The Newly Rich

Question with your bill, change or cancel service– whatever the case, we’ve all had to make these annoying phone calls more often than we like. Or, less often if you have an assistant handle it for you. Here are just two of the many calls he’s handled for us:

Downgrade my mobile phone plan

George-

Now that I have two phones, I want to drop my Cingular plan down one level. I don’t even know what my options are, but if it’ll save me more than $20 a month and doesn’t drop me too many minutes, go for it. Also, they’ll probably make me give up my huge bank of rollover minutes if I switch plans. See what you can do about that

Thanks,
-Jed

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The downgrade was made to 1400 minutes per month, reducing price by $20 and everything else the same. The new plan is effective 10/27, the beginning of the next billing period. You keep 1400 rollover minutes. You’re average talk time for the last little while has been around 1500-1600 minutes, so the rollover minutes would run out in about 7 months if you are 200 minutes over every month. I spoke with xxxxx after working my way through the automated system at 888-333-6651.

I disputed the rollover minutes reduction. they will call your cell number on oct. 27 to tell you your resolution . Originally they said you would keep 1400 rollover minutes. She thought we could get it up to 3000.

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Ed. note: we got our 3000 minutes

Cancel the cable (maybe)

George-

I love the speed I get from cable internet, but now that my 6 month intro price is over, I’m having a hard time justifying it compared to the $23 DSL (no phone line required). Please call the cable company and tell them you need to cancel, and see what kind of deal they can offer.

Thanks,
-Jed

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If you drop cable they can only offer the price of $59.95 for internet only. Your current bill is $74ish with both services. If you keep cable she can extend a deal that would total out at about $82-83 (about $8-9 more than before) with both services. The catch is that the more services you have the discount per service increases.

• $59.95 internet only
• $82-83 with both services combined
• xxxxx helped me and the number which will get you back in is 866-594-1234
  the account is under your wife’s name, they asked for the last 4 digits of her social, but it apparently wasn’t necessary because I told them I was you, and they helped me.

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George-
hmm, okay. Kill the cable effective immediately and tell them I’ll drop off the equipment at the nearby office.

Thanks,
-Jed

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You need to return the following items to their store:

• DVR Box
• Modem
• Remote Control

Technician Will be out on the 20th to cut the line or whatever. But you should plan on taking the equipment in on Monday, or early next week (that’s what I told her). The service is cut off as of February 8 (Today)

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Ed. note: Not surprisingly, I got a call from the cable company a few days later offering me a “special deal.” I told the rep I already asked for special deals, was offered none, and was now enjoying my $23 DSL line (which by the way has no contract and has continued to work out nicely).

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