Cookie's Comments: Horrible Customer Service.

Cookie's Comments: Horrible Customer Service.: When I signed up for my US Cellular account, I was told by the sales rep that I would be billed each month for the upcoming month.   She to...

Horrible Customer Service.

When I signed up for my US Cellular account, I was told by the sales rep that I would be billed each month for the upcoming month.  She told me that when I received my first bill it would show billing for the days spanning from the day I signed up until the date the bill was generated, as well as the upcoming month.  She told me she was telling me this so I would not be surprised when I opened my first bill and it was more than the monthly charge of $49.99 that I agreed to.  I committed to a two-year contract.

When my two-year contract was expired I called US Cellular to cancel my account.  The operator started plying me with questions.  I told him I had already found another service that gave me better service for a lower price.  He wanted to know who it was.  I told him I did not want to get into that.  He started talking bad about WalMart’s plans.  I told him that was no concern of mine and I wanted to cancel my account.  He told me I had to talk to a different department.  I had already spent several minutes dealing with him and my husband was in the hospital.  I told him my husband was in the hospital and he just needed to cancel my service.  He said he was not able to and that I had to talk to a different department.  I told him I would have to call back because I had to get to the hospital and hung up.

The next day, August 25, 2011, I sent an email to US Cellular stating that I wanted to cancel my account.  On September 1, I received a reply email stating US Cellular does not allow cancellations via email because they cannot verify identity.  I sent a bill statement to US Cellular with “Cancel service” written on it.

On September 2, I again called US Cellular to confirm cancellation of my account.  I was told I had to be transferred.  I was put on hold and waited several minutes.  My husband was just out of the hospital.  Between trying to care for him and take him to follow up appointments, I did not have time to wait on the phone.  I hung up.  I later sent a final letter to US Cellular.  This letter had my physical signature on it.

I was receiving texts on my US Cellular phone from US Cellular telling me to contact them.  I was also receiving calls on my home phone from US Cellular.  No person was ever on the phone when I answered or the answering machine picked up.  I would answer on the first ring and a recording would tell me to call US Cellular.  I would get two to three of these calls per day.

I feel it is unethical and predatorial for businesses to conduct business in this way.  I made five attempts to cancel my service and was not allowed to.  This type of behavior should not be allowed to occur.  I have filed complaints with several agencies, but US Cellular refuses to reverse the fraudulent charges.

If you have had a similar experience with US Cellular or any company, speak out about it here.  Companies need to be stopped from gouging their customers and treating them like dirt.