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Brandon Zeman
January 9, 2009 7:04 PM
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that is awesome... too bad it wasn't a truly evil company like comcast or at&t- of course they wouldn't have paid then

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rtmccormick
January 10, 2009 4:32 AM
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@Brandon Zeman:

I just got my Comcast bill reduced $20 a month and free HBO for a year by asking. And somehow someone at AT&T clicked the wrong button sometime and I'm considered a business customer, so my calls are all sent to their business customer service line. Never waited for longer than 15 seconds and never not had a problem solved on the first try.

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Psychicsword
January 10, 2009 11:30 PM
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@rtmccormick: As a college student my school gets the at&t discount of 15%. I also get the business support because of it. Personally I have never had a bad experience with at&t and some how I am also getting free internet on my blackberry with out a plan.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:06 AM
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@Brandon Zeman: I had a similar problem with Nextel, they sold me a phone that would not work on my network, it was a hybrid phone which wasn't ready to use on the nextel network but rather the Sprint network, I went through hell trying to get some idiot to understand the problem, it took me 3 months of fighting with Nextel for them to understand the problem, I ended up with ONLY 1 free month of service and sent the phone back and STILL charged $329.99 for the phone which was NOT credited to my account until the warehouse received the phone and put it in the system that it was actually received. All the while I had the tracking # and the date the store sent the phone back, but they wouldn't credit me until they were good and ready and in the process my phones were shut off because of non payment of the new phone that I sent back and I was charged a reconnect fee...I got more \"I am sorry but's\" then I have ever heard in my entire life. I have been a true Nextel customer for 7 years and this is the treatment I get? It took me months to get my bill straightened out after that because you can't talk to anyone in person, it has to be over the phone and most of those idiots can't speak english!!! YES I am still a Nextel customer because the OTHER phone I bought works and I had to up my contract for another 2 years!

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mariospants
January 9, 2009 7:06 PM
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Incredistory, just awesome win-ness. However, it's an isolated case and I doubt we'll see more of the same any time soon. Also, advertising that this process can work might start an innundation of similar requests, which could also kill this process cold.

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Xkeeper
January 9, 2009 9:42 PM
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@mariospants: At the same time, it requires a lot of effort on the customer's part (taking detailed notes, recording times and so on and so forth). Most people won't bother.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:07 PM
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@Xkeeper: I ALWAYS take notes when trying to get an issue resolved such as the date, time, time on hold and who I talked to. That way if the problem isnt resolved I let the next person know exactly what was said, by who, and when. I also inform them that I am documenting the same information on THEM. I usually dont get bounced around so much and the issue gets resolved a little faster when they know it's being documented with names, dates, times and what is said.

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rtmccormick
January 10, 2009 4:33 AM
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@Xkeeper:

Not to mention the fact that his bill is $500 a month; they tend to accommodate business customers much more so than personal customers.

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TheGuinnessTooth
January 9, 2009 7:08 PM
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I almost billed a dentist for making me wait 90 minutes beyond my scheduled appointment. But, his assistant was a cutie and I wanted to keep going back, and I feared he'd fire me as a client if I billed him.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 7:42 PM
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I had a dentist in California that had a big sign by the receptionist \"if you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, we will bill you $20\". However, they had no problem making you wait 30 minutes or more, even when arriving early!! After a few long waits, I pointed out their own sign and mentioned my longer wait time, but never got any compensation. They basically didn't care. I bet they would care if I was the one who made them wait!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 3:10 PM
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I've worked for a dentist for almost 10 yrs and i've always wished i could tell the patients like it is -

Sh!t happens in a dental office, and a tooth that they scheduled only 30 minutes for a filling, cracked when being drilled, and now needs a crown - well - guess what? That takes more time to do, and needs more time from the dentist and assistant - and therefor pushes the schedule back.

OR in some cases, people are late, yet they still try to see them and work them in, because of the severity of their dental treatment needed, for example - i know it sux to sit there and wait, and wait... but please know that there are reasons. :)

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brianguyy
January 7, 2010 5:07 PM
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I always show up on time and there is usually never more than 1 other person in the chair. there are anywhere from 3-5 people including the one dentist working at any one time, so there's no real reason they'd ever have to make me wait.

I understand your point completely but let's face it, dentists offices are not brimming with business in the past year.

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tbax929
January 10, 2009 4:56 AM
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@TheGuinnessTooth:


I would love to bill my dentist, who charges me if I'm late for an appointment and then makes me wait for a half hour once I get there. I hate that shit.

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JoshReflek
January 10, 2009 5:02 AM
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@tbax929: wow....you put up with that crap?
that just doesnt make sense...you should bill him for all your time wasted since he does it to you.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:15 AM
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@JoshReflek: Actually it's not that crazy, because you can't get your teeth cleaned nearly as well as a dentist, and i'm sure the dentist is far busier than you imagine him to be. It's not just you that a dentist has to handle, but a lot of paper work, management, and several other patients. There may be complications or issues with another appointment, or maybe someone was a little late, and now it's running into other schedules.

There are many reasons that a dentist may have an appointment delayed, to say you \"shouldn't\" put up with it just to me sounds like a lack of appreciation for not only your Dentist, but real life. Real things happen that just aren't so easy, if it was some dream world I should re-tax the city for making me have a traffic jam on the roads I pay for so that I can get my money back for wasted gas and time. It's just Illogical to oversimplify such a complicated matter. I'm sure if you ran a Dentist's office you would have people waiting just the same.

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DougDascenzo
January 10, 2009 2:36 AM
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@TheGuinnessTooth:
I'd be afraid he'd go extra light on the novacaine the next time I needed a filling.

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opsomath
January 9, 2009 7:11 PM
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I know the Consumerist is a big advocate of small claims court. Is there any recorded case of a consumer taking a company to court over a case of shockingly bad service which led to large amounts of time lost, and making them pay for the time?

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 7:00 AM
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@opsomath: @opsomath: Yes, those cases do occur. They are routine and not limited to small claims. Your question describes a situation where one party's breach of contract leads to another's injury, either financial or indirectly financial as a result of effort spent on fulfilling the promised service in the contract. Though damages for breach of contract are limited by foreseeability, they can certainly be recovered where one party's non performance leads to another's injury.

The value of one party's lost time may be recovered in certain limited instances, but anguish and suffering from breach of contract will generally not lead to any legal redress, absent an intention on one party to intentionally inflict emotional distress on another, which would require much more than \"placing someone on hold,\" \"shockingly bad service,\" or otherwise not substantialy performing the promised services.

Of course, all of this assumes that a contract was validly formed initially, and that is another question entirely.

Take it easy!
{Submitted by a 3rd year law student/Not intended to be legal adivce/No more than a lay-man's opinion on modern economic transactions}

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:10 AM
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I took a major telephone co to small claims court twice and collected the approx $10,000, though collecting it was the more difficult part. The co. erroneously billed me for DSL and a second phone line, neither of which I asked for(nor owned a computer). They were threatening to turn off my primary phone line. I billed for lost time from work, various fees and penalties, etc. Document all dates, times, and the gist of what transpired.

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antisane
January 10, 2009 1:03 AM
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@opsomath: I was wondering the same thing while I read this...

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ThinkerTDM
January 9, 2009 7:42 PM
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@opsomath: Isn't that the only way to get restitution from small claims court? I don't think small claims court will do \"suffering and anguish\", only a listed sum.

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ScottRose
January 9, 2009 7:11 PM
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[Original Article:] \"Schaffer is in the third year of a five-year contract with the telecommunciations company and said it would be more trouble than it would be worth to try to walk away from it.\"

I'd think he'd have some grounds to walk away from the contract after his debacle. I would, and not continue to do business with a company that had to be forced into \"doing the right thing\" by bad publicity.

[Original Article:] \"It included $158.85 to reimburse his employees for cell phone use, and another $115.92 to pay Glennpeter Jewelers for use of its phone line.\"

So using cell phones was cheaper than his phone bill would have been anyhow?

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midwestkel
January 9, 2009 11:09 PM
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@ScottRose: The thing is though he is probably running a PBX system and with that you can have lines for all your employees. So if you tally up all the lines he has for his business thats where the charge comes from.

So yes, using a cell phone might be cheaper but if you want to be professional then a PBX is the way to get it done.

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Let's do the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!
January 9, 2009 7:20 PM
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AT&T sent my mom through a gauntlet of incompetence, lies, and powerless drones after their upgraded phones refused to activate. After dealing with the morons for several, documented hours on the phone, and being without cell service for over a month, they agreed to generous service credits.

While sending a bill and getting paid for it is certainly stimulating, you don't have to act like a collections department to get whats owed to you.

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rpm773
January 9, 2009 7:20 PM
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I think this is a little different than you're average consumer dealing with bad service from Verizon, Comcast, or AT&T. This is B2B, there's a contract involved, there are other phone companies interested in his business - it makes sense that his vendor made things right by reimbursing the firm. Also, there's a rate basis for Schaffer's reimbursement - his billing rate - whereas there isn't for the home consumer.

So good for him, but I'm not getting my hopes up that I can pull the same thing the next time my cable goes out.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:35 AM
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>> think this is a little different than you're average consumer dealing with bad service from Verizon, Comcast, or AT&T.

Bad service from Verizon?

I've spent ten years with them after 13 with their chief competitor; I would find anything less that superb service from Verizon difficult to swallow.

I've never seen any large company respond so well in my close to 60 years.
Verizon's customer service is top notch.

(No I don't work for them nor do any close friends or family members - none of that.)

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:01 AM
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I think their is a law a gas, cable or phone Company lose server for a Set Number of Hours IE 24 hrs that provider must credit your account for the power Company if you food go bad they have to pay it.

I am not a Lawyer but I think their something on
the law Books.

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Kicken
January 9, 2009 8:43 PM
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@rpm773:
If it goes out for a long amount of time (Weeks), then by all means you should try to obtain a deduction of a corresponding percentage from you bill. More if the problem was on their end but they insist it was yours and put you through hoops.

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CapitalC
January 9, 2009 7:35 PM
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Little Guy: 1
Corporate America: 0

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FrankenPC
January 10, 2009 7:05 PM
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@CapitalC:

Little guy:1
Corporate America:infinity

This story is more like a miracle than reasonable advice.

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Fuzzie
January 12, 2009 7:36 AM
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@FrankenPC: he is by no means a \"little guy\", he is the owner of Howard Schaffer Media Marketing in Colonie.

Little Guy: 0
Corporate America: +1 - 1 = 0

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Kicken
January 9, 2009 8:44 PM
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@CapitalC:
This round, maybe.

Total? They have millions.

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PalmPre_GitEmSteveDave
January 9, 2009 7:45 PM
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My Mom did this to one of her doctors who made her wait EVERY time she had an appointment(Once or twice is OK, as maybe he's seeing someone real quick as a favor, and he'd do the same for you). She never waited after that.

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TruthAndTheory
January 9, 2009 7:48 PM
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In that case, Sears owed me a couple grand.

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P_Smith
January 9, 2009 8:14 PM
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I didn't get anything that large, but I once went back to Burger King after one screwed up my takeout order. The receipt listed the right order, but the items in the bag were wrong.


I got the money back first, ordered the same again, then before paying told the manager I wanted him to cover my taxi fare for having to return to fix their mistake. It wasn't far (about $3), but their screwup cost me time on my lunch hour.


If he hadn't agreed to cover it, I would have been out the taxi fare and had no food, but he would have had a $5 order unsold going to waste and I had already gotten my original money back. If he did cover it, he would lose about 2/3rds of the revenue, while I gained nothing more than I was originally willing to pay.


He chose the smarter option and ate the loss.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 7:21 AM
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@P_Smith: Repeated mistreatment should be compensated. Single, minor incidences do happen and should be forgiven., and in your case you were sadly being petty!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 1:46 AM
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@P_Smith: i think the manager was overly generous. precedent seems to say that a fast-food restaurant will replace a messed up order, but not compensate for incidental expenses. doing otherwise can encourage others to try the same at his store.

It's the same logic behind a credit card company sending you a bill for 25 cents: it might cost them more than that just to mail the envelope, but it discourages other people from attempting to game the system.

In other words, what might seem like the smart economic decision in one instance might actually be the wrong business decision because of the precedent it sets.

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kc2idf
January 9, 2009 8:18 PM
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I live in Schenectady (approximately 3-5 miles west of Colonie) and the IBOC (primary telco) here is Verizon. If you get telephone service from a CLEC (any other telco) in this area, (aside from Time-Warner, who own their own infrastructure) you are in for a bumpy ride. Verizon owns all of the infrastructure and seem to become astonishingly incompetent when provisioning for someone else.

...at least that's my experience living in this geographic area.

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tortcat
January 9, 2009 8:34 PM
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Well it also seems like this was a business account, as the poster refers to having his employees have to use cell phones etc.


You are far more likely to see something done on an account like this rather then on a residential

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Ben_Q2
January 9, 2009 8:54 PM
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I bill $25.00 for each time a company tells me they have a billing problem. I do get it. Its the cost of a check to print and send to them. I started doing this back in 96 when MCI said I did not pay the bill and B of A wanted that in some kind of fee (I do not remember what it was called).

As of last year I also charge a $5.00 fee to pay the bill or the fee they charge me to bill me. I get it each time, I do have to fight with them at the start but each time in the end they take off their fee or just send me a check a week after getting my money.

I use their own rules on them.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 9:40 AM
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@Ben_Q2: Most of what passes for \"standard procedure\" is in fact unlawful and standing up to the utilities especially by using their own rules is a sure fire way to get comic relief if nothing else.I caught AT &T generating false bills (twice-once in California and once in Oregon) for a mere $5 each with separate account numbers and they were mailed in separate envelopes from the regular bill. Most people wouldn't spend the time to fight AT&T but do the math....That's X million customers times one bill each times $5 per month=5X million dollars.I turned them in to the Federal Government's watchdog agencies and I was told the matter was a computer error and that they would take the $5 off of my bill.I still find it highly improbable that a computer error could generate a fals bill, stick it in a separate envelope and mail it to me yet link it to my real phone account.And hey Watchdog how about some BITE! When I documented the second instance the same thing happened.\"Sorry we will take it off of your bill\".I love it when I see people triumph over corporate greed and stupidity. Congrats!

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dweebster
January 11, 2009 8:58 PM
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@SudhiraReptile: This can't be true. AT&T rep saying \"sorry\"? Impossible.

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kranktank
January 9, 2009 8:55 PM
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This guy had a contract. 20 bucks says he was running a call center.

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kranktank
January 9, 2009 8:56 PM
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...er my point being that they lost a of of money with the phones being down. I used to work IT support at a small call center where we would often lose our phone service.

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Triborough
January 9, 2009 8:58 PM
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I wonder what would have happened if he just sent them an invoice?

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Bruce Bayliss
January 9, 2009 9:16 PM
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I've done this (successfully) with a couple of utilities companies in Germany. I'd notified them (in timely manner) of a change in bank account details and they still tried to charge the old account and tried to hit me with late payment/refused payment charges etc.
I wrote to them (to the CFO, actuall), included my letter to them, their confirmation back to me and billed them each for the equivalent of $50 for my time.
Both paid up meekly.
Always worth a try.

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Graham Kracker
January 9, 2009 11:10 PM
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This really is every customer's dream to get the money back for time they've had to waste dealing with poor service. I wonder how people who stand outside in line feel for iPhones? Do they bill themselves for time?

[www.nestseekers.com]

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 1:36 AM
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I once had a piece of office furniture delivered with the carton and some contents badly damaged. The company said it would take more than a week to pick up the damaged item. I didn't have enough space to hold it for a week, so I told them I would charge the company a storage fee. They picked it up the next day.

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digitalgimpus
January 10, 2009 2:31 AM
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What are the tax implications on that?

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 3:51 AM
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You all need a Pre-Paid Legal Plan. Having an attorney at your back, to make phone calls and write letters is awesome! I use mine all the time. Got a hospital bill changed from $11,800.00 to $3,300.00!!! An attorneys letter goes to the legal department...yours goes to customer service...BIG waste of time. If your interested check out my website www.prepaidlegal.com/info/outreach, it's just pennies a day!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 3:52 AM
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I wanted to bill on line bookstore for not sending my order on time. But started to worry that they may just bill me for the order and NEVER send me the book. So I gave up, and gave myself the book after Christmas. Itwas worth it, great book; The Fourth Sapphire Tablet of Malkhytzedek Tuthamenhaten - dreams. Now I sleep well.

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VandykeStevenson
January 10, 2009 3:52 AM
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Little different....power company,not phone company. I worked for a radio station in Western Washington State. Post office changed sorting areas and everything got goofed up for 3-4 weeks. The local power company called our receptionist and threatened to turn off our electricity. I told her to send the call to me if it happened again. Sure enough, next day I get the call. I asked for her name and her supervisers name...then told her to please come \"pull our plug\"...because, then she and her supervisor would lose their jobs. The radio station is part of the Civil Defence Network and that makes it a federal offence of turn off the power. (Especially if the post office is to blame/check showed up next day post marked 3-weeks earlier). Hope you enjoyed this...It was great to nail the establishment once in my life. Good Luck to you.

_Big John

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 3:56 AM
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i sat on the phone for 3 hrs on a house phone and about the same on a cell phone waiting for t mobile..and thier reply to me was....we see no money value to it..sorry for your inconvience though..after they shut off my phone cuz i was in raom..but they had just sent me a upgrade phone to the ame address i had lived at ..for a year

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 3:56 AM
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If I have to waid for more than 20 minutes even in the doctors office I walk out! As far as these companies, the mail problem is that when you call them you never get anyone in the US. I insist that I talk to a US based rep! Does the trick every time

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:05 AM
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He is not the first one. I started billing AT&T last year for spending over 10 hours per month on the phone with them. They have records of all the time I have talked to them and I finally said, Im charging you from now on. My time is very valuable. They know it is now. It slows down the incompetence on their end for sure.

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Blueskylaw
January 10, 2009 4:06 AM
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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Agreed to pay it is not the same as paid it.

They will wait for the publicity to die down then refuse to pay. It would be cheaper for them to lose him as a customer than pay.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:06 AM
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I had AT&T Credit me $175.00 for time I wasted on a Saturday afternoon waiting for an IPhone that they said I didn't qualify for because I had a discount code on my phone plan (It was funny because I already owned an IPhone for one of my other lines). I told them I wasted 1/2 hour drive each way to the Apple store and 2 hours standing in line at the store to walk away with nothing. I think it's only fair if these companies waste your time they should compensate you for it.

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batsy
January 10, 2009 4:07 AM
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I wish I could bill my psychoanalyst when she makes me wait in the waiting room for a half hour into my appointment. She bills me when I cancel, why can't I bill her when she uses up half my appointment?

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:08 AM
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Trying dealing with Missouri Division of Child Support they took too much money out of my banking account and still won't put the money back after they admitted they made a mistake. Way to go Howard!!!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:11 AM
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For all of you people cheering about this guy sticking it to man, and all that jazz, just remember this story the next time your phone bill goes up, or when your electric bill goes up, or your hamburger costs an extra dime.

When you stick it to the man, you always end up sticking it to yourself. Someone will have to pay for this. And it won't be the company.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:12 AM
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I had a similar experience while trying to switch from Earthlink DSL to AT&T DSL service. I spent about 25 hours on the phone over a two week period while having to deal with a dial-up line for service. After all of the fiasco, I returned to Earthlink DSL and finally got the service set up after two weeks. I have never dealt with so many incompetent people in my life. It seems that most every company is off-shoring their customer service to India or someplace else and not properly training the service people. I have since had to deal with billing people to get the proper billing and credits to my account.

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Kathy Kalayci
January 10, 2009 4:14 AM
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lmao..in the 80's I billed my OB-GYN for a three hour wait, my time, plus babysitters time, wrote it up just as a business would and sent it off...I got a phone call a few days later, and was ALWAYS seen at once, or called way in advance if he had an emergency!

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orlo
January 10, 2009 4:25 AM
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@Kathy Kalayci: Yeah, but no money. Gynecologists are tight-fisted.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:16 AM
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Get a frickin' clue, people. The article has nothing to do with the headline. The man didn't bill for wasted time, he collected for EXPENSES actually accrued when the phone company didn't meet its contractual obligations (binding, not like residential service). The headline would have you believe that he billed for his TIME. What a poor piece of \"journalism\".

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David Hobby
January 10, 2009 4:21 AM
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OMG... Yahoo! lead story with a direct link-in getting over 10k story views per minute right now...

Most bloggers labor away in quiet obscurity. ANd then there's Meghann...

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:22 AM
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When my electric company sent me a notice that instructed me I had to read my own meter, I called and asked why. I was told no one is ever home, we work, and the meter was inside the home. So I told them they could remount it out side, send someone on the weekends at no charge or pay me at my rate, $150 an hour. They now send someone on the weekends.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:23 AM
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Same thing happened to me (but different)I ordered comcast.. they gave me an apptdate & time ..no one showed up . I lost a day of work .. I called . They rescheduled I asked for my old phone # they came and installed comcast..they set me up with a different #...I called to have it corrected.. The old # was disconected . I was not capabel of recieving calls for over a week .. I had to wait a week before I got my old # reconnected. Comcast gave me credit for 30.00In the meantime I was getting calls from the previous owner of my new #.. sometimes @ 3:00 A.M. . The prior owner of the # had collection agencies calling me asking where she was.I asked how that would equate to my days without phone service..Thats all they would offer .. I got poor customer service>>I will never forget it.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:24 AM
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ok, so my cable tv just went out. We've called and an automated response replies that they already know. Do we get reimbersed for this? We pay good money for their service, but they don't reimburse us for the time without their services.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:25 AM
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That is so funny! good for him. I alwys use to get the run around on when in need of or repair of service from a phone company. i need to learn his trick. Leave comments on http://www.friizii.com

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:32 AM
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That is what you people get for using the scam-fly-by-night phone companies. Thank goodness ATT finally came back.After the Federal Government forced ATT to deregulate, I was switched illegally so many times I testified before the FCC and Senate. Don't think you can save money with these shysters, they are still coming out of the woodwork to grab all the money they can and then run....kinda like Madoff!!!!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:33 AM
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I know it does work with the cable company (Tme Warner) No power for four days which = no cable. SO I minused the four days from my bill, and sent my payment. When they called i explained i was without service those days and they agreed. dont pay for services not rendered.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:33 AM
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How about these silly companies that schedule you for a job interview but puposely make you wait longer than one has to, beyond scheduled interview time only to make themselves look very important.

I went for a job interview where I was the only person scheduled because I was the finalist. May I add it was my 3rd interview. I received an employment offer package then 3 days later my offer was rescended. Finally figured out, this company didn't even have a legitimate HR Mangement. The offer was reasonable.

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mariadesilvester
January 10, 2009 4:35 AM
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Good for him! I recently got a bill from a company called NCO saying I owed a company called 7th avenue (never heard of them). Maybe I'll send NCO a bill for attempt to defraud!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:35 AM
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i am having the same problem (almost) with smart communications here in the philippines

several precious hours were wasted trying to get a good explanation regarding the service and the billing problem

i received several apologies via email and through their hotline

how i wish somebody would sue also smart so they will learn their lessons

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:38 AM
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wouldnt that be great if all companies would pay us for the wasted time we spend on the phone? And what about Doctor's appointment? If we are late for an appointment we pay up. What about those times that we have wasted waiting to be seen for an hour even with an appointment?something should be done with that,lol

http://www.lifemarriageandkids.com

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:38 AM
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To the gentleman who wanted to bill his dentist but didn't as he feared the dentist would fir ehim as a client... well, dude, the dentist works... for YOU. You pay his bills. Like a mechanic. You can - and should - get another one. I fired mine because he was late. Thing was, I was the first appointment. The money I paid him. I said. he should be there... on time. More people should do so.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:38 AM
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Good for him. I was just sent on a merry-go-round of useless phone calls by my trash pick-up company. In Los Angeles we are issued containers and need to call for special pick-up for anything extra large. I had a large cardboard box with styrofoam packing from a computer printer I wished to discard. The person (female) I spoke with said they do not service my area, and gave me a different 800 number to call. That turned out to be for TOXIC waste, which this was NOT. They gave a different 800 number for a cardboard disposal center. I would have to drive there about 40 minutes each way, and they did not take the styrofoam contents.

This was getting ridiculous, each time listening to interminable voice menus, put on hold, etc.

Finally called back the first number,as they had done this for my large pick-ups in the past with no problem at all. This time a man answered, asked for my ZIP code, and said they do indeed service my area. Put the box out for pick-up this am, and by 1 pm it was gone.

Each time one iis told the call may be monitored for quality control. I don't believe it. They just put this in for PR purposes. It is not worth my time to bill them for the totally false information I was given and for the run-around I got.

Similar to calls I have made for tech support, many of which are sheer torture. We live in tech support hell.

Good for the fellow who collected for his time. The rest of us civilians apparently will just have to suffer.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:39 AM
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My credit card company (Bank of America) is increasing my interest fron 18% to 29% because they claim \" You have only paid the minimum payment for the last 12 months\". On time mind you.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:41 AM
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I spent over a year trying to get reimburesed for a refund through TMobile so I withheld that amount from my bill each and every month until they paid up. When they threatened to take me to collections I contacted my ATG and the BBB and filed a report. Two days later I was contactd my a so called Executive Customer service rep(Yeah, right) and they terminated my service(which is what I wanted) without the penalty. Boy was I glad to gt rid of their sorry service.

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farscape7
January 10, 2009 4:51 AM
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I have asked for credit from sprint for wasting my time when they call to ask if i want to add a phone line or when they text me about adding a phone line. I did get a $5.00 credit and i have not received any calls or text msg from them going on 1 year now.

I asked as it was starting to get very annoying and that i work at night so these calls would come in when i was sleeping.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:53 AM
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AWESOME!!! Its about time someone does that. Its so sad that now even when you call to complain or just call with a simple question you cant even talk to a human being. Hell, some companies are even charging you if you speak with a person and not the automated systems!! Thats the problem with the country today, companies bleed people dry and they wonder why people dont or just cant pay their bills

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:55 AM
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I once signed in at the doctor's office, when there were several other patients waiting. I asked the gal at the desk what the estimated wait time was -- \"straight.\" She said, half hour. I said, then I'm going to run an errand, and if I'm called while I'm gone and have to be bypassed and sign in again and start over, I understand and will take that chance. As I left, she gave me a look as if to say, \"How DARE you find a way around waiting!\" It WORKED! When I returned, the waiting room was empty, I HADN'T yet been called, and my wait was about two minutes! That's MY story; your actual mileage may differ.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:57 AM
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That \"s amazing I had a bad experience with Wells Fargo Home Mortage because of an insuficient funds check(believe or not) they issued to Citizens Property Insurance to pay for my home owners insurance, my home owners police was canceled and I was notified a year after when the hurricane season in Florida was really active. Great for that guy. I wish I could be smart enough to bill them at that time for the hours and hours on the phone with the very incompetent personell at Wells fargo Home Mortage.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:58 AM
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I should bill my satellite television provider. Every time the wind somewhat blows or a light rain falls my satellite signal cuts in an out. Sometims all it takes is a light clould cover. They would end up owing me money!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:01 AM
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I would love to bill Microsoft for every time I have had to re-boot my computer b/c of some operating system issue. When added up over the past 14 years I bet I have spent (literally) weeks waiting for my computer to re-boot. It's sickening when you think about it. Probably worth at least $30K in lost time.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:04 AM
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My husband left me a bill on the passenger's seat one time for making him wait in the car while I finished getting ready. I now make it a point to be on time!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:16 AM
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At@t wireless will bill you your first couple bills for every second you use,the first partial month i got a bill for over $400.00,the second month it jumped to $1,500.00,i had free texting ,like 1,200 minutes free longdistance etc,they billed me for every single minute used on anything,my normal bill is about $170.00 each month,several of our friends had this also pulled on them,At@t did call me to tell me my phone bill was getting high ,thats when i said why,and they discovered there mistake,had to go thru my bill line by line for two months,my other friends had warned me at@t would do this the first month or two and play dumb when caught,I wonder how many people just pay it and attribute the high bill to connection fees etc.

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brendababy_02
January 10, 2009 5:20 AM
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This almost sounds like a great victory. However, if everyone did this it would be an economic disaster. These companies would end up passing on the costs to the consumer or shut down. People would be out of jobs(granted some of them should lose their job) and consumers can kiss there iphone, blackberries, internet, etc, etc goodbye. In this gentleman's case it sounds like a business and ultimately cost him a significant amount. Certainly companies need to improve their practices. Consumers do have rights but a line does need to be drawn between what is reasonable and unreasonable. Be careful what you ask for because if the telecommunications companies are paying out more than they're bringing in, then they will shut down and then the government can take over. Now that's something I definitely don't want to see.

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hamsangwich
January 10, 2009 5:35 AM
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Wow! This was front page on Yahoo! Awesome job guys!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 6:22 AM
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I live in Greece ... ALL businesses here take their sweet time getting anything done ... it's just an extension of \"endoxy\" which means, roughly, \"no worries\". The truth is, it's my problem, so why should they worry about it. We had to wait two weeks for the phone company, a government office, to be open just to sign up for home phone service. It's been 3 weeks, we still don't have a home phone and there's no indication when we will have one, if ever. Endoxy! I had to get internet, so I went to the local cell phone company and got their wi-fi set up. Cost me roughly $60 and 5 minutes to set up. Same with my cell phone. I do kinda miss dealing with Time Warner in California, because they would give me all kinds of perks and discounts just by asking for them. I once got 2 months of free services (cable, phone, internet) because I complained when the service was out for 2 days. Not here. Here, everything is endoxy.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 6:25 AM
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I had a problem with direct tv. i had been on the phone multiple times trying to get a couple of receivers fixed. & kept getting no where . i just kept getting the runaround ,disconnected ect.. & i told them to come pick up there equipment now . & i kept insisting they make the appointment for them to come out & uninstall it. & finally they put me on hold & got a manager who credited my account $150 & sent me a repair man out the next morning & fixed everything at no charge. its not alot but hey it was better than nothing. & i am a residence not a buisness

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 7:07 AM
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Qwest sent me a $200 check for making me go through 319 phone calls to disconnect my account and paid my cell phone bill with free internet service credit --- Qwest took over 5 months to disconnect my account. I was credited so much the account was in great standing so thats NOT the reason it was never disconnected --(lack of brain power of those in power) Worst experience with any utility ever-- I am a cust service rep that deals with qwest as a bundled service for the company I work for and get issues with qwest with other peoples account more than any other of the bundel companies, and we deal with several--- Qwest won jd power award for cust service and thats all the general public needs to hear,, but smart consumers know that those awards have details to them and that info IS available--- Not too impressed when looking into it!! Jd power may give themselves a bad name by saying a company like qwest is doing people good,.,.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 7:08 AM
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I am so tempted to bill cox for falsely telling customers in bankruptcy that they will have their service back on the same day if they just FAX at their own expense of course any new information.Cox cost me $200.00 with their garbage today

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 2:30 PM
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Well, I've been doing this for years. Why should any consumer pay for something they didn't get. Theonly thing is, he had the media involved. I didn'twaste time with that, I just went straight to the bank. Anyone who feels they're being taken ad-vantage of needs to step up and put a spotlighton the culprit. I'm glad it worked out for him.

Kiss,Kiss

Xoticbrandi

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 3:44 PM
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amusing you want eh, web people be cool and be the jury...on the contrary. it's a no brainer reallyfor the past 37 years and beyond, my mother is a registered subscriber of the largest telecommunications company in the Philippines and is ranked 1214th in the Forbes 2008 list. Undeniably no problem with that list except for that due date and the period cover list in their statement of account. I just darn hope they rectify the error in those dates. Due date is supposedly the last day you pay for your monthly bill but the damn period cover goes beyond the due date, about a week or so. The \"broadband\" people of PLDT would only reply, it's pro rated, sir. Well, I don't think it's even that close. I mean, I think you're on the wrong universe Manny.If you don't have the command of the English language, don't dare use it. Webster or Merriam might haunt you forever in your sense of common. Why on earth would anyone pay \"utilities\" on advance? Are they really that good to exactly predict what they're gonna used for the month? Or would you rather ride a cab, pay up front after calculating time and distances with the variable factor of traffic? Electricity and water's due date comes after the billing period cover. That's why people pay happy because they know what they've consumed besides, the deposits they made has done a great deal to that Forbes list. Why would the Telephone Company bills its 35.7 million liquid customers \"over rated\"? Bottom line, do I wanna be like Mr. Howard Schaffer and change the world myself? Thanks but don't get me wrong. I still believe in Sir Isaac third law of motion. Be cool now, be very cool!

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ryaninc
January 10, 2009 4:02 PM
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I once ordered something from one of those shady mail order things and less than a month later, they had hit my credit card (which was actually a debit card) for two more purchases that I never authorized. The unauthorized charges caused my bank account to go overdrawn and I got hit with two $30 fees from the bank.

I sent the mail order company a letter detailing what had happened and demanding that they not only refund the unauthorized charges, but that they reimburse me the $60 in fees their charges had caused.

They DID! I got a check for the full amount plus $60 a few weeks later.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:53 PM
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I successfully sued Direct TV two years ago. After dealing with horrible customer service I dropped their contract and went with Cox. Direct TV reported me to collections, and ruined my credit. I went to small claims court and sued them for $2100 - and WON. They ended up settling out of court, and I got a check within a matter of days, and had the negative report removed from my credit!!!! VICTORY!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:40 PM
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As a communcations consultant, I actually have had many dealings with One Communications. And unlike a previous poster I do find them \"evil\". I personally know many business that have experience lengthy problems and outages with 'One\",

Their Service sucks! Their commitment to the customer is laughable, and it is a nightmare to get anything done through their \"customer service\"

I work with many providers and it is safe to say:THEY ARE THE WORST!!!

I do have to thank One Communications though:
I have gotten many new customers whom I have saved from their clutches

Tim Hunter
Sensible Telecom
www.sensibletelecom.com

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 6:09 PM
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Would be nice if VERIZON heard that! after 19 mos of service paid for, they had constantly refused to show up to fix our land line, insisting We buy new phones- different types which did not correct the constant dropping, someone else picking up on the line and buzzing. When a repair man did finally arrive, he assured us it was corrosion in the main box- not us- not our phones and it was repaired in 15 minutes. WHY did it have to take 23 phone calls and 19 months?

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Nighthawke is a fruitcake, but at least there is cake involved.
January 10, 2009 6:45 PM
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Am astonished Mr Shaffer has not taken this to the state and let the PUC commission along with the AG goto war with One Communications. 3 Months of stupidity like that would be too much for me. PUCNY is anything like AGNY, then One Communications has alot to explaining to do.

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Anonymous
January 11, 2009 1:29 AM
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OK, I'm old, but in college I had a business porfessor in the sixties that had a very proper business letterhead, etc, made up, and any unsolicited mail he received he would send the company a bill for his time to extract, open, read, and dispose of their corespondence. He said about 50% paid him. Probably work with todays spam.

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John Piercy
January 11, 2009 1:58 AM
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Chalk one up for the little guy

Good to see these types of stories

THEY WORK FOR US

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Anonymous
January 16, 2009 10:22 PM
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Its about time some of these big boys stand up and be accountable!! Stand up and put their hands up and say, \"I screwed up!\" It'll probably never happen again, but it good example!

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giselle
February 3, 2010 11:43 AM
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I did this too and got paid (though it was a bank in Australia).

They kept stuffing up my name's spelling (it is not that hard) and birthdate; got bounced between branch, phone and internet several times each. Billed them for 'data integrity improvements', sent them an 'overdue invoice notice' and got paid. and bonus points. and a written and phone apology. it took some time, but it was totally worth it!

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