Nextel-Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[SmokinRam]

Ok I need to vent a little bit.



I purchased a Nextel phone and plan 2 months ago from a good local Nextel/Verizon provider. My plan was to use this phone as my primary phone, meaning to take place of my home phone and everything else. Well from the get go, the service was ok but not real good in my area.



Well about two weeks ago I bought a new house, which is only 3 miles away from my previous residence. Well to my surprise, I have absolutely no service at or even within a mile of my new house. So plans to use this as a one and only phone are out the window.



After complaining/talking to my local provider, where I bought the phone, he said since it is past 30 days, there is nothing he can do to get me out of my 2 year contract, it is up to me to deal with Nextel.



Well, I call them on Friday, 11/7/03, in the early morning, explain the situation, and talk to a very nice customer service rep, and she filled out an Engineering Service request and issued me a ticket number and told me I would recieve an answer in 24 hours.

Well, after 3 full days and 8 phone calls, they continue to tell me my ticket is open and will get an answer in 24 hours. Sounds like a broken record to me.

So I got kinda upset with the person today and asked flat out, how do I get out of the contract, I don't want or need this hassle anymore. She said it will cost me $200 to get out of the contract.



I basically have no choice other than to wait and see if I do get a call back about my problems or just shell out the cash and kill the contract.



Has anyone had any luck dealing with Nextel on issues like this?



I am at a loss right now and need to do something. It is more of a proving-my-point issue now rather than the money thing.



Whew... .



Andy

 

[DaveN]

I had the same problem, fortunately for me they were planning on installing an antenna shortly after I bought my phone and the problem disappeared.



Write them a certified letter, explaining that you will be released from their contract at no charge due to breach of service. If you were sold the phone and told that it would work in a particular area and it doesn't, then they have not fulfilled their end of the contract. Simply just tell them that your sales guy told you it would work in a cetain radius from such and such town, and it doesn't, therefore you are not paying the $200 fee. If they persist and threaten to turn it over to a credit reporting agency, tell them that will be very expensive. They will lose in court due to breach of service and false statements made at time of sale, and you will sue for punitive damages due to damage to your credit rating. You may have to play the "I need to talk to your supervisor" game four or five times as well... .



On a side note, something to keep in mind since you've replaced your land line, what happens when your phone doesn't work, or the local antenna is down, and you need to make a 911 call? For that reason alone I kept my land line, and bought a cheap $9. 99 phone that doesn't require an auxillary power source, it plugs into the wall. Most of your fancy phones don't work when the power goes out... .

 

[SmokinRam]

Patience

My patience is wearing very thin with this whole Nextel situation but I am going to wait and see what their "Engineering Department" says about my problems.



The Customer Rep did say I could transfer my contract to another person and that will rid me of the grief, however I would not do that to someone in my area.



Like you guys said, when Nextel works, it is a great service, however when it doesn't work, it is aggrivating...



Case in point, I had a small chirp/beap on Sunday and my screen said New Voice Message. Get this... I had to drive 3 miles away from my house to hear the message. That is rediculous if you ask me...



And yes I do agree with you DaveN about the land line. I will definitely keep that service no matter what.



I am truel hoping they call me and tell me that they understand there is a poor service area near me and action will be taken in the near future.



Just makes me mad I cannot get a good answer from anyone at Nextel...



Anyone have any friends high up the chain at Nextel who could possibly help me out??? Just thought I'd ask...



Andy

 

[midwestdually]

all cell companies work like this... . have you by the balls.



fortunately in iowa there was/is a law saying that you cant have a contract with a cell phone. although the cell companies will tell you differently and send you letters saying you owe them money and such, threaten to take you to court but the truth is that they will lose if it does go to court but people get scared and cough up the money. this is from a US cellular rep that i know. send them the certified mail and build your case. no need to get a lawyer so dont spend anything on it. send the certified mail COD even.

 

[Shovelhead]

Nextel & Verizon are competitors in the same market.

Verizon usually provide better coverage as they have the largest service area in the country (more towers).

 

[Got Smoke?]

Here's my $. 02.



I just quit using a Verizon phone (its still actived cause they wanted $175 to terminate early) and got a Nextel. I live out in the country so cell phones don't normally work, however my verizon surprised me at times. I'd get a phone call just a couple of minutes from home and talk for a minute or two then say I'm almost home I'll call ya when I get there. Well my Nextel hardly gets service out here, but that's probably good considering I'm paying the bill for this one. Yeah I'm a spoiled 20 yr. old still living at home & my father payed for my Verizon, BUT I'm paying for my Nextel. The whole reason I got my Nextel was because I'm currently seeing a girl out of state and its a cheaper way for us to talk when she and I are both in Signal.



I was told when I signed up that Nextel currently has a plan in the works to put up like 100-200 towers in the next 3 years. I didn't pay much attention to it cause the guy said "in the next 3 years". However you can't expect much from any cell phone once you live a city area. I do believe I'm gonna be disappointed with my Nextel's service area though.

 

[catoiler]

Thought Nextel was a good deal when they only charged by the second on air usage,but now they are like all the rest and charge by the minute. I can watch the signal go from full and then to no signal just holding the thing in one spot!Also they play games with the bills,always end up calling every month as their is charges for calls and text messaging(witch i don't use)and adds up to about $9. 00 a month!And their coverage area is not that great. Lots of dead zones when traveling. Talking to them is like talking to a wall!:-{}



Edit;Forgot I have 5 phones with them.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Had the same exact problem with Voicestream, (now T-mobile). But it was with mine and my wife's phone. They wouldn't let us out of the contract without paying. Fortunately it was only one year. I ended up paying for the year, but I got them back. Went to the mall one day, and there was a lady looking at signing a contract with them at one of their concessions. Told my wife to watch this. Went over and told the lady all about the service I received from them, right in front of the salespeople. She said, "OK, thanks", and walked away. You should have seen the look on the salespersons face. That one person walking away cost them more than if they would have let me out of my contract.



Jim

 

[SmokinRam]

Originally posted by catoiler

Talking to them is like talking to a wall!:-{}

Man is that ever the truth...

 

[SmokinRam]

Originally posted by Rams-n-Hogs

That one person walking away cost them more than if they would have let me out of my contract.



Jim

Hey Jim, you better believe that everyone I know who has Nextel service is going to hear about this fiasco. I already have one friend who has 6 Nextel phones that is going to drop them if I continue to get raked-over-the-coals...



There is power in numbers... :-laf

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Hey guys,



I have had excellent experience and service from Nextel. I just got the new I-730, and have better reception with this phone than I had with my I-90.



Never had a billing problem or issues either.



I also believe that Nextel is looking to take over Verison from what I have heard.



Andy, hang in there!

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by TORQUE THIS

Hey guys,



I have had excellent experience and service from Nextel. I just got the new I-730, and have better reception with this phone than I had with my I-90.



Never had a billing problem or issues either.



I also believe that Nextel is looking to take over Verison from what I have heard.



Andy, hang in there!

I wish they would! That way they could use all the towers that Verizon already has. It'd be nice being able to use my 2-way feature at home. Oo.

 

[SmokinRam]

Originally posted by TORQUE THIS

Hey guys,



I have had excellent experience and service from Nextel. I just got the new I-730, and have better reception with this phone than I had with my I-90.

You just answered a question I had. I asked Nextel direct if phones make a difference and they said no, they all get the same signal, however I noticed some of my friends phones do get better service than mine.



I am glad you said that.

Thanks



Andy

 

[Wheaties]

Hey Andy,



See if this doesn't make you laugh: I just saw this url on a bumper sticker and took a look: www.stopthetower.com

Next thing you know, they'll mandate that everyone stop emitting CO2.



Good Luck!,

Matt

 

[SmokinRam]

That is funny Matt... :-laf...



What is that, a phone tower??? Hmmm I wonder if Nextel even has any of those in my area... :-laf...

 

[Shovelhead]

Originally posted by Got Smoke?

I wish they would! That way they could use all the towers that Verizon already has. It'd be nice being able to use my 2-way feature at home. Oo.

Uhhhh Dude,

Verizon unveiled it's 2-way phone system a couple of months ago.



I don't think Nextel will EVER have enough capital to "Buy" Verizon.

 

[Wheaties]

Originally posted by SmokinRam

That is funny Matt... :-laf...



What is that, a phone tower??? Hmmm I wonder if Nextel even has any of those in my area... :-laf...

Probably not... I guess that's the point. People complain about a lack of service, then complain that they don't want a tower in their area... if you read down... someone claims it will ruin everyone's health. I don't think people realize how short the range is on one of these towers



Maybe you could offer to have a tower put on your property? Make them sign a ten year contract..... then put up those ten story steel silos you've been talking about



MTE

 

[klenger]

I think that with CDMA cell phone towers, the tower transmits about the same amount of power that the cell phone does (not very much).

 

[Dieselnut59]

I tried a digital phone a while back and could not stand the service. I already had four "Bag phone" phones (one in each of my personal trucks and one in each of our two company service trucks). I let a lady friend of mine take over the digital POS phone and am still very happy with my "bag phones". I have service with Verizon and have been happy with them for years. The problem with all the digital phones is power... they are . 6 watt and the analog (bag) phones are 3 watts. I have an external (mag-mount) antenna with each of my phones and get excellent coverage, even in rural areas. Sometimes the old technology is the best. I'll keep my old reliable phones till satellite technology is perfected. I hear it is the next big thing... no "dead spots" due to terrain, etc.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by Shovelhead

Uhhhh Dude,

Verizon unveiled it's 2-way phone system a couple of months ago.



I don't think Nextel will EVER have enough capital to "Buy" Verizon.

I know Ed. I was told about the verizon 2-way when discussing letting mine go. Of course they are only compatable with Verizon's and not Nextel's (they could at least be compatable :-laf ) so I choose to get a Nextel.



I realize my statement was far fetched I was just saying it would be nice if they did cause then I would have better service around my home.