How do I report unlawful contract provisions from cell phone providers?
Question by J: How do I report unlawful contract provisions from cell phone providers?
I’m having an issue with Cingular. They have changed the terms and conditions on my cell phone plan. Even though they acknowledge that they have changed, they refuse to let me out of the contract without a $ 150 penalty. I know that there is a federal law saying that if the terms of the contract are changed without mutual consent, the old contract is void. Still they refuse to let me out with a penalty. Can someone please give me a reference to the federal law, and also tell me the oversight agency where I can report this unlawful practice by Cingular.
Dueceswild – please don’t be so arrogant as to tell others what they saw and what they did not see re: their purchases. The uninvited and unnecessarily snide tone of your address is match only by the presumptuousness of your accusations.
Best answer:
Answer by Joseph G
“7. Provide customers the right to terminate service for changes to contract terms.
Carriers will not modify the material terms of their subscribers’ contracts in a manner that is materially adverse to subscribers without providing a reasonable advance notice of a proposed modification and allowing subscribers a time period of not less than 14 days to cancel their contracts with no early termination fee.”
Cingular is required to give you a 14 day period to cancel your account whenever they make a change, so if they did not give you this option, they have broken the contract themselves. You can try your luck calling support at 1-888-CINGULAR, and citing this clause, it may work out. If that and the “Can I speak to your supervisor” line doesn’t work, you can try to contact the higher up’s:
Cingular Wireless
5565 Glenridge Connector
Atlanta, GA 30342
Main phone number: 404-236-6000
Public policy initiatives, regulatory and legislative issues
Rochelle Cohen
Senior Director Media Relations
202-419-3007 (office)
202-341-5967 (wireless)
Email: rochelle.cohen@cingular.com
Stanley T. Sigman – President, Chief Executive Officer
3051 Bienville Blvd
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
1-866-220-8446 – President’s Office
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