About MetroPCS

MetroPCS has, for many years, been very easily marketable to many subscribers in local markets and as of recent years, has spread to compete to become one of the top three prepaid cellular service providers, alongside Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA. As of lately, we have seen very entertaining commercials on basic cable channels and have also seen sponsored billboards in sports stadiums across the country.

The quality of technology that is offered within their cell phones can range from staunch beginner -- all the way up to that of a discriminating technological critic with the highest of specific requirements in selection of cellular technology. You can be someone who is purely satisfied with a phone that costs about $30.00 and you can also become impressed by more advanced technology that only technological fanatics would dream of, costing well over $300.00.

All of this, without the threat or commitment of an annual contract.

The Problem

However, one of the things that has been a long standing grudge among many customers of MetroPCS, as shared by many subscribers to blogs and message forums, is that their standard return policy, should a customer wish to partake in it, requires the following:

1) The phone be purchased in person, not online,

2) The phone be purchased at a MetroPCS Corporate Store, and not an authorized reseller,

3) The phone be attempted to be returned within seven (7) days, and

4) The phone, within this seven (7) day time span, not have more than one (1) hour of talk time on it

It is then, and only then, once all of these qualifications are met, that the clerk at the counter would even begin to entertain a cash-refund or even an exchange – and neither are guaranteed.

Regardless as to which degree of technology is built into a cellular phone, whether it be beginner's technology or the technology required for an advanced user, any cellular phone user would be very well aware that while a seven day time span is rather reasonable, it still takes much more than one hour of talk time to determine whether or not a newly purchased cellular phone has a problem that warrants a full return or exchange.

If a cellular handset has a battery strength trend that is dissatisfying to the consumer, it would take as high as 2-3 hours of talk time to make that determination. If a cellular handset has a technological glitch that causes the screen to misbehave once every 2-3 days or causes the handset to reboot automatically, this may not take place within one small hour of talk time.

The Complaint

It would appear visceral, baiting, and almost intentional, on the part of MetroPCS, to create a policy that would forbid as much as an equal-handset exchange, on any cellular handset that has more than one hour of talk time. It would appear to the standard end-user that MetroPCS would simply want to create ways to “rid themselves of their inventory” and utilize laws at their disposal to "block the exits" once customers have walked away with their new phones, for any of them that wish to return to complain about their recent purchase.

MetroPCS’s corporate officers are very well aware of laws as they relate to return policies. One not need first hire legal counsel to be aware that return policies need to be conspicuously posted at the time of purchase. MetroPCS goes even further to send you home with a copy of the return policy so as to avoid any confusion. This is what keeps them out of civil court.

How You Can Take Action

While I'm not an attorney, it'd appear that MetroPCS’s customers would likely have no legal civil claim or cause of action, but we can indeed and instead band together with our wallets and our voices. By signing this petition on change.org, you’re adding yourself to the collective of individuals who are making a commitment and saying that if MetroPCS does not acknowledge that their return policy is severely unreasonable and in many ways set up to fail the customer, and that if they do not extend the policy to reflect at least five (5) hours of talk time, all of the customers that sign this petition will take our business (and our telephone numbers) to one of their competitors, such as Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile USA, who are as of lately offering the same higher levels of technology in their handset offerings as MetroPCS.

Our Message to MetroPCS

MetroPCS, while faming itself as a prepaid cellular service provider that provides service for all, has also famed itself for turning away very innocent and honest customers with very valid claims of defect in the handsets that they purchase. Internet message boards and blogs continually talk about this and while growing as a company, they simultaneously grow the number of humble and well-meaning consumers who turn their consumer services to this company, only to be unwittingly handed devices that do not work to their standards, and are turned away by countless employees and store management personnel at their Corporate Stores who have had to build a “shell” about themselves in order that they do not as much as sympathize with customers when they return to the store to ask for a replacement handset.

And it is we, the innocent customers and those of us who speak on behalf of those innocent customers, who wish to stand up for what is right, and say to MetroPCS: Stop treating innocent customers so cruely. Stop leaving customers to settle for less-quality handsets that are marketed as handsets with quality higher than they are forced to have to deal with individually, until such time that they come up with hard earned dollars, in these economic times, to purchase another new handset – either from MetroPCS or favorably from a competing rival prepaid cellular services provider – that provides them the level of quality that they were led to expect to be given… both in service, and in handset technology.

MetroPCS need not mislead itself as a corporation or to its employees into believing that they’re special, that they get to use their customers to their own satisfaction, and that we’re so terribly attached and dependent upon them to the point where such fictitious dependency justifies our continued payment of monthly fees for their service.

Our demand is simple: Sell us products that perform to satisfactory standards. Give us reasonable time to determine these satisfactory standards are being met, and stop shutting the door on your paying customers before that reasonable time is met, pointing to your policy when you are questioned about it. We’re tired, we’re worn out, and we’re not taking it any more.

Increase the talk time maximum to five (5) hours, so that we - your paying customers - the customers who allow you to advertise - the customers who allow you to pay operating costs - the customers who allow you to pay salaries - the customers who allow you to continue to grow as a company... will no longer be left to "deal" with the defection that you have placed in our hands... and have essentially forced us to have to live with...