Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 13:20:36 -0400
From: Monnda Welch
Subject: Cell phone roaming charges
Hi, I need some help with dealing with Alltel. I recently attended J C Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown NC. At the first student meeting, someone on the school staff said something like this, ” Cell phone reception at the school is spotty. You may not be able to get normal reception, but if you go out side, that might help.” So, I tried my phone and was pleased that the reception was fine. Now, my contract with Alltel states that calls made inside of NC are not considered roaming.
Well, when I got my bill, I had a week’s worth of roaming charges on it!!!! I called Alltel and was told by several representatives that the charges were valid because I was actually in Dalton Ga. and not in Brasstown NC when those charges where incurred. ??? Apparently, the Dalton tower is 84 miles away from Brasstown and therefore I could not have been in NC when making or receiving those calls. I was told that GPS does not lie and that the phone waves don’t travel that far.
For the week there, the cost was almost $1,000. That total includes room, food, instruction and my cost of transportation. Now, if I had wanted to travel to Dalton Ga, I would have. But to pay that much to go to school for a week, that doesn’t make much sense. I assured Alltel, that at no time did my phone go to Dalton Ga without me and at no time during the week did I go there. And if I had traveled to and from Alton Ga, I would not have had time to attend class. I have a certificate that says I attended classes for that week.
And here is the biggest insult of all from Alltel. They offered to reduce my roaming charges by 50%!!!!!!! That is a guilty plea if there ever was one. I do not owe the dang bill, I do not owe half of it either. And when ever I send an e mail, they just read whatever the previous person has written and conclude that I am lying. And if I wanted to contact the corporate headquarters, I would have to write a letter!!!!!!!! Write a letter to a phone company?? So I did just that, including a copy of my J C Campbell information, my certificate and a copy of my bill. We will see, but I’m not very hopeful.
Has anyone out there dealt with such a problem and what has happened? I have looked on the internet and not been able to find out about how cell tower waves work. That is way too complicated for me.
Thanks Monnda
See my web site at: www.monnda.com
Metals artist & folk artist Chatham Granny
Etsy shop at: monnda.etsy.com
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