result, you would draw MORE attention to yourself? I wouldn't sue, because my name would be all over tons of documents in the legal system. Anyone could find you then. Just make them shut your service off, for free, and get a different service that will accomodate you the first time around.

Answer 5

Sure go ahead and sue....but to do so means that you must put your name and address and sadly your phone number out there in public records and documents. Right now people only have your phone number and city/area code. Keep pushing the issue and they will find out what you eat for breakfast and the color of your house.

Answer 6

Of course you can sue. You can sue for just about anything. The question is do you think you will win.
Why not use a land line? Something seems very shady with this situation on your part.

Answer 7

Who did you rip off and what bills aren't you paying? What obligations are you trying to avoid?