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General discussion

Poor customer support from Inphonic.com/Wirefly.com

Jul 19, 2004 9:53PM PDT

I placed an order on 6/17/04 which was the beginning of a nightmare! I could not get accurate inforamtion about my order and their customer service hides behind email because I was unable to contact anyone by telephone. I was told on one occasion(via email) that my order had been shipped but when I attempted to check on the shipping status I was informed that my order was still being processed. Finally, after three weeks I received the telephone with a congratulatory letter welcoming me as a customer and informing me of my new wireless telephone number with AT&T but by then I had decided to cancel my order and return the phone. I followed their instructions to return the phone and when I called AT&T to cancel the service I was informed that a number had not been activated for me and the number Wirefly/Inphonic told me was mine, was actually assigned to someone else and in use. When I called to get a return authorization I finally got to speak with someone in customer service who wanted to know why I wanted to return the phone. He didn't seem to be too concerned when I outlined the problems I had experienced.

Discussion is locked

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Re: S.C.A.M. = wirefly/infonic
Jan 13, 2006 3:55AM PST

A class action is being readied, so if interested, would like to hear from you - wireflyclassaction@yahoo.com

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SCAM
Feb 6, 2006 1:40AM PST

I believe the fax number of 651-762-9717 belongs to an independant rebate company. They ripped me off on a rebate for software. They must do rebates for a number of Wirefly and a number of other companies.

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I was able to cancel my order.
Feb 8, 2006 12:40AM PST

After reading what everyone here had to say, I'm relieved to say I was able to get my order cancelled. I placed my order Monday but they hadn't even processed it yet. So I decided to go through Cingular. I figure it'll be cheaper to do that if wirefly wasn't going to accept my rebates. I emailed them and told them I needed the forms and they sent me a link to a page that wasn't there. When I called to cancel the number talked about the website and hung up. I was finally able to get through and cancel the order.

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try getting your free phone rebate. haa!
Mar 23, 2006 5:38AM PST

i too wish i had paid more attention when ordering from wirefly. normally i would never order without researching but decided they were going thru cingular so it couldn't be a scam. after waiting months to send in my rebate i have now resubmitted via mail and fax and i assume i can kiss that money goodbye. but i deserve what i don't get. by now i know better than to buy from ANYONE without goggling them. so i guess i wasn't really surprised to see all the complaints when i finally checked today. i have told cingular i will not be renewing my contract with them or anyone else who allows wirefly to sell their services. obviously by now all these providers are well aware that wirefly is using their names to rip off customers and as long as they continue their realtionship with them, they are just as guilty as wirefly is of STEALING peoples money.

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THE BIGGEST SCAM EVER!!!!
Apr 20, 2006 2:29PM PDT

IN AUGUST OF 2005 I ORDERED 2 PHONES THAT HAD A REBATE IN THE AMOUNT OF $170 EACH, THE BEGINNING OF A TERRIBLE ORDEAL. AFTER WAITING FOR THE TIME TO PASS IN ORDER TO SEND IN MY REBATE FINALLY(110 DAYS LATER) I DID. THEY NEVER RECIEVED IT SO I SENT IT A SECOND TIME, THEY DIDNT RECIEVE IT AGAIN (now, what are the chances of that?) SO I SENT IT IN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THEY ARE NO REBATE REPS AVAILABLE BY PHONE, IF YOU FINALLY GET TO SPEAK TO ONE THEY ARE JUST GIVING YOU THE RUN AROUND. FINALLY I HAD CINGULAR CALL THEM AND THEY SAID ITEMS WERE MISSING BUT I COULD FAX THEM AND I WOULD GET MY REBATE.....SO I DID, BUT NO REBATE , NOW I SPOKE TO THEM AND THEY SAID TIMES UP SORRY.. YEA RIGHT!! THIER SCAMMERS AND HAVE VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE I REGRET BUYING FROM THEM AND REALLY WISH THAT COMPANIES LIKE THIS WOULD NOT BE IN BUISINESS. TERRIBLE TO THNK THAT IF I WOULD HAVE JUST BOUGHT MY PHONE FROM CINGULAR I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH HONEST PEOPLE AND NOT SCAMMERS ... BAD DECISION.

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WIREFLY BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Jun 7, 2006 9:07AM PDT

lET SUE THEM.

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I WAS SCAMMED BY WIREFLY!!!
Jul 18, 2006 7:12AM PDT

On Jan 20, 2006 I purchased two Motorolla Razr V3 phones and a T-Mobile subscription from www.Wirefly.com and was promised two $90 customer appreciation rebates (one for each phone) if I follow all the requrements for the submission. I meticulously followed their instructions, that is waited for 60 days after activation, filled in all the necessary paper work and included copies of the bills and UPC barcodes and sent my rebate submissions. They provided web site address www.cellphonerebates.com where the status of the rebate could be checked.

After about 3 weeks from my submission of the rebate I check the site and found that my submissions were registered and assigned sumbission id. It also said that the submissions were being processed. I checked the site from time to time and always got the same message about my rebate status "We have received your submission and it is being processed".

In the rebate form it was written that the checks would be mailed within 150 days from activation date or 10 weeks of their receipt of the completed rebate form. After all the deadlines passed I sent an e-mail asking about my rebate status and even got a response from them reassuring me that the rebates were approved but they couldn't say when the checks would be mailed. I waited and checked their site patiently until one day when I found that there is no track of my submissions on their redesigned site. By the way, the new site does not provide any contact information or e-mail forms to inquire about the rebate status. I called (866) 800-4303 - the contact No. on the rebate form - the recording prompted me to call (866) 607 9877 which was constantly busy and on Wirefly web site they do not deal with rebates and send you to cellphonerebates.com. I tried to call them but was told the same thing, that is to check on-line.
Thus, after 6 months, I still haven't received my rebates and they have not responded to my inquiries. Clearly this website is conducting a SCAM and they are RIPPING OFF innocent buyers like me.

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class action suit
Jul 18, 2006 11:16PM PDT

Adelle:
Call MS. Carter at 202-727-2102. She is handling all the rebate complaints. She is from the Office of the AG, Consumer & Trade Protection Section in Washington, DC. This process includes all the people who have been "ripped off" by Wirefly (over 2000 of us). Thiss class action suit covers all the states not just DC.
Good luck
PS there is a website involved and it was recommended that i fax my info instead of using the website to be sure that it was received.
Margie

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Important Notice About Wirefly Rebates
Jul 21, 2006 12:53AM PDT

I found this notice on the Inphonic website - hope it helps!
****************************************************
Wirefly is transitioning to a new database system and rebate processor to enhance the Wirefly customer experience.

During the data migration, rebates that you submitted may not be visible in our online tracking system. This is temporary and is scheduled be completed by September 2006. In the meantime, we are continuing to process and pay rebate claims during this transition. If you have questions about a specific rebate submission, you may call our dedicated rebate hotline:

(866) 607-9877

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition.

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I GOT THE HELP I NEEDED.
Aug 25, 2006 12:18AM PDT

I CONTACTED JON DELAHAY AT:


jdelahay@inphonic.com


AND IN 17 DAYS I CASHED MY CHECK FOR $500, THE TOTAL REBATE FOR MY TWO PHONES.IT TOOK 54 WEEKS SINCE I SIGNED UP FOR THE PHONES AND SERVICE,WHICH LEFT ABOUT 28 WEEKS FOR THEM TO PROCESS THE REBATES. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOSE THE REBATE, BUT I E-MAILED HIM, TOLD HIM MY STORY(ALONG WITH FOREWARDING THE ENTIRE STRING IF CORRESPONDENCE I HAD WITH THE COMPANY IN ARIZONA THAT GAVE ME "THE RUN-AROUND") I THINK THEY GOT IN OVER THEIR HEADS, BUT WANT TO DO EVERYBODY RIGHT AS SOON AS THEY CAN. KEEP IN MIND, IF YOU DID NOT FOLLOW THE STEPS ACCURATELY AND INCLUDE EVERYTHING NEEDED FOR YOUR PARTICULAR REBATE, IT WILL DELAY OR EVEN VOID THE STATUS OF SAID REBATE. I HOPE THIS CAN HELP ANYONE THAT HAS ISSUES WITH THIS COMPANY.

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inphonic SUCKS!!!!!
Jan 12, 2006 9:10AM PST

I ordered two phones a pink one for my wife and a samsung pm-840 (black camera phone) anyways they took like ,a week and a half to get here and they sent the wrong phone .Instead of getting the black camera phone ,i got some cheap ****** version of i don't know what!!! They are a bunch of incompetent idiots.How hard is it to write down a persons order and get it right and then send it out.Not to mention i was on hold for about an hour waiting for the fools on the other end to answer but i guess they had other (more important )things to do with their time.

Im pissed!! this kind of **** happens all the time and it's getting a little sickening .

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Check this out. Finally the expose starts.
Jan 13, 2006 3:24AM PST
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Re: Check this out. Finally the expose starts.
Jan 14, 2006 2:36AM PST

And because a class action is being readied - if interested, contact wireflyclassaction@yahoo.com

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ahahahaha
Jan 30, 2006 11:39AM PST

i can hardly wait to see how this works out
it's gonna be a circus of fun

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re: Check this out. Finally the expose starts.
Jan 18, 2006 3:54AM PST

Great link, thanks! This really helps. Thank God I checked the post before I placed my order!!!!!

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Shady Rebates
Feb 2, 2006 10:39PM PST

I bought two cingular phones through wirefly. Only one phone was processed by wirefly for a rebate. I was told the other phone had an incomplete submission. Since I put in both phone rebates at the same time, they were both identical except for phone number, serial number. The forms were literally identical, yet they refused to process one. I guess they figured I'd settle for half a rebate. I left email messages, I resent everything by certified mail. I did finally get to speak with a human and she told me to fax it (last december) and that would be quicker. Ha.

All to no avail! I then sent ddennis an email directly on the 23rd of Jan. Even she hasn't had the decency to respond. I think legal action will be necessary, I also think that given the number of complaints on this forum that Cnet had better review their policy on so called trusted merchants. Having their name attached to this Wirefly / Inphonic can only lead to more (legal) problems for them. Also, my purchase was first though the buy.com website who was representing Wirefly and I've purchased a considerable amount of items, for a few of my customer companies that I have worked with. I also contacted buy.com with no response. I won't be doing any business with them either.

Next step. hmmm.

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Re: Poor customer support from Inphonic.com/Wirefly.com
Aug 6, 2004 5:59AM PDT

I am glad some else had already posted this. I ordered three phones and service from Wirefly.com through AT&T. When I got confirmation of my orders through email, the quoted terms on phone changed. I called their customer service and asked them to make good on their promise. They refused to honor their commitment they made on phone. As a result I cancelled the orders. They sent me emails confirming cancellation of the orders. At the end of month I received phone bills from AT & T. I called AT & T and complained about the bill. I told them that do no have any phone service with them. They turned me over to their fraud departmnet who took all my detailed information and put an alert on the account. They also asked me to report this to all three credit reporting agencies. Which I did. Now guess what, because of an alert of identity theft on my name, it is very difficult to get credit any place else. Don't we live in a wonderful world?????????????

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Re: Poor customer support from Inphonic.com/Wirefly.com
Sep 17, 2004 2:15AM PDT

When I first bought the phone I was told that should anything happen to it, I could contact the local AT&T store for warranty repairs. So I bought it thinking how could I lose. I first was told it would be overnight delivery, come to find out their overnight means 3-4 days. So I contacted them and was able to get them to refund that part of the cost ($20) and at a charge of $10 they were to ship it 2-3 day delivery (actually by their standards this is 5-7 days). So then I contacted them to confirm the shipping arrangements had been made and the phone had been shipped, they then told me that it had moved to 7-10 day ground del. (I think you can do the actual math) but I fought this and had it corrected to 2-3 day delivery.

Anyway, I get the phone and after about a week I notice that all calls are dropped at about 20 min. I call AT&T who, through Motorola, are able to tell me that this was part of a defective batch and the phone needs replaced. AT&T offers to this locally for free so I contact Inphonic to verify that they will still honor my rebate form. They tell me they will not, but if I let them handle the replacement then they will still honor the rebate. After heated talks I finally concede to let them handle the return (after all $75 is $75) but then they start talking about advance charges for the new phone to be reimbursed after the old phone is returned. Oh, but I don't think so. More heated talks ensue and I end up being promised the phone at no additional charge. I am also told I would have the new phone "overnighted" to me for delivery Friday (this was Tuesday, see a pattern?). I called Thursday to see if the phone shipped and they told me the exchange still hasn't been approved so the best they could do would be Monday (keep in mind this is set up for OVERNIGHT delivery).

So I couldn't get another phone till Monday, at which time I must have this new phone activated and mail mine back, then I have to explain to AT&T why my old SIM card had to be returned and a new one activated(Inphonic requires this as well)so that I am not charged another activation fee. By the way, I had to do this when I got the first phone because the way that Inphonic/ Wirefly handled it the first time (assigning me a temp. number and had me port my old number locally due to them not wanting to deal with Sprint) made it look as though I had activated the phone twice, AND IN ANOTHER CITY.

Bottom line, the prices may be great but just hope you don't actually have to deal with their customer service.

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Re: Poor customer support from Inphonic.com/Wirefly.com
Sep 18, 2004 7:55AM PDT

because of an alert of identity theft on my name, it is very difficult to get credit any place else


We had to do this when someone tried to apply for credit in our name but I didn't know it would hurt you trying to get credit later on. We got a $20,000 loan from the back several months after all this and we didn't have a problem. Maybe it's not the same thing but we had to call equifax and such and they put an alert on our credit so if anyone tries to apply for credit in our name again we are supposed to get notified to make sure it's really us or something like that.

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Re: Poor customer support from Inphonic.com/Wirefly.com
Sep 22, 2004 3:29AM PDT

what is their customer service phone number? I can't find it anywhere. They sold us a rate plan that TMobile doesn't even have and accroding to TMobile, only they can fix it.

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Re: Poor customer support from Inphonic.com/Wirefly.com
Oct 6, 2004 2:36AM PDT

I have a customer support number of 888-378-6509. Don't expect a lot of support, though. This is clearly an offshore call center sweatshop, with CSRs that barely speak the language, and have a hard time reading off the script.

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Re: Poor customer support from Inphonic.com/Wirefly.com
Aug 11, 2005 5:48AM PDT

There are NO bluetooth headset from WIREFLY.
I placed my order 3 weeks ago. I received the phone within 4 days of the order, but the order came with no bluetooth headset. I call the costomer service on the same day I received the phone for my bluetooth. They reply that I will receive it within 3 to 4 days. Guess what? I didn't receive it. Attempt to call them again after 4 days. Still have the same answer wait for 3 to 4 days. I quit call them, because it take 30 minutes to get to the costumer service each time I call. 21 days past after place the my order, I try to call them again. I have the a diffrent answer "bluetooth are out of stock and they are on back order." Wow, it take them that long to let I know it in back order. After the 15 days policy of the return item from Wirefly. If I know about the back order I will cancel and return the phone on the same day I received the phone. I ask the costumer service when will the bluetooth send to me. They answer "7 to 10 days." I hope it come in 7 to 10 days. To get you the rebate for your phone are very hassle. If you want to receive your free BLUETOOTH HEADSET FROM WIREFLY, you have to wait at least 30 days. If you receive it! Never ever I will place any order from Wirefly again.

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no bluetooth
Aug 11, 2005 1:07PM PDT

I agree totally. There are no bluetooth. I ordered well over 4 weeks ago and I get the same response. It just a scam to hook consumers and never deliver. I will never recommend wirefly.

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Inphonic Customer Support
Aug 31, 2005 3:25AM PDT

Dear Valued Customer,

We are sorry to hear of your experience. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction. Please send an e-mail including your original order number to customerinquiry@inphonic.com, and I will personally investigate your situation and ensure that somebody follows up with you. Thank you for your patience.

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FRAUD ALERT younevercall.com/inphonic.com/wirefly.om

My experience with younevercall.com (inphonic.com) has been an absolute nightmare and I am currently consulting an attorney in regards to taking legal action against the company. The message below is a message I sent to my bank's fraud department explaining some of my experience with younevercall.com (same company as inphonic).


?This is a MAJOR SCAM and before I even begin to explain what has happened here, I need to alert you that what this company is doing is absolutely unheard of and could not be more illegal than it is. If you look into my account history, you will notice that back in July, there was a charge in the same amount from the same merchant. I have sent an e-mail on here regarding the charge, and was sent all the appropriate forms so I can properly dispute the charge. What happened back in July is that I ordered a phone from younevercall.com. I got an e-mail from them letting me know that my application was approved but that Cingular is asking for a $100 deposit. The e-mail also said that unless I provide a form of payment for the deposit, they will not proceed with the processing of my application. It said that if I didn't wish to pay the deposit, no reply was necessary. Well, for some very strange reason, 2 days later, they sent me another e-mail letting me know that my phone was getting shipped! This wasn't supposed to happen at all which is the reason I disputed the charge. Also, because of the delay in the processing, the phone which wasn?t supposed to be sent to me at all, arrived at my house with my being on vacation in Europe. While overseas, FedEx attempted to deliver the phone but nobody was here to sign. It was shipped back to the sender after about a week. In the meantime, I had returned to the U.S. and have disputed the charge. I was given provisional credit from Washington Mutual (my bank). By the way, I had attempted to contact the merchant directly numerous times, including by e-mail. I heard from them once. The e-mail said "looking into this issue now". That was the first and last time I had heard from them.
Once, I had returned to the States, since it appeared that they were no longer asking for a 100$ deposit and I still needed a new phone, I asked if it was possible to have the phone shipped again and if not, whether I could fill out another application. I also said that I had found out from FedEx online tracking that the original package had been returned to them. Well, after not hearing from them at all for over 10 days I went ahead and ordered the same phone from another website. Two days later, I get an e-mail from younevercall.com, acknowledging the receipt of my e-mail by the office of the president (?!) and also letting me know that my phone was going to be shipped to me. Also, the e-mail said that FedEx had lost the package, which according to the FedEx online tracking, is not true. On FedEx.com, it said the package had been returned to sender. The merchant didn't get in touch with me at all for 2 weeks and then all of a sudden, they are letting me know my phone is being shipped! Well, by then I had placed an order with a different website and I no longer needed their services. After receiving the phone, ( this was 3 days ago), naturally, I was getting ready to send it back. On the receipt which came with the package, it said I needed to call and request an RMA (return merchandise authorization) number before returning the package. So, yesterday, I called and this is when even more ridiculous things started happening.
I was speaking with somebody called Anita. After letting her know that I would like to return the phone, she first told me that I had 2 phones and was asking me which one I would like to return! After a long time she said she realized that was because they had sent one phone before and the second phone was a replacement. Then immediately she said that it is too late to return the phone!!! I was speaking with her yesterday, and it had been only 2 days since I had received the phone!! I explained everything to her but she said that my trial period was over (they counted the trial from the original order date back in July when they weren't supposed to send the phone at all!). She then looked into all the e-mail correspondence and tried to blame me by saying that I still wanted the phone after returning to the country. I cannot even remember all the insane things she was saying, but it was more than clear that no matter what I said, she would not allow me to return the phone. I also told her that I had disputed the charge a long time ago and that I was given a provisional credit from my bank. Anyway, no matter how many times I tried to explain that they weren't supposed to have sent the phone in the first place and all other illegal things they have done, and the fact that I had just received the phone 2 days ago, the answer was no. I could no longer return the phone. I finally asked to speak to a supervisor. He said his name was (Sydney or Cindy and he was a senior supervisor). I explained the whole situation and told him I needed to return the phone which I had just received 2 days ago. He asked me to confirm whether I had disputed the charge with my bank (the previous representative must have told him that). I said that I have and explained everything I just told you and also to the female representative. I let him know that I already have the same phone, which I ordered from another company, and I am keeping my phone number and my services with Cingular but that I no longer needed their phone. I explained to him that my bank had already given me a provisional credit for the charge they posted to my account and that I would like to return the phone. I told him that if they want me to keep the phone and the money, that would be fine with me. But if they wanted the phone, they should let me return it. He said he was going to look into this issue and get back to me within 24 hours. He took my contact info etc.
Well, 24 hours had passed and I am ABSOLUTELLY OUTRAGED and DISGUSTED to have JUST found out here on my online statement that they just put another 249.99 charge on my account here yesterday, after the phone call I had made to their customer service!!! Nobody got in touch with me, he never called but they just charged me 249.99 again!! And I'm sure this is because I told them I was given provisional refund from my bank. The time is ticking away, they wouldn?t give me an RMA number so I can properly return the phone which I've had for 3 days now, and I'm afraid the time is going to go by and the next thing they are going to say will be that it?s been more than a month (which I believe is the trial period length) and that I can for sure not return the phone any longer.
If you could please advise me what to do it would be more than appreciated. This is absolutelly unheard of and I just can't imagine how they can get away doing this! Oh by the way, when I was speaking to Anita, that female representative, after explaining to her that they weren't supposed to charge my card and send the phone in the first place back in July, because they were asking for a $100 deposit for which I never provided a form of payment, she said: "well you provided us with a credit card in the first place when you made an order"! Can you believe that? I told her what their e-mail said: that unless I provide a form of payment for the deposit, my application will not be processed . I told her that the credit card info was there for the phone only, which couldn't be more clear, but she kept saying I gave them my credit card info. She was completely ignoring the fact the my credit card was given to pay for the phone ONLY, not for the deposit which is why they sent me an e-mail to provide them with a form of payment for the deposit. She was ignoring what I was saying and completely contradicting the e-mail which their company sent me before?.?

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Customer Support
Sep 6, 2005 1:23AM PDT

Dear Valued Customer,

We are sorry to hear of your experience. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction.

Please send an e-mail including your original order number to customerinquiry@inphonic.com, and I will personally investigate your situation and ensure that somebody follows up with you.

Thank you for your patience.

Regards,

Customer Support

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inphonic.com equals incompetence
Sep 6, 2005 5:40AM PDT

You'll never have even 1% customer satisfaction. I've just cancelled my order, after two weeks from date of my order. You are the worst company where I've ever bought. You are working unacceptable.

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INPHONIC - CUSTOMER SERVICE
Oct 30, 2005 10:41PM PST

Dear nfr,

We are sorry to hear of your experience. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction.

Please send an e-mail including your original order number to customerinquiry@inphonic.com, and I will personally investigate your situation and ensure that somebody follows up with you.

Thank you for your patience.

Regards,

Neil
[Inphonic - Customer Service Department]

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Inphonic Customer Service Response
Sep 20, 2005 6:45AM PDT

Dear Valued Customer,

We are sorry to hear of your experience. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction. Please send an e-mail including your original order number to customerinquiry@inphonic.com, and I will personally investigate your situation and ensure that somebody follows up with you. Thank you for your patience.

Regards,

Inphonic Customer Service Response

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From another angry customer?
Sep 28, 2005 6:28PM PDT

What a nice reply! However, my recent experience indicates otherwise, and I will write you under separate cover. Basically, Wirefly, Inphonics or whatever other alias your company uses has failed to provide anything remotely approaching customer satisfaction. It more closely resembles criminal activity.

I would love to resolve the matter??I want my money back. Dealing with Inphonics has been a completely rotten experience.

Potential buyers beware!! They lie.