[ExtMtnBkr]

So my 8700 was delivered yesterday and I called to have the blackberry plan put onto my account before moving my sim over. That was at about 10 last night. When I did it and turned the wireless on I only got a GSM signal (I'm in Manhattan - an EDGE area) the rep tol dme it might take 20 mins to convert the data plan. Grudgingly I said ok and waited it out, but now its been nearly 18 hrs and my bb only gets a GSM signal, not even GPRS which means I have no data folowing to my device. I set up the BIS client and it has polled emails but hasnt passed anything to my BB. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this?

[NJBlackBerry]

It should get to GPRS or EDGE even without the data plan. It will just show "Data Connection Refused". Have you popped the battery out and back in?

[ExtMtnBkr]

yes, i've take the battery out, restarted, etc

[d_fisher]

I would suggest pulling the battery for a minute. If you dont get EDGE, within a few minutes, I would call Cingular again.

Doug

[tfaz1]

No to minimize your problem, but is this really a "horror" story? This is annoying, but I would assume that you'll get your BB service up and running soon.

[nb_mitch]

Originally Posted by ExtMtnBkr

So my 8700 was delivered yesterday and I called to have the blackberry plan put onto my account before moving my sim over.

May not be related to your problem, probably not, but where is this SIM coming from? When I got mine, I moved my old 7290 SIM to my 8700, but I already had a BB Unlimited data plan and it recognized it and started right up.

If the SIM is coming from a non-BB, there would be nothing on it, so you should use the new SIM that came with the 8700.

[ExtMtnBkr]

its a horror story when you pair it with the absolutely afwul experience I've had with cingular from billing to equipment malfunctions since I ported my number to them in September. I don't have the time to handle this mess and my assistant isn't technically savvy enough to do it for me.

my sim is from my personal voice plan (wanted to only carry i device) but it is a new 64k sim with a qualifying ID #, the cingular rep said it should be able to connect to EDGE without a problem

[ExtMtnBkr]

this story will pretty much take the cake, i just called cingular back and they never put the data plan on my account last night, which explains why I wasn't getting any data signal - there was no data plan.
the competency of the employees cingular hires never ceases to amaze me...

[joginder]

Did you read my story...
Mr. Data plan and BB specialist asked me what is Blackberry and whether BB and RIM are two separate company...
At that time I asked him " are you in Blackberry support department " and he gracefully said YES

[gold23]

I've had similar issues with Cingular in the past, but the solution is to simply call back until you get a competent employee. When I switched data plans, it didn't "click" immediately, and I called back an hour later- it worked fine after that.

[tfaz1]

Originally Posted by ExtMtnBkr

its a horror story when you pair it with the absolutely afwul experience I've had with cingular from billing to equipment malfunctions since I ported my number to them in September. I don't have the time to handle this mess and my assistant isn't technically savvy enough to do it for me.

my sim is from my personal voice plan (wanted to only carry i device) but it is a new 64k sim with a qualifying ID #, the cingular rep said it should be able to connect to EDGE without a problem

Gotcha. I don't doubt it. I am thankful that I found these forums literally the night before I ported my number from T-Mo. Instead, I learned that I could have the best of both worlds. 8700c + T-Mo + EDGE. Nirvana.

From my limited experiences with Cingular, their reps are less than helpful, save the one that I purchased the 8700c from. He was a gem and very knowledgeable, especially about how much more expensive their plans were compared to T-Mo...

[Scotty_T]

Originally Posted by ExtMtnBkr

I don't have the time to handle this mess and my assistant isn't technically savvy enough to do it for me.

Sounds like you need a new assistant.

Not sure how a data plan not successfully being added qualifies as a "horror story".

My service with Cingular has always been satisfactory, and the coverage is greater than with Tmobile. Not to mention the 3G card I have is excellent.

[Ostinsfriend]

I too am experiencing the wrath of Cingular customer Service. Last Thrursday (Dec. 22), I purchased my lovely 8700 from a Cingular retail location. I also had the rep add the unlimited data plan while I was in the store. After charging, adding the SIM, synching etc, i noticed that that I only recieved a GSM singal.

I reviewed my Cingular Account online and didn't see any indication of a data plan (xmas day). So today, I called Cingular and had them add the Data Plan again ... they were really nice about handling this and apologetic that the store had not completed the process while on-site. 4 hours later... still GSM, no EDGE or GPRS.

Now I'm beginning to think that there's something wrong with the phone.. I called Cingular Tech support and the tech states that there is still no data plan associated with my account... please hold... 30 minutes later... Cingular is having a problem adding data plans to customers accounts and it now takes up to 5 days for them to complete this request.

I might be slow some days, and stupid on others... this this is a crock of Malarkey...taking 5 days to add a line of service to my account.

Par for the course I suppose... all mobile companies find some way to get you in the end.

I think I'm gonna go ahead and escalate this matter... stay tuned.

[stewsan]

I'm New to Cingular as I wanted the 8700. I'm traveling extensively overseas and have had to rely on Cingular Int'l Dept. They have been great. When I told the rep I was calling from Thailand...after a few minutes he offered to call me back. He did. I then asked him for the unlock code and he said something about having to be a customer for 90 days, but after about 30 minutes on the phone with him he asked for my e-mail and he sent me an unlock code. I've been using the 8700 in different countries for the past 3 weeks and it works great.

[Mike_in_nyc]

Several weeks ago I combined my voice and BB accounts when I ordered the 8700. I'm on Cingular Blue and had 500 additional monthly minutes on the account for the past several years. After the conversation I lost those minutes and have dropped from 900 minutes per month to 450 per month for voice. The jack ass rep never told me that a change to a combined voice/data plan would result in a loss of those minutes. I've tried but it cannot be restored due to the system.

This is a horror story since it costs me $20 per month extra to get the same number of minutes back.

[RLLD]

My observation has been that the movement of service, or its enhancement, requires the participation of more than one group. Communication between those groups seems almost nonexistant.
Often you will call and get to T1 support who are completely unable to understand the complexity of your issue, let alone fix it. Eventually if you escalate enough you are likely to reach a person who can facilite the right communication between the right groups and get all the pieces in place.

[iamOrange]

Originally Posted by Ostinsfriend

I too am experiencing the wrath of Cingular customer Service. Last Thrursday (Dec. 22), I purchased my lovely 8700 from a Cingular retail location. I also had the rep add the unlimited data plan while I was in the store. After charging, adding the SIM, synching etc, i noticed that that I only recieved a GSM singal.

I reviewed my Cingular Account online and didn't see any indication of a data plan (xmas day). So today, I called Cingular and had them add the Data Plan again ... they were really nice about handling this and apologetic that the store had not completed the process while on-site. 4 hours later... still GSM, no EDGE or GPRS.

Now I'm beginning to think that there's something wrong with the phone.. I called Cingular Tech support and the tech states that there is still no data plan associated with my account... please hold... 30 minutes later... Cingular is having a problem adding data plans to customers accounts and it now takes up to 5 days for them to complete this request.

I might be slow some days, and stupid on others... this this is a crock of Malarkey...taking 5 days to add a line of service to my account.

Par for the course I suppose... all mobile companies find some way to get you in the end.

I think I'm gonna go ahead and escalate this matter... stay tuned.

That really sounds crappy, I agree.... I will let you know that usually the rep in the store makes completely sure that they have added the correct data plans for one simple reason. THEY GET PAID A TON TO ADD IT.

Sorry for your bad luck.

[Ostinsfriend]

For those who stayed tuned... I still do not have a data plan associated with my account after multiple attempts to get a non-Idiot Cingular rep on the phone. I also noticed that the $50 rebate that came with my BB 8700 required that a data plan be added prior to Dec. 24. 2005... long story short.. i'm sure that when I submit the rebat paperwork the departments of Cingular no honor it due to Cingular's inability to provide the advertised service.

So, being the genius that I am.... I called Cingular one final time and explained all of the above.. and they applied a $200 credit to my account immediately. They are also sending me another rebate for $150. This means that although I have to wait 5 days for the data plan, my BB is now free... it's alot of shi* to go through, but I'll take a free device and wait 5 days... cause work email is not all that important when it comes to have a cool handheld.

I'm sure there is more to come... I'll post if necessary...To those of you out there experiencing the wrath of loser Cingular reps.... keep on there ass** and don't stop until you're compensated. Until then.. Good Luck.

[Rubicant]

Keep up the good fight man. Stick it to em.

[aristobrat]

Originally Posted by Ostinsfriend

For those who stayed tuned... I still do not have a data plan associated with my account after multiple attempts to get a non-Idiot Cingular rep on the phone.

FWIW, the telecom dept in the enterprise-sized company I work for has dropped Cingular from its list of approved vendors because of repeated customer service and billing issues similar to those listed in this thread.

Verizon and T-Mobile now get all of our business, with T-Mobile getting more and more now that their data network covers more of the US than Verizons.