Verizon

I have 2 complaints against Verizon. The first complaint relates to overcharges, which is handled by the FCC currently. Verizon tried to overcharge me and is still trying to collect overcharges. Their services were seriously inferior when I signed up. This complaint is still under investigation by the FCC. Stacey McGuire from Verizon's Irving, Texas office replied to the FCC on September 06, 2011. I replied to her letter on September 23, 2011. The case is still open and unresolved.

The second complaint is about Verizon's violation of my privacy. I asked Verizon several times NOT to publish my telephone number and any private information. I had ordered the service for unpublished/unlisted telephone number and personal information when I opened an account with Verizon. I repeated the order again. As they did not confirm, I repeated my order on 9.12.2011, at 2 pm. I reached Monique Hamby at Verizon in San Antonio, Texas, who confirmed that my telephone number and contact information would be unlisted/unpublished effective immediately. To my detriment, I found out today that Verizon listed my telephone number, full name, and even full address in the new phone book. This is a very serious violation of my privacy, suggestive of retaliatory action in response to my complaint. The damage is done. The phone book can not be undone. The damage is very serious. What is the remedy to this damage ? What is the legal course of action in this situation ? Regardless the answer, I am asking you to expose this information to the public, to warn them about Verizon's violation of privacy.

Verizon should be liable for such damages and pay punitive damages. Verizon should also pay for reprinting the phone book after removal of contact information of customers who requested unlisted/unpublished numbers. Such information was added to the phone book by violation of customers' privacy request. Where applicable law permits, additional damage recovery should be implicated. Also, the public should be warned about Verizon's violations of customers' request for privacy. If others have been affected by this, a class should be formed for legal action. How can my personal contact information be removed from the phone book ?

I switched to FIOS and bundled the phone and internet; Verizon promises a $100 VISA gift card for doing so. Verizon sent me a bill on 4-25-11 for $64.75 (FIOS was installed on 4-11-11). I paid the bill on 4-28-11. In October (5 months later) Verizon says I had a past due of $64.75 (which never showed up on any of the bills from April to October) and then they sent a bill collector who called my house 6 times, and has been sending "past due" notices for $64.75. I sent Verizon proof; my bank sent Verizon proof that the $64.75 was paid. I called Verizon, they siad "no amount is due". I called the CBE Group and told them that Verizon said for the CBE Group to just make ONE PHONE CALL TO VERIZON, and Verizon will tell them that the $64.75 IS NOT DUE.
This is Verizon's fault for sending it to a bill collector when they were 100% incorrect. My theory is that Verizon does this (makes up a phony past due) so they won't have to pay the $100 VISA gift card.
I spoke to 3 different people at the CBE Group and they WILL NOT CALL VERIZON, even though this is what Verizon told me to tell them.

I had service with Verizon for my wireless telephones. I had 2 lines. I cancelled my service in the middle the month. However, when qnyone signs up for wireless service, they are charged a month in advance. when I cancelled my service, Verizon woould not give me the credit for the advance payment and in addition they were charging me for the full month service even though I no longer had service with them. I sent them a recap of the charges prorating what I should have gotten back. I am getting statments and harrassing telephone calls up until I had their number blocked. I was getting calls from a collection agency as well as Verizon. When I call them they insist of getting my social security number and I refuse to give it to them when they have all the information from my telephone and account number. How do I get this resolved after 4-5 months of being harassed.

I had posted this under Verizon's community forums and blogs - then I got banned...hmmm...wonder why?

Here's my horrible experience with Verizon...So I have 5 lines on my account and I was getting ready to cancel the 5th line due to non-use...at that time, I was told that I could upgrade to a newer smartphone on that line and transfer that newer smart phone to one of our other lines with a broken smart phone (separate issue, and I don't want to even go into that debacle...). I was told that for $149 I could upgrade to an Incredible 2 and that if I had an old phone (a non-smart phone), I could donate it and get a $100 gift card, so the phone would end up costing me about $50 after the credit.

Wait a minute...I told them that I didn't want to have to pay the extra $29.99 for the data plan on the non-used line because that would defeat the purpose of what I was trying to accomplish...I was told, That's ok, you can just transfer it to another line that already had a smart phone.

Sounded good to me and I verified that the phone that I wanted to donate was eligible...yes, it was...I received the Incredible 2 and promptly switched the phone to another line, per the instructions of the CS rep that told me it was ok to switch the upgraded phone to another line.

This was back at the end of September...I was told that I would recieve an EMAIL with a promo code that would provide me with instructions on how to donate the old phone, and that I would get this EMAIL in 3-5 business days...yep, you guessed it, I never got the email. I called back 2 weeks later inquiring about this on 10/17/11...at that time, I was told that I should have received a TEXT MESSAGE on the line that is still not being used...so I jumped through all of the hoops to activate another old phone on that line in order to receive this TEXT MESSAGE. The TEXT would be sent to me in 7-10 business days...that cs rep, a different one from before, then proceeded to send me a test text to ensure that the TEXT that I was supposed to recieve would go through. Great, got it, now all I had to do was wait for the TEXT to come through.

Today is 11/3/11 and still no text message with a code to donate my phone and receive my $100 gift card! I called VZ and got another rep...except this time I was told that I didn't get the text message because I didn't have a smart phone on the upgraded line...um, what? I explained that 2 other reps told me that it was perfectly fine to upgrade to the smart phone and switch it to another line. The rep told me, "per the terms of the donation program, you had to RETAIN a smart phone on the upgraded line, so you are not eligible" What?!? I proceeded to go into detail of the previous conversations stating it was ok to do so by 2 SEPARATE CS REPS!" All they could tell me is that they were sorry I was given misinformation, but for my trouble, they'd be willing to credit my account for $50 (half of what they originally offered me for the donated phone). I said, "No, that's not the deal that I made because if I had known this, I would have KEPT THE NEW SMART PHONE ON THAT LINE!"

I also pointed out that I was NEVER given these terms in writing, only by phone by their OWN EMPLOYEES! In fact, they never even bothered to follow up with me regarding the escalation filed with the 2nd rep! So how was I supposed to know these terms? Got to a supervisor and stated the whole issue again, and he wouldn't even budge stating that it was my fault for transferring the newer smart phone to line that was not the upgraded line - I continued to protest that I only did so because THEIR EMPLOYEES told me it was ok - In hindsight, I fully believe that they told me that knowing that I would be ineligible and get them out of paying me my $100 gift card...

So, the terms I was given by 2 separate employees was switched when I reached a third...I know that they keep notes on each conversation...this is bait-and-switch, pure and simple...I'm pretty sure it's still AGAINST THE LAW! I intend to contact my Attny Gen's office and file a complaint, as well as take this to the media...After some research, I have found that it is a very common practice for VZ to offer XX amt of dollars, receive a protest only to be offered half of that offer as a magnanimous gesture on VZ's part...This is purely unethical...I urge anyone who sees this, and has experienced a similar issue to do the same thing. They get their claws into you for 2 years and provide shoddy service? Really? a MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR company can't make good on the extra $50 as promised to me and then provide shady details after the fact? I don't wish to pay the cance fees but I also don't wish to do business with an UNETHICAL COMPANY either!

Thanks for listening...

Sincerely,

A COMPLETELY DISSATISFIED VERIZON CUSTOMER!

I received my Verizon bill for my Wireless phone and had 4 charges of 9.99 each. Each of the charges had a NUMBER by it and the lady I conversed with gave me a phone number for each number. I have taken care of two (2) of the numbers by talking with a representative at each place but the last number (72825) I had to go online. I am receiving reimbursements from the other numbers and would certainly appreciate some help in retrevieving charges billed to me in the amount of 9.99 x 5. I gave no authorization for these charges.

on october 19 2011 i contacted verizon wireless because i have the towing service on my verizon cell phone, i called for a towing service to be arranged to at approx 10:00 am they told me it would be about an hour.so my husband and i waited.at 11:30am still no tow we are still waiting i then called back to verizon tow number and explained that no one has come yet, so they check come back and tells me someone would be there in about twenty mins.NOT another hour had gone by when verizon calls me back to find out if the service had been completed, NO i informed her that we were still waiting.they check again come back and tells me that the orginial towing company they called said they wouldnt be able to come call someone else.now im on overload, its raining and cold out.now it's1:15pm we are still waitng, they call another company to come tow us again they said about an hour or sooner, at approx1:50pm a tow truck FINALLY comes only after about four hours.i'am beyond p.o.verizon does not own a towing srevice they have to contract other companys and thats messed up because they maynot have trucks available, the service sucks and i have been paying extra for it on my bill since i was with alltel! which is at least ten years and the first time i use it this is the service i get i don't think so get it together verizon if your going to have this service fro your customers you really need to get the kinks out and come up with a better solution or your going to be losing alot of customers to your so called towing service.signed a VERY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER...

Since we signed up for the triple play package in Septemeber of 2010, the price quoted for a 2 year contract was 109.00
Now over the couse of the year 2011 the prices and been munipoulated and have increased and when we have called they never creditied the account
we are now as of today being told we have to pay 228.00
We can not get any resolution form customer sevice from either directtv or verison about this fraud

When I upgraded my cell phone recently the salesperson convinced me to "try" Verizon's new home service device because it was "free" and would "save me money". I was never told that by taking it "free" I was committing to 2 years. I was also never told of other options to switching (paying outright $130, etc.). After a couple of months I also found out that it was using up my cell phone minutes (I was never told of this little tidbit either) so I ended up with a bunch of overage charges. I'm sure I signed paper work that disclosed all these things but my complaint is that the salesperson never mentioned either of these very important details. Had I know of either of them I never ever would have signed up for it because they could never save me any money with their device. Now I have $50+ in overage charges and a $160 termination fee (and now I know that I could have bought the device outright for $130) and neither customer service or the store/district manager will waive a penny. I even need to add a new line and it just doesn't matter to them even though I have been a customer for over 10 years. I feel I was defrauded and duped.

I tried talking to several people today at Verizon. I have been unemployed and trying my best to keep my phone on. I have to so employers can get in touch with me. I tried tomake arrangements on my bill and they keep telling me to post date a check ( I do not use checks) or pay the whole amount. I keep explaining to them that I am not able to pay the full past due amount and wnat to make some type of arrangement. They refuse to work with me. I told them that if they suspend the service, they may never get the money owed. They rather lose a customer than try to work with them. And everybody in financial services are idiots. Everybody has a different answer as to why. JERKS! Customer Care told me that financial services can't even read the bills and explain things to customers. It is hard out here.

What Verizon FiOS did with me.You be aware.
I moved my phone service and DSL service from Old address to New
one. Phone was schedule to be started after 15 days.Moving Charges
Tech Visit were never revealed untill posted to my bill.

While the DSL is pretty much active in my New area, I was told
that we are no longer offering DSL in this area. I insisted for
DSL.

Finally one day I had a chance to talk to the Technical Manager Who told me that After we install the copper line or get it working we will switch on the DSL(" Provision IT").

After consistent calling I was TOld that DSL was not available and we(verizon) cant do anything, SO we can offer you Fios Which is faster and better, (a big box that occupies a space on you wall, and the drilling that comes with it was never told Plus the Installation Cost),
I was MISLED into fiOS deal, Verizon Agent Offerd my Fios for bare $ 20 a month at 5 MBPs speeds(for the First Year). I agreed and installed the fiOS. WHEN the BILL cam it was $69.99 a month PLUS Installation cost of $150 + Phone transfer Charges $40 + Phone Tech Visit Charges( wheras no tech visited for the Phone earlier) Fios was installed after 20 days of my phone(copper line) activation.(Phone activation charges plus Taxes on top of these servces.

From the past several months, since May, I have been constantly calling for the price that was offered to me by verizon Fios.

EVERY time I was told that they do not have Fios at that price, I
was made to believe that I was a DORK. I spent countless hours talking to verizon staff and didputing the bill since May 2011, It looked like, to me, as if Sales people at verizon were MISLEADING customers into buying FiOS.

I almost thought of taking them to court. ONe day in Mid Sept I pushed CSR for an address where I can reach the the Top Bosses, ( Mangement, CEOS, Operation Managers, Regional Managers, Divisional Managers), Any of these The un-cooperatve CSR never gave any information. Was Told Only the 1-800-verizon number that was already there on the bill.

I told them I need to serve a legal Notice but same old please call 1-800 #. Finally I somehow convinced this CSR to Escalate this Matter, and then I had a chance to tallk to some one in Manhatten Office. This person in Manhatten Office said the same thing that veriozon Starts at 59.99.
I, again had to convince this ( I believe CS Manager) to investigate the recorded conversations with the person who offered me that price,

It took her 2-3 weeks for this to surface, THEY FINALLY AGREED TO ADJUST THE BILL at that Price, Knowing that there could be legal trouble while they constantli lied to a customer. During this time(since May 2011) I have beed so Harassed and made to believe that I am a Dork. All this time I was telling the truth and Verizon was lying...Now I think this is not enought for what I have gone thru.. I need some inputs from City people.Thanks for reading.

I have been a Verizon Wireless customer for about a year. At the time I switched to Verizon I was between jobs and could not afford the smartphone I really wanted, so I got a basic feature phone. My assumption was that when I wanted to upgrade to a phone requiring a data plan, generating lots more revenue for them, Verizon would do everything they could to make it convenient for me.

Not!

Only after I am 20 months into my two-year agreement do I become, in Verizon’s words, “eligible to upgrade with an additional loyalty discount.” Until then I can upgrade at full price. By “loyalty discount” they mean the price anyone who is not already a loyal Verizon customer could get by signing up for a new two-year agreement. And by “full price” they mean the exorbitant full retail price that nobody but the very rich or very desperate actually pays.

For example today, as an existing Verizon customer I could purchase an iPhone 4S for $650. If I were not already a loyal Verizon customer that same phone would cost me just $200. Yes, because I've already chosen to be their customer I get to pay more than three times as much for a new phone!

I have contacted Verizon several times about this, including three letters to CEO Ivan G. Seidenberg. I have made it clear that I am willing to extend my current agreement for an additional two years beyond the end of my current agreement, that I will sign up for a calling plan that would immediately start earning them an additional $50 a month, and that if they won’t bend on their policy they will definitely lose me as a customer when my current agreement ends.

Verizon's response is a consistent and firm "No". Their attitude is, “We already have you locked in to a contract. We don't have to give you good service.”

Apparently nobody at Verizon knows the old marketing truism that it is infinitely easier and less expensive to keep a current customer than it is to gain a new one. They in fact seem to be doing the exact opposite ... throwing time, energy, money and special offers at potential new customers while at the same time angering an existing customer - who actually wants to spend more money with them - to the point of losing him.

We had Verizon upgrade our internet service to Fios 4 months ago. Since then the service is down between 1 and 3 days a month. Customer service stinks. Finally, we got so tired of the endless hours spent on the phone with them (plus going elsewhere for critical internet connections) that we asked for a credit for all the down time (not to mention OUR time and gas). NO DEAL! "Sorry, sir, we can't give a credit for any time down less than 24 hours." Nor for the multiple days down either, it appears. LIARS!
The only responsive people at this outfit are in the sales department. Otherwise, it's wait on hold, no consideration for all your lost time and service (did I mention we've gone through 2 boxes - in 4 MONTHS!).
Verizon stinks. Don't get trapped. Go somewhere else. We're about to dump this oversold albatross.

The service advertized and being recieve are totally out of wack. I can go to a coofee shop up the street with my lap top and get faster internet download speed free, than having to pay for quote "high speed internet service" here at my home. Trying to get a hold of Verizon to have this problem looked at is another story in its self. Have to get someone in the philippines to set up an appointment just to look at your system. Would reall like to have someone look into this problem and provide us with better internet service as soon as possible

The commercials depicting a little girl "Susie" and her lemonade stand has a very destructive theme of man bashing. The little boy in the commercial clearly is trying to help the girl by informing her of a vending machine which is low in product. He works hard to let her know. When he finally gets to her, she informs him that she already knows about him...clearly demeaning him and pretending to be superior. This type of ad demeans little boys and is extremely offensive.

I am writing on behalf of my 90 year old father who called and ordered his cable service to be switched to Verizon in exchange for a 19" LCD tv several years ago. Dad called the day that the flyer came in the mail, and was told after he ordered the service that the tvs were backordered. This went on for several months. Then the story changed to "we dont know what youre talking about". Many months later after trying to resolve this and being told "sorry sir no tvs", he disconnected his Verizon service. After the Verizon nasty notes, the bill collectors began calling. He began receiving nasty calls and letters and explained his case several times to no avail . They explained over and over and over that he still had to pay an early termination fee. When he told them that they didnt live up to their end of the deal, they hung up and then the bills that came increased from well over $200 to well over $400. Several years later he is now incapable of handling this issue and I am now fielding the rude bill collector calls. I explained it to them and they keep calling and calling trying to get us to settle and pay half. Can you please help us? We are at wits end, no one listens to our story. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

I went to Verizon's website looking to order tv throught them. The website sends you to Direct TV. While ordering direct I was told about a promotion that I would get a Free Compaq Mini Notebook for having ordered all 3 (telephone, internet and direct). The manager Alfred gave me an account # to give to Verizon. I then called Verizon. The man that I talked with told me also that I was entitled to the free compaq mini notebook but that I had to call back in the a.m. because the dept that would take my mailing address was closed. I asked if I should just order it online and he said absolutely not. Therefore I called @ approx 8:15 am. The woman that I talked to said that I would have to get it threw the New York office. She gave me the # and connected me. I was transfered to a woman by the name of Jessica. She told me that she would have to check into it. After several minutes of being on hold, she came back on the phone and told me that I was not entitled to the mini compaq notebook. I then asked to speak to a supervisor. A woman by the name of Cellina got on the phone and said that I was in no way entitled to the mini compaq notebook. I asked her then why was I told by 3 people that I was and I was given the account # by Alfred. She told me that she would check into it but I was out of luck. To try back in November when Verizon gets there own tv service. But it was not available to me. I have their home phone, cable and 3 cell phones. They also have a double deal, which consists of home & internet. You also receive a FREE mini compaq notebook. She said that I wasn't entitled to that either because I had ordered the more exspensive internet service. I am very upset that I was told by 1 direct tv manager & 3 Verizon people that I was!

I have been a customer of Verizon Wireless since 2003. In all that time, I paid my full monthly bills on time. When I paid my July bill, the check got lost (either in the mail or at the Verizon offices), so Verizon recorded I was past due on my account. I intended to pay two months on the next billing to remain current on my account. However, Verizon Wireless "suspended" my account on 7/23/11 until the day they received my check on 8/3/11. Verizon Wireless STILL charged me the full monthly amount of my calling plan & texting plan & email-Internet plan. They billed me for services I could not use for 12 days. I communicated my polite request for a credit on my account in an initial letter. A customer service representative responded that I wasn't entitled to a credit, because I could receive incoming calls and dial out 911 or reach Verizon at *611. My second communication was with a Verizon customer service rep who stood by Verizon's "policy" that no credit was forthcoming. I was charged for services I could not use--too bad.
I am complaining to every agency that I can. If a loyal Verizon customer of 8 years, with a prompt payment history, cannot get a credit/refund for services charged and not used, then DO NOT remain with this company. It just shows that the corporate policies that drive Verizon Wireless are more important than human contact and the desire to rectify customer complaints.

I have attached a spreadsheet (as a "jpg") file and it shows a detailed billing of my usage for Verizon voicemail activity. I have highlighted the problems a follows:
(1) In the blue color, I have shown where Verizon has charged me for a caller (who I don't even know) had left a voicemail and at the same time, Verizon charged me for this. Now, traditionally, I have always known that when a (long distance) call comes in to you, the caller is always charged (and NOT the receiver of the call)

(2) Also, in the gold color shows charges (against me by Verizon) for just trying to "clear off" or delete any voicemail messages. One thing more, I literally begged Verizon to disable my Voicemail features and they said "not until you upgrade to a newer and more expensive package". It feels sometimes like they were "punishing me" for not getting a more expensive package or upgrade to their own personal desires but not the Plan that I prefer to have.

I recently completed Chapter 7 bankruptcy and all my creditors were informed by certified mail. I don't know where Verizon Wireless came up with this "bill" and frankly I don't care. I'm going to check my credit history and I had better NOT find this phony bill listed there. I will take legal action and report this to the FTC. Verizon is one of the worst companies that I've ever dealt with and it would give me great pleasure to cause them some grief because they've certainly given me enough of that. I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense.