June 27, 2021
Mr. Tom Karinshak
Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer
Comcast / Xfinity
Comcast Headquarters Comcast Center
1701 JFK Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19103
Dear Mr. Karinshak:
On or about June 9, 2021 my wife's IPhone SE was severely damaged beyond repair, most probably run over by at least one vehicle on the road! Consequently, the same day we visited the Bridgeport Xfinity store located at 7219 SW Hazel Fern Rd, Tigard, OR 97224 to get a replacement. While at the store we were offered a new IPhone SE for $399.99 under Order Number XX_______XX. Since the phone was relatively new (~10 - 11 months old) we were told it was possible Apple might honor a replacement under their Apple Care program. We were advised, if Apple could provide a replacement we could simply come back to the store (within 14 days) and return it for a full refund. Since the Apple store was only blocks away, we took the new IPhone SE and went to Apple.
Even with the severe damage, Apple was able obtain the serial number and confirm the phone was within the one-year Apple Care warranty period. We therefore purchased a new IPhone SE for $99.00.
This is where things started to go south!
Upon returning to the Xfinity store, and upon handing over the IPhone SE I had purchased not more than an hour ago, I asked for a receipt to prove I had in fact returned the unit. I was told this was not possible. The agent at the store called Customer Support and was advised there were issues on the "back end" and, while I had been immediately notified of the purchase via an email from Xfinity, and by checking my bank account noting the debit of $399.99, and a "return" email was not possible. I was told that even had there not been issues on the "back end", the store does not have a printer so I could not be provided proof of return.
I therefore asked to speak to the Manager. After a short wait, I spoke to Mr. Brian Harman (Brian_Harman@comcast.com) the Assistant Manager. He reiterated what I had been told. I therefore asked Mr. Harman to acknowledge receipt of the IPhone SE by signing the back of his business card with the pertinent IPhone SE data (serial number etc.). He indicated he could not do this (or perhaps would not).
Without any proof of returning the phone, and with the promise of Mr. Harman that he would work out the "back end" issues with Customer Service, I left the store with the phone in hand. Mr. Harman told me to return the next day after 12:00PM and he would have the necessary paperwork to allow me to return the phone.
I returned to the store the following day, June 10, 2021, and met with Mr. Harman. He had in fact worked out the "back end" issues and advised I would be receiving a FedEx label allowing me to return the phone. This was the first time I was told I couldn't simply give the phone to the store in which I bought it! Now, I had to go to FedEx to ship it back to Xfinity. Mr. Harman kindly agreed to take care of the shipping for me and I therefore forwarded the shipping label to him. This was under RMA # X__________X. I was told I would see a refund of $399.99 within 3 - 5 business days of the return of the phone.
This is where it goes further south!!
On June 20, 2021 I received an email from Xfinity as a "Reminder to send back your device"! WHAT!? This is a full ten days since Mr. Harman told me he would personally get the phone to FedEx on my behalf! I forwarded the email to Mr. Harman, and received the following reply on June 23, 2021:
I confirmed that the package has been sent as of yesterday. The pickup from fedex was delayed for some reason, I apologize that it did not send out right away.
Delayed "for some reason"? It was not returned on June 10, 2021 as promised, but rather on June 22, 2021. The reason it was not returned as promised was negligence on Mr. Harman's part. I wish I had never agreed to have him "do me the favor of returning it on my behalf". I'd have been much better off, and $399.99 richer, had I done this myself.
And even further south!!!
Checking my bank account daily to see the $399.99 refund had still not been provided, I attempted a chat session with Xfinity "Customer Care" on June 23, 2021. The notes to this session can be found under Chat ID X___________X. While the agent was quite nice and kept assuring me she was doing all she could by escalating the matter to her supervisor...guess what? Nothing came of this ~ 60+ minute on-line chat session, even after stating:
Thank you so much for allowing me the time, I would like to inform you that my supervisor has escalated your concern now and it will surely be taken care off (sic) (emphasis added)
This letter is to officially and unequivocally record my extreme dissatisfaction with the terrible "Customer Service" (which I place in quotes as in no way, at no time, has the customer come first or service been provided). I will be posting this letter onto Yelp and any other social media I can find to share my experience wit read more