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  • Report:  #3324

Complaint Review: Verizon Wireless - Orangeburg New York

Reported By:
- Tempe, Arizona,
Submitted:
Updated:

Verizon Wireless
2000 Corporate Drive Orangeburg, New York, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-922-0204
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
Initially, my finance had a $50.00 for 500 minutes yearly service plan. He was happy with his service. He started his own business and told this secretary to increase his minutes to 1500, since he would be using the phone for business. She did not and we received a bill for $680.00 the first month. When we received the bill, we called Verizon f/k/a Bell Atlantic and instructed them to increase the minutes to 1500.

Our next months bill was $418.00. We had fired the secretary due to poor performance. Why I want to know is -- Where is their customer service? Why didnt they inform him of such great over use of the account? A change from $50.00 a month to almost $700.00 does not warrant a call?

We have tried to settle this $1,088.00 bill, but they keep telling us that we made the calls, so we are responsible. How about their responsibility to us? Isnt that what customer service is all about? Why cant this company just meet us in the middle on an amount, so we can put this behind us?

We have called Verizon five times to try to reach some agreement. Since the company is so big, I guess they dont care how their service (or lack of) effect a persons life.

Starting a business is hard enough, without such high telephone charges. You would think for $1,088.00 we had called China. No, they were just mostly local calls. Why is using their service beyond your service plan so high? Is this their plan? Is this where they make their money? Well, they have lost me as a customer. They will get no more money from me.



7 Updates & Rebuttals

Brian

Seattle,
Washington,
U.S.A.
A solution to the problem of overage charges!!

#2Consumer Suggestion

Sat, March 20, 2004

First of all, EVERY cell phone company charges an outrageous amount for going over the allotted minutes. This is not something that only Verizon Wireless practices. Secondly, the overage charges are clearly stated in the contract as well as the price plan information. Verizon Wireless is the only company I know of that does provide its customers with an easy way to see how many minutes they have used. All a customer has to do is check online or by pressing #MIN from their cell phone. I do this all the time to see how many minutes I have used. It is easy, free, and an airtime free call. When I do find that I am using more minutes than I am allowed, I just call up and change my plan. I am allowed to do this anytime. How many other cell phone companies allow that? I have had service with Verizon Wireless for several years now and am thoroughly pleased. I have always been treated with dignity and respect when speaking with customer service. I always treat the person I speak with in a professional manner and receive the same treatment from the representatives. Anyone who has experienced anything other than excellent service is the exception to the rule. I have done a lot of research on cell phone companies and happen to know Verizon Wireless has over 37 million customers. That is more than any other wireless company. They must be doing something right!


David

Corinth,
New York,
U.S.A.
Don't waste your time the Government already knows

#3Consumer Comment

Wed, January 21, 2004

It seems to me that after reading all the compaints against Verizon Wireless. The Government should have been looking into these complaints of overcharges and getting Verizon Wireless to make correction where needed. I wonder how much of our tax dollars are being wasted by being over charge by Verizon Wirless as a service provider for our government contracts?


Danny

Aberdeen,
North Carolina,
U.S.A.
These practices are industry-wide, but there's a simple solution

#4Consumer Suggestion

Mon, January 19, 2004

I was just browsing through here because I've had such bad experiences with Alltel that I was looking for another cellular provider. I've had the same problem with Alltel that you're describing with Verizon. I've opened bills and nearly had a heart attack due to the charges for exceeding my minutes. I understand that all cell phone companies have pretty much the same practice. The problem is that the entire cellular industry is not regulated enough, and the companies are free to do whatever they want to do. A simple solution to the problem of exceeding minutes is: When you are getting close to using your minutes, and you make a call, before the call goes through, you will hear a computer voice tell you that you are close to using up all your minutes. I gave this idea to an Alltel technician, and he said that the technology already exists to implement such a system. When I asked him why the cell phone companies aren't already doing it, he said, "I think you already know the answer to that question". The best thing to do is to write to the FCC and ask that the cell phone industry be regulated more. The companies are so out of control that in looking for a replacement for Alltel, I've got to try and just pick the lesser of the evils.


Kathy

Pagosa Springs,
Colorado,
U.S.A.
In the past the customer service skills were extraordinary. Customer Service Reps, have been everything but kind

#5Consumer Comment

Fri, January 09, 2004

I am no going into everything that has transpired with Verizon. I have 10 years of experience in the telecom (not Verizon) industry as a manager of customer service. I left my job to move to a small town and semi retire. There were only 2 cel phone compaines to choose from, and I decided on Verizon. In the past the customer service skills were extraordinary. Customer Service Reps, have been everything but kind. They are flat out rude and beligerant. I was shocked at how I was treated. I still have 10 months on my contract but I have reduced my calling plan to $15.00 a month and turned my phone off. I am a professional, and still work as a consultant, I will share this information with all of my colleagues 1 of which is a fortune 500 company. It may take a while but the lack of "good customer service" will catch up with them it always does. Regards,


Sally

Concordia,
Kansas,
Rude Service

#6Consumer Comment

Wed, November 06, 2002

Last year we had verizon service for a nationwide plan. We had several billing problems and I contacted the customer service department. I make it a point not to get beligerant with companies even if I have problems, so I was surprised at the rude responses I got from the Customer Service Department. I had read the contract when we first obtained service and reread it before I called Verizon; it did not address or explain the billing that was being processed. The service rep cut me off and told me to read my contract. I responded that I had. "We can't help it if you can't understand the contract" was the response. I asked to speak to a supervisor or someone who would be able to address my issue. I conveniently got "disconnected". It took me six months to wade through a pile of rude and apathetic representatives. At that point we received a notice from Verizon that their billing practices had changed and contracted users could opt-out of contracts without the fee. When I called to opt-out, the reps knew nothing of the notice and tried to bill me $175. I faxed a copy of the notice along with a written letter stating I wanted to end my contract, called and requested a faxed confirmation that MY fax was received, and that was the end of Verizon. As I have been reading through these customer complaints and responses from Verizon employees, I can see that the rude, apathetic, unhelpful attitude runs rampant. It has concreted my decision to never do business with Verizon again. Sally Black


Tracey

Nashville,
Illinois,
Verizon Wireless Rebuttals

#7Consumer Comment

Wed, September 04, 2002

I feel that the rebuttals by Verizon Wireless employees prove what consumers have been saying about them being rude. They use terms such as dumb, duh, screwed-up, etc. This is not very professional and it is very rude. I think it is indicative of low IQ's. Thank You.


Blame your bad secretary not Verizon.

#80

Mon, November 19, 2001

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report: Their email: [email protected] Their name: Duh Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion Rebuttal: Duh, do you think that any company would make calls like that? With millions and millions of customers? It's simple, you buy a bundle of minutes for a month, you go over that, you're charged for overusage. Sure, it might be high, but wouldn't a responsible wireless phone user think that "hmm... I've been talking a lot this month, maybe I should call them to see how many minutes I've used" Blame your bad secretary not Verizon. Oh another thing, read the terms and conditions of your contract.

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