Sprint doesn't want you to know.
tl;dr at the bottom may save you money
I just want to get this 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, 1:14 AM UTC
Um... Dude, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, all of these people have a discount service. Seriously, just call and go "Look, I'm part of this <work/group/membership services/etc>, do any of these get me a discount?". T-Mobile has a HUGE FUCKING LIST (OH HAI I used to move people onto this. For T-Mo it's called Premier Discounts and Migrations). Most likely man, you also just agree'd to another 2yr contract.
Likewise, I absolutely hated people like you. No, it's not a reps job to go "Oh, do you have this? Or this? Or this? Or this?". They offered it because the rep you spoke to just so happened to know and went "Hey, this guy might have it" and then asked you... And then you raged when you found out you had to request it, and that they don't just auto apply it because they most likely have a huge freaken list of discount services.
Take it as a flame if you want, I'm just being very blunt with you and how I took it that you felt you were wronged by not knowing you could get something that AT&T rightfully wasn't going to openly say due to a massive list of discount programs
Ok, well, maybe I didn't make this clear, but I didn't feel I was wronged for not getting the discount originally. I felt it was inappropriate to offer me a discount I already qualified for as an offset for adding an extra feature to my account to compensate for charges I shouldn't be receiving anyway.
Also, I did not rage. That's not how I handle things. I was given the impression by the accounts supervisor that he, as a representative of Sprint, would prefer customers not know about this discount. He handled the situation in a very unprofessional manner, so I decided to take it to a public forum.