One Solution for Angry Cell Phone Customers
Consumers are fed up with cellular phone companies, prompting legislative action in some states. Once company offers to buy back old phones that still work but are no longer in use to help consumers who feel "stuck" with old phones.
Ocala, FL (PRWEB) June 21, 2004 -- A recent report from the University of
Michigan's customer satisfaction index reveals that the cellular phone industry
is the second-lowest ranked industry for customer satisfaction.
Recently
one young man was so angry with his wireless phone company that he went on a
rampage in a Fargo, North Dakota mall throwing phones and electronics everywhere
forcing employees and customers to run for cover.
Jason Perala, 22, said,
"I kind of regret that I did it, but I hope my message got across," according to
a report in The Forum newspaper. Although his actions were extreme, his feelings
of frustration are not unique.
Last year the Better Business Bureaus
ranked mobile phone companies at No. 2 for the most complaints nation-wide,
which is actually a slight improvement from first place the year
before.
Consumers complain of frequently dropped calls, lousy customer
service, exorbitant penalties for exiting a contract, a multitude of fees,
number portability problems, and locked phones.
"It is true that you can
keep your existing number when you switch to a new cell phone service, but
usually you are forced to get a new phone because the old one is locked and will
only work with the old company. The new company not only gets to sell you a new
phone, they usually charge a fee to enable you to keep your old number,"
explained James Mosieur of RMS Communications Group, Inc.
Verizon
Wireless plans to charge customers more than $173 million a year in fees for
number portability alone, according to published reports. Other companies have
similar plans in place.
Sprint PCS placed a four-page ad in USA Today and
asked, "What if the rest of the world were like the wireless
industry?"
The ad showed a group of children reading the rules at a
playground: “You have to guess how many minutes you're going to use your ball –
for the next two years. Don't guess too high or too low, or you'll be
sorry.”
The analogy hits home with many frustrated
consumers.
Mosieur's company formed www.CellForCash.com to solve at least one problem cell phone
users are experiencing – getting stuck with a locked phone they can no longer
use.
"We will pay the cost of shipping the phone to us and then send the
consumer a check to pay for their working phone," said Mosieur. "When your new
cell phone company does not let you keep your old phone, at least now you have a
way to put it to good use and receive some extra cash as well."
Unused
but working cell phones can be turned in so they can be refurbished and put back
into use in areas around the world where people cannot afford new phones. The
program protects the environment from hazardous waste found in cell phones, puts
the phones to good use, and compensates consumers and non-profit groups for the
old phones.
"Everyone comes out a winner," said Mosieur.
Many
states are considering various types of legislation to deal with the growing
deluge of consumer complaints. California last week adopted a Telecommunications
Bill of Rights that requires companies to inform customers about rate increases,
bill customers only for services that they request and allow customers to drop a
service, without penalty, within 30 days.
The industry has promised to
challenge the new regulations in court.
Youth groups, church groups,
Scouts, athletic teams, and others interested in raising funds by collecting old
cell phones should visit www.CellForCash.com, or just call customer service toll-free
at 1-800-627-2022.
About CellForCash.com
CellForCash.com provides
consumers and businesses a convenient way to get cash for cell phones that
otherwise lay idle. More information can be found at www.CellForCash.com.
About RMS
Since 1985 RMS
Communications Group, Inc. has been a leading wireless wholesaler with customers
all over the world. They support the wireless industry with innovative services
designed to help service providers, wireless agents and corporate customers get
the most out of their wireless devices. More information on RMS is available at
www.rmscomm.com.
Contact:
James Mosieur
RMS
Communications Group, Inc
4551 NW 44th
Ocala, FL 34482
Phone:
352-369-3888
e-mail protected from spam bots
David M. Bresnahan,
801-562-5362
www.ThatPRGuy.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/6/prweb135038.htm