Source
r/WTF•
Teppod

Sprint doesn't want you to know.

tl;dr at the bottom may save you money

Ok, this isn't the greatest WTF material, but I want to get the info out there because some of you may find it helpful.

For several months I've been getting data charges on my phone bill that don't belong there. I have the Everything Messaging plan, which includes unlimited messaging (pictures too), and, when I call in, I get some run around about how I'm being charged for my picture mail because it requires a data connection.

Well, I've confirmed that that is not true in my case, but everyone I speak to either doesn't know what to do or is just plain unhelpful. Talking to the Accounts Services Department, I was told the only solution is to add a data package to my plan, which would cost me extra. So, in order for them to stop mischarging me, they want me to pay more.

But wait! They're kind people, and they're willing to offset the cost with a 10% discount that would more than cover the cost of the data package. Here's the real WTF. This discount is being offered to me because I'm a member of a credit union. That's right, even if I didn't have this issue, I would qualify for the discount. So, instead of offsetting the cost of the data package with a discount, they're really offsetting the cost (to them) of the discount with an extra charge on my bill. When I pointed out to the Accounts Supervisor I was speaking to that I already qualified for the discount and should have been receiving it anyway, he spouted, "But you didn't know, so you couldn't have it!"

So here's what I want people to know: If you are a member of a credit union and a customer of Sprint, you qualify for a 10% discount that they don't want you to know about. Call them up and request it. They may ask you to fax them proof, but it's worth it to save 60+ dollars a year on your phone service.

There are other discounts too, but I'm not sure what they are. If anyone knows, or knows how to find out, I'd love to hear about it.

tl;dr

Sprint doesn't want you to know, but you can get a 10% discount on phone service for being a member of a credit union.

Posted Jan 8, 2011, 12:58 AM UTC

25
[deleted]•

I think the real problem is these data charges that come from nowhere. I have had both Sprint and Verizon, and both of them have tried to pull that shit. It got to the point with Verizon that I was calling them every month to get data charges and/or download fees removed from my account. My friends have reported this, also. WTF, cell phone companies?

2
noimnotmrcolbert•

Actually Sprint advertises this quite a bit in their stores. We get collateral all the time regarding this, mouse pads, flyers, etc; I'm wearing a pin right now that asks if you are a credit union member. I regularly distribute flyers to the local credit unions to let them know. FYI, it also waives your activation fee for new accounts.

The way Account Services handled it was unprofessional but it's not a "secret" that credit union members get a discount. The problem is it covers ALL credit unions, and not every tiny credit union is going to let their own members know because a lot of them don't know themselves, just like many Chase employees don't know they get a 27% employee discount.

1
TeppodOP•

I hadn't realized that, but, since I'm a long-time customer, I don't get into the store very often. It's fair to say I'm a disgruntled customer at the moment, though, since I'm being charged for data events that either shouldn't be happening or are already covered on my plan. Any idea about how to get that fixed?

Edit: Pardon my cynicism, but it's an awfully big coincidence that I post an issue I'm having with Sprint, and the first post, within minutes, is from an employee defending them. Don't you think?

1
noimnotmrcolbert•

I happen to get a lot of people in your boat that get mad at me or other employees in the store when they've had Sprint for years and didn't know about their discounts. It's the first thing I bring up because most people don't know and it's a really good closing tool. I just happened to be searching for info on the Shift 4G and came across your post so nothing fishy here.

The messaging plan DOES cover pic mail, but if you have to connect to the internet to retrieve that picture (ie open the browser) you will get charged data charges, but if it pops up right in the message (MMS) you should be good. This is one of the biggest complaints/questions we get. It's starting to subside but only because a lot of people now have smartphones with data plans so there's no extra data charges.

1
TeppodOP•

Ok, so it's a coincidence; they really do happen sometimes.

The messaging plan DOES cover pic mail, but if you have to connect to the internet to retrieve that picture (ie open the browser) you will get charged data charges, but if it pops up right in the message (MMS) you should be good.

That's precisely the problem. I only ever get picture mail in the message (no retrieval link) and never do anything with my phone otherwise which relates to data charges (that I know of), but they keep appearing on my bill. I have the NetGuard function turned on, so if I accidentally do something that would incur data charges, I get a warning. I've also had this phone for about 5 years now, so I'm pretty sure I've got its functionality figured out.

1