Sprint PCS is a Bitch
I am currently caught up is some kind of existential, Catch-22 universe due to my god-awful cell phone provider, Sprint. Sprint is currently experiencing a system outage throughout the West Coast apparently. So my phone don't work and I can't check my voicemail. I was on the phone last night when my phone actually turned off and I couldn't turn it back on at all. I plugged it into a charger. Nope. I took the battery out and put it back in. Nope.
This morning it still wasn't working, so I went down to the Sprint store on Castro street, because I thought my head would explode if I went to the one downtown again (hmmm, I can't find my post about that... conspiracy?). There was a small sign on the door that said "Due to a service outage, we are unable to access your account information". It didn't say that the store was closed, but the door sure was locked. And the shitheads inside were just standing there staring at me, not mouthing we're closed or anything. Just staring at me. I call the Sprint 800-number from a pay phone, and just get a busy signal everytime.
So I blow my lunch break going down there, get back to work and try calling the Sprint 800-number again. Get a busy signal again and again. Call Sprint-Nextel corporate headquarters in Virginia (703-433-4000), but they're offices are closed for the day. Never-fucking-mind that millions of their customers don't have phone service right now, they had to go home for the day. Finally find a way through that number, pressing tons of buttons, talking to a robot to get ahold of a real, live person. Sandra won't give me her full name, but after waiting on hold for 15 minutes and listening to an endless loop of Gloria Estefan and smooth jazz classics (and considering bashing my head in with the receiver) she tells me that my phone won't turn on due to the service outage. I tell her that I don't really see what the hell that has to do with my phone's power not working, but she insists. I then ask her if I'm going to get a refund for their terrible service (lost service most of the day on Thursday too). She says she can mark a refund on my account if I just hold on. I'm on hold for another 15 minutes when I hear a click, I say, "Hello? Hello?" then a dial tone.
I call back to Sprint corporate headquarters, dial the secret code, talk to a robot, then get hold of Vincent. I tell him my day of Sprint hell, including about the store not being open. He says he'll check to see if I'm affected by the service outage. Smooth jazz. Suicidal thoughts. Yes, sir, you are affected by the service outage, but I can't be sure if that's the reason that your phone is not turning on. For that, you'll need to go to a Sprint store. All the Sprint stores are closed right now sir and I don't know when they will be opening again. To which I respond, "Wow! This is amazing! Phenomenal!" I ask him if Sandra's rebate is marked on my record. Put on hold. No, sir, I don't show that. So now what happens Vincent? I can offer you a $25 rebate right now sir for your inconvenience. Okay, Vincent. Please wait while I credit your account for $20. You just said $25. Yes sir, $25.
Still, I'm stuck with no phone and no way to get it looked at, no idea when service will be restored. Amazing Sprint is.
This morning it still wasn't working, so I went down to the Sprint store on Castro street, because I thought my head would explode if I went to the one downtown again (hmmm, I can't find my post about that... conspiracy?). There was a small sign on the door that said "Due to a service outage, we are unable to access your account information". It didn't say that the store was closed, but the door sure was locked. And the shitheads inside were just standing there staring at me, not mouthing we're closed or anything. Just staring at me. I call the Sprint 800-number from a pay phone, and just get a busy signal everytime.
So I blow my lunch break going down there, get back to work and try calling the Sprint 800-number again. Get a busy signal again and again. Call Sprint-Nextel corporate headquarters in Virginia (703-433-4000), but they're offices are closed for the day. Never-fucking-mind that millions of their customers don't have phone service right now, they had to go home for the day. Finally find a way through that number, pressing tons of buttons, talking to a robot to get ahold of a real, live person. Sandra won't give me her full name, but after waiting on hold for 15 minutes and listening to an endless loop of Gloria Estefan and smooth jazz classics (and considering bashing my head in with the receiver) she tells me that my phone won't turn on due to the service outage. I tell her that I don't really see what the hell that has to do with my phone's power not working, but she insists. I then ask her if I'm going to get a refund for their terrible service (lost service most of the day on Thursday too). She says she can mark a refund on my account if I just hold on. I'm on hold for another 15 minutes when I hear a click, I say, "Hello? Hello?" then a dial tone.
I call back to Sprint corporate headquarters, dial the secret code, talk to a robot, then get hold of Vincent. I tell him my day of Sprint hell, including about the store not being open. He says he'll check to see if I'm affected by the service outage. Smooth jazz. Suicidal thoughts. Yes, sir, you are affected by the service outage, but I can't be sure if that's the reason that your phone is not turning on. For that, you'll need to go to a Sprint store. All the Sprint stores are closed right now sir and I don't know when they will be opening again. To which I respond, "Wow! This is amazing! Phenomenal!" I ask him if Sandra's rebate is marked on my record. Put on hold. No, sir, I don't show that. So now what happens Vincent? I can offer you a $25 rebate right now sir for your inconvenience. Okay, Vincent. Please wait while I credit your account for $20. You just said $25. Yes sir, $25.
Still, I'm stuck with no phone and no way to get it looked at, no idea when service will be restored. Amazing Sprint is.
that is terrible and sounds very similiar to my experiences with earthlink customer service. except when i bitch them out, they don't credit my account, they give me a measly $10 amazon credit. great
Posted by Big Nurse | 11:00 AM