Sprint To Cut Off 1,000 For Complaining Too Much

[Dave_Z]

Now here's something you don't get to read about every other day:

http://www.news4jax.com/news/13650557/detail.html

Sprint-Nextel is disconnecting more than 1,000 subscribers on grounds the clients call customer service too often and make "unreasonable requests."

The 1,200 people getting dropped will have to find a new carrier by the end of the month.

Hmm, subsequently found it's been reported a few days earlier than above:

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9739869-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

On June 29, 2007, Sprint sent letters notifying some customers that their service would be canceled by the end of July due to excessive calls to customer service.

Kinda rare to read about a company telling a portion of its customers, "You're
fired!"

 

[lpstong]

I would believe it. Had Sprint(switched to virgin) and I could see why some calls would be necessary to customer service.

But it does sound like Sprints mentallity. To cut off them off because of such an issue.

 

[.X.]

Ummmmmm....Hmmmm.....A bunch of fruit cakes, because thier lowest plan is 29.95 a month, i figure many of the 1000+ people they are cutting off have the 39.95 to 59.95 plan...but lets just base it on the 29.95 plan, as far as losses go, How about $30,000 a year :talk:

 

[deleted984054565403]

Ummmmmm....Hmmmm.....A bunch of fruit cakes, because thier lowest plan is 29.95 a month, i figure many of the 1000+ people they are cutting off have the 39.95 to 59.95 plan...but lets just base it on the 29.95 plan, as far as losses go, How about $30,000 a year :talk:

...plus whoever they know. Those people are likely to tell friends, family, or post on blogs (if they're competent enough :notme which will result in more loss. New subscribers hearing this news may be drawn away from Sprint because of what they could possibly do to their own subscribers.

On the other side of it, if they're only losing $30,000 a year from those subscribers, they could remove 4-5 support staff for about $120,000+/year.

EDIT: Interesting development -- these customers were asking for free service...
http://consumerist.com/consumer/exc...e-scamming-sprint-for-free-service-277026.php

 

[lpstong]

Ummmmmm....Hmmmm.....A bunch of fruit cakes, because thier lowest plan is 29.95 a month, i figure many of the 1000+ people they are cutting off have the 39.95 to 59.95 plan...but lets just base it on the 29.95 plan, as far as losses go, How about $30,000 a year :talk:

Why pay that much?

I have a virgin prepaid. I own the phone and it has all the same features(picture, internet et cetera). And my current plan(virgin) is about $20 - $30 a month and no 2 year contract. My old service(sprint) was over a $100 a month.

Regardless of what plan these complaning customers have. If a service is sub par or terms or the plan was not understood completely than they should have a better customer service and not squash the low end users because of their payment plans.

 

[bizwiz]

Well their strategy is different. Most would rather retain customers than cancel their accounts.

 

[dgridley]

I just recently bought the Virgin Mobile Switchback.. but isn't Virgin actually on the Sprint network?

I heard they were "fired" because they were calling support constantly scamming for free service.

I would believe it. Had Sprint(switched to virgin) and I could see why some calls would be necessary to customer service.

But it does sound like Sprints mentallity. To cut off them off because of such an issue.

 

[.X.]

Why pay that much?

I have a virgin prepaid. I own the phone and it has all the same features(picture, internet et cetera). And my current plan(virgin) is about $20 - $30 a month and no 2 year contract. My old service(sprint) was over a $100 a month.

Regardless of what plan these complaning customers have. If a service is sub par or terms or the plan was not understood completely than they should have a better customer service and not squash the low end users because of their payment plans.

I would go the virgin route, except i work for one of the largest cellular companies in the USA, And i get everything free :p lol

Well their strategy is different. Most would rather retain customers than cancel their accounts.

I would have thought thier strategy would be to try and find a happy meduim, to where it works out that they would keep thier customers, Stuff like this spreads like wild fire, and people take notice, they may end up loosing 1000's more that simply wont trust them anymore.

 

[lpstong]

EDIT: Interesting development -- these customers were asking for free service...
http://consumerist.com/consumer/exc...e-scamming-sprint-for-free-service-277026.php

Ok so they were scamming for free service. 90 calls within a 6 month period(average 15 calls a month). Some were getting service for free since 2005. I know I heard the line, bending over backwards to get happy customers but really. These people found a flaw in the Sprint systems or that Sprint knew some functions and features did not work properly. But please for almost 2 years of free service. Something is up besides scamming and complaining customers. In a way I am glad the scammers got the boot.

And I dont know about Virgin using Sprint service, maybe their towers.

Just for me I have used both and prefer the Virgin plan. Its fits me financially and the phone is mine. Sprint is great for the most part.

 

[dgridley]

I used to use TracFone but they sent me a phone with a "bad" SIM and have yet to send me a replacement after almost 90 days? So, I decided to buy a nicer phone and give Virgin a try.. coverage has not been nearly as widespread as TracFone's but I'm with you: non-contract is the way to go and Virgin has been voted best for their various plans offered by consumers.

By the way, Virgin and Sprint are in partnership:

http://www.m-travel.com/news/2001/10/virgin_and_spri.html

Just for me I have used both and prefer the Virgin plan. Its fits me financially and the phone is mine. Sprint is great for the most part.

 

[deleted984054565403]

I used to use Virgin for about a year and a half, as I didn't make many calls. It worked very well -- I paid $20 every three months, and when I "referred" a family member to join, I got $20 free airtime. Eventually, I made more and more calls, and VM wasn't the best way to go for me, so I switched to Verizon.

 

[ehoez.com]

i guess i need to call and complain, lol.