T-Mobile to Pay $40 Million Fine for Faking Outgoing Calls to Rural Areas

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile will pay $40 million to the U.S. Treasury for failing to correct ongoing issues with call delivery to rural areas and fooling customers with false ringtones, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today.

The FCC decided that T-Mobile violated the Communications Act following an investigation launched after T-Mobile subscribers were unable to reach customers served by three rural carriers in Wisconsin. T-Mobile claimed it had fixed the issue, but the FCC continued to get numerous complaints from T-Mobile callers attempting to reach at least 10 rural areas. From FCC chairman Ajit Pai:

"It is a basic tenet of the nation's phone system that calls be completed to the called party, without a reduction in the call quality--even when the calls pass through intermediate providers. The FCC is committed to ensuring that phone calls to all Americans, including rural Americans, go through."

According to the FCC, T-Mobile injected false ringtones into "hundreds of millions of calls" to rural areas to trick T-Mobile callers into thinking the phone was ringing on the other end of the line when it was not. False ringtones can cause a caller to hang up thinking no one is available, and it can also "create a misleading impression" that a caller's service provider is not responsible for the failed call, says the FCC.

The FCC also said that rural call completion problems have "significant and immediate public interest ramifications," leading to lost revenue for rural businesses, impediments for medical professionals unable to reach patients in rural areas, families who can't reach relatives, and "dangerous delays" in public safety communications.

T-Mobile has admitted to violating the FCC's prohibition on inserting false ringtones and failing to correct problems affecting calls to select rural areas. In addition to the $40 million payment, T-Mobile has also agreed to implement a compliance plan to fix these issues.

Article Link: T-Mobile to Pay $40 Million Fine for Faking Outgoing Calls to Rural Areas

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Such a shady company.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I switched to another shady company, AT&T instead. But at least this one doesn’t drop calls, T-Mobile just sucked. All the ads and cool CEOs in the world can’t fix shoddy in building coverage.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Such a shady company.

All four major carriers are shady in one way or another.

 

[25ghosts]

T-Mobile is the most dirty and disgusting company on the planet. In Germany they do ALL sorts of things wich are so disgusting that one could vomit. You call them and they downright refuse the issue. They give out your number to advertisers which are calling you all the time asking the same lame questions becuase they are too dumb to take note of the last call. You call T-Mobile again and let them know that you dont want the calls but they continue. They are worse than the mafia. But a global player in Germany where it USED to be owned by the Government.

Did I mention cutting calls after exactly 120 Minutes. Giving your phone edge where there is LTE. The list is very very long...

There is nothing you can do about it really. At least so it appears.

But after reading this one collects a good amount of hope !!!

My congrats to the courts who ruled on this !!!

 

[Starship67]

Such a shady company.

Yes cuz the other 2 carriers are so ethical and upstanding to never do any wrong.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I switched to another shady company, AT&T instead. But at least this one doesn’t drop calls, T-Mobile just sucked. All the ads and cool CEOs in the world can’t fix shoddy in building coverage.

The CEO deal is all an act. 100%. He's done numerous interviews and talked about how he just acts like that because it sells people. The reality is he's a total suit. Once they hit the critical mass they're looking for, he plans to drop the act and go back to wearing a suit and acting like a standard CEO. It's pretty funny that so many have bought into it.

 

[Return Zero]

I tried T-Mobile for an iPad data plan and it was the absolute worst customer service experience I've ever had. I am glad that they are "shaking up the industry" with their unique plans, prices, and services, but I wouldn't even begin to think about recommending them to anyone. Verizon and AT&T may be shady when it comes to pricing and fees, but I don't recall them ever pulling anything as egregious as faking service. Actually, the more I think about this, the more I think $40 million isn't near enough of a penalty.

 

[bbednarz]

The CEO deal is all an act. 100%. He's done numerous interviews and talked about how he just acts like that because it sells people. The reality is he's a total suit. Once they hit the critical mass they're looking for, he plans to drop the act and go back to wearing a suit and acting like a standard CEO. It's pretty funny that so many have bought into it.

Call it funny or buying in, but when I switched to T-Mobile I started saving $60/month on my cell phone bill. Plus the savings with T-Mobile Tuesdays.. MLB Extra Innings for free the last 2 seasons is a pretty nice giveaway... Is the coverage as good as ATT? No. Is ATT worth $60/month more? Not even close. He can act however he wants and do whatever he wants as long as my bill remains low.

 

[benroberts3]

I used to be with T-Mobile and it was awful. I spent almost 2 years trying to convince myself that it was a better network than Verizon. I must have called the T-Mobile customer service line at least once every other week with a new complaint or issue. When I finally switched back to Verizon it was a night and day difference. I have not called into Verizon customer service in over a year and a half

 

[Shanesan]

can’t fix shoddy in building coverage.

That's because the big AT&T and Verizons bought all the low-frequency channels that are good at penetrating buildings, while T-Mobile, Sprint and other smaller carriers can't compete.

It's called Wifi calling when you're in a building. It's not hard, it works wherever you have wifi, and you're not killing off the remaining competition.

Saying this, T-Mobile will have some 'splainin' ta do.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Yes cuz the other 2 carriers are so ethical and upstanding to never do any wrong.

I like how you already dropped Sprint from the conversation.

I tried T-Mobile for an iPad data plan and it was the absolute worst customer service experience I've ever had.

I've had generally good experiences with AT&T, but T-Mo's customer service blew them out of the water. Unfortunately, their coverage is non-existent at my place of work and I had to switch back to AT&T for both service and a battery that wouldn't die from constantly searching for signal.
[doublepost=1523909849][/doublepost]

That's because the big AT&T and Verizons bought all the low-frequency channels that are good at penetrating buildings, while T-Mobile, Sprint and other smaller carriers can't compete.

It's called Wifi calling when you're in a building. It's not hard, it works wherever you have wifi, and you're not killing off the remaining competition.

Saying this, T-Mobile will have some 'splainin' ta do.

1. T-Mo bought most of the 600mhz block in the US. Problem is, they haven't rolled it out nationwide, and there are no phones that use it.

2. Not everyone has wifi available to them all the time.

 

[willmtaylor]

Acting like there’s a signal and feigning a ringtone when there is none? Now THAT’S commitment to their ad campaign.

#LEGITuncarrier

 

[archer75]

That's because the big AT&T and Verizons bought all the low-frequency channels that are good at penetrating buildings, while T-Mobile, Sprint and other smaller carriers can't compete.

Verizon did, I don't think AT&T did.

And Tmobile just bought a ton of low frequency a couple of years ago. It's coming online now though few phones currently support it. I expect the new iphones will.

 

[Shanesan]

1. T-Mo bought most of the 600mhz block in the US. Problem is, they haven't rolled it out nationwide, and there are no phones that use it.

I think your final point makes a lot of sense as to why it was so affordable that T-Mobile could buy it.
[doublepost=1523910216][/doublepost]

Verizon did, I don't think AT&T did.

And Tmobile just bought a ton of low frequency a couple of years ago. It's coming online now though few phones currently support it. I expect the new iphones will.

AT&T 4G HSPA and HSPA+ use 850Mhz(Band 5) and 1900Mhz(Band 2) bands but it all depends on area if they own a license. LTE uses Band 17(700Mhz), Band 5(850Mhz), Band 2(1900Mhz), Band 4(1700/2100Mhz) currently.

 

[archer75]

I think your final point makes a lot of sense as to why it was so affordable that T-Mobile could buy it.

Not really. Carriers always roll out tech that isn't currently supported. It will be added in new phones. Always is.

 

[Christian 5G]

I'm happy with T-Mobile and can care less what others think, just like what others think of me being on T-Mobile. This is what makes the world go round, there are different sides and perspectives on every "thing".

 

[i hate phones]

works well in my area, and i'm saving a crap ton of money. there doesn't seem to be many/if any moral big companies, unfortunately, so can't say i'm surprised.

 

[Will.O.Bie]

I'm happy with T-Mobile and can care less what others think, just like what others think of me being on T-Mobile. This is what makes the world go round, there are different sides and perspectives on every "thing".

That's why having choices and finding what works for you is always a good thing. What might work for you might not work for some people, that doesn't mean the experience with the carrier you're on is considered a bad thing. I've been a Verizon customer for years. Yes they are the most expensive, but they work for me and my family. For us, the network reliability where we frequent our places can't compare to any other carrier, and we've tried them all, with Sprint being the absolute worst. I can't even remember the last time I called Verizon customer service for any network issues.

 

[5105973]

I tried T-Mobile for an iPad data plan and it was the absolute worst customer service experience I've ever had. I am glad that they are "shaking up the industry" with their unique plans, prices, and services, but I wouldn't even begin to think about recommending them to anyone. Verizon and AT&T may be shady when it comes to pricing and fees, but I don't recall them ever pulling anything as egregious as faking service. Actually, the more I think about this, the more I think $40 million isn't near enough of a penalty.

I had probably tried that same plan. It never worked. I couldn’t get a signal inside a house. No matter where I was, including DC suburbs. I figured if I couldn’t get a signal in the Nation’s Capital I wasn’t going to have much luck out in the sticks where I live and even AT&T doesn’t reach all the way into. So I never tried them for my phone.

AT&T has served us well. We had an instance of outstandingly bad customer service but they made it right. Using an Android phone with them is not so bad. They don’t bloat it up or botch it up as badly as I’ve heard people complain about Verizon doing.

I am pretty shocked to hear all this bad stuff about T-Mobile. I have no firsthand experience of them, but so far the word of mouth on this forum was either neutral or favorable. Wow.

 

[69Mustang]

I'm happy with T-Mobile and can care less what others think, just like what others think of me being on T-Mobile. This is what makes the world go round, there are different sides and perspectives on every "thing".

I'm guessing people care even less than you that you're on T-Mobile. Regarding the topic of the article, there are no sides and perspectives other than what they did was prohibited, greedy, dishonest, and all around pretty sh@#$%. It was so crappy that T-Mob didn't even bother trying to come up with a different side or perspective.

I say no one cares about you using T-Mob because we all know there isn't a right moral choice. No matter which carrier you choose someone can point to multiple crappy things that the carrier has done. From suing cities to block municipal broadband to lying to the government about expanding high speed coverage... it's a quintessential damned if you do, damned if you don't conundrum.

 

[macduke]

Wow, that's pretty bad. So many unethical companies these days. Unfortunately we don't have much of a choice as all of the telecom companies have done something awful at some point. I remember AT&T was profiting off of those "FACT" text message scams that would charge you $10/mo if you responded to the message in any way, and sometimes even if you didn't somehow. I remember getting a settlement check from AT&T that basically amounted to nothing. I also remember AT&T was shutting off service to customers who spoke badly about them online. And Verizon has always been super against net neutrality (as are most of them). At least on T-Mobile I get three smartphone lines and an iPad data line for $80/mo because I joined at a time where I figured out how to stack a bunch of discounts. And the service is a lot better now that my office is above ground. But I really wonder how John Legere will respond. Don't really see much on his Twitter except GIFs of him dancing around like an idiot.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Yes cuz the other 2 carriers are so ethical and upstanding to never do any wrong.

So it's acceptable for them to do this because the other guys do some shady things? Murder is cool cause other people rob.

 

[Septembersrain]

Well. This would explain why my friend who has the X said she was calling me and I never got a call.

Turns out, it wasn't an issue between the iPhone X and my V30+. It was an issue with T-Mobile!

She lives out in the sticks.

 

[baine]

I don't get all the "T-Mobile is awful" posts. Yes, a few years back it truly was awful, but that's not necessarily the case anymore. Personally, I switched over to Verizon (from t-mobile) a few months back thinking service was going to be great and that I would never have any problems again - well, that was not the case. 4 months later I switched back because T-mobile actually had far better coverage. And not to mention it's also cheaper. My point is, don't knock it `till you've tried it.

That being said, this was a ****** move and they deserve this fine.