sent me to collections for no reason
When my husband was stationed at a new post we did not have Verizon coverage there and had to switch carriers. I paid my Verizon bill off in June 2008. Since then they have sent my claim to TWO different collection agencies. I have a copy of the check that Verizon deposited and I faxed as well as sent it to the first collection agency. Now a second collection agency is contacting me and Verizon refuses to talk to me until the balance is paid. IT HAS BEEN PAID SINCE JUNE 2008!
I have emailed customer service and requested the phone number to a supervisor. If I do not get that then I will start contacting their corporate office as well as BBB. They have put a huge black mark on my credit report and is drastically lowered my score. I am completely dissatisfied and will NEVER recommend that ANYONE use their services for ANYTHING.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
scam and cheating
I over payed an old Verizon account $300 way back in April. I cannot seem to get anyone to cooperate with me with getting my money back. The last time I called I was assured it was taken care of and even got a confirmation number. When I still didn't get my refund I gave them the confirmation number they didn't have it on file! They keep telling me they "can't find an account under that account number" but I keep getting the statements in the mail showing me my credit due!
How can a company not be able to pull up someone's account by the account number or invoice number? How can they give a confirmation number that is not legitimate? What do they think I'm going to do? Give up on getting my $300. I don't think so. $300 is still a lot of money to me. I'm not going to go away. I want my [protected]@cking money!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I made a payment last monthe of $141.00 and they took that and another payment of $141.00 out of my account. I called several times regarding this matter and to have one payment refunded back to me. Several reps. told me that the monies would be placed back into my account one even went as far as tell me that it would be in by the 3 of April surprise! it is not. I called and I get some F#@*ing foreigner telling me that it was reversed on the 2nd of March. My bank was on the other line they checked and even said it was not reversed. Now they are saying they have to do some investigating. What a bunch of theives. If I can find a DSL service better than Verizon I'm going for them and telling anyone else who has Verizon what a bunch of rip off they are. I want my F#@*ING MONEY BACK. Puts jobs back into AMERICA where they belong no some F#@*ING foreign country
radio commercial
I hate the verizon network comemricial where it is all people yelling to each other becuase their network is slow ("ben thanks for the flowers I thought you hated me lol") it is so annoying and stupid and irritatitng. I turn it off every time it comes on the radio. if it is this annoying to have me "yelling" in a message can you imagine how annoying it is to hear it on the radio every 15 minutes? it is the worst. commercial. ever! people do not like to hear other people yelling. it puts them on the defensive. if you have any brains at all you will stop running that horrible commercial!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Dear ANN, you type like you are YELLING...A LOT.
I love the commercial. It is hilarious... and the fact that you complained about it means you remember it, which is what they are trying to accomplish, getting noticed.
verizon add rocket communication & pba voicemail to our bills
Verizon has added other providers /third party to our bills. We did not authorize these charges and Verizon will not remove them. We are billing billed by the following companies on our verizon bills:
1. Rocket Communications/Enhanced Services - Charged us 12.95 per month since Dec 23, 2008. The number is [protected]
2. ILD/P.B.A Voicemail Services - Charged us 12.95 per month since March 17, 2008.
They don't want to refund us a full credit of our money. Plus Verizon has some sort of relationship with these comapnies. Why did they hide it on our bills.
Thanks,
David Codner
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
total incompetent fools
I was traveling to the Dominican Republic on business recently. Before leaving I accessed the Verizon Wireless website to inquire about roaming charges. I did a search within their website and a news page came up explaining that I could dial *228 to update my preferred roaming list. I would then pay 69 cents a minute. When my bill came, I was charged $1.99 a minute. For 59 minutes used, it was a $76.70 overcharge. I got nowhere with customer service. I kept asking the representative to access the page I was referencing, but he kept telling me that elsewhere on the site, I could see the $1.99 a minute price. I tried to explain that it is not my job to remove incorrect information from their website. I asked to speak to a supervisor but was told that a supervisor would tell me the same thing. I asked that he have a supervisor call me anyway but as you would expect it never happened. By the way, I was a loyal 8 year customer with 5 phones and a data card paying over $300 a month. I have since moved my main business phone to ATT. I will move the other phones as the contracts end. They happily lost thousnads in potential dollars for $76. Total incompetent fools. They do have better coverage in my area though.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
So instead of calling them up before you went to DR, you did your own research made your own assumptions and called anyway... well that certainly is your own problem, customer service is a free call you should have called them up and asked them before you went. Instead of calling after when you get the huge bill. Sorry I hate big business as much as the next person, but there is a point where a person has to take advantage of what is offered instead of just assuming what they want to see is right. Bottom line, speak to a rep before you just make assumptions on what you see
Verizon Wireless in only concerned with thier bottom line. Verizon wireless has the worst customer service I have ever encountered.
fios - adding charges
Verizon tried to sneak an "Internet Security Suite" charge into my bill. When I called to have it removed, the representative was very quick to remove the charge but said "you probably activated this through your email - you have to be careful what you click on." First, I do not open any emails from Verizon because they continue to inundate me with communications even after I signed up for FIOS, so for the last three months I have routed all of their emails to my SPAM folder. Second, if I were to open an email and click on something that was going to incur a monthly charge to my account, the ad absolutely must mention in print somewhere that this would result in a charge. The fact that the representatives are trained to provide this type of response - and to immediately remove the charge without any hesitation - tells me that they are actively engaged in shady business practices and they are counting on the fact that people will not scrutinize their bills. (This charge was hidden under "other services")
Absolutely shameful.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
There is absolutely no "Customer Service" with Verizon. ZILCH.
There are eleven line item extra charges listed on every monthly Verizon statements besides the monthly contract fee.
See the following list of the eleven line items listed on a monthly Massachusetts Verizon Wireless Statement besides the contract fee:
1) Property tax recovery;
2) Federal subscriber line coverage;
3) 911 Disability Access fee;
4) Federal Universal Service Fee;
5) Federal Excise Tax;
6) State & Local Tax;
7) Verizon Wireless Surcharges & Other Charges;
8) Taxes; Governmental Surcharges & Fees;
9) Usage Charges;
10) Voice;
11)Messaging.
awful service
I tried to switch for COX high speed 3.0 to Verizon DSL at a much slower rate but for a lot less money. I was going to give them a 30 day trial to compare and see if it was worth saving the money. The day my order arrived I noticed Verizon sent the wrong router. I attempted to call customer service using the phone number that was on the invoice. After talking to 5 different people at Verizon (none of them with people skills) I was told it was a common error and they would send out the new one and I should receive it in about 10 days or so. I asked if there was a faster way to ship it and she stated No! I then asked if there was any compensation for the error on Verizon part and for having to wait again, she stated there was no way to credit me or compensate me. I told her to just cancel my order all together as I did not want to even try this service if the customer service was this bad. I tried to call Verizon back to see if there was anyone else that could give me better service but I was transferred to another line and was on hold for 45 minutes and then hung up. After reading all of these other complaints, I am glad I stayed with COX High-speed for the extra cost. When I call COX they answer the phone immediately and answer all my questions in a curious & professional manner. COX high speed has been very reliable although it is quite pricy if you do not have cable with them.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I signes up for their service in November and the very first bill was triple what they said it would be. I called them and they would not offer any help to me. I payed the bill because i had no choice but the next bills to follow were the same and i called them, again no help. I received a shut off notice and called on a thursday to make arrangements to make a payent on that very next day Friday when my paycheck cleared i thought everything was ok, But not so later that very same day they shut off my service! I called them several times to try to make arrangements with them but they would not help me! I did not pay them any money and they added a whole bunch of disconnect charge and but the bill in collections.
Verizon Wireless in only concerned with thier bottom line. Verizon wireless has the worst customer service I have ever encountered.
I am among the thousands of unhappy Verizon Wireless customers. Recieved a Blackberry Storm by mail. Activated by an in store representative, only to later find out that I was being billed for a Data Plan subscription that I was not informed of beforehand, and that I did not accept. Attempted to return the phone numerous times, and have dealt with Customer Care a half a dozen times. Its been 8 months.
Finally I discovered how to reach the Executive Relations team at Verizon Wireless. They are the only ones who can help resolve your problem, short of having an attorney contact them. BTW, I subscribe to Pre-Paid Legal for $35 a month, and their attorneys at no additional charge, will contact Verizon Wireless. Find me on twitter.com/verizoncustomer .
Share your experiences online and then email me at verizon.sucks@yahoo.com . I will forward you important contact information to reach the real decision makers at Verizon Wireless, the Executive Relations team.
megabyte usage
I'm furious. Our government needs to get involved when too much power and freedom is given to companies such as Verizon Wireless. I'm not ignorant in fact, I'm a nurse and didn't see this Megebyte Usage charge coming as didn't many others I assume. The blocks verizon has developed blocked your picture messaging that you pay for. I propose at least a clear written explanation be given upon plan purchase or for government's sakes get involved, we are being wripped off.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I also had an extra large charge to my September 2009 phone bill for megabyte usage.
Initally I was told if I purchase the $60.00 month wireless card plan I would have unlimited internet usage. Now after 2months of service my verizon bill is over $450.00
I was also told I would have my 20% employee discount applied to my bill. I have been informed the discount does not apply to me since I got the unlimited cell phone package.
Verizon wireless practiced deceat to their costumers and should not be allowed to continue these practice.
shut down windows os
I thought I had found a great online software tool, created by my Internet company ( all FIOS Services) by Verizon, as there " Internet Security Suite/3", no chance. After downloading and installing the software, during reboot of my Dell hardware with XP Home Edition, the system shut down due to a problem with guess who, yes Verizon Software. It took hours of hold time to get thru to Techs whom I know are thoroughly frustated with trying to solve the problem of not beaing able to boot up windows, so guess what you can't even use your system off line. The Verizon solution, we are sorry your account will be credited for your purchase, you need to go to your hardware supplier and PAY to have them remove and uninstall our malicious software that caused the problem in the first place. By the way, we can't pay you for any hardware service charges, sorry your safe mode will not open either.
I pay them over $2, 500 a year for full FIOS - Phone, TV and Ineternet but not for long.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
return of defective phone
On July 2, 2009 I went to this Verizon store to replace a defective cell phone. The store processed the replacement request and advised me that the new phone would be mailed via FedEx to the delivery address. The phone is my nieces who I have on my account. On July 3, 2009 the replacement phone arrived. We swapped out the battery, boxed the defective phone...
Read full complaint and 1 commentwrongful termination
*shame on you verizon wireless* I was a sales rep for verizon wireless for 4 years. I consistently met and exceeded my sales quota, maintained high percentages in their kpis (key performance indicators), came in on my days off, and received several perfect scores on customer surveys. I was even sent of vacations for recognition in their "winner's circle"...
Read full complaint and 13 commentsbilling, customer service, etc
Verizon officially sucks. Originally ordered a bundle package and caught on my bill that they did not in fact bundle my services. Now, it is a 2-3 month wait for the "bundle request" to go through... This should have been bundled from the beginning. Thats how I ordered the services! Needless to say, I literally have spent at least an hour and a half on the phone with verizon each time that i've had to call them. You get bounced around from one rep to another and at the end... Nothing was accomplish or rectified. They never have a supervisor available. When they are supposed to call you back... They don't. Game packages, protection packages, extra modems... All billed to me when I specifically detailed I did not want this things. Worse worse worse absolutely worse experience ever. Too much to write about, but have only had them for 2 months and have had 5 discrepencies with this company. Dear: time-warner cable, please provide services in norfolk, va asap! We'll gladly give you our money.
-pissed off verizon customer
We just moved to va from tx. If you can avoid verizon's residential services in norfolk area. Please do. Save yourself the headache and hours on the phone arguing with customer service.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
horror story about fios
I recently had FiOS installed in my home. After the first time the "set top box" (cable box) was turned on there were problems.
Accross the screen, purple pixels appeared. The installation tech said "OH whats this" with a puzzled look on his face. He unplugged the HDMI cable, powered down the cable box and then powered it back on. The pixel problem went away but the TV turned on and off on its own a few times, then came on with no obvious resolution problems.
A couple of hours later I go to watch TV and I had the same problem with it turning on and off. Only this time the TV came on with only grey and black bars running vertically on the display. Sweet right, I call that crystal clear reception, way better than ComCast. Ha I was getting pissed at this point.
I called the Joke center, I mean call center for some technical support and I got no technical anything. They got the issues the cable box was having to work right, and then passed off the damage done to my TV as NOT THERE PROBLEM. The only thing I was told is "Sir our equipment works fine, Your TV is broken". DURRP I know the TV is broken your equipment did the damage. "Well sir I am not trained to fix Samsung TV's".
Those scoundrels, (old school Batman saying) There trying to tell me that Year and a bit old TV, the one that I researched the hell out of to find the most reliable, was going to break and it is simply a coincedence that their equipment was installed around the same time.
Don't Use Fios at all the quality is not any better than the service your using now.
DON'T USE VERIZON their customer service sucks.
Show any body who is planning on using Fios this warning Please.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I am having the same exact problem. The first couple days were fine. Except that every once in a while when I turned the TV on I would get a bunchof purple pixels scattered across the screen. Over time my TV would take longer and longer to turn on and you can hear the switch in the back of the TV going off and on. Sometimes after ten minutes of that, the TV would finally go on but I would just get multi-colored vertical lines across the entire screen. Currently my TV wont even go on. It will switch on and off for hours with no picture ever coming on the TV. I actually take the power cord out of the TV just to stop the clicking.
Can anyone help?
international charges
I recently received a bill for around $300 from Verizon for 8 international calls to Zimbabwe. The calls went unanswered and I later found that the phone for the number did not work. although I got a ring tone. Since the Zimbabwe phone system is not reliable I waiting for up to 7 minutes per call to see if it would be picked up. When I complained to Verizon that they had charged for call that were unanswered I was told that all calls, including internal US ones, were charged from the moment the ring tone starts. I find this hard to believe and have never heard of this extortionare method before now. Am I being fobbed off?
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
unfortunately this is true with all cell phone companies, from the time the phone shows connected the minutes are being used and when you hit end is not always when the call ends as some times there is a display.
deceptive sales / erroneous billing / poor customer service
My wife and I have been customer's with Verizon for many years. We have a joint service account with two separate phones and lines. Very recently and one year into the service contract (2 year contract), my employer offered me a phone for work that I could also use for personal use. The phone was through a different company (the new Palm Pre via Sprint, which is awesom bye the way). Couldn't turn it down. Because I didn't want to get hit with their ridiculous early cancellation fee (up to $175), I decided to give the phone to my son and we would honor the two year contract. I ported my current mobile number to my new phone with Sprint so that all my clients, friends, etc could still get a hold of me. I then went to the local Verizon at Hill Road in Ventura to have them activate a new phone number on the existing phone for my son. I asked several times whether there would be ANY fees and the sales person (Jerry) said no...only a $9.99 month by month charge and any cancellation fee would only apply if my wife cancelled the joint contract account all together. A few days later we recieved a bill in the mail, which included a $140 early cancellation fee. Of course, I went down to the local store on Hill Road and after waiting (they make you take a number) for 45 minutes, explained the situation calmly and they proceeded to give me the run around. I was of course upset and made it clear that I was not happy. The manager asked me to leave the store, so I left. This is the absolute worst company that I have ever dealt with...what happened to "the customer is always right"? If you are smart, you will have done some investigation and read this. Find a company that is customer friendly, even if you have to pay a little more. We will not pay the $140 and could possibly hurt our credit...but oh well - don't reward bad behavior. It's not even the money. It's the fact that they lied and even if they thought it was an honest misunderstanding, they need to work on retaining existing customers and not just signing up new suckers. By the way, if any of you idiots at Verizon want to take a postive step in the right direction, my cell phone (with Sprint) is [protected].
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I am among the thousands of unhappy Verizon Wireless customers. Recieved a Blackberry Storm by mail. Activated by an in store representative, only to later find out that I was being billed for a Data Plan subscription that I was not informed of beforehand, and that I did not accept. Attempted to return the phone numerous times, and have dealt with Customer Care a half a dozen times. Its been 8 months.
Finally I discovered how to reach the Executive Relations team at Verizon Wireless. They are the only ones who can help resolve your problem, short of having an attorney contact them. BTW, I subscribe to Pre-Paid Legal for $35 a month, and their attorneys at no additional charge, will contact Verizon Wireless. Find me on twitter.com/verizoncustomer .
Share your experiences online and then email me at verizon.sucks@yahoo.com . I will forward you important contact information to reach the real decision makers at Verizon Wireless, the Executive Relations team.
lie about the rates
sale person came to my home and offerd me a deal witch i agree to and he singed his slip witch he left with me when he was at my home and then when i get the bill called verizon and they are so rude and said that price is not available i cant get that talk to them for last 10 days every day 1 hour to 2 hours on the phone no one is ready to help they just want to rip you off by lieing to you and get you stuck with service you dont want i hope they get suit big time and close down the verizon service in usa and every where they are i have to say they are peace of ### company never ever try them they are bunch of liers
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Verizon Fios is absolutely fraud to sign on. I called and set up a deal and was promised that I will have the whole package for $136 for all the features (channels that I want, the type of the set top box.) When I called to inquiry about some channels, I was told that all the features that I added--channels and boxes are extra. I was promised my old number will be ported by one rep and later I was told it can't be done because it was taken. Never believe what Verizon rep told you. Because one person says one thing, the other says other. Make sure everything you discussed is documented--right down the confirmation number if you have one, ask the rep record every little details of the agreement and write down the date, time, name of the rep and the call center location. You will have better chance to trace the accountability. If you have a choice, DONT TRY TO SWITCH TO VERIZON. You will be cheated in so many different way.
non-constant ad prices
My mother owns a small business. She is a great business owner and her clients love her. The one problem she has is not shopping around to make sure she gets a good price and she takes everyone’s word. Well, she has been advertising for years all over the place. When I stepped in to help her business out due to this economy thing, I noticed that she was spending way too much on advertising. So I started to investigate all my advertising to see what was paying off to see what we were going to cut and what we were going to keep.
I always thought that the prices for a little box ad was high. So I started to check around to see what there competition was charging. Well the competition was charging a lot less. I do understand that the Verizon book in our area was a lot better so I didn’t pay any attention to that. What happened net really got me mad.
I was having a few happy hour drinks and I was catching up with an old friend and the conversation came up about how my family was and how my mothers business was doing. I told him about how I was starting to get involved with reducing operational costs to make sure we can weather out this roller coasted ride that we call the economy. So I told him that I can believe how much the phone book ads were. He laughed and told me that amount I told him was a yearly amount and not a monthly amount. Well I knew the billing and how much I was paying per month. So now it became a bet on who was right.
So we went back to my office and I showed him the bill so I can win a free steak dinner. It turns out that he was paying about 15% of the price for a larger ad. It never occurred to me to check out the pricing. So I called Idearc, big joke there and ill save you the story on that debacle, and found out that they have different pricing for all there ads. I would think that the more you buy would get you a better price, right? Wrong! I called up to pose as a new business in the area and wanted to check on the prices. What I got was an answer that was like 80% cheaper then was we were paying for years. The prices were for the same ad size in color in the same book.
What I found out was they have different discounts for new and existing customers. WTF? So in conclusion if you are a paying customer for years you have to pay more than a new customer signing up for ad’s. Go threw your local phone book and call the companies up that have the same ad in the same book and compare prices. You will be shocked to see what you find. Remember, buyer beware of this company!
I canceled all my phone book ad’s with all the major companies. I found a company called chesapeake marketing solutions on the east coast. They do internet marketing like everyone else but they have month to month contracts and if you work at it they will wave the set up fee. For the fee that they charge it beets me doing the listings on adwords. If you do any yellow page ad’s you should look into national companies that negotiate the prices for you. I guess its like having a realestate agent when buying a home or something like that. Good luck to all and remember that good business is remembered and bad business will never be forgotten!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I am sorry that you are not happy with yellowpages. I was looking online a found a website that you can have a FREE ebillboard. Just go to seekshallfind.com. I was talking to my friend Mike he told me that he setup a ebillboard and he is happy with the site. He told me that you can go on and change any thing and with out calling one person to do it for him. He said that he can upload his business logo or other photos or up to a 5 min video.He said on this site and did not cost him a dime to setup. I hope this helps you out. Have a great day.
We are never pleased when one of our clients is unhappy. Please give me the opportunity to review your issue. I promise someone will get back to you within 48 hours with an update. Please provide me with the following information and email back to me at: customerservice@Idearc.com
Your Full Name and Title:
Business Name:
Business Telephone Number:
State in which your Business resides:
Your Contact Number:
Best time to call you:
E-mail address:
Brief Complaint Description:
dropped calls/ coverage
I have a complaint concerning my Treo 755p cellphone and Verizon wirelss. I work at home and often use my cellphone for business purposes. For some reason the reception on this phone is extremely poor for me; to likes of 1 to 2 bars. My wife also has a Verizon phone, however her's works fine. I have contacted Verizon about 3 weeks ago, at which point they sent me a duplicate replacement phone. I used this phone for about 2 weeks with same results. I called back and tech support worked with me for about an hour, to no avail. Lloyd the support guy promised to call me at noon the following day...no call by 2 o'clock so I called. Had to explain the whole situation to (2) people from scratch. End result, now they want to send techs out test in my area...then if problem persist they will see about replacement phone.
Now, I'm a reasonable guy, but why do I have to wait any longer to obtain a working phone for a company who proclaims coverage everywhere? So, in the meantime I'm left with a unreliable phone until Verizon see fit to address the issue. Not good customer service!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I am among the thousands of unhappy Verizon Wireless customers. Recieved a Blackberry Storm by mail. Activated by an in store representative, only to later find out that I was being billed for a Data Plan subscription that I was not informed of beforehand, and that I did not accept. Attempted to return the phone numerous times, and have dealt with Customer Care a half a dozen times. Its been 8 months.
Finally I discovered how to reach the Executive Relations team at Verizon Wireless. They are the only ones who can help resolve your problem, short of having an attorney contact them. BTW, I subscribe to Pre-Paid Legal for $35 a month, and their attorneys at no additional charge, will contact Verizon Wireless. Find me on twitter.com/verizoncustomer .
Share your experiences online and then email me at verizon.sucks@yahoo.com . I will forward you important contact information to reach the real decision makers at Verizon Wireless, the Executive Relations team.
blocked data charges
An open letter to Verizon Wireless:
Dear Sir or Madam:
As a new customer, I signed up for a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Select Family SharePlan which includes ‘Unlimited Text, Picture, Video & Instant Messaging.’ My account was opened in February 2009 and when I activated my five lines, I specifically requested a data block on all of the phones. The CSR activated the blocks and I was ready to use my phones.
When I started getting my bill, I noticed several charges for $1.99 for megabyte usage. So the next month, I called and inquired as to why I was being charged for data access after it had been blocked. The CSR told me that the previous Verizon employee who activated my phones had forgotten to add a few blocks. She informed me that the problem was now taken care of; that I wouldn’t be billed any data charges again. For the next 4 billing statements, I had data charges on various lines. I called each month and each CSR could not explain why, but each insured me the problem was taken care of.
Although all my family members know data access is blocked, simply hitting the wrong key on accident will incur a data charge. My line has been charged a few times, and I have not used any data. My mother’s line has been charged for data access as well; she can barely use a computer, much less cell phone internet.
When I made my routine monthly call to Verizon Wireless in June, I explained that I wanted this problem fixed for good. I was transferred to technical support and they could not find the reason, as all the necessary blocks were in place. That tech support employee then transferred me to “level 2” care to see if they could figure out the problem. They couldn’t find out why I was being billed either, so they said that a team engineer would return my call within the next day once the ‘glitch’ is found.
I waited about a week and I never received a call back from Verizon as promised. I then called back, and spoke to a gentleman who informed me that I couldn’t block data charges completely unless I also agreed to block picture messaging.
I don’t understand. I am paying extra for picture messaging. Why would I want to block something I am paying for? Before I originally signed up, I was told that I could block data access. I don’t think my request is unreasonable. In fact, I just switched from AT&T, where I had a data block AND picture messaging. Verizon is acting like it is impossible block because the two are tied together.
If blocking data access and picture messaging are truly tied together, it is because they were designed as such. From your business point of view: let’s say 10% of your customers (a very conservative guess, I’d say) are charged $1.99 extra each month for data they didn’t use. 80 million customers * 10% = 8 million customers. 8 million customers * $1.99 = $16 million extra dollars each month! I understand the profit motive here, but it’s a dirty, deceitful business practice. From a customer’s point of view, it’s ridiculously unfair. Every other major wireless carrier has the ability to block data charges completely without blocking picture messaging that the customer pays extra for.
The first 6 customer service representatives I spoke with did not even know about such an issue. In fact, three of the CSRs I spoke with agreed with me and said it’s a common complaint! In all honestly, this problem has not been fixed for one of two reasons: First, Verizon realizes the profit in deceit, or/and, second, Verizon hasn’t instructed their engineers to fix the issue. We both know it can be fixed, but clearly, it’s not a priority. I bet if Verizon lost, instead of gained $1.99 each occurrence, you would have the problem fixed tomorrow.
I encourage you to search Google for phrases such as, “Verizon $1.99 data block.” You’ll find pages and pages of customers discussing this exact same issue. In fact, many of the discussions take place on forums.verizon.com. Your customers are upset, yet nothing has changed.
In short, when I come time for millions of your valued customer’s to renew their contract, we will consider the unfair charges and unethical business practices. You should revaluate your plan and treat your customers like your business depends on them, because it does.
I would like an explanation and a refund of all related charges to date, please.
Sincerely,
******* *******
I also sent a copy of the letter (see above) to NC Attorney General, BBB, and FTC. I will post Verizon's response when I get one!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I read all of the above complaints, and I find it ironic that adults do not take responsibility for 1.99. You have options, including using verizon wireless .com to block many features. Data charges can be compiled many ways, I know for fact the download for backup assistant says no charge, however: if you set it to back up your contacts you will be charged 1.99 for the month. If you back up once a week, 4x a month, , , , is a 1.99 to much? I don't believe so when you can view and edit your contact list from their web site, and if your phone is lost/stolen/damaged, you have access to your numbers. Realist, do you really know all your contacts? Realist, should everything be free?
Do be a realist and think about your service, 99% better than anyone out there. Another reality, your calling in for a 1.99 credit which just cost the company, cost 800 number, the represenatives salary, and approximately 15 minutes of your time, so the call cost the company 15$ approx, , use the web site and take control.
Maybe the right questions were not asked concerning your "data blocks." If hitting the wrong key is your problem then please just change the keys on your phone so that it does not have the shortcut key to access the internet.
Verdict: Your data charges are valid.
Glad to find this while looking for new carrier. Sprint has the same problem and will charge big $ for data usage when you use your free picture mail. I have three phones and have been a Sprint customer for over ten years. I will keep looking. Thank you for posting.
I had almost the same thing happen to me. I had a data plan for a while, and decided it wasnt worth the extra monthly cost, so I dropped it. They charged me $1.99 a month for the email program on my EnV and they charged my wife's phone all the time for data, when she never used anything (not even text messages). I had them place a block on her phone, and that stopped the fees for that line. After calling verizon about 5 times I finally got them to refund the 1.99 they charged for the 3 consecutive months I didnt have a data plan.
Now I don't get any mysterious charges. I use txtFeeder.com so I can still read the web without paying any data charges. its an awesome free service, you may want to check it out.
Hi:
Let me explain to you all what's happening with the 1.99 charge.
Even though you may have blocked "everything" in order to avoid data charges, when someone "sends" a request, say, a child who still doesn't know that they can't get a new ringtone, the computer sees the request ITSELF as data. It therefore charges the 1.99 data charge because, even though the system rejected the access to the ringtone catalog, the request itself IS data.
Now, as for blocking everything and having a "select" plan, which allows for unlimited text, pictures, videos and IMs, and STILL getting a data charge, the ONLY way to avoid that is to have a "national access block" placed on the account. That will ABSOLUTELY eliminate any data charges. Now for the "catch": if you do this, the picture messaging feature will be disabled. This is due to the fact that, both data and picture messaging travel along the same "highway" on data lines. If you block your lines so you don't get a data charge, you will also not be able to send picture messages. It sucks, but there it is.
Most likely it is from this questionable prcatice Verizon has. Many new phones come with icons that made it look like a game or application is already on the phone. But, if you click the icon, it connects to Get it Now.
Even if you disconnect as soon as you see that’s what it is doing, it doesn’t matter..you are still charged a minimum of $1.99 for “browsing”. Very deceptive, and the reply I got from customer service was totally unsatisfactory. To lure customers to click with an icon (that VZN put there as IF the app is already on your phone) and then charge for browsing” is entrapment, and a deceitful business practice.
I would suggest filing a complaint with your state's attorney general office, and with the FCC. If only a fraction of all who are getting hit with these phantom charges complain, maybe Verizon will start responding.
I too received these charges. And I too have blocks on my phones. I was told that when a picture or text message file is too large the phone automatically access the internet to send those. It doesn't just cancel them and tell you they can't be sent. I have to call every time and I am am fed up with Verizon for all the extra charges they bill you for.
Wow, I could have written the letter. The exact same thing is happening to me. And with five lines on my bill, and 1.99 for each one, I am really getting frustrated. I have a bill on my desk right now, and I dread making my monthly call.
BMETEA
I too am going throught this same exact situation with Verizon. For the last three billing cycles we have had these mysterious 1.99 charges on our bill ( we have four lines). They keep telling me that we are using the get it now feature to download, which we aren't. I was also told this cannot be blocked without losing the ability to send and/or receive pictures, which I pay for. They keep putting it back on me, that we are the ones doing something wrong. It seems funny that we are doing exactly what we have always done, but now they are charging for it.
I've been fighting this for 7 months now...ever since I got unlimited texting.
worst store in baltimore
The store at 915 W 36th Street in Baltimore sucks. Not only do they not keep in stock common items like chargers for phones they sell, but then they don't keep the store open for the hours they state the store is open. I've also encountered rude unhelpful staff there before too (though not all of them are that way). They sold me a bad phone that wouldn't keep its charge, then refused to replace it stating that I had to drive out to White Marsh to have a technician look at it (and by the time I got out there, my warranty had expired so I had to buy a new phone). It can be difficult for some to make trips outside of the city (not everyone has a car).
I was advised by a passerby (as I stood outside of the prematurely closed store) that this store was terrible, that they overcharged for their items, and that I should go to the store in Reisterstown. Too bad I don't live in Reisterstown.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Worst in New York. They should be same all over. So EVIL people handling the business. They are rude, nasty and theives. Keep em off.
As of tonight I have paid my verizon balance in full...TWICE! After almost 2 years of not having verizon wireless i was sent a collection notice stating i owed $64.00 (It was the first notice in almost 2 years also) I contacted verizon where i was told they could not discuss the matter and to contact the collection agency, this was after much discussion. I was then directed to "pay the bill so it would no longer be listed negative on my credit report since its just $64.00 and wouldnt be worth the time fighting it since the final decision is made by verizon anyhow" Unfortunately they are right. I was bullied into paying a bill that wasnt just. I would never recommend verizon nor will ever use it as a carrier, hope whoever reads this makes the same choice.