How do you get the phone companies to honor the promotions they offer. I got the MCI WinBack 25,000 mile promotion, but responded too late, my fault. The operator at MCI was very helpful and suggested a combination of programs (basic, plus calling card usage , and international) that would get me to 17,000 and I took the bait. They honored the base 10,000 miles, and then waited until I met the requirements (so many months of using the calling card, etc), waited some more for time to post, and got nothing. When I called MCI, they could see the offer was made (they wrote it in the file), but said it shouldn't have been offered - sorry, we can't/won't honor it. I take it up the line and they submit a form and offer sympathy and encouragement, but when I call back, it is denied. I get more sympathy and an explanation that "they" must not have understood and another form (and eventually another denial). I like the MCI service and rate plans, but I have a thing about promises not kept.

Does anyone have a suggestion on who to contact or how to make them honor what they have in their own files as to what they told me?

Perhaps file a complaint with the FCC? www.fcc.gov/cib/ccformpage.html

Don't waste your time... just switch to Sprint for NW WorldPerks miles and then wait for MCI to give you another offer!

Don't be so quick to "switch to Sprint" they just screwed me over. They called me with a promotion last Dec. for 25K (5K/month over a 6 month time) and then when I called to find out why they weren't posting they told me I was with a 20K over 12 months.
The long and the short of it is they told me to go pound dirt. So I wrote my state attorney general, the state communication's regulatory division, the FCC and my congressman... and "cc'ed" SPRINT on all of them.
The next day I received an e-mail from SPRINT saying they never had such a promotion, but they would manually put the miles in every months since I'm such a "good customer." Lets see how long it takes them to break there word again.
To me it's not a question of how many miles, but them keeping their word. For some strange reason they think they can screw over the little guy and get away with it.
Needless to say, I have not yet withdrawn my complaint against them (until ALL the miles are posted on time).

If you are just looking for the best rates try this site, it compares all programs, fees, etc. for phones, internet, cable, etc. http://getconnected.com

You won't get any miles (unless the company offers a promotion on the page, but you also won't get lied to by Sprint, MCI, etc.)

The only company I've dealt with that is worse is E*Trade... they have it recorded and still insist they never said it. Short of hiring an attorney and sueing them nothing is going get them to straight up and fly right (no pun intended).

As for E*Trade, I closed my account, as did over a dozen of my friends (we're with Ameritrade... very good customer service... and they tell the truth). I also tell anyone I meet to avoid them. By my conservative estimates they lost 50 customers so far... figure 10 trades a year at $20/trade times 50 customers... do the math, it would have been a lot more profitable for them to keep their word and post the miles they promised.

I've learned it's worth e-mailing and filing complaints when they try to stonewall you. Most companies, once you point out they made a mistake are really good about fixing it.
Too bad the phone companies aren't counted among their ranks.

I signed up with sprint/25,000/6months last october,just finished getting the 25k.It took me one phone call to get them to start posting so I guess I was lucky.Now lookin to switch,but no calls from mci yet.

It's a pain, but get it in writing BEFORE you switch !

Have them fax you the offer, then contact your local carrier and you authorize the switch.

FCC might be good place to file complaint.

Personally, I have very good luck once with ATT and once with MCI, by filing my complaint with my state's utilities commission which regulates phone companies. Each state has a similar group and complaints filed there tend to get the attention of the phone companies.