I DID IT! All you who said I had to pay my cingular bill--in your face! Sorry, I'm so thrilled that I got my roaming charges cut in half. After a week of considering bad credit (in which my friend reminded me i would need to buy a new car next year and finding a real estate opportunity in which i might want a second mortgage). I decided i was too young to hang up my coat and hide from bill collectors.
When I told my friend about my success, she asked, "can you get my bill reduced?"
So I'll tell you how I did it. Most importantly it was not on my own. I did the all famous "conference call" with my father. He is a master of such things...the main qualities my father possesses that lead to his success in bill disputes are as follows: a calm demeanor, "old school" business words like credence and party line (definition is the 1950's version of a conference call !), and a certain aloofness. OH, and don't forget probably the most important TIME to spare and PATIENCE. No matter how savy us young-uns are, there is something to say for the lost quality of aged experience mixed with a genuine aloofness, and half a day to settle a dispute!
I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut for most of our call. It took 3 cingular reps hearing our story to get to someone who actually had the authority to negotiate with us--but we finally got there. But kudos to my dad for his perseverence, skill, and yes, cluelessness. He fought the noble battle for his daughter, and kept out of Iraq references, sware words, and defiance. His daughter needs to take some anger management classes from him :)
