I was a residential customer of TDS Metrocom LLC (TDS) for some years now. Today, I filed a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) compliant against TDS February 21, 2011 based on the below.

November, 14-17, 2010, I requested my residential phone service be transferred (from 38XXX Spring lane Farmington Hills MI 48331) in time for my move November 21, 2010 to 38XXX Spring lane Farmington Hills MI 48331.

January 14-15, 2011, I called TDS because my phone lines were not activated. I was advised there was a problem with my transfer order; it was never processed. The TDS representative reinitiated my transfer order for January 27, 2011. (In the meantime I contacted another cable phone provider to install my phone, in light of TDS' unwillingness to service me for nearly 2-month now).

January 28, 2011, TDS placed a service order tag on the exterior door of my apartment. According to note, the external line was connected; however, my phone lines inside my house were not active.

February 21, 2011, I called TDS again to find out the status of the incomplete transfer order and TDS told me it is withholding completing my phone transfer for non-payment and because another provider contacted TDS to acquire my phone number.

Over the past 3-month, I have spoken with multiple TDS Metrocom representatives and supervisors, all of which advised that I should not pay my TDS bill until my phone was active and each authorized credits to my account to keep it active until the transfer was complete.

It was not until today that TDS advised it would not complete the transfer order due to non-payment. I suspect this is because I sought another cable phone provider. This is unethical and intolerable for TDS to virtually 'hold my phone number hostage' so that I cannot keep my existing phone number.

Former Michigan TDS Metrocom Residential Customer