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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/dullahan8 on 2024-06-01 00:35:32+00:00.
TL;DR: ISP denied sending me an invoice, tried to pitch me a new plan. I accepted the new plan, now they have to send me an invoice.
I've been working trying to port a childhood landline telephone number to VOIP. This would involve a three step process, porting from landline to mobile, changing ownership from my dad to myself, then porting the number to a VOIP ISP. The VOIP company I want to port to requires an invoice with my name, my account number, and my phone number as proof to initiate the port.
I have actually spent 4 months already trying to convert the landline number to mobile and have become extremely frustrated navigating ISP bureaucracy shenanigans. But that is a story for another time.
This story begins with me calling into my mobile carrier after the ownership change. As soon as customer service picked up and I identified myself, they started going on a sales pitch for a very cheap prepaid offer which I shot down right away. I politely declined the offer and explained that I was calling just to obtain an invoice to initiate a port to another ISP. Thankfully they backed off right away but said they will not be able to provide an invoice. I asked why and they said that they never provide invoices for pay as you go plans (I chose this plan because it was their cheapest plan to maintain as I did not plan to stay here long). I called them out because my dad had been receiving invoices when he was the owner of the account. They denied this and said they never did and never will provide invoices for pay as you go accounts. They explained, furthermore, phone ports do not require proof of invoice as there is already strict security in place for number porting. We spent 20 minutes going back and forth about this with me explaining how their company's operating procedures do not necessarily apply to other companies.
I am thoroughly agitated at this point because our conversation has gone nowhere and I have not been able to acheive any of my goals. I stopped talking to give myself a moment to step back from the situation, and then a lightbulb moment hit me.
Cue malicious compliance.
I asked, "So explain to me again how much does that prepaid offer cost again?" to which they joyfully repeated the terms and conditions of the offer.
"And will I be invoiced for this plan you are offering?"
A moment of silence on the line as customer service realizes what I'm doing.
"Yes." they replied quietly.
"Alright", I said confidently, "Let's swap over to the new plan. Then you can send me an invoice."
So now my account is being converted to a cheaper prepaid plan. I'll get my invoice, and finally get my number ported to VOIP.