Sprint Customer Service...Worthless!!!

[buckaroo]

I had bought a TREO 700P about 6 weeks ago but had some severe battery issues with 2 consecutive phones and cancelled my account within the 14 day guarantee period. I decided to wait until I could get some more info about some of the problems and what solutions could be created. Well, I saw a sale at Comp USA for $299 for the phone & decided the time was right & go buy one. I got my final bill this past Monday & paid it by debit card. So I went to CompUSA & they inputted my info & the computer for Sprint told them that I had a past due amount. He called Sprint & spoke to several reps telling them the payment had been made & had the proof but they could not clear it. Then he was later told the account was cancelled & he could go forward but it would not work. So we decided to wait another day & try it again.

I came in today to CompUSA & we tried it. Same thing, past due account and one rep he talked to said that I could not get a phone from Sprint until August 18th. So I called Sprint directly. Spoke with 6 different people. The telesales department & the billing department told me the account was closed and payment was received and that I could sign up as a new customer. So I called CompUSA and spoke to my rep & had him put in the information and send it in to Sprint. The computer responded that I had a past due account.

I am interested in having a TREO but not that badly. I am even considering staying with Cingular after enduring such incompetence. I would file a complaint with the FCC but it would do little good. Not sure what to do. I need a smartphone but I do no like any of the ones Cingular offers. I won't go to Verizon so I guess I shall continue to wait. Unfortunately, the CompUSA sale ends Monday.

[PPCMD]

I would goto Verizon, I know you said you won't but you get what you pay for. I tried Sprint when the Treo 600 came out and ordered one from one of the Treo sites that is a partner for Sprint back then. The phone was ok at best but the lack of towers and poor battery life made me send it back. I called Sprint on day 4 of the 15 day window, explained I purchased it from an online affiliate and was send a Sprint return package. I did as instructed and it took 3 months to get my refund and countless emails and phone calls. Sprint does not handle refunds for their affiliates and they would not send my phone back so it could go to the right place. My credit card company backed me immediately but I still spent 3 months working to get the refund and everything cleared up even though I didn't needed to. I felt bad for the online partner who was out the money. I will never go to Sprint.

I had Cingular with the MPx220 and HW6000 (UK import) and the phones were very good too bad the CS and call quality in my area wasn't. Dropped calls, poor CS and alot of misinformation about international roaming too.

Sprint & Cingular have the WORST customer service and support. I pay more at Verizon but I also get alot of help when needed. Example: My Treo 700w had an issue at day 31 and I called WDTS who said it was under warranty and would send out a replacement. I didn't get it and when I called in the WDTS rep noted that my was so close to the new replacement window that I should take into the local Verizon store and have it swapped out. I did and I was also able to exchange the Treo 700w for a Treo 700p. I got sick of daily soft resets due to poor memory mgt by MS.

If the rumors are correct Cingular will get a Treo 700p and Treo 700w this fall without the antenna, but thats a rumor.

[buckaroo]

Reluctantly, I have decided to try Sprint again. Of course, we can thank toothless agencies like the FCC for the lack of regulation and enforcement on telecommunications companies & that is why their service and CS is so bad. I do not want to pay the high data prices for Verizon and I had a friend who just switched from Verizon to T-Mobile & had all kinds of issues with VZ. So I shall muddle along with Sprint for now.

[kdallen]

Sorry to hear about your troubles with Sprint. FWIW, I think there an equal number of horror stories for almost all providers. I hear people rave about Verizon. I had them a couple years ago and thought they were so bad it was nearly criminal. After a very brief stop at Cingular, I went with Sprint. I'd heard all their horror stories but it was more of a coverage issue for me than anything else. My Verizon phone worked in places no one else's did, but didn't work at my house. That's what led me to Sprint. In the 15 months or so I've been with them, I've only had a couple issues, and they were cleared up after a couple phone calls. All in all, they've taken good care of me, including giving me a great price on the 700p when it first came out, when they had absolutely no reason to.

[PPCMD]

Buckaroo, I hope everything works out. No carrier is perfect and I also feel it really depends on the state you in and where your call is routed.

[jmjii]

Originally Posted by PPCMD

Buckaroo, I hope everything works out. No carrier is perfect and I also feel it really depends on the state you in and where your call is routed.

Buckaroo, what kdallen has stated above said is true. However, it also depends upon the time of day you call and which country your call is routed. In dealing with billing, your call will most likely end up with a rep in the Philippines (unless very lucky). If that is the case good luck.

Within less than one year as a new Sprint customer and Palm user, I have had the unfortunate experience of replacing my 650 three times (all due to product defects) directly from Sprint (not Lockline or Palm) at no charge. Each time this included free same day shipping with next day air service. All it took was time, patience, some yelling and threats when necessary. This last time they gave up on the 650 and sent a new 700p along with a half decent leather case (both free of charge). At the same time I was told to keep, sell or give away the latest 650. The rep even stated that I should first have the 650 fixed under the existing maintenance agreement prior to switching phones. Through my experiences I have also found Sprint to be the only provider to hand out dollar as well as minute credits like candy. Call for something minor, $5. Call for something major, $10-$25 plus 60-120 minutes. Call for something serious, the sky is the limit! It can't get any better than that.

In this post I again offer my expertise to any/all requesting assistance in dealing with Sprint (see my post in the "Sprint" section of ET). All one must to do is PM me.

Respectfully submitted

[buckaroo]

Thanks for your info, jmjii. I shall definitely keep you in mind should the need arise.

[RRODAR]

I have been with sprint for about five years and have had some ups and downs but the pros out weight the cons.

[benjie]

In six years not a complaint with Sprints service. Ben