Phones Programs/Partners - MCI sign-up advise and information

I am thinking of switching to MCI and I wonder if anyone could advise me about the process. How good are they about posting miles? Is Gary Stegier's site correct, that they will continue to send me a bill long after I cancel? What are people's experiences with the company?

The other day I called MCI to cancel my LD service. The CSR asked who my new carrier was, I said I will get AT&T. He said that AT&T will automatically notify MCI of the change, so I do not need to.

I countered that I wanted to go ahead and cancel my MCI service anyway, so I would have no LD service. He said that he could not let me do that. Why? Because if I were to make a LD call after he had cancelled my account MCI would still carry the call, and they would charge me an enormous rate, and then they would be liable for charging me this unscrupulous rate. Therefore, for liability reasons he could not cancel my MCI service.

I was both amused and impressed by his ability to come up with such a tale.

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Middle_Seat

Some MCI telemarketers are "shady".. My advice is.. if there is something they're telling you, that you don't quite understand. Make sure you ask them, until you understand.

I am a telemarketer from MCI. Ask me anything you want. I'll do my best to answer them... :D

Thanks for your offer, SalesDude.
What is the current offer for switching LD to MCI? Earlier this it was 10K NW miles. Is this still good?

Is there still an AA deal with MCI?

Not quite on topic, but for me the old long distance carrier never canceled their service automatically, only after I called them up and complained about still being billed. (Happened when switching from MCI to AT&T and from AT&T to --- (canceling my landline).

On the bright side, the charges for months when the service wasn't actually active have always been refunded, and actually I got my full AT&T sign up bonus (1000 miles per month for 5 months) even after I had canceled my landline, since those miles post as the statement is generated.

Some MCI telemarketers are "shady".. My advice is.. if there is something they're telling you, that you don't quite understand. Make sure you ask them, until you understand.

I am a telemarketer from MCI. Ask me anything you want. I'll do my best to answer them... :D

I cut off my MCI service and went to ATT to get 5000 CO miles. I would have stayed with MCI even for 3000 NW miles but they wouldn't do it so I switched. The switch from MCI to ATT went smooth. ATT did the switch for me.

Three Questions for you SalesDude...

1.) If I want to come back to MCI and get NW miles, how long do I have to wait before I can earn the miles?

2.) I read in another FT forum that even when you are successful at switching companies, MCI doesnt always cancel you off their program right away. Is this true?

3.) Heard a rumor that ATT was pulling out of the consumer market completely (not just the airline freq flyer programs but out of consumer service completely) Is this true? What can you tell us?

Thx in advance.
RRFW