Centennial Wireless Complaint

Centennial Wireless - Questionable Credit Card Return Practices By Centennial Wireless

Questionable Credit Card Return Practices By Centennial Wireless

Centennial Wireless has questionable practices of which neither their written contract nor in-store representatives make unsuspecting customers aware.

I purchased a Blackberry Curve 8310 from Lakeview Square Mall in Battle Creek, Michigan, from a Centennial Wireless retailer. I already owned the same phone from ATT. Centennial Wireless had, what on the surface, appeared to be a better plan. I had my number ported from ATT on May 10, 2008.

I ran into problems with accessing voice mail and the porting process. I called Customer Care and was given contradictory information from two different representatives. I drove to a larger Centennial store in Kalamazoo, Michigan to see if they could solve the port process problem. I told to returned to the Battle Creek store to solve the problem. I also reported the voice mail problem.

On May 16, just 7 days into my 15-day trial period, I returned the phone and accessories to the Lakeview Square Mall store for a refund.

It was at that time that I learned of the

Updated On: Sunday, May 25, 2008

I called my credit card company, Bank Of America, and explained what had taken place when I returned the equipment to Centennial Wireless. I was told that they were in violation of their contract if what I stated was true.

I was told to send copies of all of the information which included: a copy of the contract, a copy of the sales slip and return receipt. (The return receipt by the way, had zeros entered in every place on the receipt where a dollar amount should have been.) I also sent copies of the online feedback request forms I had filled out that were emailed to me by Centennial Wireless. I sent a copy of a letter I had sent to the store of purchase in which I explained my dissatisfaction with the transaction. (I sent the letter by Certified Mail, return receipt requested.) In addition, I sent Bank Of America copies of 4 of the complaint letters that appear on this site which highlighted complaints other consumers have had about Centennial Wireless service experiences.

This information was sent to the Bank of America Billing Complaint Department so the 106.00 portion of the total bill could be contested. The contested amount would be credited back to my credit card until the investigation into the dispute was complete. I was told by Bank of America that the investigation could take from 6 to 8 weeks. I will report the final result on this site when it becomes available.

Updated On: Sunday, May 25, 2008

Centennial Wireless has questionable practices of which neither their written contract nor in-store representatives make unsuspecting customers aware.

I purchased a Blackberry Curve 8310 from Lakeview Square Mall in Battle Creek, Michigan, from a Centennial Wireless retailer. I already owned the same phone from ATT. Centennial Wireless had, what on the surface, appeared to be a better plan. I had my number ported from ATT on May 10, 2008.

I ran into problems with accessing voice mail and the porting process. I called Customer Care and was given contradictory information from two different representatives. I drove to a larger Centennial store in Kalamazoo, Michigan to see if they could solve the port process problem. I told to returned to the Battle Creek store to solve the problem. I also reported the voice mail problem.

On May 16, just 7 days into my 15-day trial period, I returned the phone and accessories to the Lakeview Square Mall store for a refund.

It was at that time that I learned of the 'unethical' process Centennial Wireless uses for returned products. I had charged the cost of the phone and the 45.00 activation fee on my Bank Of America credit card. I understood the activation fee was not refundable but I fully expected the 100.00 cost of the phone to be credited back to my credit card. I have been with all of the major wireless carriers at some time or another. (ATT, Altell, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.)
I have always used a credit card as payment with any carrier. If I returned hardware for any reason, my card has always been credit for the return and I received a copy of the credit voucher from all of the other carriers.

Centennial Wireless did not credit my card for the returned items. I learned that they credit your account with them instead. In other words, you used your card to purchase a phone and instead they take your returned purchase amount and apply it to your service bill. I did not require a deposit for service because my credit was good. How can a company arbitrarily apply a credit card return to another form of service? Is that even legal?

I received a bill a few days later for 116.00. I know that wireless service is billed a month in advance so I assumed the final bill would be adjusted to reflect my use of the phone for 7 days only. That is the way all other wireless carriers operate. You pay for the time to use the phone.

I called Centennial Customer Care and asked what my final bill would be. I was totally shocked when I was told that I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR A FULL MONTH OF SERVICE EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAD THE SERVICE FOR 7 DAYS!!!!!! Isn't there a law against being charged for no consideration? The retailer has the phone. The service account is closed and yet I am still paying?

In addition, I learned that the 100.00 credit that should have been put back on my credit card for the return of the phone, was credited instead toward the 116.00 bill. In the end, I was told my final bill was 9.64. That totals 125.64 payment for 7 days of service!! This is a RIPOFF!!!!!!!

Updated On: Sunday, May 25, 2008

I called my credit card company, Bank Of America, and explained what had taken place when I returned the equipment to Centennial Wireless. I was told that they were in violation of their contract if what I stated was true.

I was told to send copies of all of the information which included: a copy of the contract, a copy of the sales slip and return receipt. (The return receipt by the way, had zeros entered in every place on the receipt where a dollar amount should have been.) I also sent copies of the online feedback request forms I had filled out that were emailed to me by Centennial Wireless. I sent a copy of a letter I had sent to the store of purchase in which I explained my dissatisfaction with the transaction. (I sent the letter by Certified Mail, return receipt requested.) In addition, I sent Bank Of America copies of 4 of the complaint letters that appear on this site which highlighted complaints other consumers have had about Centennial Wireless service experiences.

This information was sent to the Bank of America Billing Complaint Department so the 106.00 portion of the total bill could be contested. The contested amount would be credited back to my credit card until the investigation into the dispute was complete. I was told by Bank of America that the investigation could take from 6 to 8 weeks. I will report the final result on this site when it becomes available.

Update

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