# Help me get out of a Cingular contract
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 7, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125 "2005-10-07T01:10:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125/1 "2005-10-07T01:10:20Z")
My wife and I have had a terrible time with Cingular for the last several months. I won’t go into the details, but most months there are added charges for things we couldn’t possibly have requested, like canceling a line and reinstating the same day. Sometimes these charges have tripled the bill, or worse.
We’ve had it. My wife spent two hours on the phone with them today trying to straighten out the current bill and got nowhere. I’m tempted to just walk away from them and let them sue me (my credit rating is exccellent - not worried about that) but I’m thinking there must be a better way.
Just calling and asking customer service doesn’t seem to work. Any suggestions?
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### Author:  [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125/2 "2005-10-07T02:28:17Z")
Do you want to keep the phone numbers? Switch to a different provider. After the switch is done, call Cingulair to get an address. Send a letter detailing all of the problems and conclude by saying that all of these problems constitute a breach of contract on Cingulair’s part and you have switched providers.
IANAL, etc.
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### Author:  [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125/3 "2005-10-07T03:39:05Z")
> [@Otto](#):
>
> Do you want to keep the phone numbers? Switch to a different provider. After the switch is done, call Cingulair to get an address. Send a letter detailing all of the problems and conclude by saying that all of these problems constitute a breach of contract on Cingulair’s part and you have switched providers.
>
> IANAL, etc.
Thanks, sounds logical.
Any other suggestions?
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125/4 "2005-10-07T03:44:28Z")
The local DA or AG, perhaps?
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### Author:  [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125/5 "2005-10-07T21:00:10Z")
> [@Otto](#):
>
> Send a letter detailing all of the problems and conclude by saying that all of these problems constitute a breach of contract on Cingulair’s part and you have switched providers.
>
> IANAL, etc.
This is what my parents basically did with Verizon after roughly three months of constant screw ups on Verizon’s end. (Voice mail messages frequently delivered late or not at all, billing was **never** correct which prompted monthly 1+ hour long calls to them to get it fixed despite them claiming that it would be correct for the next bill.)
They also let Verizon know that unless the contract was terminated, they would be filing false advertisement (and possibly bait-and-switch) complaints with the various respective legal agencies.
It worked: Verizon ‘gracefully’ terminated the contract with no penalties.
* * *
\<\< This job would be a lot easier if it weren’t for the clients. \>\>
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### Author:  [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125/6 "2005-10-07T21:36:00Z")
God, I LOATHE Cingular wireless. I knew crap like this was going to happen after they bought out AT&T (my wireless carrier). I switched to a family plan; they’re charging me for both the family plan AND my regular plan. I feel your pain. GRRRR. Let me know if anything works for you.
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### Author:  [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)
#### Post date: [October 7, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-out-of-a-cingular-contract/325125/7 "2005-10-07T21:51:26Z")
Check whether you have any state consumer protection laws that might help. In Massachusetts, you might be able to send them a [Chapter 93A demand letter](http://www.mass.gov/portal/site/massgovportal/menuitem.8caa6fb493e931c14db4a11030468a0c/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Autos&L3=Additional+Auto+Resources&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent&f=30_day_demand_letter&csid=Eoca) and be eligible to get enhanced damages (depending on details of the situation). Similar laws may apply in your jurisdiction.