I have been using, or at least, "attempting" to use an Oklahoma company known as TerraCom. They are also known as TerraCom.com, and TerraCom Communications. When I signed up for Lifeline service, one year ago, I was sent this very cheap, little minimal handset, a "Ranger". No cam feature. Tiny. From the start, people complained that they could barely hear me. After I received in the neighborhood of 50 complaints from people, I called TerraCom's "customer service". I complained exuberantly, but politely. I told them people could not hear me on my handset. I told them, that they had sold me a piece of crap, but worded this, again, politely. Now, when I say "sold", I mean that their "Deal" regarding Lifeline, is they send a new Lifeline customer a cell phone, and cell service, as a so-called " package deal ". You can use the term, " bundled ", if you prefer. I asked for a replacement. No dice, folks. No, they wanted me to put $ 25.00 American dollars into their hot little hands. I told them that they needed to stand behind their product. They acted like I was talking to them in Swahili, or Aramaic. They said, "We don't guarantee handsets." Excuse me ? When did cell phone providers ever sell a handset they would not replace when defective ? Heck, folks, everyone, replaces defective merchandise. Every cell provider I know of, replaces defective products. Every one but Mr. TerraCom. But Mr. TerraCom will be terribly happy to furnish me an "upgrade". Right now, I am living on SSI/Disability, so I am not just up to my eyeballs in cash, so I mentioned "my legal remedies". Their response: " Feel free". Summer, 2012: I got a call from their computer one day, telling me that I had to Re-Certify. What ? Under the USAC guidelines, customers are supposed to Re-Certify every year. But, Summer of 2012, these people had me go through their re-cert process about 12 times. Why ? A little later, my service was interrupted. First interruption was for hours, as I recollect. The next service interruption was for days. Their excuse: " Your're not the only one. One hundred and forty thousand customers are out of service." 140,000 customers out of service ? Service interruptions kept happening. "Software problems", they kept telling me. After every interruption, they would insist on re-certifying me. One instance, they re-certified me twice in one week. Totally ridiculous. Very, recently, my handset was goofing up so much, people kept telling me," Speak up, I can't hear you. Speak up." Over and over. Over and over. So, I decided to do a little research. I went on-line, and found about 20 other service providers, on a list USAC provides. I called a few. I also, for kind information, visited the Oklahoma City branch of the Better Business Bureau. You want to know how they rated good old Mr. TerraCom ? OKC Branch of the BBB, and every other branch, rates like they rate you in grade school: A+ through F. OKC branch ( which is where good old Mr. TerraCom has his HQ ) rated TERRACOM an F. Again, they rated them a good, solid, thoughtful " F ". F for FAIL. F for FLUNKED OUT. I then called MR. TerraCom's so-called "customer service", and I asked a simple question: " If I give you notice that I am leaving TerraCom, how long does it take you to stop the service ?" The CSR said: "About 12 to 24 hours." FIFTEEN minutes later, my cell service vanished. That's right, Sports Fans. My CSR just pulled the old rug right out from under me. BANG !! I got on their "Chat Line", and visited with a CSR. I told the CSR that the CSR, that my service had been interrupted, and that I wanted to know why. He said, that the very kind CSR had stopped my service " at my request". I was livid. After I had only asked a simple question, this moron jerks my service. I politely, oozing self-control, asked the CSR to restore my service, this was a mistake. You want to know what this guy told me ? He said ( actually typed ): " Can't be undone." " Your request for deactivation has already been filed." I could only repeat myself. And repeat myself. Over and over. Finally, I walked next door, and used my neighbor's cell phone, to call these very kind and intelligent people. I got a man on the phone. Told him what happened. I placated the man. Told him it was "all just a misunderstanding". Asked this man to re-
activate my service. He said he needed to leave the line for 2 to 3 minutes, and would I politely hang on. I said I'd be just ecstatic to hang on. He came back on and told me I would have service again in 12 to 24 hours. So.....I waited. And I waited. And waited. After 21 hours, I got back on the TerraCom "Chat Line", and made an inquiry as to the progress of my situation. He said he wanted money. From me. $11.80. $ 11.80, and they would start my service up, again. I told the very intelligent, and wonderful CSR that I had already spoken with another fine and intelligent CSR, and the arrangements were that I would pay on the FIRST of MAY. He said "okay". Then, folks, he tells me that
I would have service back in 24 hours. " You mean ANOTHER 24 hours ?", I asked. He said Yes! Another 24 hours. He then explained to me that they, whoever "they" are, had assigned me a nice, clean, fluffy, new number ! Again, I was totally aghast. Livid. I said I wanted my old number back. His response: TOO LATE. They's already thrown my old number in the garbage disposal. So, now, I have to throw away 2,000 business cards, because of the way this criminal company does business. It will cost me $200 dollars to get more cards. $200 dollars. I can eat for two weeks, maybe three, for $200. I can't wait to put more of my hard earned dough into the hands
of Mr. TerraCom. By the way, I'd like to tell you that the Federal Communications Commission, brought CHARGES against Mr. TerraCom, after a lengthy investigation. You see, Mr. TerraCom was playing it rather fast and loose with TAXPAYER dollars. That's what the LIFELINE program is: Taxpayer dollars. Well, Sports Fans, the result of their investigation into Mr. TerraCom's shenannigans, was a little document entitled: DA - 13 - 285. This is a document telling
Mr. TerraCom that the FCC knows all about their little game they've played with taxpayer money. And the evidence. And what will happen to Mr. TerraCom, if they do this again. That document, again, is DA - 13 - 285. You can look it up. It's not a secret. It's the LAW. Now: what do I want? I want every dollar and dime, I have ever spent, with my good friends TerraCom. Every dime. And I want Mr. TerraCom to purchase more business cards for me. CAVEAT EMPTOR, folks. Thanks. |
