| Benjamin F. Dover: Cell phone users deserve better service ASK BEN 05/31/2001 By / The Dallas Morning News
Dear Ben: I'm sick and tired of talking to you on your cell phone
and suffering through another series of "Sorry, I'm in cell-hell" hang-ups
and [recalls]. I always know when you're on Interstate 30 between Fort
Worth and Dallas because your phone reception makes me long for the days
of CB radios. (At least we expected them to have lousy reception!) When
are you going to jump on your cell phone company and speak up for all of
us across North Texas who are tired of lousy reception?
Lora in Dallas
Dear Lora: Fine. You win. I've had it, too. And I know there are
thousands of cell phone users just like us across Dallas-Fort Worth who
are worn out with predictably awful service in the same spots every
single time we're on the road. We continue to put up with it because
we're busy and don't know how (or what) to do to get it fixed. Ben's
Cell Phone Revolt is officially launched, but I need your help and the
help of anyone and everyone with a cell phone who's as !*?#$*+%@! off as
I am!
Here's what I need everyone to do:
There's a special section on my Web site where we'll begin the process
by compiling key information that I'll deliver to the "experts" at the
cell phone companies. If we're going to get them off of their collective
tails to either tune their equipment or install additional antennae in
places such as the Dallas North Tollway (southbound between Lovers Lane
and Loop 12) or I-30 (pick a spot) eastbound near Cooks Lane or
Eastchase Parkway in Fort Worth. Also, there is the under-construction
(eastbound) stretch across from Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, along
with the no-cell-service zone at the main post office in West Dallas
near Beckley Avenue. (If it's I-30 anywhere between Fort Worth and
Dallas, I know 'em all.) I'm sick and tired of it, so help me – and
yourselves – and let's force their hand to fix the system. Go to
www.bendover.com/cellphonehell. asp and be ready to give me the
following information:
• Name of your cell phone company.
• Type of phone you're using (include make and model number).
• Area of lousy service (be specific, including name of street on which
you're traveling, as well as the direction and any cross street or
visible marker).
• Time of day (if it's a consistent problem at the same time).
• Type of lousy service: Static? Echo? Complete drop-out?
• Your contact information: Including your name, e-mail address and cell
phone number.
We will get this problem fixed! Look for the results in this column as
well as on an upcoming segment on News 8 At 9/Good Morning Texas
(weekdays, 9 to 10 a.m. on WFAA-TV) in the next couple of months. Your
input is crucial – this isn't the time for apathy. Like the famous
character (played by Peter Finch) says in the movie Network: "I'm
mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
Dose of Dover For The Week: Have you noticed these nondescript
forms with fine print that have shown up in the mail during the past few
weeks? Maybe yours came in a separate mailing, but most of these notices
have been piggy-backed (included with) your monthly credit card
statements. Oh, boy!
You'll have the opportunity to halt the distribution of your name,
address, Social Security number and phone number, but only if you can
follow the not-so-clear steps covered in these "privacy notices." But
with an average of 18 notices going to every household in the nation,
there's a reasonable chance you could miss one or more of them.
Surprised?
Financial firms have until July 1 to get your approval before
distributing (selling/trading) your personal data to unaffiliated
companies. You'd better be prepared to take action and "opt out" of
having your information sold; expect to sign a form that includes your
Social Security number and full name in order to keep them from
profiting from you one more time! Launch a pre-emptive strike by "opting
out" even before you receive any notices. Call the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) at 1-888-567-8688 (toll-free) to remove
your name from marketing lists sold by our "friends" at the nation's
major credit reporting bureaus.
Benjamin Dover, author of Life After Debt and Back Off!
, is Good Morning Texas' consumer expert on WFAA-TV (Channel 8).
Send questions via or
write to him at The Dallas Morning News, Texas Living section,
P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265.
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