Not even going to lie or hide the fact that I chose this phone simply because it reminded me of the Motorola PEBL U3 I had a couple years ago. I loved that phone to bits!!!The story of how I got this phone is actually an interesting (but LONG) one:
My Fido account used to be under Bin's name because I was under 18 at the time. Switching it over to my name was a HUGE hassle. Bin called last week and gave permission to hand the account over to me; all that needed to be done was for me to call and give my information. I called Fido the following day to give my information to them, but Customer Service Representative #1 wouldn't let me take over the account because I didn't pass the security test (which was Bin's postal code). I called back with Bin's postal code and Customer Service Representative #2 told me I needed Bin's full address in order to gain access. I called back. Customer Service Representative #3 explains that I don't need the full address or the postal code because there is already a note on the account that says that Bin has given me permission to take over the accounted. Seriously? What was the point of the first 2 phone calls I made then? I give Customer Service Representative #3 MY information - my home address, my Alberta license number, my Social Insurance Number, etc. Then he tells me that I need to go to a Fido store and put in a $50 deposit (for credit check purposes). No biggie!
I go to the Fido store in Southgate. Sales Associate #1, an asian girl, helps me. I pay the due amount and the $50 deposit. I was hoping to buy a phone right then and there, but she says the payment will take 24 hours to process. Okay, I haven't lost my cool yet.
I return to the Fido store 24 hours later, desperate for a new phone. I talked to the man that was working at the kiosk in Southgate, Southgate. Sales Associate #2. He looks into my account on his computer and tells me that I never paid a $50 deposit. Then what is this $50 receipt I have in my wallet for? I'm starting to get frustrated with Fido. He tells me that this account is STILL under Robin Tolentino's name. THAT is frustrating. Also, he explains that the account is still on a 3-year contract, which means a new phone can be bought only at the regular price. BUT I may use my Fido dollars towards a new phone.
I'm confused and I want to know ALL my options. I sit down with Bin beside the Fido kiosk and call customer service again. Customer Service Representative #4 asks me for the invoice number and the employee code. Using these numbers, she processes the $50 payment I made the day before. The account is FINALLY under my name. She then tells me that the urban plan no longer exists and moving the account to my name requires me to choose another plan. I choose a cheaper plan: $17.50 for 200 anytime minutes, free evenings (starting at 5pm) & weekends, and a $20 value package. As she is in the process of doing this, the call is disconnected.
I call back. I explain my story (and that I am already extremely frustrated) to Customer Service Representative #5. She is very patient and very helpful. She confirms that the account is moved over to my name, that the $50 deposit has been processed, and that I now have a new plan. She explains to me that I should now be able to buy a phone at a discounted price at the store and that I am able to use my Fido dollars to pay a portion of the total cost. Okay, I'm smiling again.
Back to Sales Associate #2. I explain to him what was accomplished during my one hour chat with Customer Service. He looks into my account on the computer again and tells me an entirely different story: My phone is now under my name, but I am still on a $30 monthly plan (or at least that's what his computer is showing him) and I'm NOT eligible for a new phone below regular price. He explains that there is a 90-day hold on my account because of the transfer of the account from Bin's name to mine, and that this hold won't allow me to do anything but buy a phone at the regular price. Also, he says that the transfer of the account also caused the loss of my Fido dollars.
I'm so frustrated by this point that I have TEARS in my eyes. Hold it in; no one cries over a cell phone... or lack of one. But I've been phoneless for over a week, have made 2 pointless trips to the Fido store in Southgate, and I have spent over 2 1/2 hours on the phone with customer service by this point. I AM FRUSTRATED.
In fact, I am SO frustrated that I walk away from the kiosk. I couldn't talk to Sales Associate #2 any longer. He wasn't helping the situation nor was he helping my mood. We left Southgate and went to WEM. The Fido kiosk at WEM was busy, so there was a 20 minute wait before we could be helped.
Sales Associate #3 at the WEM kiosk gave me some reasonable options. He looked into my account and saw that the account had just been switched over; he explained that he didn't have the power or resources to give me a phone at the discount price; however, I had 2 options: 1) Buy a temporary phone at regular price, order a new one at a contract price through customer service, then return the temporary phone. 2) Buy a SIM card and find a temporary phone until the one I order through customer service comes in the mail. I explained to him that I didn't have a lot of money at the moment, and he suggested that I use the Fido dollars on my account to help pay for the new phone. Wait... didn't Sales Associate #2 tell me I had no Fido dollars???
I bought a SIM card and I'm currently using an old cell phone (composed of bits & pieces of my old Sony Ericsson and Julius Kee's old Sony Ericsson). But hey, it works! After getting that SIM card, I was done worrying about it for the night and headed out to dinner with Bin and his friends.
I called Customer Service again today to see what was up with my account and if I really could get a new phone or not. Customer Service Associate #6 tells me that because the account was switched over to my name and I've changed my monthly plan (without renewing my contract!), I'm being treated as a "new user". I'm eligible for a new phone at the 3-year contract price, even though my contract ends in August 2009! So basically the $350 phone I want can be bought for only $75.
But it gets better. The $35 Fido dollars on the account are also put towards the purchase of this new phone.
6 Customer Service Representatives, 2 Fido Kiosks, and 3 Sales Associates later... I'm only paying $40 for a brand new $350 phone. YAAAAYERS!
Take that & chew on it, Fido!
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