Verizon Consumer Reviews - Page 10

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA -- I'm a 54-year old fossil who is just getting up to 21st century speed when it comes to checking my phone bill. I've just recently found out that I was scammed by long distance slammers on my Verizon land line phone bill. May's phone bill was for $96.27. Not much these days, but for a home phone that's barely used, it's a fair chunk of change. I phoned Verizon and asked the rep if we could pare everything down to the most basic DSL and phone plans, “I'd like the cheapest package.” As we went over the bill, I asked “What's this roadside emergency service $12.95 surcharge on the last page all about?”

I was told that was a charge from a long distance carrier. “That isn't a Verizon charge?” Seeing a couple more flat fees on page seven, I asked what they were all about. I got all sorts of clarification that day. On that one bill alone, carriers named ESBI, ILD and OAN had collectively hit me for $32.85 in monthly charges for services I had never ordered or requested in any way. After checking my Verizon bill from May 2006 through May 2007, I had been hit for a total of $252.76 – about half of which I've recovered in money credited back to my phone bill so far.

Joe, the Verizon rep, explained that I would have to call the “800” numbers listed for them on my bill and ask for refunds to have credited back to my number. He also suggested placing “bill blocks” on my account so that no other “monthly fees” could be charged to my Verizon account. As I told, Joe, then Frank (2nd Verizon contact) and finally, Scott, from the Verizon corporate office, I am from another time, another place. A real fossil when it comes to my phone bill. I've never thought twice about what's appeared on my phone bill. I am ashamed to admit I barely scanned it.

Now, I'm being told by everyone, including the woman who answered the phone at the San Francisco PUC that these “carriers” are in the business of slamming and turn a profit because of lazy, uninformed people like me. My only consolation is the money I was able to have credited back. Also, there is some satisfaction in finding out, just last week, that the three that hit me – ESBI, ILD, OAN – are under investigation by the Public Utilities Commission. Watch out, everybody! Check your bills (especially the last pages). If the same thing happens to you, call your phone company right away and put a bill block on your account.

Verizon, I'm told, is mandated by the government to collect on behalf of these “bad actors.” If you get charged by ESBI, ILD, OAN or any one of the other carriers, call them back for refunds. Make sure you post your 3-cents here, but also call the PUC and your phone company and let them know you've been slammed.

I had problems with Verizon from the first month. I had a family plan, and on the first bill was changed for a phone that was not part of the plan. It took Verizon quite a while to get this straightened out, and in the meantime, there were more foul up with the billings. Insurance that I had paid for every month, which suddenly went away when I reported a lost phone. Payments lost, charges that didn't make sense, contract changes that I didn't authorize.

I disliked talking to Verizon customer service, I would end up frustrated and angry by the end of nearly every call. I would be on hold for a long time, then someone would answer and tell me that either the person I needed to speak to wasn't there, or that I had the wrong department, and would than end up back on hold, or needing to call back another day.

About a quarter of the time I would end up being disconnected, or someone would come back on and tell me the department I needed was closed for the day. Or they would send me back to the department I had started at. I would end up spending hours, and sometimes days, trying to resolve one issue. Eventually, when I did end up at the right department and/or the right person in the department, they were very sorry, of course I was right, and they were going to fix the problem “right now." Then the next bill would arrive, and nine times out of ten, the issue was still there, and I was now past due on my account.

I decided to cancel the account after my contract expired, I confirmed with customer service that the contract was up. Naturally, as soon as the account was cancelled, I received a bill for 600.00, a 200.00 charge against each phone, for terminating the contract early.

I talked to their customer service, they agreed it was their mistake, which they would fix. A few weeks later I received a collections warning. I contacted the Attorney's General Office, filed a complaint, and Verizon backed down, again agreed I didn't owe the money and that the matter was closed or so I thought. Several months later I discovered that Verizon reported me to a collection agency, for a different amount (400.00) and this ended up on my credit report.

I was so frustrated at the time that I decided to just pay them, to get them to leave me alone, and to clear the outstanding debt from my credit report. I was also working long hours at the time, and it would have been nearly impossible to deal with their customer service with the few off hours I had. (Plus I just didn't want to.) I have since discovered that Verizon has added another delinquent account entry to my credit report. This time for an account that's not mine, that was billed to an address I've never lived at. In fact, the only thing I have in comment with this account is the last name.

Verizon uses tactics that allow them to profit from their poor service. Verizon forces their customers to take extraordinary measures to resolve each and every issue. Verizon can make money that is not owed to them, simply by banking on their customers' unwillingness to deal with the poor treatment, and awful management of the issues. Verizon has nothing to lose here, and since they hold all the cards, i.e. they can threaten the customer with a negative entry on their credit history. The customer is always fighting a losing battle.

On another website, there were numerous people who stated that Verizon had reported negative information on them to the credit reporting agencies. Several posters commented that once Verizon posted this information it is nearly impossible to get it removed. This new billing from Verizon has crossed the line. I am filing a complaint with the FCC, my complaint alone may not make a different, but if enough people complain Verizon will be forced to answer for these tactics.

I had Verizon phone service in Long Beach for apartment 248. When I moved out in Feb 06, my roommates wanted to keep the same number. The number was transferred to an account under one of their names. My account was closed. I applied to have all my mail forwarded to my new Los Angeles address through the post office.

In Aug 06, I received a collection agency letter saying I owed Verizon $37. I called Verizon and they told me that was my final bill amount. I checked my bank statements and at the time could not find record of that payment. I paid the amount owed and asked for a copy of the final bill mailed to me. I received that copy but I also started receiving bills for the Long Beach apartment after that as well. I got the address changed back but their account still had my work phone number on it. When they were late on the bill, Verizon called me at work asking for my old roommate. We had to have a 3-way conference call to remove my phone number from the account.

My credit report shows a delinquency of 120 days or more from the Verizon account. I called the credit department, Mike (employee **) said that they mailed the final bill to my old address, that I never received bills for my old roommates' account, and that since I was late paying, I was at fault for the delinquency so it could not be removed from my credit report. Mike said he was a supervisor and that he would not allow me to talk to anyone above him.

Talking to Verizon customer service, Jennifer (employee **), saw that $37 had been paid to my old roommates' account. I found proof I made that payment on Apr 6, 06. She also saw that the final bill was sent to apartment 218, not 248, meaning I would not have gotten the letter forwarded to my new address. She also confirmed that I did indeed receive my old roommates' bills for 2 months after I paid the bill on Aug 06. Jennifer was great and I did talk to her supervisor to let her know what a wonderful job she did.

I had been a Verizon customer for 5 years with no history of late payments. Verizon's credit department obviously didn't care to take the time to see the problems with my account. They assumed the only reason I called was the fact that I saw a blemish on my credit report.

Mike was the second person I talked to, supposedly a supervisor. A supervisor couldn't do the job that a customer service rep could? It's not like they were waiving a fee. Removing the delinquency would cost them nothing but the small amount of time it would take to look into the two accounts and to see that I was right. It's also interesting to point out that conversations with their credit department are not recorded, only conversations with customer service reps are. How convenient!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- After receiving an unusually high bill, soon determined to be because of unauthorized usage, I called Verizon. After talking with Customer Reps, Supervisors, emailing, and finally writing an official letter, all to no avail, I closed my account. I stated I was willing to pay all portions of the bill other than the unauthorized time's usage. After two months of explaining the erroneous charges and getting only a non responsive attitude without reversal, the bill was sent to Verizon's internal collection Dept.

I spoke to "Harry" when I called "to dispute" the collection notice. He was the first reasonable person at Verizon and told me the invalid charges that occurred on my bill would be reversed and that he agreed with me that I am not responsible for unauthorized usage. "If someone steals your phone and charges up huge bills, you are definitely NOT responsible", he told me. I already knew that. That is in the FCC and is mentioned on Verizon's Bills every month. It states one has the option of contacting the FCC for being billed with unauthorized usage if Verizon has not reversed it.

I did not want to contact FCC needlessly as Harry told me Verizon WOULD take care of it! I tend to stay away from BBB and FCC as many on this forum have found it to be a long road. Verizon knows that unauthorized usage is disputable. They do not want to take people to trial for invalid charges and legitimate disputes. It's not cost effective. Also, it would not set a good precedent if the customer won. Then customer service could not be so menacing. This pre-collection agency might be there to try to resolve the problem by reversing the charges that the reps were unwilling or unable to do. Or. maybe it's a second go at getting the customer to pay.

In my case, they did NOT harass me at all and agreed with me. I waited for the reversal which did not happen. After two months, I called the customer service dept again to pay all the legitimate charges and none of the unauthorized charges. The reps gave their same song and dance. Harry could not reverse it. I was told, only the reps could. Full circle. That was three months ago. The reps won't do the reversal that was promised to me. They say I am yelling, but not as loud as I should, when I am trying to be robbed.

When Harry got them on the phone with me ( a three way conference call) they called me rude and other names and insisted I was raising my voice, etc. It's the same nonsense they always do, attack you personally for asserting your rights. WE are creating people comfortable with doing mean things for a huge company and not caring for an individual. What a job! There is no follow through. I am seriously thinking of suing them as I have had numerous sleepless nights worrying and my eyes got so strained I had to see an eye Dr. and get drops. I can document that. He is a fantastic Dr.

Why not do what is stated rather than try to unpromise it or deny it was promised? I should have gotten it in writing. They know I wrote letters. I got one letter (no heading) from the reps, again saying it is valid. What is invalid vs. valid, then? Their own bill says unauthorized usage is indeed to be investigated. Investigated has a meaning that Verizon has not accepted. What a terrible way to approach people who have given you their earnings! Verizon would be better off without any reps; just send a form letter and fill in the customer's name, and say the bill is valid. That is all they do!

All the advertising in the world cannot undo what these reps are doing to destroy Verizon's credibility. It is a shame as the product is considered good in my area. NOW, I just got a real collection letter. Where is Harry? Why did he renegotiate on Verizon's promise to reverse charges? I hope they fire every single rep that I spoke to... what a bunch of **! If they want to keep their word, as last stated, re reversal, they need to inform the collection agency and give them back the 5 cents they paid Verizon to be given the privilege of getting my account, not realizing it was a disputed account, I guess.

Verizon has long since charged off the account and gotten a tax writeoff. Robbery by any other name is still the same. Still waiting for that promised correction! VERIZON WHY WON'T YOU REMOVE CHARGES THAT WER'E UNAUTHORIZED??? Because you want to steal from a customer that does not owe you a dime. The only thing you want is to make attorneys HAPPY fighting your bills!! GOOD NEWS! I wrote to BBB and Verizon finally stopped all collections and did the right thing by removing the bad credit on my credit reports too, YAY. Justice.

NEW YORK -- Verizon has a contract that is stated for all, but also has sub policies unevenly applied. It states "roaming charges may apply." This allows them to apply it to some customers arbitrarily, and not apply it to others. What is roaming anyway? It is that grey area which is not on the coverage area map but allows calls through when another carrier picks them up, against your plan's choice to include them. The other carrier then bills Verizon, who is not supposed to pass it along to you and declares it won't, but will do so anyway whenever possible since their self-serving policy warns you that they "may". Why "may" they?

Who gave them permission to do so? Who allowed them to disregard their own stated policies of not charging roaming? They are now not calling it roaming but a new hybrid word called "international long distance". Actually that is a more descriptive word, but those nearby yet foreign countries are still not on the plan's map. That does not make them acceptable calls, agreed to by the customer as part of the plan, even though the person who dialed them was able to do so and allowed through. Roaming charges should never apply, but Verizon gets away with it so continues to do so.

Customers who believe they are fully protected against these calls are being told they are not, AFTER THE FACT. Instead of uninformed employees who say all charges are valid, like a parrot, they should train their sales personnel to clearly inform new customers about policies, and either apply them uniformly or disband them. It seems it 'may' have something to do with the zone you live in...based on whether you might be able to afford to pay, even though others won't be expected to. In my mind if you buy something (a newspaper) it should always cost the same, not depend on what you can afford.

The same unfair policy is applied and is true about the 48 hours notice policy regarding lost/stolen phones. They "may" apply. No one says when or why they 'may' or 'may not'. Vague and again used against the customer. That means 'will' apply if they can get the Customer Service Dept. to feel justified in its usage and enforcement. And that is not hard to do. It means they 'will' apply if Verizon can get away with doing so and put pressure on the customer (who fears losing service and paying early termination fees).

Customer Service is the Dept. that reverses the charges and it is not their money that is being stolen so they can be calm while the customer gets livid. Verizon employs them and they pursue what they think is in its interest. But they lose undervalued customers. Compare this with the credit card situation. Customers are not held responsible for unauthorized usage. Why should someone get a free ride at another's expense? The credit card companies are unable to pass these unauthorized usage charges on to a customer even if it reported after 48 hours, as long as it can be shown the card was used without authorization.

People go to other countries and are in hospitals etc., therefore it is reasonable that they cannot always be aware of the stolen card. There are a myriad of differing circumstances, all valid. Legally, it remains unauthorized after 48 hours also and does not automatically become authorized. If it went on for months, then it may appear to be authorized, and that would be legally determined. But less than that it is believed stolen if everything else points there.

Verizon routinely issues letters stating that they are "apologizing for the inconvenience " of the stolen phone, to many cell holders (as I have been informed by other customers) but arbitrarily determine to hold other customers with a similar problem wholly liable, again because their self serving policy states they "may". That is a grossly unfair practice. The police know otherwise, as do the credit card companies. A customer is not liable for a stolen card or cell phone's usage. This abusive "sometimes enforced and sometimes not enforced" policy harbors resentment and anger. It is unfair to all but they are "nice" to admit this to some.

Verizon should indeed always apologize for the inconvenience as it is their lack of proper tools to protect customers that contributes to its continuation. Credit cards and phones do get robbed/stolen/lost routinely and usually more phones as they need to be charged so are not always with the person and are openly used more. That needs to be addressed. They will not follow through to find who stole it via the phone numbers because they would prefer to anger customers and force them to pay, instead. They do not question or stop usage after 48 hours when they see it is unusual. They disregard a customer in favor of an investor or an uncaring rep.

Verizon will do whatever they can get away with. The FCC rarely intervenes in the day to day functioning, but would do well to do so and see what goes on in reality vs. the advertising. These policies create stress rather than connections. Verizon policies are arbitrary, ambiguous, confusing, and downright unfair and abusive. They have no concern about how much aggravation they cause, needlessly, to line the pockets of investors. I have sold all my stock in Verizon. Perhaps the other cell phones are the same, but their reps seem nicer to me and more understanding when a problem is encountered. So far, so good.

Verizon has done everything short of accusing me, to imply that I am deliberately claiming the phone was stolen when it was not. This even though all indicators prove otherwise. They want to ignore the obvious to justify their implementation of an arbitrary policy which should be illegal and "may" be. They "may not" do what they claim they "may", but that does not stop them from getting away with it. They have found themselves unable to even admit the phone was stolen! What does that tell you? It means they know once it is established as unauthorized, the customer may rightfully dispute it, and should. I was actually told there was nothing to dispute!

TRAIN your reps to have compassion not disdain for your customers. Money cannot buy peace of mind or heaven. AND WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN USAGE, NOTIFY THE CUSTOMER AND TURN THE SERVICE OFF UNTIL YOU CAN VERIFY THAT THE UNUSUAL INCREASE IS AUTHORIZED.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Plans after February 2005, per the prior unrevised online contract, are not supposed to have roaming charges. What are roaming versus international versus long distance versus international long distance, anyway? The reps don't need to know either. All they need to know is that you owe whatever the bill says. Who needs reps for that anyway? Just send a form to customers saying ,"Pay up, no matter what!" That's all the reps do!

Be aware that this company advertises oh so nicely but try to reason with them and they are totally oblivious of what makes sense. The only thing they do is ask you to pay for their poor policies. There is a language that many of us don't know called VERIZONESE.

What that means is that a plain ordinary call to a foreign country may be allowed through, even though the customer has asked to have international usage blocked. Because in Verizonese, a foreign country that is not that far is really a long distance call, though it is international charges. Following yet? Me either.

Verizon recently changed its online site, and customers who signed up on the prior plan contract, fully expecting not to incur roaming charges must now pay for "roaming" charges since the name they may be referred to is "international long distance" charges, a term used by Verizon. They are the same old roaming charges, another word used by cell phone companies to describe usage not agreed to.

Is it any wonder satisfaction with cell phone companies is so low? No one wants to be bamboozled when they have service. No one knows what they can and cannot do on the cell until they do it and only find out too late. If a plan is supposed to allow only domestic (a family has no budget allowance for rates applied to non-domestic) then it thwarts the intent of usage to charge for this "international-long distance" usage, a word ONLY defined and understood by Verizon.

My geography book lists these countries as foreign so why does not the international usage apply to them. The international charges seem to apply to them. That is unfair to most unsuspecting customers and akin to entrapment. International charges apply but they are not treated as other international calls as far as policy is concerned.

The map for the "American Choice Plan" online includes all states plus Puerto Rico but excludes Alaska and Hawaii. No other countries are on the plan's map. Verizon does not want to acknowledge that countries (such as the Dominican Republic and others) that may go through by merely dialing just ten digits, are still outside of the US. They should be either international (not allowed without a request and an approval to include it via international) or Long Distance (since it can be dialed with ten digits and is so close by) and therefore included in the plan's unlimited long distance. You can't have it both ways!

They are supposed to be free of charges and of worry. No one can afford those charges that occur when a cell is stolen, and therefore the "international approval" should apply to them. I asked that international be blocked. It is insignificant to the customer whether it is ten or more digits that are dialed. What matters is the charges. They are actually roaming when another carrier picks it up though it is not on the map's plan. Instead, Verizon and/or its lawyers use a new terminology, calling it "international long distance" and thereby confuse customers into accepting that they owe the charges.

In my case these occurred while the phone was lost/stolen. Have you noticed that when a phone is lost it always has high charges on it, somehow? Verizon should never have allowed the calls through, per my plan or charged me for them as they are either roaming or international. In fact, I had once attempted to call overseas and was told I did not have the international feature. These are roaming charges, redefined to unfairly confuse customers ( and their own reps). By saying they are domestic-like and therefore long distance, customers are baffled and think they are expected to pay for the service they never wanted to allow.

Why are they being charged international rates? If they can be easily dialed like long distance and need no approval, they should not have the high overseas-like charges applied to them or should most certainly need prior approval. The approval thing is all about willingness to accept those type of charges and ability to pay it. If they are so close they could be included at a very reduced rate, perhaps, not the same as the international calls.

I gave my daughter the phone feeling confident that it was safe as no calls could be made other than local. She does not know anyone in other countries anyway. While waiting to speak to Verizon customer service their recorded advertising says, paraphrased, "Now you will be worry free because you will never have to pay for roaming charges again."

Long distance is unlimited and free or included in the monthly fee, and so should "international long distance" be, if it will be dialed routinely as long distance. Roaming charges are NOT permitted per their own advertising and also after 2/2005. International must be requested and approved. So these charges are invalid, made to bill the customer without their consent to these charges, after the fact. Why doesn't Verizon make a handbook to explain all its unknown intricate charges? Better yet, why don't they train their reps to know them.

One rep told me Santo Domingo was in Puerto Rico! Another insisted all the calls were people met on MYSPACE (an internet site). When did he become a private investigator as well as a rep? How dare he make such false accusations, and base his determination to charge me on them! What kind of training do they have anyway?

The Verizon policies are unequally applied, apparently to some degree on the gut feeling of a mistaken rude rep who does not know anything about you other than your voice. A stolen/lost phone means, by its very definition, that charges during that time are unauthorized. It is unauthorized usage. They advise you to dispute such charges on their bills, monthly. Read the part of your bill which says, "IMPORTANT INFORMATION." But Just try actually doing so, however.

Verizon has trained its customer service Reps to be nothing more than collection agencies determining that the customer is always wrong when a charge is involved. They act as though everything Verizon does is like the Ten Commandments that came down from Mount Sinai and is not to be disputed. When a customer is clearly exercising their right and all indications are that the phone was used by someone who did not pay for its use, nothing is done to immediately rectify the problem and reverse such charges. It will fester and stay as is until the customer closes the account in utter disgust, as I have done. Is that any way to run a business? You bet it is NOT!

I have honestly never encountered such utter disregard for a customer. The reps act as though they OWN the company and that you need to be extra nice to them to get them to do their reversals, but when you insist on service and accountability, then all of a sudden they are a mere employee who cannot help you. I feel like suing for the anguish I had in dealing with them.

I do have an issue with providing usage against my will to the person who stole my phone. It is a very valid issue easily understood by any reasonable person. Being cruel to the kind (decent customer) ultimately brings one to a position of being kind to the cruel (thief). Thieves are more important than paying customers to Verizon. As a matter of fact, they approve of thieves actions and they get away with it while decent honest people are harassed instead. I guess it is better to be poor and a thief than middle class and honest. The first can do as they please while the latter must pay the piper for it.

MINNEAPOLIS -- I was reviewing the posts here on this site to see if anyone has experienced the nightmare we have just been through with Verizon. It seems that our story is even worse than the other complaints I read. Here's what happened..

In July of 2006 we signed up for a Verizon plan because we were going on vacation to a remote location near Canada and were told that Verizon was the only provider in the area where the phone would work. We needed a phone during this time to handle our business, as we own a technology firm in the Twin Cities and being able to reach us at all times is critical (didn't find out about the cell phone problem until after the reservations had been made for the trip). So we went to Verizon and got the high end phone recommended that would connect to the internet to check email, connect into the laptop, etc. The phone was a little over $450.00.

The plans available didn't include internet access or email access without another $85.00 per month charge, so we said, "OK fine we will add that, we only need it for a week - so we will cancel that part when we get back." Of course, we get up there and the phone doesn't work - no service available. The best part is, our Sprint phones we've had for years, worked fine! So, couldn't use the expensive phone with Verizon for the purpose we bought it for. So we decided, "Oh well, live and learn we will use it for the 2 year term and then cancel."

We get back and talk to customer service about the problem with the email and web. They walk us through how to set up the phone to attach to the email account. It worked ONCE, never again did it retrieve email messages. Then 2 weeks later, the phone is dead, won't start nothing on the screen. No one has used the phone the past 2 weeks because can't seem to get calls to go through, incoming or outgoing.

We then receive a bill in the mail with $170.00 in overage charges from a phone that doesn't work! They tell us the phone has been checking the email account every 5 min all month long occurring usage charges. We are wondering how. The phone doesn't even work!

They tell us the phone cannot be sent back because it is outside of the 15 day return period. We then ask if we can get a credit for these charges where the non-existent phone is checking email or something to alleviate the problem. Of course, they tell us no and that we also will incur $175.00 fee to cancel. Of course, we really don't have any other choice, otherwise this non-working phone is going to continue to rack up minutes checking a non-existent email account.

I'm assuming I would write a letter and get this resolved, read the invoice closer and it says we will continue to incur charges even while a dispute is pending. Basically, this nightmare has cost us nearly a $1,000 dollars for a phone we never were able to use. I hope that by telling our story we can at least alert others to steer clear of Verizon as I have never encountered a problem to this extent with any service provider. I am just mystified as to how they are still in business. I wish I would have read these blogs before signing a contract with them.

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA -- Verizon is driving me crazy!! My husband has been a good customer with Verizon for a few years. We added myself and my m-I-l on the family sharing plan in July. I signed up via the local mall store "Cellular Sales" (not realizing they were not a Verizon store). I was told that the $25 fee was being waived and that there were no hidden fees, and that my husband's bill would remain $30 per month, mine would be $30 per month, and my m-I-l's would be $10.

The first bill, which didn't arrive until early September, had two $25 activation fees on it. I phoned Verizon and was told that I could not discuss our bill without getting my husband's approval (even though they did not need his approval or presence to change his service, only his social security number). I went back to the local store Cellular Sales on Sat. Sept. 9th and the woman there, Kosh, was very rude to me and my husband and would not help us.

I phoned Verizon back that same day and they talked to my husband to get his permission to talk to me. They also spoke with him for about ten minutes, authorizing me as someone on the account. After arguing with another rude customer service person, I spoke with a supervisor named JC (I do not know his last name; he gave me his contact info, but I can't find it now). He was very helpful and promised to look into the matter. He said he would call back the following Tuesday but did not.

I just received another bill, wherein now my husband is being charged $60, me $10 and my m-I-l $10! That makes no sense, and it seems that somehow the account was changed and we are being charged an extra $10 somewhere. I tried phoning Verizon but was told I cannot speak about the bill without the password. So now I am angry again. I was not told any password. My husband is at work and now I have to wait for him to get home so I can get the password.

In the meantime, I phoned Verizon again to ask about getting JC to phone me back about the fees. The first person I spoke with maintained that there was NO way to contact him. After finally speaking with her supervisor, she said they could send him an email to remind him to phone or email me. I sure hope he does, but I'm not very confident about it.

Besides all of the billing problems, my phone only rings about a third of the time. I went by the store back in July and the salesman there told me that the phone not ringing 2 out of 3 times was not that big of a deal. I really did laugh at him but said I would come back after using the phone more, to make sure I was correct about it. I had many drop-outs after that while using the phone (the phone hangs up on me a lot). When I went back on the 9th to talk about the fees, I was told by that rude woman Kosh that they could not fix it there and I would have to go to another store in town.

I can't tell you how angry I am about all of this. Verizon and Cellular Sales are playing pass-the-buck and I am caught in the middle. Their salesperson (Verizon's representative) lied to me, and so we were charged an extra $50 for nothing, and now there is an extra $10 charge on top of that. And I have been spoken to in rude ways and given no help.

I am very sorry that any of us ever signed up with Verizon, and if I could cancel the whole thing, I certainly would (they charge a lot to cancel an account when you have a contract). This kind of service is ridiculous and does nothing but hurt Verizon and its customers. I plan to tell everyone I know to stay away from Verizon.

MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK -- I tried to upgrade my cellphone to a Palm Treo 700w. I knew EXACTLY what I wanted but it Took an hour to buy a stupid cellphone/PDA on my existing Verizon family plan. Part of that time pushing the Motorola Q. I don't want a Motorola Q. Then they tell me I don't get the $50 rebate offered on the Internet. OH & I have to transfer to a more expensive cellphone minutes plan ON-TOP-OF the Internet/Data usage plan.

Think I'm all done when they take my phone to "programming". To supposedly turn-it-on & pair up the Bluetooth (wireless) headset. This they tell me will take 15 mins more for one & 5 for the other. I leave & pick up things at other stores. Come back a half hour later & it isn't done.

A half hour later after this, I have to "re-do" all the paperwork. The boss has to help. A half hour after this & they tell me the phone is defective & I have to start over with a new one. Half a day blown (w/ 2 hour round car trip) and I STILL don't have a cellphone/PDA. It would be nice to surf the Internet (unlimited) from a handheld device & collect my email besides being a regular cellphone with a small wireless headset. Yea, a little pricey. Then they tell me that I have to pay a hundred ($100) more to put on my one cell number but not on the other? I say BOTH cellphone numbers are mine on the same bill.

So then they tell me that I can put it on the one number, take it home & pay $20 each to transfer the 3 cell phones around tomorrow? WHAT!!! You want me to take a non-working very expensive toy home & do all the work myself after wasting half a day? This is after the FIRST one you gave me was DEFECTIVE??? I don't think so. Give me my money back. Put my old Verizon phones back online & give me my OLD plan back with my NYS employee discount. Eventually this is (supposedly) done & I leave grumbling (hadn't slept for 24 hours).

So I drive home & need to make a call. Guess what? My old cellphone doesn't work. Eventually get to a payphone & my wife's cellphone is shut off too. Grrr... Get home & spend a half-hour on Verizon's voice mail automated system with no human to talk to. Try again later & talk to a very nice lady who puts my phones back online. Check my Internet Verizon account later that night & I'm STILL on the more expensive cell plan that they forced on me for the new PDA/cellphone.

Spend another half-hour on the phone. This rep says it's all taken care of. I'm almost afraid to check my Verizon Internet account online again. I think all of Verizon's service techs, managers & technical people are following that actor around on TV leaving the business at hand to...? ... India?... Pakistan?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA -- In April of 2004 I signed a contract with Verizon Superpages for a small ad. The contract was written up by the salesperson for $35.00 a month. At that time I was planning on moving into a new home and I agreed to have the bill mailed to my place of business. In Oct. of 2004 my employment was terminated from the place of business this bill was being sent to so, I placed a call to Verizon customer service to change the billing address to my present home address. The billing was then forwarded to the requested address and I continued to make the monthly payments.

In April of 2005 I met with the same salesperson to place a new ad. I was currently with a new company and employed as a Realtor. Because of strict guidelines in adverting under the Dept. of Real Estate I was promised a proof before the ad was to be published. This ad was larger and to be in color at the price of $168.00 a month. Again, my salesperson filled out the contract with my current info. I chose to have the bill sent to the same address the original ad billing was still being sent to.

Soon after meeting with my salesperson concerning the new ad I was informed he would be leaving Verizon. I contacted him several times in efforts to review the proof but, I was told the person taking over his current accounts would call me. This never happened and again, I contacted my salesperson as time was limited prior to the ad being published. He told me the proof would be e-mailed to me.

This never happened and the ad was published without any of the proper info. and was obviously thrown together at the last minute. This ad was so hideous that I was embarrassed to have my name associated with it! Needless to say, it was a good thing my broker never saw the ad or someone didn't turn me into the DRE for lack of a brokers lic. number.

In June or July of 2005 I received the first bill for $256.00. I called customer service and informed them of the error in pricing being, I signed a contract for $168.00. THIS IS WHERE THE STORY GETS REALLY CRAZY! Verizon sent me a letter asking for an overdue payment of $256.00 soon after the first bill arrived. No sooner did this letter arrive that I received an e-mail from the broker of the company I was employed with when I placed the ad in 2004 for $35.00. The email informed me that they were being billed for the new ad and to correct it immediately!

I contacted customer service and I was rudely informed that the information my salesperson originally entered into the system could not be changed. Soon after the e-mail arrived I was sent a certified letter from my previous broker demanding full payment for the ad and claiming I intentionally took out the ad in their company's name to get out of paying for it! Like I would ever try to do that!

I immediately contacted customer service and explained what was happening and actually spoke to an individual who genuinely seemed concerned! I was told by this individual that the billing address error would be corrected and Verizon would no longer pressure my ex-broker for payment. At that time I was informed that a contract for the $256.00 actually did exist and was in my file but, it did not have a signature. After hours and hours of trying to solve this problem month after month this issue has escalated to nothing less than total insanity! Lies! Lies! and more Lies!

I have not only been sued in small claims court by my past broker for over $3000.00 which the judgment appears on my credit report but, Verizon's lawyers are contacting me to pay them $1500.00 and the whole deal would be said and done. Also, claiming they would call off the collection account they have claimed against my previous broker (which is how I was sued by my ex-broker).

What would you do? Does Verizon really think I would believe anything anyone associated with their company will tell me now? I know if they treated me this way they have done it to many others. I am open for suggestions or advice and very interested in hearing about more nightmare Verizon stories. Anyone who would be interested in more details can e-mail me at **. Verizon's words written on the back of their contracts aren't worth the paper it is on.