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TRACK ONE Length:
:10
JANEE (JAY-NEE) BRIESEMEISTER (BREEZE-my-ster), OF CONSUMERS UNION, HEARS
FROM ANGRY CELL PHONE CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY...
OFTEN THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT CANCELLATION FEES BUT LATELY, SHE'S BEEN HEARING
A NEW COMPLAINT.
SOT
KEY @: :20 Janee Briesemeister, Consumers Union
"They're getting charged for the entire last month of service even if
they only had service for a couple of days during the month."
TRACK TWO Length:
:05
BRIESEMEISTER SAYS FOUR OUT OF THE SIX LEADING CARRIERS DON'T PRO-RATE THEIR
BILLS...
SOT
KEY @: :34 Janee Briesemeister, Consumers Union
"AT&T, Cingular, Sprint, and Nextel. That means if you cancel your
service with one of these companies, even just a few days into your billing
cycle, you'll get billed for the entire month."
NAT SOT Length:
:01
(nat sound Cameron talking on phone)
TRACK THREE Length:
:07
CAMERON BANNER HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN SHE CANCELLED HER CELL SERVICE THE FIRST
WEEK OF HER BILLING CYCLE. SO FOR THREE WHOLE WEEKS...
SOT
KEY @: :50 Cameron Banner, Former AT&T Customer
"I was using my new cell phone while I was still paying for my old one."
TRACK FOUR Length:
:02
AND SHE DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS FAIR.
SOT
KEY @: :56 Cameron Banner, Former AT&T customer
"Cancel it, and let me pay for the week that I did use it."
TRACK FIVE Length:
:05
BUT JOHN WALLS- WHO REPRESENTS CELLULAR COMPANIES-- POINTS OUT THAT MANY INDUSTRIES
DON'T PRORATE...
SOT
KEY @: 1:04 John Walls, Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association
"Doesn't happen when you rent a property, doesn't happen when you lease
a car, doesn't happen when you have a cell phone."
TRACK SIX Length:
:03
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO AVOID PAYING FOR WASTED TIME?
SOT
KEY @: 1:12 Janee Briesemeister, Consumers Union
"Wait until you're about two or three weeks into your billing cycle to
make the switch so at least that overlap of double payment is reduced."
TRACK SEVEN Length:
:11
AND IF YOU CAN'T WAIT- AND END UP PAYING THE PRICE- YOU CAN ALWAYS TRY COMPLAINING...CONSUMER
ADVOCATES SAY SOME COMPANIES WILL ADJUST YOUR LAST BILL. CAMERON SIMPLY PAID
HER'S BUT WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT IT...
SOT
KEY @: 1:33 Cameron Banner, Former AT&T Customer
"I do feel like I got ripped off. I felt like I was a good customer."
STAND-UP CLOSE
Length :12
CONSUMER ADVOCATES SAY MOST COMPANIES WILL LET YOU CANCEL YOUR SERVICE IN
ONE DAY IF YOU'LL GIVE UP YOUR NUMBER. NOW THE QUESTION IS...WOULD YOU RATHER
PAY FOR EXTRA TIME OR MEMORIZE A NEW PHONE NUMBER? FOR HEADS UP! I'M SCOTT
HANSON.
ANCHOR TAG
THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR A NEW CELL PROVIDER, ADVOCATES SAY PAY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO THE CANCELLATION POLICY...THERE ARE COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT
WILL CHARGE YOU FOR ONLY TIME YOU'VE USED.
SOURCES
John Walls
Vice President of Public Affairs
CTIA - Wireless Association
(202)785-0081
CTIA is The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association. The international association for the wireless communications industry is "dedicated to expanding the wireless frontier."
Janee Briesemeister
Senior Policy Analyst
Consumers Union
(512) 477-4431 x117
Consumers Union is an
independent, nonprofit testing and information
organization. They are a comprehensive source for advice about products and
services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and other consumer concerns.
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