Your service has been extended for 2 years, WHAT?!
By jenni7202
@jenni7202 (1598)
United States
April 18, 2008 6:13pm CST
I just called Sprint, to pay my final bill and to tell them that I do not want to continue my contract with them. Well, I was in for a big surprise. Apparently, someone had purchased a phone on my account, (mind you I don't use the account, it's for my boyfriend's mother and sister), and when they purchased that phone it extended the account for 2 years.
I was shocked. How could someone have made a purchase and upgrade on MY account without my consent?! Apparently, all they need to do is walk into the store, and tell them hey I want to buy that phone, activate it to this number. When they do that, it upgrades your account, and you don't even have to be there to do anything at all.
I tried to explain that it wasn't me, but no, they didn't care to listen or anything. They stated that the only thing I can do now is either cancel my account (with a $200 cancellation fee), or transfer the account into someone else's name.
I'm SO upset about this! I don't know what to do!
2 people like this
11 responses
@ryzach (1544)
• United States
19 Apr 08
I have had Sprint for several years and have never had any trouble with them, I hope that doesn't start. Wouldn't it be Sprint's fault since they extended the contract without verifying it was you. Sounds like it is their mistake and you should not have to have the extension to your contract. Maybe you should call a supervisor and/or higher up till you get some results. Couldn't hurt to try.
@jenni7202 (1598)
• United States
19 Apr 08
Oh trust me, I do plan to do this. If they don't fix this problem, I am going to be calling my lawyer. It's rediculous that they could just do this without my consent. Last time I checked, in order to extend a contract they need a signature, and I didn't sign anything.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I have a phone on my sisters account with AT&T. She told me that if I wanted to get a new phone I would just have to go into the store and ask for one. It would extend the contract another 2 years. I ended up doing it online from her house, but I could have gone to the store no problem. It would have been convenient for me, but I see in your case that is was not a good thing. That was terrible of them to do that to you.
1 person likes this
@jenni7202 (1598)
• United States
20 Apr 08
It shouldn't be that easy to extend a contract. They should have to check for identification of the owner of the contract and everything, but they make it so easy for fraud!
@cwgrlsarefun (1581)
• United States
19 Apr 08
That is terrible that someone else not you could walk into the store get another phone and have the account extended automatically just with getting a new phone. I would ask to talk to a manager and if that does not work then I would ask to speak to the person in the highest position of the company. After all that if it still gets you no where then I would go and speak with a lawyer as I do not think that what they did was right. You are the one on the contract so it seems that they would have to contact you before extending the contract. I know that my phone is in my exs name and I can not even get a new one without having him do it for me.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
19 Apr 08
Did they tell you how long ago the account was upgraded? what name was used? show me the signature?
They cannot legally charge you for services you did not request or commit yourself to.
The burden of proof is on them, not you, as it is a positive that needs to be proved and not a negative.
Threaten to take it to not only the papers and better business bureau but also to contact a lawyer and possibly make a class action law suit.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
19 Apr 08
That is really bad, and scary to think that someone has had a phone at your expense. If the person had to have your number is it your phone number? Is it possible that it is someone you know that has done it? This is fraud really and there must be something that you can do about it, because I do not see why you should have to foot the bill. Is there no advice centre or something that you could go to and find out what you can do?
1 person likes this
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
20 Apr 08
really? what a horrible transaction is that. based on my knowledge you can't transact any business bringing somebody's account without proper authorization give as an evident or proof, how they did that. is it legal to your country transacting bringing the account of others? if not, you can brings that concern to the authority for further investigation who really tell the truth.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
18 Apr 08
Did they tell you who purchased the account?
I think all cell phone companies work this way. All you havw to do is provide a bit of infomration about the main person on the account.
1 person likes this
@shorty08322 (1270)
• United States
14 Jul 08
they dont have the right to do that i dnt care if it was your mother she dont have the right to do that and your boyfriend dont have the right to do that and for sprint they needed to call you to see if it was ok to do that that is what i dnt like but you know you should make them pay for it i dnt care if it was his sister or a friend they dont have the right to do that so you know what you can sue the company for letting that hapen
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
18 Apr 08
I always have to sign some kind of contract whenever I buy new phone through Alltel I am surprised that they can get away with saying your contract is extended for 2 years without your signiture on a contract I would look into that if I were you.
1 person likes this
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
19 Apr 08
hello a friend of mine have some problem with sprint as well last year coz she keeps getting a bill that she didnt use and that she keeps missing a call and that really affects her work.
she tried to call and write emails to sprint but they are not helping her out and told her to cancel her account if she wants BUT she have to pay the cancellation fee and all the other left bill she have that she didnt use.
so she keeps all the emails she got from them and report it to FCC and BBB and ask them to help her out with this.
so after so many talking and emailing (full of complaints) they end up canceling her account, without paying the cancellation fee, and end up getting some money back coz she found out that she is paying more than she needs to some time ago.
anyway, hope that helps.
takecare!
@Sonadora (356)
• United States
19 Apr 08
I had these same kinds of problems with Sprint. It got really out of hand. I had my phone stolen so they sent me a new one (I even had the insurance) and they extended my contract for two years without telling me. So when I tried to cancel my account (I don't even get any reception where I'm at) they told me I would have to pay an early termination fee. I tried to explain to them, but they didn't want to hear it. I went ahead and told them to just cancel the account because I was so furious. They told me that they would send me a bill labeled final statement and not to bother if I received another bill before that. Well, I never received a final statement. I am still trying to get them to cancel the account!!! And I had called them over a month ago!
1 person likes this
