The official "Verizon Wireless is Evil" Thread.

[Smarmie Doofus]

http://verizonpathetic.com/pain20.html

Anyone had any problematic dealings w. this entity? I used it as a single line customer for about three years without incident. 450 minutes for about 50 bucks per mos. 12 year old son nagged me constantly to add him to the plan so he could get a flashier ( higher status and more versatile phone; he had been using a simple TMOBILE prepay phone; not flashy, low social status).

So I added a line and switched to family plan: 700 minutes shared for 69.99 minus 20% discount. 6 days later I get the new bill: 638 dollars. For about one week's usage.

400+ dollars attributed to a two and a half day period between the time they put my son's new phone in my hand and I was able to figure out how to use block options feature ("usage controls") they call it... which was about 2 to three days later. In which time, sonny-boy was downloading all kinds of expensive musical and ringtone crap... none of which I understand and none of which I'm interested in. ( Things like VCAST, RHAPSODY, etc. etc. etc. Not cear that they are included or cost money, at least not clear from the site. But they cost money! Whew!)

Anyway, long story short, Verizon... Evildoers Inc.... insists I have to pay for the whole thing. I hung up on them after they refused to negotiate.

My guess is they deliberately make this process as confusing as possible so people spend as much as possible without knowing WTF is going on. If you can make sense out of their website, you're a lot swifter than I.

So I've got two new phones... a contract of one kind or another, not sure how enforceable it is ...and no desire to continue with this cabal.

So... anyone know what my options are.

[unhappycamper]

1. Unfortunately your options are slim.

I retired from Verizon in 2002 after many years of down dumb sizing, cutting this and cutting that.

Those guys have pretty good lawyers! And those lawyers are the ones who write your contract in 2 point type.

[amdezurik]

2. yep, gotta agree

went through the same kind of crap trying to get a blackberry on their service, I tell them exactly what I need, they say a price, but oops most of what i asked for is NOT included so lots of "extra" charges based on lies.

[glowing]

3. It will effect your credit if you don't pay.. but if you are willing to pay something to them

they will eventually negotiate. You'll probably have to pay the plan fee and the cancel fee ($200.00 is the avg. cancel contract fee).

Also, all those things he downloaded, are probably something that they have in a contract form.. ask them for an all inclusive package.. it will make the monthly bill larger, but NOT as large as all those things he downloaded cost on an individual basis. this is something you can do for a couple of months and then change your contract back to the old plan.

Or, make sonny learn his lesson. Tell him he's got to pay you back for the bill. Responsibility for your child and for his understanding things like cell phones is both of your duties.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Not especially worried about credit.

Have a mortgage already and don't plan on ever applying for another.

If they'll get out of my life for 200 dollars I'd be happy.

Re. sonny: His allowance is 10 dollars per week and he will never pay it back but I did confiscate the phone. An unpleasant domestic row ensued.

Re my responsibilities: I'll never understand that level of technology... not to mention the glossy verbiage that enshrouds it ( eg. the VCAST downloads are hidden on the bill under "Data"; everything else in the online bill is clickable; but not "Data"; you have to call customer service to find out what that is; it's where the 'bodies' are buried.)

Acted against my better instincts, which was "don't get this phone."


We live, we learn. Still , I don't want Verizon to get the money. Partly 'cause I'm cheap; partly 'cause they're evil.

[Ian David]

4. If you switch to Working Assets, they'll buy you out of your Verizon contract. n/t

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. Mmmm. Working Assetts, eh?

Said Homer.


Thanks, I'll check it out.

[FloridaJudy]

72. It's called CREDO now

I've had that for over a year, and the service has been fantastic and the prices are comparable to other cell phone providers.

[INdemo]

5. solution...switch to Sprint

I have the option of blocking Internet access and have never had a problem.

[PeaceNikki]

9. Ah yes... Sprint. The company who opened an account for someone who stole my identity,

closed it 3 weeks later when I found it on my credit bureau report and notified them and then refused to open a legitimate account in my name 8 months later due to 'fraudulent activity' reported in my name.

Sprint sucks.

[1Hippiechick]

12. Ditto for SPRINT sucks. God forbid if you are a customer and ever want to port a number elsewhere.

[INdemo]

40. I have been with Sprint for 8 years and have never had a problem

with the exception of some spam text messages and they deducted those fees from my bill.

[michreject]

70. I'm switching to Verizon from Sprint

They're giving me a GM discount.

[jjanpundt]

6. My boss had a go around with AT&T several years ago and

after much arguing, letter writing, etc. he finally told them he would never pay the $750 they'd racked up in their scam. He promptly cancelled all of his service plans with AT&T. He detailed everything in a letter and sent it to AT&T, Better Business Bureau, every oversight agency he could think of, etc. Periodically we'd get demand letters from a collection agency and would send them a copy of the complaint letter. Never heard from them again. We recently had another go around with a collection agency and he told them he was never ever going to pay the charges. The collection agency said they'd turn the claim back to the client. Who knows we may start this process all over again.

He switched to Verizon and has not had any problems. Of course he claims it's because he learned the hard way from his go around with AT&T.

Good luck.

[PeaceNikki]

10. I've been with Verizon wireless for 5 1/2 years and never had a problem.

Not one. They've been courteous, kind, and very reasonable every time I've worked with them.

And they worked with me when my ex racked up $500 in minutes wooing his new sweetie on my account and refused to pay me.

Obviously not everyone's experience is the same, but my experience with them has been quite good. In addition, I find their website to be rather user-friendly.

[1Hippiechick]

13. Verizon here. I can't say really good things about CS in the store, though, unless you are BUYING.

[PeaceNikki]

14. I agree 100%. However, most of the stores are franchised.

My kid went through a period of going through cell phones like socks... and the customer service at corporate would work with me to replace at little or no cost. The stores wouldn't honor the same deals as corporate.

[1Hippiechick]

15. Ah. you are wise, grasshopper. Uttering the word 'corporate' brings results

at least for me.

[PeaceNikki]

18. Somewhat in their defense, those independant

owner/operators make their profit on hardware and new contracts. Giving monetary breaks to existing customers doesn't make them money. Their costs on the hardware are significantly more than HQ. Corporate earns their $$ on the usage every month, so they are very interested in keeping you.

[1Hippiechick]

24. I think that is an important piece of information that would do well to be broadcast.

I definintely did not have a good experience in the Verizon store, and I was not the only one in Verizon with the problem. I signed in electronically, saw my name posted, and waited my turn. I was sent elsewhere in the store, waited my turn, only to be told that someone at the sales carrel would have to help me. That's when I blew. I waited and waited, as I wateched other people come and leave while I stood there. I finally approached each customer in front of a clerk and said, "Are you purchasing new service or are you here for another reason?" Each one was there for new service. I watched the clerks walk from behind their 'station' and approach people on the floor and ask if they could be of assistance. The older, AA woman next to me was there to PURCHASE new service, and told me that she had been waiting TWO HOURS but they managed to breeze right past her - didn't have "the look" I guess. So that REALLY set me on fire. And when I believe people are being mistreated, I really get fired up. I told her LOUDLY "Call corporate and complain. Give them the store number, tell them what happened." etc.

And btw, I DID contact corporate and got an almost immediate response - and this was on the weekend. My bank account is drafted, so they get their money on time. I reminded them that for ppl who enter the Verizon 'store' that IS Verizon to them.

Therefore, I am an advocate for contacting corporate when one gets a stupidly insane runaround from clerks. One has to go higher up in the food chain for action.

[PeaceNikki]

27. Again, I agree 100%.

I have very in-depth and real life experience with franchising so I know exactly what you're saying on all counts.

It should be more common knowledge. I don't ever even bother with the store and frustrate myself and them unless it's a transaction that I know is very straightforward and involves no discussion.

I know that these are small-business owners trying hard in a tough economy to ensure that the life-savings they invested into the store turns a profit enough to survive. And, given how great that corporate has been, I have no problem doing this at all.

[1Hippiechick]

16. Mouse hiccup - double post. This is happening more frequently. What's wrong?!?

[alfredo]

53. Same here. Good service, good coverage. I don't do data, and keep

my talking under the max minutes.

[Smarmie Doofus]

56. Me too and me too.

>>> I don't do data,>>>

Me neither. But *data* ( I didn't even know what it was til today) is where the $$$ is.

[alfredo]

57. Yep, surfing the internet is using data. e-mail is transferring data texting

is data. talking is not.

[Schema Thing]

11. Take the phones back and start over

refuse to pay for anything you didn't want. Write letters certified to argue your case.


Start over with a cheaper service like metro pcs, or pageplus.

[Lex]

17. One possible angle -- your son at 12 is a minor and can't "contract" for services

neither for you or even for himself.

You didn't contract for those services/downloads, HE did and legally he isn't old enough to do so.

[PeaceNikki]

20. That phone/account is in his name. He's responsible for what happens with it.

It's actually a 30 second call to Verizon to block the downloads that he should have done on day 1.

Signed,
Mother who gave her son a cell at age 11 and called so this kinda thing wouldn't happen

[Lex]

26. from a legal standpoint I mean

a 12 year old can't 'contract' for services because he is a minor

[PeaceNikki]

28. Verizon didn't contract with the kid. They contracted with the parent and the parent gave the phone

and the responsibility that goes with it to a 12 year-old child without taking precautionary measures.

[Lex]

30. If your child has a $100 and he buys stuff with it

and later you find out and do not approve of the purchases, you can take the stuff back and the merchant must give the money back because the minor is not old enough to contract for the purchases.

That is the angle I'd use with the Verizon Wireless company.

[PeaceNikki]

34. Good luck with that.

[Lex]

36. Oh, it has worked before.

I even took a local merchant to small claims in order to help a client get back her money on a stereo purchase by a 17 year old.

[Smarmie Doofus]

52. Interesting.

The previous poster is correct that I did contract w. the Evildoers and did put the phone in my son's hand before I could figure out how to install the usage controls. But: th ere was another issue going on at the time that complicated the situation; his phone was not working as a phone because the numbers assigned were not good #s. Most of my attention was devoted to getting it to work as a phone. Also they managed to *lock* MY phone while they were trying to unlock his. That's certainly Verizon's fault.

Your point re. whether a 12 year old can "contract" under those circumstances is a good one. The more this is discussed the more I'm remembering ( this all happened mid work week in the *evenings*; I barely vertical at this time of day, normally).

The combination of the 12-year old "contracting" and the phone # screwups make for a better case... certainly ethically... and maybe legally. I think I'll write corporate a letter. First I've got to assmble the 'evidence'.

Oh joy.

[Smarmie Doofus]

32. News to me. The store told me ( or maybe it was the *611 number.)..

... that it had to be done on the website. Check that : they probably told me to DO it on the website... not that it HAD to be done.

The website is not so simple. Also my PC is not so great. It took a while to figure it out. Partly because the verbiage used is ... shall we say... slippery.

[Delphinus]

19. This post is only

*slightly* related to your problem. For years, we only had Verizon as a telephone carrier option. It took me a few years to finally make the decision to go with VoIP because of coming to detest Verizon for their outlandish charges. I've been gone two years and love it. I can only do this because of Comcast as my cable Internet.

[donco]

21. Here son is you new phone a….

Tracfone

[Fla Dem]

69. Hey I use a Tracfone and love it. Pay for annual air time and minutes.

Done over with. Don't need IM, or other stuff. No bills only pay for time I use. I would think this would be the way to go with kids who do not appreciate how easy it is to run up charges w/texting and downloading. Give them a Tracfone, with a set # of minutes and tell them when the minutes are gone, sorry they're gone.

[Greyhound]

22. Thanks to our "representatives" you are pretty well screwed.

30 yeas of profits over people have left you with no real option to fight this. If you don't pay your credit will suffer and there is nothing to compel them to negotiate anything with you.

Verizon loads up all of their phones with this crap and charges outrageous sums to use it (they actually charged me $3 to download 30 seconds of "Frankenstein" as a ring-tone). Not to worry, they have a plethora of plans that include these services. The key seems to be once you are paying $150 a month they are satisfied for now.

Just another aspect of our new economy we can thank Clinton and the other Republiks for.

[Smarmie Doofus]

38. Not much interested in credit rating anymore.

>>>30 yeas of profits over people have left you with no real option to fight this. If you don't pay your credit will suffer and there is nothing to compel them to negotiate anything with you.

Don't expect to make any more huge purchases on credit.

>>>>Verizon loads up all of their phones with this crap and charges outrageous sums to use it (they actually charged me $3 to download 30 seconds of "Frankenstein" as a ring-tone). Not to worry, they have a plethora of plans that include these services. The key seems to be once you are paying $150 a month they are satisfied for now.>>>>>

Yeeeaaahhh. Now yer talking . This is what made me resist changing the plan for so long... my inkling that this was the case... and this is what actually turned out to be true. And this is what the 638 dollars is overwhelmingly comprised of. Crap. Junk. Meretricious *shit* that is irresistable to a twelve year old mind.

[Greyhound]

42. Yep and all his little friends are doing it too.

I wish people could get their brains around just how much these parasites (giant, consolidated corporations) suck out of our economy. If they could, we might see some real change.

Sorry for your problem. If credit is really of no concern, you can both go to the pay as you go option and they can eat it. Or you could make him get a paper route and pay it off?:shrug:
:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Why does a 12 year old kid need a cell phone?

Sorry, but I believe that's where your problem started.

[1Hippiechick]

25. OMG. It starts much earlier than that. Elementary school age children have them! He's at least

middle school age.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. I teach elementary school

I will repeat my question: Why does a 12 year old need a cell phone?

[PeaceNikki]

37. As a single mom, I find it a very necessary tool.

My kid has had one since he was 11.

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. I raised 2 kids and they managed just fine without cell phones

or pagers. They were all the rage when my kids were younger and both begged for one but did not get them.

Sorry I can't agree that 12 year olds need cell phones. And I find it ridiculous to give one to a kid that young and then complain about him running up charges. Gotta wonder who the adult is here and how much parenting is going on.

My friend's 16 year old daughter ran up several hundred dollars in charges for text messages on her cell phone. So it was taken away for a month and when she got it back, texting was blocked.

If your kid uses a cell phone without problems, great. You must have done a good job emphasizing responsible use. Unfortunately not all parents do so.

[PeaceNikki]

50. And parents who raised kids years ago didn't use car seats or seatbelts.

It's a regular communication line that I depend on. Just because it didn't exist before doesn't mean it's not a useful tool.

I agree with you in the complaining about the charges being ridiculous. Especially when it *IS* very easy to block such things and it should be the very first thing done before giving the phone to the kid.

[proud2BlibKansan]

51. First week of school this year, a cell phone rang in my classroom

I held out my hand and the 12 year old who had the phone said "BUT I HAVE TO ANSWER IT!" I said "no you don't, now please give me the phone".

So she hands me the phone and I look at the caller ID and it says "Baby Boy".

It was her boyfriend. She is in 6th grade. He is 16. Her mother thought she needed a phone too. :)

The principal showed Mom how to check the call list on her phone.

No I am not implying that all parents who give 12 year olds cell phones are this clueless. But it illustrates the need to stress responsible use of the phone, as well as the importance of keeping an eye on your kid.

[1Hippiechick]

39. So? What has that got to do with anything? n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. As a professional who works with many 12 year olds

and has for 29 years now, I see no reason a 12 year old needs a cell phone.

Is that clear enough for you? :)

[1Hippiechick]

54. Actually, no. It just shows you to be very opinionated, and that apparently you

think your arguments are more valid than those of others, imo.

[proud2BlibKansan]

59. I am basing my opinion on professional experience

You are the one who is opinionated.

[1Hippiechick]

61. "You are the one who is opinionated." Go back and read your responses. Or ask someone else to do

it and offer an opinion.

[proud2BlibKansan]

63. I don't need to read it again

I am very comfortable with my replies. A 12 year old doesn't need a cell phone, especially one with all the 'extras'. You have the right to disagree with me. You are posting your opinion, I am basing mine on many years of working with kids.

[uppityperson]

75. hahahahahahaha.

Sorry, were you serious? Oh, funny. *my* opinions are based on experience. "you" are just opinionated.

[cushla_machree]

71. I would never give a 12 year old a phone

1. Why do they need phones? They don't. If you can't find your 12 year old, its not the fact that they don't have a phone that is the problem.

2. Should young children be using cell phones? I don't think anyone has really cleared up the radiation link.

I got my cell phone in college, and i didn't really want one. Cell phone's are useful, but we don't need them, we just like the convenience. Unfortunately, we all will as pay phones start disappearing.

[Smarmie Doofus]

44. P2BL: What are you doing out of the education forum?

People from the Education Forum are supposed to STAY in the Education Forum. I think it's somewhere in the DU bylaws.

Anyway.. since you're here: we're a single-parent, only child family; PLUS he attends private school quite a distance from here. ( I posted about this on the EF about a year and a half ago.)

He needs a phone, imo. He doesn't need a phone+ipod+blackberry+pc+ entertainment center. This is what I was trying to avoid. Problem is both he AND Verizon want him to have as much superfluous, $$$ junk as possible.


I simply want him to have a phone for communication purposes.

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. There is no phone at his school?

I have one in my classroom and never refuse to allow a kid to call his mother.

If you really think he needs a phone, you can buy a tracphone for almost nothing and preload minutes. That's what my 29 year old did when he got laid off and couldn't afford a cell phone plan.

[Smarmie Doofus]

55. Back on the Mayflower , Cotton Mather.

There IS a phone at his school. It's a pay phone. What if it's broken or busy? What if he gets home before me ( he almost always does) and wants to go to the library?


>>>I have one in my classroom and never refuse to allow a kid to call his mother.>>>

You're lucky. And unusual. In 24 years in the classroom , I've *never* had a phone on which one could make outgoing calls.


>>>>If you really think he needs a phone, you can buy a tracphone for almost nothing and preload minutes. That's what my 29 year old did when he got laid off and couldn't afford a cell phone plan.>>>>>

We went all through this upthread. He HAD a prepaid and I ( foolishly as it turned out) agreed to upgrade by adding him to my plan.

Verizon said it would cost 69.99 per month. It actually cost $638 per the first 5 days. Apparently you think that's great. It's all my fault.

I'd say you live in a pretty simple world.

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. I think you used poor judgment

Sorry if you can't handle that. We all make mistakes, especially as parents.

[1Hippiechick]

Read post #61. n/t

[1Hippiechick]

62. Mouse hiccup. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

64. Rat fart n/t

[1Hippiechick]

65. LOL. I like yours better. Thanks!

:hi:

[superduperfarleft]

66. Your kid, irresponsibly, used the services for which you are being charged.

And for which you signed a contract agreeing to pay if you were to use them.

I'm not seeing where this is Verizon's fault. I'd say you should be pissed at your kid for being so irresponsible instead of Verizon.

That said, I have Verizon wireless and I fucking hate them, but I don't complain about having to pay for the additional services that I use. :shrug:

[annabanana]

29. Take. The. Phone. Away. From. The . Child.

Verizon has designed it so you can accidentally hit the buttons to subscribe to things... never mind the traditional acquisitive 12 year old..

He was lucky to have the basic pre-paid phone at his age...

[PeaceNikki]

31. That's not even true.

To get ringtones through the phone is a major pain in the ass. You have to download an application first, then buy blocks of credits, then buy the ringtones.

There's no way one can "accidentally hit the buttons" to get ringtones. It's a very deliberate set of steps.

[annabanana]

41. I'm always accidently connecting to Vcast...

maybe my fingers are just too big....

[PeaceNikki]

43. Connecting is not the same as making a purchase.

There are several steps after connecting that must occur to buy something.

[Smarmie Doofus]

46. This is eactly why Verizon is EVIL:

>>>>>Verizon has designed it so you can accidentally hit the buttons to subscribe to things... never mind the traditional acquisitive 12 year old..>>>>>>

Thanks... and I did take it away. But he does need a phone.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[AlCzervik]

48. my sil had the same problem, my darling nephew managed to run up a bill of $700

in the first month.

[Mollis]

58. I have Verizon

but I have never had any troubles on it. But, I am really careful with what I download because I pay my bill.
I was on my parents' plan, but got tired of it, because it really was crap (Nextel).
So, I got my own plan and pay for my own bill. Works really well for me.

If he does really need the phone, you can maybe tell him that it is *only* for certain things, like emergencies, calling you, calling others on Verizon (if you get unlimited Verizon to Verizon), and that if he downloads anything, you will take it again.

[Toasterlad]

67. I Like to Verizon-Bash Just As Much As the Next Guy, But...

...it seems to me that your son is mostly to blame, here. He was the one downloading all this stuff.

In any case, I once had a situation where I changed coverage, and didn't realize that my dial-up modem calls were no longer covered by my blanket plan, and they were now being billed individually. I rang up an EXTREMELY large bill that month. I was very annoyed with Verizon for not making it clear that I was no longer covered, but I'll admit the fault was really mine for not making sure I understood what I was agreeing to. Anyway, a friend of mine who worked at Verizon told me that they were not allowed to get off the phone until you said you were satisfied with your service, and that I should keep asking to speak to a higher-up every time I got stymied by the person I was talking to. It worked like a charm. They initially said I was responsible for the entire bill, then said they'd cut it in half, then agreed to eliminate the charges completely. Don't know if they've changed the "can't get off the phone til the customer is satisfied" policy, but it's worth a shot.

[nini]

68. You're the parent..not Verizon

You chose to get your kid a phone with those options and like a kid he took advantage of it.

Take the phone away from him until he can pay for his own toys.

Be the parent.

[sarcasmo]

73. The family plan is the sucker bet and that's why they won't negotiate with you.

When the contract is up cancel the phone and don't ever sign up for another family plan.

[uppityperson]

74. First advice, when you call, as immediately for a supervisor.

If they won't give you one, call back as the next person should. (I had 1 person tell me there were "no supervisors there". I hung up, called back, asked for 1 and was transferred.)

The people answering the phones have little ability to do much except get you frustrated.

I think you can cancel within 30 days and not have to pay the huge cancel early fine. Beware, they may string you along "we'll fix it" until the 30 days are up.

Tell the supervisor that unless there is some resolution, you will transfer all lines, etc. It is not a threat, just a consequence.

Yes, they make it confusing.

Yes, Verizon sucks.

I got charged for a phone I returned, had 3 lines service disconnected (2 for work), took 5 months to get it straightened out. I learned: ask for supervisor right away, write down whom you talk with as well as when and what so you can refer back the next phone call, continue to call, be patient.

[Smarmie Doofus]

76. You may be right; I'll hve to dig up the paperwork tomorrow;

>>>>>I think you can cancel within 30 days and not have to pay the huge cancel early fine. Beware, they may string you along "we'll fix it" until the 30 days are up.>>>>

I was too depressed and annoyed to do it today. That would get me out of two years of protracted misery, worrying if this is going to happen again. I'm still gonna bust them up about the 638 bucks though.

Corporate slime. Why I oughta......


Thanks, Uppity.

[haydukelives]

77. you are

screwed