Think before accepting Verizon Wireless online offers
Written: Apr 28 '09 (Updated Apr 28 '09)
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Pros: No pro's so far for Verizon Customer Service.
Cons: See above. Bullies. Verizon Customer "No-Service", (as Clark Howard calls it).
The Bottom Line: Verizon Wireless is so big their branches do not communicate. They do not care about the customer or keeping the customer on. Total Nightmare. Not recommended.
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| fightback1032's Full Review: General Reviews of Verizon Customer Service |
As a new Verizon Wireless customer, I opted for the Verizon.com, On-line, 2 year contract with up to three free Verizon Blackberry Pearl phones. My two adult kids and I signed up for one each. We were told, (and keep in mind this is on their website), we had "30 Days Free" i.e. if we did not want the phones we could return them within 30 days and pay nothing. And they said activation was free! Sounds good, doesn't it?! Don't believe any of it. My son and daughter decided the Verizon Blackberry Pearl was not for them. So they used the UPS labels included in the Verizon Pearl box (provided by Verizon) for return and we shipped them back after two weeks, well within the 30 days.
Here's what Verizon doesn't tell you.
They DO charge you for the phones being returned and they tell you they will refund your money when the phones show up in their warehouse. This happened to me. They tell you they did not get the phones back and that you have to pay the $150 per phone fee. Some branches of the Verizon company will tell you they do see on their computers that the phones have been returned - other branches angrily tell you the phones have not been returned and you are at fault. It's a no win situation for the Verizon customer because if you don't pay they will report the non-payment to the credit companies (Equifax, etc.) and they tell you they will interrupt your service. Bullies.
They DO charge you for activation EVEN if their website says it will be free. When it shows up on your bill and you call them to ask why the charge has appeared, they tell you that you have to pay the activation fee and then "in the months ahead" they will credit you back. So I had to pay $427 up front for the phones and activation or
ruin my credit and lose my service. All because, and I quote, they "weren't clear on whether they actually had the returned phones in their warehouse or not". Since they "weren't clear", I had to pay for what Verizon claimed on their website would be free. False advertising!
Now. I paid the activation and phone return fees at the Verizon store in Athens, GA on Epps Bridge Road and yes, I got a receipt. That was three months ago and today Verizon Wireless Financial division in Nashville, TN called me AGAIN, interrupting a business trip, to say I haven't paid the $427! "But I have!", I said. Verizon Financial in Nashville, TN then said they did not see the payment in their records and they were going to interrupt my service. They kept saying I'd have to pay more and at some time in the future I'd get my money credited back to my bill. The Customer No-Service on the phone told me she couldn't see that the phones had been returned. I asked for her superior. They said they'd credit me back. On and on it goes.
This situation is still not rectified. Today I was told the money would be credited back within 48 hours. We shall see. In the meantime, I have opted go to the Federal Trade Commission's website and file a formal complaint complete with a case number! My individual complaint may seem small but all complaints add up. The government IS interested in false advertising; (if Verizon advertises "Free Activation" and then makes you pay for activation, and then won't credit you back ...), well, you get the picture.
Wow - do you really want to do business with a company like this?
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 427
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fightback1032
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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