So over a week ago I had decided to leave Boost Mobile for T-Mobile prepaid, and also to try out Windows Phone and leave Android. I ordered a Lumia 521 No-Contract T-Mobile phone from Microsoft's online Microsoft Store. After I got the phone it took a little over two days to get my number ported from Boost Mobile. Once I got my number ported I realized data was not working on the phone (except in certain places like Weather Channel app and Nokia Music app). After two full days of calling T-Mobile support a hard reset finally fixed the data issue. Thought all was working after data issue was fixed, spent a couple days using the phone and customizing all the accounts and apps, only to realize the phone couldn't receive incoming phone calls. Long story short, after two more days with T-Mobile technical support they told me the handset itself was defective and that it was not anything to do with T-Mobile. T-Mobile offered to swap it out with a refurbished unit and stated two weeks would be the soonest I would have the refurbished phone.
I really can't go two weeks without some sort of cell phone, so I figured Microsoft Store would handle the exchange quicker and with a new replacement. First contact was chat support with MS Store who gave me the phone number to call, got a person at that number who transferred me to another department. Once transferred I was unable to speak to anyone because the automated system requires a nine digit order number, but my order number is ten digits. I then went back to MS Store support chat to tell them about the problem, and they gave me another toll free number to call. That toll free number went to the same automated menu that kicked me off without a nine digit order number or phone number (order was placed online and not over phone). Went back to support via chat and was told I needed to go to the Microsoft Windows Phone support page. Went to that page and had a nice long chat with that representative where he said that Windows Phone support absolutely doesn't handle returns and to go back to Microsoft Store support. Bounced back three more times between those two support pages, explaining politely and in full detail what I was being told by the other support people, and that I couldn't speak with anyone on any of the phone numbers given because my order number was not nine digits. That whole ordeal of phone calls and chats lasted a solid two and a half hours, and I have the chat transcripts where I am repeatedly told it's out of their control and to contact the other support site or the phone number.
Decided to share my story with Microsoft Store's Facebook support people, and a day later got a message with a link to the Windows Phone Customer Support Portal. Sure enough I am unable to sign in because it doesn't recognize my order number. My order number appears the same in my email, and on the printed receipt that came in the box with my phone, and during one chat was told that she could verify my order number was ten digits (though she wasn't allowed to tell me the actual number).
Anyone else have similar stories with non-existent support from Microsoft Store or is this just me? I was really trying to give Microsoft a shot by trying Windows Phone and they are blowing it so far. Also, anyone ever seen a Lumia 521 that isn't T-Mobile branded? I made sure the box said Lumia 521, and the sticker behind the battery, and on the phones settings menu agree but it does not have any T-Mobile logo on front or back of phone anywhere.
I really can't go two weeks without some sort of cell phone, so I figured Microsoft Store would handle the exchange quicker and with a new replacement. First contact was chat support with MS Store who gave me the phone number to call, got a person at that number who transferred me to another department. Once transferred I was unable to speak to anyone because the automated system requires a nine digit order number, but my order number is ten digits. I then went back to MS Store support chat to tell them about the problem, and they gave me another toll free number to call. That toll free number went to the same automated menu that kicked me off without a nine digit order number or phone number (order was placed online and not over phone). Went back to support via chat and was told I needed to go to the Microsoft Windows Phone support page. Went to that page and had a nice long chat with that representative where he said that Windows Phone support absolutely doesn't handle returns and to go back to Microsoft Store support. Bounced back three more times between those two support pages, explaining politely and in full detail what I was being told by the other support people, and that I couldn't speak with anyone on any of the phone numbers given because my order number was not nine digits. That whole ordeal of phone calls and chats lasted a solid two and a half hours, and I have the chat transcripts where I am repeatedly told it's out of their control and to contact the other support site or the phone number.
Decided to share my story with Microsoft Store's Facebook support people, and a day later got a message with a link to the Windows Phone Customer Support Portal. Sure enough I am unable to sign in because it doesn't recognize my order number. My order number appears the same in my email, and on the printed receipt that came in the box with my phone, and during one chat was told that she could verify my order number was ten digits (though she wasn't allowed to tell me the actual number).
Anyone else have similar stories with non-existent support from Microsoft Store or is this just me? I was really trying to give Microsoft a shot by trying Windows Phone and they are blowing it so far. Also, anyone ever seen a Lumia 521 that isn't T-Mobile branded? I made sure the box said Lumia 521, and the sticker behind the battery, and on the phones settings menu agree but it does not have any T-Mobile logo on front or back of phone anywhere.
haha
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