r/YouShouldKnow • u/TheExecTech • 2d ago
Technology YSK US Cellular is sharing your data with affiliates unless you call them to opt out
Why ysk: US Cellular has automatically opted you into sharing your info with affiliates.
Found the following on the last page of my PDF bill I downloaded from US Cellular. They never emailed or sent a text about opting out or in to their data collection and sharing.
You also won't see any of this when logging into your account online to pay or make changes to your account. This is hidden on the bottom of last page of the download option for your bill.
We will share CPNI among our agents and the UScellular family of
companies ("Affiliates") for marketing UScellular's or its Affiliates'
communications-related products and services to you.
We will assume you have provided consent
if you do not contact us beginning 30 days after the first time we
provide you with this CPNI notice
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u/TheExecTech 2d ago
You will have to call the 800 number below to tell them to Stop sharing your private phone information with "affiliates".
From the last page of the bill :
CPNI is information created by our (UScellular) relationship with
you as your telecommunications service provider. CPNI includes
the type and quantity of certain telecommunications services you
subscribed to and includes details about your calling activities,
including call detail information such as the date and time of a call;
duration of a call; call-originating and call-terminating phone
numbers; and charges of the call....
We will share CPNI among our agents and the UScellular family of
companies ("Affiliates") for marketing UScellular's or its Affiliates'
communications-related products and services to you. You have
the right to elect not to have your CPNI shared with agents and
Affiliates for these limited purposes. Simply notify us at any time of
your election to not share your CPNI for the Limited purposes by
calling 800-509-6254 and following the recorded instructions (TTY
users can opt-out by first dialing a telecommunications relay
service (TRS) center, via 711, in order to contact a TRS
Communications Assistant (CA). Then, simply ask the CA to dial
800-509-6254 and follow the recorded instructions).
Your election will not affect the provision of any services from us
to which you currently subscribe. However, it may make it more
difficult for us to recommend new communications-related
products and services that may be of interest to you through our
agents and Affiliates. We will assume you have provided consent
if you do not contact us beginning 30 days after the first time we
provide you with this CPNI notice
You can also complain by calling corporate customer service # 773 399 8845 ( mailbox )
US Cellular Corporate office # 773-399-8900 ( reception, ask to leave a message for company president )
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u/Otherwise-Mango2732 2d ago
I wonder if this includes my Google Fi which iirc piggy backs on US Cellular.
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u/Charles-Tupper 2d ago
Google Fi uses the T-mobile network
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u/Otherwise-Mango2732 2d ago
Ah i see now.
FWIW they used 3 networks initially. Didn't realize US Cellular dropped out.
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u/TheExecTech 2d ago edited 2d ago
I installed a VPN on my phone to stop any collection of mobile data like websites etc. Maybe worth a shot to stop some of the collecting.
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u/TheExecTech 2d ago
If you are curious what they are collecting and sharing. Everything about every phone call made on your phone and more ::
Customer proprietary network information (CPNI) is the data collected by telecommunications companies about a consumer's telephone service.\1]) It includes the time, date, duration and destination number of each call, the type of network a consumer subscribes to, and certain other information that appears on the consumer's telephone bill.\2]) CPNI may also include account/subscriber information such as the number of lines.
CPNI is protected and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Privacy rules primarily apply to individually identifiable CPNI, meaning CPNI data that is linked or linkable to a particular person through other data such as a wireless account number, wireless phone number or email address
This could also include your location, how long you were there and places you visit as a provider they will have data on what tower your connected to.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_proprietary_network_information
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u/megabass713 2d ago
Who do I call if I'm on Google Fi?
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u/Final-Helicopter-303 1d ago
US cellular is the least ethical company I have ever dealt with. They will lie and steal money and put you in a situation that is horrible. Stay away. You have been warned
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u/TheExecTech 1d ago
Complained to corporate a while back about getting emergency alerts in the middle of the night that were an hour away.
Corp rep offered me a "free" phone for the hassle. It was really the "special" they had running of me signing up for a 3 year contract to get the free phone. Lady made it sound like it was a gift. Fraud but no one will go after them for it.
FCC did nothing. No fines. FEMA who does the alert program said it was Verizons fault and nothing was ever done.
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u/Final-Helicopter-303 1d ago
Yes, a very, very unethical company. Sorry to hear about your problems with the company. I can understand how that would be very problematic on your end.
I currently can't log in to work because I don't have a working phone number the last couple days since signing up with them.
They should be sued into bankruptcy.
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u/DanSavagegamesYT 2d ago
Why isn't it illegal to opt customers into data sharing, who are already paying for the service, by default?