When I first purchased cellular phone service it was with Ameritech, which was later aquired by Verizon Wireless. My Ameritech service was adequate, and at first service was a little better (if not higher priced) with Verizon Wireless. That has changed a lot within the last couple of years however.

Verizon has given me a pretty good long distance package included with my monthly service, but as I soon found out it was somewhat akin to buying the proverbial "pig in a poke". By that I mean the LD service does not mean too much if the connection is noisey or worse yet, the call is dropped while conversing. It is also quite customary in the countryside (where I live) to drive through many pockets of "dead air" where a signal cannot be obtained at all. Even at home I cannot keep a good signal, which does not validate Verizon's assumption that mobility is always the cause.

The final death blow for my relationship with Verizon came earlier this week. Verizon apparently turned my step-daughter over to a very rude collection agency over non-payment of a bill from almost a year ago. We called Verizon and the collection agency and offered them proof from our bank that they had in fact cashed our check for the bill. Verizon assured us that the matter would be cleared from our account. But lo and behold, we get yet another demeaning phone call from the collection agency about the same bill! Needless to say, we get yet another story from Verizon about how they will clear it up, even though the collection agent assured us he would "call and hound us everday by phone if need be until this bill is paid".

I am a person that pays my bills in a timely fashion, and told Verizon this. I also informed them that when my contract runs out, which is soon, I would join the legion of others in my area that have told Verizon to shove their service and go with Cingular or Sprint (which I have heard very good things about).

So in conclusion, my advice would be don't go with Verizon Wireless. But if you do, make sure you retain your cancelled checks!

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Amount Paid (US$): 43.00