The Book and the Buck

In today’s society our technology is more advanced than ever before. So far advanced is our society, that we can easily use cell phones to speak to anyone, anywhere and at any time. For example, we can use cell phones while driving, or speak to someone in another country. We can use them in the business world to conduct meetings or to rely vital information to co-workers or to conduct trade with other businesses. Today’s American culture relies heavily on the use of cell phones. The recent growth of  cellular phone usage is a phenomena that defies all gender, racial, and age boundaries. Cell phones are more than just the latest electronic gadget on the market. They are essential parts of our business and personal lives. 

So when my manager Sara bought her "chatty Kathy" of a son a pre-paid cell phone for emergency purposes only. This way, no matter what, her and her husband could reach him. To their surprise, he did a great in using the phone for its intended purpose. Ten minutes lasted all the way up until the expiration date. Those minutes were due to expire on September 9th. So that day, she picked up a pre-paid card. Her son added the minutes, they were accepted, and then he texted his mom to let her know he'd put them in. Later that evening (all this happened in the same day), a company that begins with an A and ends in a T de-activated the phone. Sara called and was informed that she would now have to go and purchase another sim card because she waited too long to add new minutes. Sara asked why she was never informed and the representative told her that she should have been notified by a recording. Sara informed the rep that she never heard this recording and was told that her son should have. She then asked to speak to a manager. After being put on hold for over fifteen minutes, the manager never came. Instead, the rep came back on and argued that she never added minutes. When Sara informed her of the date they were added, the rep put her on hold again. When she came back on, she acknowledged the new minutes but informed her that there was no guarantee on what time the de-activation would take place. It could be anytime within 24 hours of that expiration date. The rep also explained there was nothing she could do until Sara went out and purchased another sim card. To put it nicely Sara was outraged. She asked to know where this was explained in the booklet that came with the phone and the rep became rather rude and told her that it doesn't have to and that it was her fault for being stupid enough to give a prepaid phone to a teenager.

Since the phone call, Sara has filed complaints with the FCC, who does regulate Wireless Telecommunications and she posted a blog and emails everywhere and anywhere until she get some sort of resolution for this. She is trying to get others that have encountered this same sort of problem with this phone company. She suggests they do the same before this becomes the "norm". Forcing a consumer to purchase additional products just to keep the products they purchased working as promised is wrong and against the law.