brian@apt.bungi.com (Brian Litzinger) (10/28/90)
I was innocently minding my own business when my cellular phone could
no longer place calls. When I tried to place a call, I got the
message 'Your phone is not authorized for this service'.
After eight days of research here is what I've determined seems to
have happened:
My cellular service, Comtech, had disconnected my service for
non-payment and them reconnected it minutes later because I had
actually paid my bill. They have admitted to having some problems
with their billing system of late.
Five months earlier I had PacTel as my Cellular service provider
however, because of some outright lies on PacTel's part I had the
service discontinued and switched.
Apparently, after I left PacTel they had my ESN # "tied", so I
couldn't establish new service with anyone. They claimed for
non-payment, but I have the cancelled check.
Unfortunately, for PacTel I had subscribed to my new service before
their "tie" went into effect.
Later when Comtech disconnected my service and then tried to reconnect
it the "tie" showed up and I was left without service.
My question are:
What exactly is "tie-ing"?
PacTel continues to leave my ESN# tied, even though they have no
legal (IMHO) right to do so. Are they going to pay for my lost
service and subsequent lost business?
Has anyone had an experience similar to this and how was it resolved?
I've read the back of my phone bills and flyers from the PUC that say
for non-cellular local systems, and long distance service, they can't
disconnect your service over disputed amounts until after a PUC
hearing.
However, PacTel acts just about the opposite. Not only can they
disconnect your service, but they seem able, through "tie-ing", to
disable you from all services, and they don't even have to inform you
of what they are doing.
Some opinions about PacTel:
Comtech wanted to handle this problem for me, but PacTel absolutely
refused to talk with them. I had to middle-man everything.
PacTel expected me to have kept track of everything related to my five
month old account. I tossed it all, so they basically said they
couldn't help me.
PacTel treated me like this was all my fault, and whatever the case,
it was my job to straighten things out.
<> Brian Litzinger @ APT Technology Inc., San Jose, CA
<> brian@apt.bungi.com {apple,sun,pyramid}!daver!apt!brian
<> Disclaimer: Above are my opinions and probably wrong.