As you may or may not know, I love my Blackberry. It is attached to my hip at almost every waking moment. It may be a bit of an addiction, but it is one that I am admitting willingly. I love the thing. That is, I love what it used to be. Now, I am more frustrated than anything else, and not just with the phone but with US Cellular as well.
You see, my beloved Blackberry Curve has decided to not work properly anymore. From a track ball that doesn’t move on occasion to a repetitious cycling in which my phone is non-functioning, my blackberry renders itself useless several times a day. The newest annoyance is a security issue that it throws out there whenever I am opening a new page. All these things are very random, but the randomness always seems to happen when I need my phone the most. I was pulling up to my friend’s house and wanted to make sure I was at the right house… phone was cycling. I was talking to a friend on BBM, phone security popped up not allowing it. I was leaving my church rather late one night and wanted to call Mike… phone shut off.
The phone is messed up.
So, we tried to talk to US Cellular about the phone. I wanted to buy out our contract and sign a new contract for the Blackberry Tour which is supposed to have a lot less problems. They told Mike we could do this but then turned around and said no. I am not allowed to buy out my contract because it hasn’t been long enough. What, it hasn’t been long enough with a phone that doesn’t work???
They are willing to send my phone away for an undetermined amount of time and give me a loaner phone. My loaner phone will be a non-internet, phone use only cell phone. I will be without my blackberry for however long it takes them to return it. Then, it is entirely possible that my phone will have lost all the data I put on it as well as the same problems it currently has. So, I am paying additional charges each month for Blackberry service that I will be without for who-knows how long.
Mike called US Cellular tonight and was on the phone with them for over 2 hours. He spoke with 4 different people, one of which threatened to tarnish our record/contract because he asked them how many times the phone had to break before something could be done about getting a new phone. He was not saying that he was going to break the phone but the woman said she was going to mark the record that he was going to do just that so that any phone I turn in will not be accepted. For the record, we pay insurance every month for this phone… the phone that they are in no hurry to fix. They told us we could buy a used Blackberry Tour (from them) and that would be fine. I would be fine with this solution but they could not find one.
Finally, after an hour or more, he finally spoke with someone who knew more about Blackberry phones. She wanted to try this-or-that and proceeded to walk Mike through all these things. But, my phone was doing its typical thing and kept freezing and shutting down. The woman admitted at that point that there is something wrong with it and finally agreed to send out a new Curve.
Sounds great, right? Nope. It really couldn’t be that easy. They completed all the information to get a new Curve sent out to me and then proceeded to tell Mike that they have no idea when it will be mailed out because it is on backorder. Do they know when it will be available? Not a clue. Do they care that my phone doesn’t work right and when it does work it is only half the time? Not at all.
US Cellular obviously does not care about their customers. I have had very little complaints about the signal, the minutes, or anything else until this. But, the service they provide is supposed to be cellular phone service. Well, I am not receiving what I am paying for right now and there isn’t a thing I can do about it. Thanks US Cellular for the “help”.
Nonya says
Some people just like to cry and act like the worlds against them. Doubt anything would satisfy you.
brian says
Yah same sort of problem with my bb tour now just stumbled upon your post.Is ticking me off, they told me that they didnt know when they would get my phone in they will send it out when they get it, “this is madness” just needed to vent, sorry for the comment 6 months late.
Greg says
Have never had any problems with them making good on phones that didn’t work.
Anon says
Just wanted to give you a little insight on the problems you are having. The issue is not that US Cellular does not care for you or want to help you but they are limited as to what they can do. Your phone is having problems that much is sure. The issue you are running into is with RIM, if they where going to replace your phone that means the issue was covered by the manufacture’s warranty. Part of this warranty is they send you a refurbed phone and you send your old phone back to be refurbed and put back into the pool. If RIM has no refurbed phones to send US Cellular to send to you, then what is USCC to do? Also it sounds like you are wanting to upgrade into a new phone. You can go and purchase a new phone at any time at retail price. If you are willing to “buyout” your contract then you can just use that money and go buy yourself a blackberry tour. Also another idea too is to maybe call some of the stores out of state or in other cities around you. Ask them if they have any used bb tours and I bet more then likely they would be willing to mail it to you. I know your upset and I can understand being frustrated with a phone that does not work they way its designed, but sometimes these things take time. Please keep in mind that US Cellular is restricted on what it can do because of RIM’s warranty process. Be happy that US Cellular is even willing to provide loaner phones, most carriers do not do that. Also remember to that the insurance is a true insurance company like your car insurance and insurance fraud is something they take seriously and im sure it was a misunderstanding between your husband and the person on the phone, but the phone reps have to be very carefull of that and note anything like that on your account. Insurance fraud is real and a problem in the phone insurance industry. That is why the deductibles are so high, I remember at one point there was no deductible, they where able to just replace it, but due to the abuse of the system prices have greatly increased. I do hope it all works out, it may be best to just call in and try again and see what can be done.
Stefany says
You need to check with the latest update.
Michaela says
WOW! Talk about poor service. My sister had a similar situation with Verizon a few years ago. Her phone broke (she couldn’t even use it) 6 months before her plan ended and they did nothing to help her. Wouldn’t even let her get a new phone and extend her contract, which she was willing to do. Needless to say she’s no longer with them!
I hope you get your new phone sooner rather than later!!
Kara says
Ahhh! Now I get it…lol
That’s one of the reason’s I went with the Tour. I had heard great things about the new curve, and wanted on so bad, especially since they have it in lavender, but reviews that I read said that is was cheaply made, and people were not impressed.
Tour is was, and I’m in LOVE!
Stephanie says
I will never switch to one of those big companies, I don’t know if there are any like ours left, but we love Inland Cellular. People answer questions and actually provide customer service.
Paul says
You know, backorder means that RIM hasn’t supplied US Cellular with enough units to meet demand. It’s not US Cellular’s fault. File an insurance claim if you want a new phone so bad. It takes 2 days to get a new phone to you and you just mail the old one back. If you claim gets denied by the insurance company, well, it’s your own fault for sharing your plans to break the phone.
Stefany says
Apparently, you didn’t read what I wrote. My husband did not say he was going to break the phone. And, if US Cellular said it would only take 2 days, it would not be an issue. In fact, they said it could be much longer time to get a phone back to me. By the way, RIM has supplied US Cellular with the phone. The insurance company that I pay to have IF something happens to the phone doesn’t have them in stock. I can’t just wish a new phone into existence. Thanks for the thoughts though.
Paula says
I hate cell phone companies! They are ALL the same. One person tells you something and another person tells you no. They don’t care about their customers. I hope they pull their heads out of their butts and fix the situation for you!
Sara Broers says
Do you have a US Cellular store close by? They may be able to help you in the short term here. Now I’m questioning if I want a Curve…………..
Stefany says
Sara, we went to the store first. That is where the problems began.
I hear the new Curve is better… the one without the trackball.