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Comments on news posted 2009-12-23 18:59:31: Back in May, the Obama Administration appointed Mignon Clyburn to one of the FCC's empty Commissioner seats. ..

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gorehound
join:2009-06-19
Portland, ME

gorehound

Member

data charge

i noticed i was getting this charge and complained about it.
now i do not see it on my bill.
before i was aware of it i must of been charged for it around 7 months or so.

Z80A
Premium Member
join:2009-11-23

1 edit

Z80A

Premium Member

Jail time plus massive fines

If I came up with a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars, I would certainly go to jail. Same should go for those at Verizon who knew this was going on (if what the whistle-blower says is true) and the company should pay billions in punitive damages for such theft since VZ did little if anything to 'fix' it.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

I agree. But it will be hard to prove. They need to get some programmer to admit in court he did it and who ordered him to do it. The hard part would be to convince a judge to issue a subpoena for their billing code to start the ball rolling down hill.

karlmarx
join:2006-09-18
Moscow, ID

karlmarx

Member

Hopefully this signals a change

But I won't hold my breath. What hope does one huge government organization have against the fat cat executives of the megacorps? Not much. Expect to see more illegal contributions to the politicians to sweep this under the table. America is no longer a country for the people, it's a country for the corporations. And that's sad. Suck it up america, admit that it doesn't matter whether you vote for Kodos or Kang, they are both sides of the same coin. Sure, vote for a third party, and throw your vote away. The days of freedom and equality have gone the way of the dodo. You exist to serve your corporate masters. The roman empire looked a lot like the US today, before it fell.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Good Start

I'm glad to see Clyburn not buying this hook, line, and sinker. Now let's see if Verizon really cares and when they don't, if the FCC follows up with any action whatsoever.

Robert
Premium Member
join:2001-08-25
Miami, FL

Robert

Premium Member

Mignon Clyburn - The jury is still out

I'm still not impressed with Mignon Clyburn.

This is not the first time that a politician, or a commissioner, has shown that their interest is in consumer protection, only for them to do a 180 at the last minute.
margaf
join:2000-12-22
Las Vegas, NV

margaf to Z80A

Member

to Z80A

Re: Jail time plus massive fines

said by Z80A:

If I came up with a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars, I would certainly go to jail. Same should go for those at Verizon who knew this was going on (if what the whistle-blower says is true) and the company should pay billions in punitive damages for such theft since VZ did little if anything to 'fix' it.
It seems you have to steal millions to get away with it. Aim higher and youll probably get a govt subsidy.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 edit

2 recommendations

Karl Bode to FFH5

News Guy

to FFH5
I still tend to think this is a problem that cropped up naturally that they took advantage of, rather than a problem they created from whole cloth...If that's true, a State AG or class action lawyer could push the case from a "failure to act" perspective....which would be documented by any customers they found who continued to have problems after it first came to light (last summer, in Cleveland papers)....
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

1 edit

Mr Matt

Member

In the old days it was called organized crime!

Verizon may have to get use to different government objectives. Hopefully the corporate parasites will be forced to get over the Bush administration's laissez-faire attitude toward regulation and stopping abuses by big business. Hopefully the Obama Administration will take immediate and decisive action against corporations that abuse customers through fraud and deception. Corporate America needs a good kick in the ass to change their attitude.

Edit: I understand that Verizon will soon open Delicatessens that will specialize in marketing Bologna.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 edit

Karl Bode to Robert

News Guy

to Robert

Re: Mignon Clyburn - The jury is still out

I would agree. I've seen WAY too many "tough" pdf press releases by FCC commissioners followed up by total inaction to give her a cookie just yet. Let's see if this gets conveniently forgotten during the new year...Commissioner Copps made a career out of terse press releases attacking anti-consumer behavior, only to vote for policies supporting that same anti-consumer behavior...and he got promoted.
jmmilner
join:2001-11-20
Yorkville, IL

jmmilner to Robert

Member

to Robert
said by Robert:

I'm still not impressed with Mignon Clyburn.

This is not the first time that a politician, or a commissioner, has shown that their interest is in consumer protection, only for them to do a 180 at the last minute.
A campaign contribution or two to her father should be all that Verizon needs to do to fix this one. Of course, if we fast forward a few years it may well turn out that Ms. Clyburn will be a spokesperson or lobbyist for VZ herself.

FLATLINE
join:2007-02-27
Buffalo, NY

FLATLINE

Member

Subject

So Verizon's letter to the FCC denying all of this is raising a lot of eyebrows, as is Verizon's claim that a new $350 ETF for smartphones was to aid the poor (no, we're not kidding).

This is the second time Ive read about Verizon saying this. Not that I doubt it but why is it so much trouble to include the ACTUAL quote in the story.
Expand your moderator at work

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102 to margaf

Member

to margaf

Re: Jail time plus massive fines

Aim higher, and you'll be working on Wall Street, getting a multi-million dollar bonus, paid for by similar pennies on the dollar.
malikeye
join:2002-09-02
Raleigh, NC

malikeye to karlmarx

Member

to karlmarx

Re: Hopefully this signals a change

"The roman empire looked a lot like the US today, before it fell."

You're not the first person I've heard make this observation.

Robert
Premium Member
join:2001-08-25
Miami, FL

Robert to karlmarx

Premium Member

to karlmarx
said by karlmarx:

The roman empire looked a lot like the US today, before it fell.
Not even close.

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx to Z80A

Member

to Z80A

Re: Jail time plus massive fines

said by Z80A:

If I came up with a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars, I would certainly go to jail.
That's your problem right there. Steal a hundred dollars or a hundred thousand dollars you go to jail. Steal a hundred million dollars and the government wants to negotiate and you are in the drivers seat. Aim high!
Timmn
join:2000-04-23
Tinley Park, IL

Timmn to FLATLINE

Member

to FLATLINE

Re: Subject

OK, here you go:

"Verizon defended its early termination charges for cellphone contracts Friday, telling federal regulators that the high fees help the poor by making it more affordable for them to access the mobile internet."

VerizTE
@charter.com

VerizTE

Anon

Verizon Will Most Likely Weasel Their Way Out of This One...


Well I hope they don't, but history tells us they will.

From their paid lobbyists in Washington to the lowest level retail store douche bag foaming at the mouth on the defensive trying to counteract all negative press, they will do all they can to come across as angels.

I simply made a reference to this story at HowardForums and their retail employee brigade pounced on me with comments ranging from "if you don't like it just leave," to "pay for an unlimited smartphone data plan and you won't have this problem." Those idiots even defend the new ETF policy claiming Verizon has the right to rape their own customers.

Big corps like Verizon and AT&T who do shady business need to be capped the same way they cap and throttle our data plans. They shouldn't be allowed to buy more spectrum or acquire any more smaller companies. A simple dose of their own medicine should do the trick.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to n2jtx

Premium Member

to n2jtx

Re: Jail time plus massive fines

said by n2jtx:
said by Z80A:

If I came up with a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars, I would certainly go to jail.
That's your problem right there. Steal a hundred dollars or a hundred thousand dollars you go to jail. Steal a hundred million dollars and the government wants to negotiate and you are in the drivers seat. Aim high!
I don't know. Why not ask Bernie Madoff. He can be reached at the Butner Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina.

jsz0
Premium Member
join:2008-01-23
Jewett City, CT

jsz0 to karlmarx

Premium Member

to karlmarx

Re: Hopefully this signals a change

Obama's FCC has been much more consumer friendly than the previous regime so far. We haven't seen much action yet but lots of inquires. We'll have to see what comes of them in the future but for now Genachowski has been there less than 6 months and has already rattled some cages. Pretty good start I'd say. Point is, there is a large idealogical difference in how the FCC is run under Democrats and Republicans so your vote most definitely does matter when it comes to FCC policy.

beck
MVM
join:2002-01-29
On The Road

beck

MVM

I have it too

I have called several times to get it removed and verizon won't remove it. I have data blocked. I have text blocked. I only use the phone to use voice. They keep saying I'm using data.

Z80A
Premium Member
join:2009-11-23

Z80A to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5

Re: Jail time plus massive fines

Yeah and it took how long to catch him and how many times was evidence provided to the SEC and DOJ and nothing done?

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList to beck

Premium Member

to beck

Re: I have it too

they must have leaky pipes..
pnolte
join:1999-10-21
Chino, CA

pnolte

Member

include me in on the mess

I noticed today that I was given a credit for 1.99. Now I have a data plan with unlimited text and internet. All three of the phones on my line have the same plan and we share the minutes. I do not know why I would need to be credited 1.99 unless I was charged for it someplace else.
marinemaster
join:2004-04-12
Suwanee, GA

marinemaster to Z80A

Member

to Z80A

Re: Jail time plus massive fines

Nobody will go to jail unfortunately, this is capitalism...they got it all angles covered and figured out....communism is green with envy it could not do this...it tried for 80 years but it failed....

FastiBook
join:2003-01-08
Newtown, PA

FastiBook

Member

When the browser is launched....

Technically they are correct, launching a browser doesn't incur usage, the browser attempting to connect to data services incurs usage, so, no there is no $1.99 button on vzw phones, but there is a $1.99 error, people without data plans shouldn't be able to begin to be billed for this.

- A

Bill Neilson
Premium Member
join:2009-07-08
Alexandria, VA

Bill Neilson

Premium Member

I just want to see Verizon hit

with a massive fine. Something that makes them step back and wonder if they should do something so criminal (in my eyes that is)

Now, I know....a huge fine means increased prices for us since they will try and find a way to make us pay for it....I really dont know what to say to that....since that thought is probably right
nyrmetros
join:2008-02-01
Oakland Gardens, NY

nyrmetros

Member

1.99

I just checked the verizon bill for the past 8 months. There it was under Data charge. $1.99 No data plan on my phone either. They are getting called tomorrow.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin to Bill Neilson

Member

to Bill Neilson

Re: I just want to see Verizon hit

There seems to be relatively irrational belief among many conservatives that corporate fines are simply passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. It leaves out the obvious - if companies felt they could simply raise prices, they'd do it whether there were fines or not. After all, why leave money on the table? Conversely, if they feel the consumer is already paying as much as the consumer is willing to bear, they'll be very careful about passing on any increases in their own costs, and if there are any new costs (including fines and taxes) they'll probably absorb the bulk of them. Put another way - he who is desperate pays, and he who is more desperate pays more. If the seller's supply curve is more inelastic than the buyer's demand curve, the seller will absorb more of the taxes - even taxes on the buyer. If the buyer's demand curve is more inelastic, the buyer will absorb of taxes, including corporate taxes.
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