Complaint Rating:

Company information:
helio
48 como ave
Buffalo, New York
United States
Phone: 716-824-9247

My son purchased a helio phone in Dec 2007, he needed a co-signer and called me on the phone to ask if I would. I said yes. The agent at the kiosk in the Mckinley Mall in Hamburg NY told me I would have to come in and sign within 10 days or the phone would be cancelled. The agent told my son to fill out MY information so all I have to do is sign it when I come in. Well, 2 weeks later my son decided helio didn't have all the options he would need while working, because he travels through all of the USA and called to cancel the phone, they put him on hold for 45 min and never came back. He called again, only to have the same thing happen. Finally he calls a 3rd time and they REFUSE to cancel his phone. I got on the phone and told them to cancel it. I was put on hold and they never came back. Come Feb 2nd, (he now has a new phone through a different company) he realizes the phone is still on and calls to file a complaint...wanna guess what they did? YEP, put him on hold and after 5 min he hung up. This is now the end of March and helio sends ME a collection notice for MY phone, I told them I didn't buy the phone, my son did and he tried calling 4 times to have it cancelled before the early termination date and they called me a liar. I then opened his phone and read off one of the dates and times he called and they accused me of "putting that number in the phone". are you kidding? Now they've called me a liar twice, and are now getting nasty with me and this is a supervisor! She told me he doesnt own the phone, I do, and theres no such thing as a co-signer and that I signed the contract! I never signed it, I never went in to sing it, the contract has my sons name on it, my sons address, etc etc. One hr after hanging up on this MORON, I started getting calls from a collection agency and the 1st three got "snippy" when I tried to explain. The next day the one that called, gave all the information to my husband and THEN asked who they were speaking to. Today, they called me again, I told them they were in violation of the FDCPA and they said they dont have to follow those laws. I told her I wanted a copy of my contract and she refused. The worst thing is that, before all this mishap with my sons phone, I co-signed for my best friend, guess what? she doesn't own those phones either...I DO! So, I was misled into believing I was a co-signer when in reality, they switched the papers and said I purchased these phones and signed contracts. Not the ACTUAL customers. But on the copies of the contracts that my son has, HIS name is on it. The one my friend has, HER name is on it, but i found out THAT dont mean anything. Well, if you are in the right with your complaints...I URGE you to contact your local Attorney Generals Office and file a formal complaint and the BBB. Also, check out this website for the FDCPA laws. (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf and you can print out a copy of these laws...I hope it helps even 1 person against helio or any other cell phone company that lies about anything just to get a customer.