Regional Issues
Recently, I've been getting quite a few emails about discrepancies in the website. Most often, they are about the availability of certain features offered by Cingular and the terms that apply to obtaining these features. As you read throught the comments in this site, please keep in mind that many of them pertain specifically to California because this is where I live. Certain features, such as the option to check your voicemail with another phone for example, is availabile to Californians only if they are willing to pay for it, whereas in other states, this option is free of charge. Keep in mind, however, that Cingular reserves the right to change their pricing and restrict the availability of features. This is stated in the fine print of the contract and should be something to consider before you sign up for service. Other portions of this website, such as customer service issues, do apply on a national scale. In any case, I encourage any potential customer to research any cellular provider before they sign their names to a contract only to find out later they made a big mistake. Ask good questions before you make a final decision. Such questions could include:
Does your service have provide enough cell sites in my area to efficiently handle calls made during peak talk times? (Remember, for some companies, such as Cingular, the real "peak time" is after 8:00 p.m. when the "Unlimited Nights and Weekends" plan kicks in and the company fails to provide enough cell sites to accomodate the usage.)
If I move and I'm under contract, do I still have to pay a termination fee if the area I'm moving to isn't under your coverage area?
Who is responsible if my phone stops working? What sort of warranty comes with the phone? (This is especially important if you are signing up for one of those "free phone" offers. Often, the free phone is a worthless piece of junk and you will go through the biggest run around of your life trying to get it replaced. Refer to the Poor Customer Service section of the website for more information.
Can I access my voicemail with another phone? Is there a fee for this service?
What is the activation fee (if any)? What other fees do you charge before my phone can be activated?
If I decide to change my calling plan or add any additional features, will my contract be extended?
Remember, the sales people will often just tell you what you want to hear just to get you to sign the contract. So the best people to ask questions of are your friends, family, etc. who will often be the best source of information. Ask them about the experiences they've had with different companies. Ask them how helpful the customer service is, and about dropped calls or how reliable the particular provider's service is. This is the best way to get an honest answer about the many different cellular service companies and to make the best decision.
