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Another thread kind of reminded me of this story (it had nothing to do with it. I don't know how it reminded me of this, but it did).
Customer called in a few months ago to cancel his service. The details will shock and amaze you.
ME: Is there any particular reason you want to cancel? You've only had the account for 4 months.
SC: Yeah, cause it's not even my phone. I don't use it all, someone else does. I got the account for them.
ME (so far so good. People get lines all the time for friends/family with poor credit so they don't have to pay deposits. BTW, don't do this. It never ends well, and usually winds up destroying a relationship, I've seen it hundreds of times. Oh, right, back to the story): That's understandable. You know, we can transfer the responsibility of the account to the other person, that way they can keep the line but in their own name.
SC: Yeah, well I can't do that. I don't even know the guy.
ME: You, what? (this threw me, I'll admit)
SC: I was in the store to pay my bill, and there was a guy there who couldn't get service because of his credit or whatever. So I thought I'd be a nice guy and help him out.
ME: You... you activated an account for someone... you don't even know?
SC: Yeah. Anyway, now you guys are sending me letters that the line will be canceled if it doesn't get paid. So just turn it off.
ME: Well, we can cancel the line, but you should probably discuss this with the user if you can locate him at all, since it is in your name.
SC: I don't have any idea who has it or where he is. If he wants service, he can get his own account.
ME: Are you-?
(Had to bite my tongue before "insane" slipped out)
ME: So... you used your SSN to have a line activated for someone you met in the store?
SC: Right. And now I want it off.
ME: Okay, well, we can cancel the account but there will be a Termination Fee.
SC: Fine, whatever. I'm not the one using it anyway, so charge whatever you want. I'm done paying for it.
ME: But, it's on your Social Security Number. So if you don't pay, and it goes to collections, it will be on your credit.
SC: The hell it will. It's not my phone. I'm not responsible for it.
ME: Actually, you are. You are the legal responsible party for the account, regardless of who's using it.
SC: You know what? You guys want the money? Fine. Find the guy using it and make him pay it. But you will not send me to collections.
ME: Unfortunately, if it doesn't get paid, then yes, we will.
SC: This is bullsh*t! I go out of my way to be nice to somebody, and this is what I get for it?
ME: Look, I understand-
SC: Then don't hurt my credit!
ME: You activated a line under your information, then gave the phone to a random stranger.
SC: All I did was let them use my information to get him a phone.
ME: Yes. The credit check was run on your information. The line was also activated in your name...
SC: This is unbelievable! Your making me pay for a line that I don't have and never used.
ME: But, you activated the line, signed the agreement, and put everything in your name. Would you co-sign a loan for someone you didn't know?
SC: Yeah, well, I guess the lesson here is don't ever be nice to people and help them out.
ME: ...
I can understand trying to help somebody, but this was the wrong way to do it. He honestly thought they were going to bypass the other guy's ineligibility by running his info, then turn everything over to the user. Still, the only thing he knew about this guy was that he had terrible credit (there are only a very few people who don't even get the option to activate by paying a deposit), and he hands him a phone in his name!
Customer called in a few months ago to cancel his service. The details will shock and amaze you.
ME: Is there any particular reason you want to cancel? You've only had the account for 4 months.
SC: Yeah, cause it's not even my phone. I don't use it all, someone else does. I got the account for them.
ME (so far so good. People get lines all the time for friends/family with poor credit so they don't have to pay deposits. BTW, don't do this. It never ends well, and usually winds up destroying a relationship, I've seen it hundreds of times. Oh, right, back to the story): That's understandable. You know, we can transfer the responsibility of the account to the other person, that way they can keep the line but in their own name.
SC: Yeah, well I can't do that. I don't even know the guy.
ME: You, what? (this threw me, I'll admit)
SC: I was in the store to pay my bill, and there was a guy there who couldn't get service because of his credit or whatever. So I thought I'd be a nice guy and help him out.
ME: You... you activated an account for someone... you don't even know?
SC: Yeah. Anyway, now you guys are sending me letters that the line will be canceled if it doesn't get paid. So just turn it off.
ME: Well, we can cancel the line, but you should probably discuss this with the user if you can locate him at all, since it is in your name.
SC: I don't have any idea who has it or where he is. If he wants service, he can get his own account.
ME: Are you-?
(Had to bite my tongue before "insane" slipped out)
ME: So... you used your SSN to have a line activated for someone you met in the store?
SC: Right. And now I want it off.
ME: Okay, well, we can cancel the account but there will be a Termination Fee.
SC: Fine, whatever. I'm not the one using it anyway, so charge whatever you want. I'm done paying for it.
ME: But, it's on your Social Security Number. So if you don't pay, and it goes to collections, it will be on your credit.
SC: The hell it will. It's not my phone. I'm not responsible for it.
ME: Actually, you are. You are the legal responsible party for the account, regardless of who's using it.
SC: You know what? You guys want the money? Fine. Find the guy using it and make him pay it. But you will not send me to collections.
ME: Unfortunately, if it doesn't get paid, then yes, we will.
SC: This is bullsh*t! I go out of my way to be nice to somebody, and this is what I get for it?
ME: Look, I understand-
SC: Then don't hurt my credit!
ME: You activated a line under your information, then gave the phone to a random stranger.
SC: All I did was let them use my information to get him a phone.
ME: Yes. The credit check was run on your information. The line was also activated in your name...
SC: This is unbelievable! Your making me pay for a line that I don't have and never used.
ME: But, you activated the line, signed the agreement, and put everything in your name. Would you co-sign a loan for someone you didn't know?
SC: Yeah, well, I guess the lesson here is don't ever be nice to people and help them out.
ME: ...
I can understand trying to help somebody, but this was the wrong way to do it. He honestly thought they were going to bypass the other guy's ineligibility by running his info, then turn everything over to the user. Still, the only thing he knew about this guy was that he had terrible credit (there are only a very few people who don't even get the option to activate by paying a deposit), and he hands him a phone in his name!
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