The Orlando Sentinel, Fla., Greg Dawson column: New BlackBerry turns out to be a real lemon

Nov 13, 2008 (The Orlando Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- AMZN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Dear Greg: In September, I purchased two BlackBerry mobile phones with T-Mobile service plans on Amazon.com. After the first few days, I couldn't get one of the BlackBerrys to work. I returned it to Amazon; never used the SIM card or phone number. I asked T-Mobile to kill that phone account, but they refused because I didn't cancel within 14 days. I contacted Amazon, but they won't help me with T-Mobile or send me another BlackBerry. Thus, for two years, I am stuck paying for service for a phone I don't have. And if my bill isn't more than $100 a month, per the agreement, they can charge me full price for a phone I paid $1 for on Amazon, -- but no longer have! If I cancel, they'll charge me a $200 termination fee. What kind of nonsense is this?

ROB MURRAY

ORLANDO

Dear Rob: Inspired nonsense! Are you sure that you were dealing with Amazon and T-Mobile -- and not the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts? Did any of the customer service reps happen to be named "Alice"? Curiouser and curiouser. I sent a message up the rabbit hole to T-Mobile headquarters and received this reply. "T-Mobile regrets any inconvenience this matter may have caused Mr. Murray. Pursuant to his request, T-Mobile has canceled the line and removed all charges associated with it." You may now wear the Cheshire Cat grin.

Dear Greg: I was contacted by the law firm Riddle & Associates concerning an unpaid bill. When I called back, the man who answered asked how I wanted to pay the $120 bill. I asked him what it was for. He said it was a 1992 Florida Hospital bill. I told him I did not have an unpaid bill with them. The man said I had to pay the bill regardless of what Florida Hospital says, so I better have my credit card or checkbook ready. I called Florida Hospital and confirmed that I do not owe them any money. I tried to get the Florida Hospital rep on the phone with Riddle, but the man there just connected us to an answering machine.

MACKEL WARREN

ORLANDO

Dear Mackel: Back down the rabbit hole! After finding it on the Internet, I contacted Riddle & Associates in Houston and received this panicky reply: "We have changed our name to Riddle, Butts & Akiens. We are not and have not ever been affiliated with Riddle & Associates Collection Agency, which is located in Utah. We receive calls and complaints on a daily basis from individuals who think we are connected to this agency. Everyone who calls is fed up. They say the man calling them is very rude and calls their home 10 times a day if not more. All I can do is wish Mr. Warren the best, and hope you find the right person to contact." That would be Jesse Riddle, listed by the Better Business Bureau Web as president of Riddle & Associates -- though it's not one of the better businesses listed. The BBB has processed 159 complaints against Riddle in the past three years. Jesse Riddle has not responded to my messages. To be continued.

Dear Greg: We have a credit card with a major home-improvement store. The credit limit was $1,300. In September, we paid off the total balance. Shortly after that we received notice from the card company that our credit limit was being lowered to $210, despite the fact that nothing on our credit report had changed in the past two years and our FICO (credit) score actually increased 36 points! What are these companies thinking?

NICOLE HOGG

WARNER ROBINS, GA.

Dear Nicole: I have no clue. Go ask Alice. It's been that kind of day.

Getting the runaround? E-mail Greg at gdawson@orlandosentinel.com; or call 407-420-5618; or write to Greg Dawson, Orlando Sentinel, 633 N. Orange Ave., MP-218, Orlando FL 32801. Greg doesn't mean to be rude, but due to volume he can't respond to most calls and letters. See Greg on The Daily Buzz at 10:20 a.m. Mondays on WRDQ-Channel 27 and read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/consumerfile.

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