T-Mobile Accused of Adding Unwanted Features to Customer Bills, Deceptive Advertising
T-Mobile is being accused of deceptive advertising and adding extra, unwanted features to customers' bills by three labor unions. The three unions are using a consumer advocacy group to file a report with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The advocacy group called Change to Win Retail Initiatives filed a report with the FCC Wednesday asking them to investigate T-Mobile and take action if needed, CNet reports.
Change to Win Retail Initiatives is backed by three labor unions, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Service Employees International Union and the United Farm Workers of America in the matter.
T-Mobile used unique and aggressive marketing to try and separate themselves in the wireless industry. T-Mobile has called themselves the "Uncarrier" and eliminated service contracts and phone subsidies to try and attract new customers.
T-Mobile's promotions and plans have been a success. Last year, T-Mobile overtook Sprint as the third largest wireless carrier in the United States.
Unfairly Gaining New Customers
Change to Win claims T-Mobile attracted new customers in an unfair way by signing them up for services they did not ask for or were unaware of.
The group also claims T-Mobile's no-contract plans still require a commitment, usually requiring customers to lease or purchase a phone on an installment plan. If they cancel the lease or installment plan they have to pay off the phone completely, which could be even more expensive than an early termination fee on a contract plan.
Long Wait for Reimbursement
T-Mobile advertises they will pay early termination fees for customers cancelling their plans with competitors, but Change to Win claims customers have to pay these fees upfront and wait for up to two months to get reimbursed by T-Mobile.
Change to Win looked into T-Mobile's advertising and thousands of complaints logged against the company in the last two-plus years. They found the most frequent complaint by customers was being enrolled in extra features they did not want like phone insurance or unlimited data plans. Employees told Change to Win that they were pressured to add on services to new customers' accounts.
Even with these complaints, T-Mobile is still rated No. 1 in customer satisfaction among the four biggest wireless carriers in the U.S. by JD Power and Consumer Reports.
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