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Verizon Takes a Beating For $1.99 Mystery Fee Denial
And for claiming their new $350 ETF is about helping the poor...

Last week we reported how Verizon finally got around to responding to the FCC's inquiry into higher early termination fees (ETFs) -- and a phantom $1.99 fee users have been complaining about for years. While the higher ETF got most of the press, Verizon's denial of their obnoxious $1.99 mystery fee (despite the claims of thousands of customers, their own customer refunds and even a Verizon whistle blower) is the bigger story. The New York Times' David Pogue, whose coverage broadly publicized the fee months after it was exposed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, has this to say about Verizon's denial:

quote:
How about the 400 people who chimed in to say, 'Me too!' in the comments of my original post? Are they all idiots? How about me? I found several of those $1.99 charges on my own bills. How about the Verizon whistleblower who has begged his managers to change this greedy scheme, and been told to shut up? Is he mistaken? And if there's no problem, and everything's hunky-dory, how come Verizon has quietly been offering refunds of up to $100 to people who've been socked by the accidental $2 fees?
Pogue's e-mail exchange with Verizon Wireless spokesman Jeffrey Nelson is particularly amusing:
quote:
"I'm going to let the letter to the FCC speak for us," he said. "I'm not able to comment further."

"But you're saying that you don't charge that $1.99 fee!" I told him. "Yet it's happened to hundreds of my readers, and it's happened to me. So what are we missing?"

"I'm going to let the letter to the FCC speak for us."

"But it just says Verizon isn't doing it!"

"I'm going to let the letter to the FCC speak for us."
Of course this was a Verizon letter that pretended their ETF hikes were about helping the poor, so denying the existence of a bogus $1.99 charge that has impacted thousands of customers was about par for the course. Verizon's likely being quiet because they don't want state Attorney Generals or class action lawsuit attorneys to notice that there may be millions of dollars owed Verizon customers. If the FCC doesn't push Verizon harder on the extreme BS (even by Verizon lobbyist and lawyer standards) they tried to pass off as legitimate discourse in last week's filing, Verizon Wireless customers may have to give the FCC a little kick.
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ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Good....

Sometimes a swift kick in the rear is what is needed to some of these companies. I hope they come clean.....

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536

Premium Member

Re: Good....

said by ptrowski:

Sometimes a swift kick in the rear is what is needed to some of these companies. I hope they come clean.....
only that swift kick will most likely result in higher unfees on your bill!

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

en102

Member

Re: Good....

That $1.99 mystery fee will be now added to a 'Federal Recovery Surcharge Fee'. Problem solved

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

Bill Neilson

Premium Member

Amazing that Verizon can just get away

with this with little to no penalty

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

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Amazing that Verizon can just get away

said by Bill Neilson:

with this with little to no penalty
They didn't get away with it yet. The FCC hasn't made a ruling. And the class action lawyers are still probably figuring how many millions to sue for.

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

n2jtx

Member

Re: Amazing that Verizon can just get away

said by FFH5:

said by Bill Neilson:

with this with little to no penalty
They didn't get away with it yet. The FCC hasn't made a ruling. And the class action lawyers are still probably figuring how many millions to sue for.
Just wait. I am sure they will. In fact, if the government does sue them, and I would be very surprised at that, the only winner will be the government in the collection of fines. The customers would see a penny of it.

Guspaz
Guspaz
MVM
join:2001-11-05
Montreal, QC

Guspaz

MVM

Re: Amazing that Verizon can just get away

That's not the point. While I'm not a Verizon customer (nor do I live in the country that they service), the point is:

1) Prevent them from continuing to do it in the future
2) Punish them for having done it.

Getting back $1.99 or so doesn't mean much to the individual consumer, but losing millions of dollars does mean something to Verizon.

dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus
join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI

dnoyeB

Member

Re: Amazing that Verizon can just get away

...and to other companies thinking about/doing the same thing.

NOVA_Guy
ObamaCare Kills Americans
Premium Member
join:2002-03-05

NOVA_Guy to Guspaz

Premium Member

to Guspaz
While fining Verizon and closely watching their practices may prevent them from doing this in the future, it will do little else.

They have already collected the fees from their customers, so they've already gotten use of millions of dollars for years. This use cannot be undone.

Any fines levied by the government and any settlements from class action lawsuits filed by attorneys will simply be used as justification to raise fees and prices even higher for Verizon's customers-- much like how the credit card companies are screwing customers these days by raising rates up to 30% or more and using the excuse of having to pay federal government bail out loans back. (Bail out loans which, IMHO, shouldn't have been given to them in the first place.)

In the end, the only people who will lose on this will be Verizon's customers-- the ones who were supposed to have been the beneficiaries of additional regulatory action from the government and lawsuits from the lawyers. Ironic, isn't it?

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

Bill Neilson to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
Nothing will be done

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

en102

Member

Re: Amazing that Verizon can just get away

Increase in 'regulatory fees' by $1.99 (+ an extra piece to cover for the money spent on lawsuit and penalties)

NOVA_Guy
ObamaCare Kills Americans
Premium Member
join:2002-03-05

NOVA_Guy

Premium Member

Re: Amazing that Verizon can just get away

I would actually hope this happens. If it does, all Verizon customers should take advantage of this material adverse increase in price to get out of their contract immediately.

Since I just started service on Verizon last week (got a new Droid) this would be perfect. I'd cancel the contract with no BS ETF fee, and either port the number over to some other service where I could use the Droid (prepaid maybe?) or immediately sign another 2 year contract with Verizon for another phone subsidy (allowing me to eBay one of the phones for a profit).

I was initially opposed to the idea of them raising fees... But now, on second thought, go ahead Verizon-- make my day. I could use an excuse to get out of a new 2 year contract with you with no ETF, socking you for a loss of the phone subsidy you provided...

spewak
R.I.P Dadkins
Premium Member
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA

spewak to Bill Neilson

Premium Member

to Bill Neilson
said by Bill Neilson:

Nothing will be done
The Gentleman from California agrees!

Boricua
Premium Member
join:2002-01-26
Sacramuerto

Boricua

Premium Member

Hmmm...

Looks like I will have to go back and check my bills. I have seen the $1.99 on my bill and never bother to get it credited.
old_wiz_60
join:2005-06-03
Bedford, MA

old_wiz_60

Member

wonder if..

the investigators at the FCC get a cut from Verizon from the phone fees?

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

cableties

Premium Member

But...

this is critical to National Security!

"I will let the letter to the FCC speak for us.."

Go David! Oh wait, you're a tool for Apple.. oh snap!
nishiko7
Premium Member
join:2007-05-01
Pleasant Hill, CA

1 recommendation

nishiko7

Premium Member

If this is the way these big companies insist on behaving...

... then bring on the regulations. They clearly can't regulate themselves. How much is ever enough for these companies??

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK

Premium Member

Re: If this is the way these big companies insist on behaving...

Yep, they abuse, so bring the Rod. Bring it.

NOVA_Guy
ObamaCare Kills Americans
Premium Member
join:2002-03-05

NOVA_Guy to nishiko7

Premium Member

to nishiko7
Normally I'm opposed to government intervention and interference, but this sounds like a good idea to me.

The wireless market has not been competitive [enough] in a long while. (That's typically what happens in oligopolies.) Clearly there is a problem when the major wireless providers (AT&T and Verizon) can continually screw their customers by placing caps on their service, placing restrictions on their service, adding mystery fees to their service, and charging exorbitant amounts of money for the service.

The last competitive sign in the wireless marketplace, IMHO, was when Alltel introduced calling circles and the major players followed suit. And that really wasn't much of a competitive move anyway considering that Verizon bought Alltel, and Verizon and AT&T only allow their calling circles on higher priced tiers (those on the lowest tier can't even get it as an add-on feature). True competition, of course, would have led to different results for this feature-- and would also provide enough pressure to keep prices down (or at least avoid collecting unfees from existing customers).

Maybe a nudge here or there from the government could help drive the noncompetitive wireless marketplace in the right direction. I'd love to read about others' ideas of what this nudge from the government should be.
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

Solution

The government should get into cellphone business or buy every single carrier out there. That way we would get cheap services.
papeluv
join:2008-01-08
Decatur, AL

1 recommendation

papeluv

Member

Re: Solution

Care for some vodka with to go along with your comment?

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

1 recommendation

FFH5 to glinc

Premium Member

to glinc
said by glinc:

The government should get into cellphone business or buy every single carrier out there. That way we would get cheap services.
LOL

jester121
Premium Member
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL

jester121 to glinc

Premium Member

to glinc
Let's see how much they save us on health insurance first?

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Solution

said by jester121:

Let's see how much they save us on health insurance first?
Looks grim, unfortunately because they are caving in to the industry and not actually regulating or fixing the problem.
old_wiz_60
join:2005-06-03
Bedford, MA

old_wiz_60

Member

Re: Solution

they cave to big business just like they do to the cable co, the telcos, and the entertainment people. Entertainment wants more copyright, more control over TV. etc

CurGeorge8
join:2005-05-02
South Park, PA

1 recommendation

CurGeorge8 to glinc

Member

to glinc
In communist Russia, cell phone call you.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

wifi4milez to glinc

Member

to glinc
said by glinc:

The government should get into cellphone business or buy every single carrier out there. That way we would get cheap services.
Surely you jest?

RiseAbove
Premium Member
join:2004-01-30

1 recommendation

RiseAbove

Premium Member

Re: Solution

said by wifi4milez:

said by glinc:

The government should get into cellphone business or buy every single carrier out there. That way we would get cheap services.
Surely you jest?
because the free market has done so well to protect us at this point? You notice almost all of the cellphone companies charge about the same exact fee for services yet there is no basis for it or reasoning. Essentially they are acting in collusion with each other which is a crime and it should be investigated.

The free market has pretty much screwed us over just as much or more than a government entity could ever do.

I'm no advocate of bigger government but if they want to compete more power to them maybe it will shock some of these companies into doing something. I highly doubt it though because government is all about getting paid off and letting the corporations make the law and you and I getting sent the bill and screwed over which we have seen time and time again over the last 20-30 years.

I really wish google would of opened up their dark fiber, bought up the 700mhz spectrum, then offered some decent cellphone/wireless internet prices and shut down all of these companies. Instead they are just providing devices and OS's to them so they can continue the churn of ripping you and me off daily. The fact that the text message pricing is at it's current level is a joke, the actual message for them to send and process is almost zero costs yet they charge a premium. That alone should of sent flairs up to people in government to investigate their pricing methods.

scott2020
join:2008-07-20
MO

scott2020

Member

Re: Solution

Charge what the market will bear. That is what capitalism is about. If people hated it that much, they would stop texting.
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: Solution

said by scott2020:

Charge what the market will bear. That is what capitalism is about. If people hated it that much, they would stop texting.
Sure, and just like the banking crisis, they will have their hands out looking for a federal bailout because they will say they are "too big to fail." How many government agencies contract with cell phone providers now? You think Uncle Sam is going to let their service go dark?

We don't have a pure capitalistic system. There are some regulations in place but they do not protect the consumer. Or would you rather go back to "caveat emptor."

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

wifi4milez to RiseAbove

Member

to RiseAbove
said by RiseAbove:

The fact that the text message pricing is at it's current level is a joke, the actual message for them to send and process is almost zero costs yet they charge a premium. That alone should of sent flairs up to people in government to investigate their pricing methods.
The pricing is a joke according to whom?? Why are Lamborghini's so expensive, is that a "joke" too? How come luxury yachts cost hundreds of millions of dollars, is that also a joke? At the end of the day all the above (including text messages) are luxury services that people chose to purchase/use. If you dont like it, you have a few options:

1) Stop using text messages
2) Use one the the many free text messaging services out there

It will be a sad day when people "sent up flairs" and complain to the government about the price of ancillary, and totally optional, services being provided by companies.

RiseAbove
Premium Member
join:2004-01-30

RiseAbove

Premium Member

Re: Solution

said by wifi4milez:

said by RiseAbove:

The fact that the text message pricing is at it's current level is a joke, the actual message for them to send and process is almost zero costs yet they charge a premium. That alone should of sent flairs up to people in government to investigate their pricing methods.
The pricing is a joke according to whom?? Why are Lamborghini's so expensive, is that a "joke" too? How come luxury yachts cost hundreds of millions of dollars, is that also a joke? At the end of the day all the above (including text messages) are luxury services that people chose to purchase/use. If you dont like it, you have a few options:

1) Stop using text messages
2) Use one the the many free text messaging services out there

It will be a sad day when people "sent up flairs" and complain to the government about the price of ancillary, and totally optional, services being provided by companies.
what are you babbling on about? yes it is optional but that doesn't mean the prices can't be fair. Nothing wrong with asking for companies to charge a reasonable price for a service.

NOVA_Guy
ObamaCare Kills Americans
Premium Member
join:2002-03-05

1 recommendation

NOVA_Guy to RiseAbove

Premium Member

to RiseAbove
We do not have a free market capitalistic system in place when it comes to cell phone companies. We have an oligopoly.

Free market capitalism requires numerous suppliers offering a homogeneous product for competition. We do not have numerous suppliers in the cell phone marketplace; at most we have 4 major players (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile). We do not have a homogeneous product either. Consider the coverage and network differences between the providers. Also consider the number of people flocking to AT&T for the iPhone, despite AT&T's abysmal network quality. Consider the number of people (myself included) who switched to Verizon for the Droid. Consider the differences between GSM networks and CDMA networks.

Free market capitalism also requires low barriers of entry into the marketplace. Barriers of entry are significant in the wireless market. FCC regulations, costs to build your network (or lease it from others, if the providers will let you do it), costs to build a nationwide network of retail stores, agreements with phone manufacturers, etc. all create significant hurdles when it comes to starting up a wireless company. Also consider the time it would take to enter the marketplace; one cannot start up a wireless provider without months (perhaps years) of planning.

It is not free market capitalism that has "screwed us over", as you've put it. It is the lack of free market capitalism that has, in this case.

All of that said, I essentially agree with the points you've made in your post. More government involvement-- at least in setting up a consumers' bill of rights, and creating price ceilings for some things where there is significant mark-up (like text messaging)-- may create enough of a shock to get the market to at least partially correct itself.

I also wish that Google had done more than just provide the operating system for Android-based phones. But I can understand why they didn't-- if they had started their own wireless company and used devices with their own OS, they would have been subject to much more government scrutiny. Players like AT&T and Verizon would likely have pushed the DOJ into investigations, which may have forced Google's hand in some areas, or forced some sort of splitting up of Google's functions similar to what happened with Microsoft in the past.

Strategically, Google did the best thing for themselves. They're getting a number of devices out there with their OS on them, on a number of providers. This gives Google a much larger potential footprint and gets more people using their services, which gives Google much more data to collect on people and sell to advertisers in aggregate form. (This is where Google makes a ton of money, in case you haven't heard. )

It also positions Google very well for moving into other facets of people's lives. Google Voice integrates nicely on Android-based phones, as does Google Maps. Both are potential threats to wireless company revenue, and may eventually lead to revenue streams for Google. I'm sure it's also caused a ton more people who didn't have GMail accounts to get one, leading to more advertising revenue. I could go on, but I'm sure that you've more than gotten the idea by now.

RiseAbove
Premium Member
join:2004-01-30

RiseAbove

Premium Member

Re: Solution

said by NOVA_Guy:

We do not have a free market capitalistic system in place when it comes to cell phone companies. We have an oligopoly.

Free market capitalism requires numerous suppliers offering a homogeneous product for competition. We do not have numerous suppliers in the cell phone marketplace; at most we have 4 major players (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile). We do not have a homogeneous product either. Consider the coverage and network differences between the providers. Also consider the number of people flocking to AT&T for the iPhone, despite AT&T's abysmal network quality. Consider the number of people (myself included) who switched to Verizon for the Droid. Consider the differences between GSM networks and CDMA networks.

Free market capitalism also requires low barriers of entry into the marketplace. Barriers of entry are significant in the wireless market. FCC regulations, costs to build your network (or lease it from others, if the providers will let you do it), costs to build a nationwide network of retail stores, agreements with phone manufacturers, etc. all create significant hurdles when it comes to starting up a wireless company. Also consider the time it would take to enter the marketplace; one cannot start up a wireless provider without months (perhaps years) of planning.

It is not free market capitalism that has "screwed us over", as you've put it. It is the lack of free market capitalism that has, in this case.

I'm sorry I read all of this and your little quoted text in your sig and below your avatar and that is all I had to know how far outside of reality you actually exist. Not to mention that glorious and highly laughable last paragraph. It was pretty devoid of reality in any sense of the word. Please insert another 25 cents and try again.

NOVA_Guy
ObamaCare Kills Americans
Premium Member
join:2002-03-05

NOVA_Guy to glinc

Premium Member

to glinc
Yes, because we all know that yammering away on your phone and texting while sitting in traffic should be a right.

And let's not forget about wireless internet and GPS. People are dying out there because they can't download Google Maps fast enough and have the app tell them how to get to the closest Starbucks.

Isn't it bad enough that Obama and the liberal Democrats are trying to destroy a decent, stable, working health care system while simultaneously wallet-raping the American public? I'd have thought that people could have learned a lesson from those actions. Apparently not.

RiseAbove
Premium Member
join:2004-01-30

1 recommendation

RiseAbove

Premium Member

Re: Solution

said by NOVA_Guy:

Isn't it bad enough that Obama and the liberal Democrats are trying to destroy a decent, stable, working health care system while simultaneously wallet-raping the American public? I'd have thought that people could have learned a lesson from those actions. Apparently not.
You keep saying paragraphs like this and it makes you out to be more and more of a GOP loon. If I go back through all of your posts will I find you bitching about how Bush also increased budgets and spending astronomically in the last few years? I'm not a fan of Obama or Bush and their spending but don't be a fooled into thinking this "wallet-raping" started on Obama's watch, if you truly give a damn you would be all over both of them but I bet money your posts don't reflect that I bet it has a lot of teabagger colloquialisms positioned through out them all. I also love your bit about the "trying to destroy a decent, stable, working health care system," it ads a nice Hannity flare to your post and once again throws up a huge signal of just how out of touch with everything you truly are.
theyipper
join:2001-01-18
Oakland, CA

theyipper

Member

class action

... and what will happen after a class action suit?
The customer will receive a coupon for a discount on their next phone upgrade!

Wowee!! Gooooo lawyers!

Z80A
Premium Member
join:2009-11-23

Z80A

Premium Member

Re: class action

said by theyipper:

... and what will happen after a class action suit?
The customer will receive a coupon for a discount on their next phone upgrade!

Wowee!! Gooooo lawyers!
And VZ doesn't try stealing $2 from thousands of their customers again.

NOVA_Guy
ObamaCare Kills Americans
Premium Member
join:2002-03-05

NOVA_Guy to theyipper

Premium Member

to theyipper
No, it will be a coupon for a 10% discount on the wireless phone accessory of your choice at a Verizon Wireless store, priced to not exceed $30.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK

Premium Member

Denial--- It's not just a River in Egypt...

They are BEGGING to get a class action suit filed. Some random legal firm could end up making millions and millions in dollars while Verizon victims customers get a coupon good for a Free PPV movie on FIOS or something....
Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA

Sammer

Member

Re: Denial--- It's not just a River in Egypt...

said by KrK:

They are BEGGING to get a class action suit filed. Some random legal firm could end up making millions and millions in dollars while Verizon victims customers get a coupon good for a Free PPV movie on FIOS or something....
You and the previous poster are both right. Verizon customers will get next to nothing but some lawyers will have a huge payday. Whatever those lawyers get it's Verizon fault for having so many anti-consumer fees in the first place.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 recommendation

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: Denial--- It's not just a River in Egypt...

True, but I bet the $1.99 fee gets fixed.

Hpower
join:2000-06-08
Canyon Country, CA

Hpower

Member

No $ for us

We won't see a dime of this anyway. Only the government or FCC will be making $.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Government Should Act

The government should require that the costs of these fees be included in the advertised price of the service. It is not right for people to be surprised with mystery fees on their monthly bills.

As for the $350 ETF, I don't have a problem with it, because this fee is fully disclosed and is entirely avoidable.

••••••••

Staplegun
join:2005-04-20
Flower Mound, TX

Staplegun

Member

$1.99 fee for 1 MB of usage

Honestly I think many of these appear when people let their kids or friends borrow their phone and/or they accidentally hit browser/download on a touch screen and get billed the minimum.

cpsycho
join:2008-06-03
Treadeu Land

cpsycho

Member

US GDP

I wonder what the GDP ratio in the states is for suits? If its higher then 5% I think People should consider that a bad thing and something to frown upon.

FastiBook
join:2003-01-08
Newtown, PA

FastiBook

Member

Marketing and scandal combination...

After all of the marketing tactics, ads attacking att etc, vzw sure does have some legal and repetitional egg on its face from this stupid avoidable problem.

"Yes we have the biggest 3G network (but we have lower speeds and no medium speed fall-back), the best phones (that can't talk & do data services stuff at the sane time) and the best pricing on service (that we will screw up and blame on you &/or pretend it isn't happening)."

- A

•••••••
qworster
join:2001-11-25
Bryn Mawr, PA

qworster

Member

But corporations are ENTITLED.....

....to ALL the money they can beg, borrow or STEAL from their customers! Just ask all the corporate shills that hang out here!
Itsmeandyou
join:2004-01-29
Commack, NY

Itsmeandyou

Member

CRAZY charges

Sprint has the same thing on their bill. It's a percentage of the total bill and it says that they are EXTRA CHARGES that they are NOT REQUIRED to collect.

It's just a total scam !!!

Ioweyou
@comcast.net

Ioweyou

Anon

Back and forth banter

"Open the pod bay doors HAL?"
"I'm sorry Dave but I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Please... open the pod bay doors HAL?"
"I'm sorry Dave but I'm afraid I can't do that."

"HAL. Open the pod bay doors!"
"I'm sorry Dave but I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Open the DAMN doors HAL!"
"I'm sorry Dave but I'm afraid I can't do that."

Z80A
Premium Member
join:2009-11-23

Z80A

Premium Member

If I stole $2 from someone

I could be charged with petty theft. VZ does it and it's an "error".
maccur
join:2004-12-21
united state

maccur

Member

Monthly Screwing

These mystery charges are driving me crazy. Every month, I make the call to Verizon. Every month I'm told my in-laws, who are on the family plan, are mistakenly hitting the data button. Every month my in-laws say, no, we don't touch that button because we know Verizon will charge. I've taken away internet from their phones, but want to keep text messaging with photos available to them. So every month I get screwed by Verizon.

firethem
@embarqhsd.net

firethem

Anon

Verizon fee??

Fire them!! There are other choices. Let them lose couple million customers and see what they do. If you cant deal with them fire them period.
jlvs2run
join:2006-04-08
Santa Maria, CA

jlvs2run

Member

Verizon Crooks

I've had verizon phone the last two decades, only because there had been no other choice. They routinely add charges to the bill. For example they charged me wiring fees until I finally got them to stop a few months ago. I told them at the beginning to not charge wiring fees, and called them constantly to have the fees removed. But they never did it and kept putting the charges on the bill every month.

They say you can't contact them by mail, in writing, that it won't do any good, the only way to contact them is by phone, and then they do nothing, unless you want to order more service. Over the last two decades they have charged about $3000 in wiring fees based on today's prices. This does not include their other overcharges. I have only local calling, no out of local area calling, no long distance, no 900 calls etc etc. At times the phone bill was up to $100 a month for two phone lines, but only for occasional local calls, at the supposed lowest flat rate.

Finally two months ago the bill was down to $41.xx with one phone line, but this month back up to $49.99. They had added $6.02 for two 900 MCI calls and the bill said to contact MCI, but the number that I called was Verizon. I have never made any 900 calls and had verizon block all non local calls many years ago.

I talked to the rep to have the charges removed, repeated that such calls were never made, and said "you must be getting a lot of complaints on these charges", which was confirmed by the rep. There must be millions of verizon customers being changed $6.02 or whatever, and most of them would just pay the bogus charges, which was confirmed by the rep. The rep credited the charges, made sure the block was in place, and said there would be a credit the next month.

I said, no, there were no calls made, I'll just subtract this amount from the bill. The rep said you can't do that as there would be a late charge! And then I'd have to call again to have the late charge removed, but if I didn't pay it then there'd be another late charge the following month, ad infinitum. So the only way to stop continuous late charges is to pay the charges, for calls that were never made, and that verizon knows were not made.

Any suggestions, comments, alternatives, places to complain etc, much appreciated.
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