Verizon Complaint - Verizon Long Distance Short Fall Charge

Posted by glc on 2006-09-29:

Great analogy, Don!

Posted by Motov276 on 2006-09-30:

SO, wait a minute. They charged you $2.00 for something that you didn't even use? That's rediculous. I loved your analogy too! Why in the world would a telephone company charge you a service fee for a service that you didn't even use? Doesn't make sense to me.

Posted by HaroldSays on 2006-09-30:

I checked and the "Short Fall" charge in written in their policy. It is as Verizon states, "A shortfall charge, equal to the difference between the minimum monthly spending level and the actual amount spent, will apply to customers who do not reach their minimum spending level." It is C R A P I know, however, they can get away with it.

Posted by sergheibr on 2006-10-03:

maybe you should choose another provider for your long distance services...

Posted by aylayla on 2006-10-31:

I noticed this on my bill starting Sep 06, through the Verizon website I inquired about this. See part of their reply below. I called to cancel my long distance since I can't recall when I last used it since I use my Cingular cell phone for those calls. A one time $2.75 cancellation fee will be charged. At least I'm no longer paying for something I won't use.

"Notice of Price Increase:
Effective 9/1/06, the Verizon Long Distance
Value Plan will have a monthly minimum usage
.
requirement of $2 per month. Your domestic 1+
and international long distance calls, calling
card calls, operator assisted, away from home,
collect calls, personal toll free calls and
.
associated plan fees all contribute towards the
minimum usage.
.
Federal taxes, state taxes, credits, Universal
.
Service Fees, and other surcharges and taxes
do not contribute to the minimum usage fee."

Posted by voiceoff on 2007-04-04:

There should be a tutorial on these unexpected charges.

Posted by stopthejerks on 2007-08-10:

I noticed the $2.00 shortfall charge on my Verizon bill. (In addition, the feds and my local jurisdiction took their cut in universal service and surcharge taxes totaling another 38 cents.) Like other bloggers on this site I called Verizon and questioned the charge. Life a thief in the night, they apparently changed my basic service contract to allow this fee. (Who has time to read those small print notices that come with your bill every month? I save all of mine. So I'm going to further investigate when and this little grab happened.)

Anyway, the Clarksburg, West Virginia Customer Service Service Center (CSSC) told me there are two long-distance "services" on my line. One is "free" for regional long distance and the other is for long distance outside of my region. Verizon said they would cancel the second long distance service for a one-time fee of over $5.00. How nice of them.

I wonder two things regarding this game Verizon is playing. First, what other phone companies can I switch to in the DC metropolitan area. Two, what were the legalities involved in slipping this charge in on Verizon subscribers. Does anyone have answers to these questions?

Posted by bacon on 2007-11-06:

I'm not sure how long they've been charging me this absurd fee (shortfall) but, I just noticed the $4.00 fee on last month's bill (Oct.07). I felt the same way as the other posting, that this was totally unwarranted and almost ridiculous. I called Verizon only to be told the same "scripted" answer..that I will continue to be charged this fee for "NOT" using my long distance service. I gave the Verizon rep the same analagy....."So, if I drive by the gas station and "don't" stop for gas...I'll have to pay the "shortfall" fee to the gas station for not stopping for gas???" She did not appreciate my humor. I'm glad I live in a large city...and have other options for home phone service. The local cable company offers their own home phone service....I will definitely be switching from Verizon and dropping them like I should have done a long time ago. (This is not the first negative run in I've had with that company and their employees) Steve T. Long Beach, CA

Posted by Dcrane on 2008-01-07:

Shortfall Charge! What a deplorable scam! Didn't they just get busted for an old pre frivilous charge and now this! I am charged up to $4.00 for NOT making long distance calls. That's $48.00 per year on the BIG picture. If the hubby wasn't functioning in the dark ages (recently got him to stop bringing the check book to the grocery store) I would shut down the home phone and rely on the cell.
In response, Verizon offered to change my plan which would increase their bottom line of course. The alternative is to remove long distance access all together. I'll call my AG's office.

Posted by Dcrane on 2008-01-11:

***UPDATE***
To avoid the charge cancel your long distance service and use your cell for those calls. You can still call 888 and 800 from home as well as receive long distance calls but don't allow Verizon to feed off of you any further!

Posted by PIP on 2008-01-11:

Well, Friends, Since I started this mess about our "friend", Verizon, I made a decision to go with Comcast for all of my TV, Computer and Telephone. My total per monthly payment is less. Also, MY LONG DISTANCE SERVICE IS FREE!!! How do you like them apples, Verizon?
Thanks to everyone that had a part in this. It was a lot of fun.
God Bless You All,
Don B. Pippin
donpippin@comcast.net

Posted by myangel6 on 2008-01-27:

I don't even have long distance through Verizon. I have local service only and still I see on my bill that they have charged me $4.00 plus taxes to not use their service. I have switched to Comcast. They are coming next weekend. Don't you know Verizon has sent us overnight mail and also a long recording on the answering machine about what they will do to keep us as customers: 14.95 a month for service, 200 dollar gift card, etc. How about if you had just been fair with the charges in the first place. I have the $28.95 package for basic service and my bill was still 51 dollars with no long distance calls. Done with that!

Posted by PIP on 2008-01-28:

Hi Gang,
It looks like Verizon is still at it. You would think after all of the bad publicity they would get the message. Oh well, Comcast needs the business.
May God Bless,
Don B. Pippin
donpippin@comcast.net

Posted by Pax on 2009-03-20:

I'm a little late to the party, I know ... but I just found this discussion tonight, after noticing a $3.49 "shortfall charge" on my own bill from Verizon. This, *despite* already paying them $6.50 for their "TalkTime 30" long-distance plan. It turns out that Verizon wants everyone in my state (Massachusetts) to pay at least - get this - TEN DOLLARS on long distance, every month.

So, guess what? Come Monday, we'll be looking at changing over to Comcast not only for our telephone service ... but also our Internet service. Sure, we'll be paying maybe $10 more per month ... but we'll get more service AND more honesty for our money, anyway.

In the end, Verizon just wanted an extra $3.49/month ... and if they'd been honest and just raised their package pricing by that much, that at least would have been HONEST (if somewhat overpriced). Instead, I feel what they have done is a bait-and-switch: _advertise_ one price, _charge_ another.

So instead of getting their extra three and a half dollars, they will LOSE over fifty dollars a month: we're taking our business elsewhere.