Never sign up for a service you don't need in Brazil

Posted by .murph.

I learned how difficult it can be to cancel a service over the phone in Brazil.

Called a company called 'Oi' to setup internet at my grandmother's place. The next day, two people called my grandmother, claiming they were related to 'Oi' and told her she had to sign up for an Internet Provider. One was with 'Terra' and the other with 'UOL'. Both charging about R$15/month. Both of them gave a username and password.

Modem comes in from 'Oi' and after installing it, I need a username and password...neither the one from Terra or UOL worked. So I call up 'Oi'...who gives me a different username and password. I ask them what was the deal with 'Terra' and 'UOL'..."oh, we don't work with them...we already provide you with an internet provider, you need to cancel your service with them or you'll get charged extra on a different bill"

So I call up a number I got from Terra...which tells me I have to call another number. So I call the other number, get put on hold, and finally speak with someone. Tell them I want to cancel the service. They get all the information they need...and right when they're about to cancel...they hang up. Wow...I couldn't believe it. Gave them the benefit of the doubt and called again....get right to the point of cancelling, phone hangs up. Okay...now a pattern is starting to emerge. I try looking them up on Google, tons of people had the same problem. Tried going on to their website to cancel online. The cancel link is conveniently in size 4 font, nearly camouflaged at the very bottom of the page. Click it: "error". Try again: "error"...one more time: "error". So I call again: they hang up. On the fifth call: I threatened them that I had a lawyer with me, that I was recording the phone call, and if this hanging up business continued I would take legal action. Cancelled Terra. One down one to go.

Call up UOL to cancel my service with them. I'm already frustrated at this point. Speak to a guy, who asks me:

"What is your motive for cancelling?"

"I already have an internet provider...don't need your service"

"Well...we are more than just an internet provider...we have this and that and the list goes on"

"Great, well I'd still like to cancel"

"What's you're motive for cancelling?"

"I have an internet provider AND I don't need any of those extra services"

"Well, how about this, you're already going to pay for the first month, so keep the services for one month and decide after that point what you want to do"

"No I'd rather not, can you just cancel it as of today"

"But you're already paying for it...so why not just..."

"No, I don't care, take R$15 for the first month...I'm not going to use the services, so go ahead and cancel it now"

"But you don't understand, why do you want to cancel it if you're going to pay for it anyways"

"I just don't want it okay...isn't that reason enough?! Just cancel the service"

"I need a reason"

"You need a reason?! Okay, I'm leaving the country for 2 years, I don't need your service"

"Well I know you're lying"

"Yep, but you need a reason...just write that down...and let's move on and cancel this"

"You're sure you don't want to try it out for a month?"

"Yes, cancel it"

"Ok"

Wait for 15 minutes...he comes on every 2 minutes saying: "one moment"...."one moment"..."one moment"...

I'm a calm guy...but I was already shaking at this point. If he hung up the phone...I think I would start growing, turning green and I would feel the need to destroy something.

Thankfully, service was cancelled. Wow. Went into the kitchen grabbed some water, told my grandmother not to talk to me for the next 10 minutes....needed some cooling off after having gone through that.