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Financial Warning: The Cautionary Tale of Unchecked Bills

The sharks are out for blood, and so are we. Like real sharks, we will stop at nothing to take a bite out of your monthly bills (our prey), especially when a customer’s cell phone company decides to pull a fast one. Read on about a negotiation that started out swimmingly, and ended as a cautionary shark tale.

In early May, a Billshark user uploaded their $250 monthly T-Mobile bill to our app (monthly price before taxes & fees). One of our sharks spent a full hour on the phone with this consumer’s mobile service company, and was able to re-bundle their package with unlimited talk, text AND data at a lower fee of $223 (a $27 monthly savings!). Just when our satisfied shark was ready to help out another consumer with their monthly bills, the situation turned sticky.

When we called the customer for his savings consultation, he notified us that he was currently on his T-Mobile app and it was showing that his bill actually went UP by $75 per month, instead of down like we had negotiated on his behalf. That isn’t something our sharks would stand for and we were on it immediately.

The next two hours were spent on the phone with three different T-Mobile representatives before being put on a with a manager who told us that pulling the records from the previous conversation (very recent conversation, we might add) could take up to 48 hours (yes, FORTY EIGHT hours!).

When our shark inquired about customer escalation opportunities, we were informed the only way that could be accomplished by a customer was to send a handwritten letter (obviously, neither of us sent a letter).

After all the run around, we were more than ready to put our foot down (or fins, since we’re sharks and all). We called T-Mobile Corporate Headquarters again, after fighting to get the $10 monthly savings promised by the previous “Executive Officer.” After another lengthy one hour discussion, the (new) Executive Officer gave our customer’s account a one time $120 credit (their equivalent of $10 for 12 months time), because they weren't able to apply the $10/month as previously promised.

So while T-Mobile tried to get out of giving their customer any savings by charging them even more, we were able to fight back and claim victory after all was said and done with a total of $55 per month savings ($195/month – even lower than the previous savings!).

Now imagine that had to be you on the phone for four hours, negotiating and fighting your way up the T-Mobile ladder between five different representatives. That’s why we’re here, to save you the time, frustration, stall tactics, and ultimately your hard-earned money. You can’t outswim a shark!

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Article summary

Article: Financial Warning: The Cautionary Tale of Unchecked Bills.

Topic: The sharks are out for blood, and so are we.

Published: May 13, 2016.

Detail: The sharks are out for blood, and so are we.

Detail: In early May, a Billshark user uploaded their $250 monthly T-Mobile bill to our app (monthly price before taxes & fees).

Detail: When we called the customer for his savings consultation.

Detail: The next two hours were spent on the phone with three different T-Mobile representatives before being put on a with a manager who told us that pulling.

Article details

The sharks are out for blood, and so are we. Like real sharks, we will stop at nothing to take a bite out of your monthly bills (our prey), especially when a customer’s cell phone company decides to pull a fast one. Read on about a negotiation that started out swimmingly, and ended as a cautionary shark tale.

In early May, a Billshark user uploaded their $250 monthly T-Mobile bill to our app (monthly price before taxes & fees). One of our sharks spent a full hour on the phone with this consumer’s mobile service company, and was able to re-bundle their package with unlimited talk, text AND data at a lower fee of $223 (a $27 monthly savings!). Just when our satisfied shark was ready to help out another consumer with their monthly bills, the situation turned sticky.

When we called the customer for his savings consultation, he notified us that he was currently on his T-Mobile app and it was showing that his bill actually went UP by $75 per month, instead of down like we had negotiated on his behalf. That isn’t something our sharks would stand for and we were on it immediately.

The next two hours were spent on the phone with three different T-Mobile representatives before being put on a with a manager who told us that pulling the records from the previous conversation (very recent conversation, we might add) could take up to 48 hours (yes, FORTY EIGHT hours!).

When our shark inquired about customer escalation opportunities, we were informed the only way that could be accomplished by a customer was to send a handwritten letter (obviously, neither of us sent a letter).

After all the run around, we were more than ready to put our foot down (or fins, since we’re sharks and all). We called T-Mobile Corporate Headquarters again, after fighting to get the $10 monthly savings promised by the previous “Executive Officer.” After another lengthy one hour discussion, the (new) Executive Officer gave our customer’s account a one time $120 credit (their equivalent of $10 for 12 months time), because they weren't able to apply the $10/month as previously promised.

So while T-Mobile tried to get out of giving their customer any savings by charging them even more, we were able to fight back and claim victory after all was said and done with a total of $55 per month savings ($195/month – even lower than the previous savings!).

Now imagine that had to be you on the phone for four hours, negotiating and fighting your way up the T-Mobile ladder between five different representatives. That’s why we’re here, to save you the time, frustration, stall tactics, and ultimately your hard-earned money. You can’t outswim a shark!

Billshark negotiates internet, wireless, cable, satellite radio, and other monthly bills. Our experts handle providers for you, send updates, and work on a no savings, no fee promise so customers keep more money every month.

This Billshark blog page focuses on the sharks are out for blood, and so are we. like real sharks, we will stop at nothing to take.

Billshark blog content covers recurring monthly bills, subscriptions, budgeting decisions, and provider-related savings opportunities for consumers.

Readers can use Billshark articles to compare service costs, understand billing trends, and discover practical ways to reduce ongoing monthly expenses.

Each blog page is part of Billshark's larger money-saving library, which includes provider comparisons, cancellation guides, budgeting advice, and featured consumer finance articles.

These articles are designed to help readers make better decisions about subscriptions, telecom services, recurring monthly charges, and practical ways to keep more money each month.

Quick takeaways

  • Detail: When our shark inquired about customer escalation opportunities.
  • Detail: After all the run around, we were more than ready to put our foot down (or fins, since we’re sharks and all).
  • Detail: So while T-Mobile tried to get out of giving their customer any savings by charging them even more.
  • Detail: Now imagine that had to be you on the phone for four hours, negotiating and fighting your way up the T-Mobile ladder between five different representatives.
  • Detail: Billshark negotiates internet, wireless, cable, satellite radio, and other monthly bills.
  • Related: 3 Ways Cable Providers Take Advantage of.
  • Related: 10 Surprising Shark Facts to Celebrate Shark Week.
  • Related: Overpaying?.
  • Related: Cable Provider Customer Service: How Companies Rank.
  • Related: Why People Hate Cable & Internet Providers: 5 Reasons.
  • Related: Questions About Bills?.
  • Related: BILLSHARK Rewards Program: Save More on Your Monthly Bills.
  • Related: Product Hunt Success: The Story of Becoming the Hunted.
  • Related: Tips to Better Prepare for Next Year's Taxes.
  • Related: Mark Cuban Backed.
  • Context: This Billshark blog page focuses on the sharks are out for blood, and so are we.
  • Context: Billshark blog content covers recurring monthly bills, subscriptions, budgeting decisions, and provider-related savings opportunities for consumers.
  • Context: Readers can use Billshark articles to compare service costs, understand billing trends, and discover practical ways to reduce ongoing monthly expenses.
  • Context: Each blog page is part of Billshark's larger money-saving library, which includes provider comparisons, cancellation guides, budgeting advice, and featured consumer finance articles.
  • Context: These articles are designed to help readers make better decisions about subscriptions, telecom services, recurring monthly charges, and practical ways to keep more money each month.