If megacorporations can collect money because they say you owe it, where does that leave us?

It leaves you paying them, I say. Or going to the poorhouse for debt gained from legal battles.

See, JD, I always oversimplify, but it seems to me that

(1.)Megacorporations push us around because they can.

(2.)Megacorporations can push us around because we need them (If we don’t do their bidding, our houses will burn, our spouses will cheat, our communication lines will be cut, we will be unprepared for death— in short, megacorporations are currently protecting us from every danger and hardship known to man, all of which will instantly become reality and destroy us if we don’t let the corporations run the world.)

(3.)If we didn’t need them, they couldn’t push us around anymore. (by way of analogy, a letter recently arrived at our house from the New York State Department of Health. It warned us that Alice, our pet mongrel, was due for her (state-required) rabies vaccination. Well. We live in Tennessee now, and Alice is dead. We put the letter in the trash and did not answer it. The point is, if I ain’t gotta dog, ain’t a man on earth gonna give it shots and bill me.

My (wonderfully simplistic) hypothesis is that we get to take our pick; we can live without many of the services supplied by the corporations, or we can obey the corporations.

I know of groups of people who are enjoying good food, health, recreation, and social life, and who, because they don’t use phones, never get bills from Verizon or anyone else for services not requested. The never have to pay fraudulent insurance charges, because they buy no insurance. Gasoline price fluctuations affect them very little, because their horses are grass-powered. They have escaped the mega-corporation tyranny. And they are as happy to have escaped it as you would expect.

But most of us have a deep desire to be normal. And the corporations have made it very abnormal to disobey them. So here we are.

I hate big corporations too.

Well said nephew. And condolences on the loss of your mongrel.

Dear Anthony-

For the record, I have never not cheated on my spouse because of pressure from a megacorporation.

I have, however, cowered in fear in my basement and prayed for the intervention of Citigroup, General Electric and American International Group to protect me from aliens and the depredations of the government.

Just felt the need to clarify that.

Complain to the BBB. If they have done this to you, they are doing it to others. Create the paper trail and hope for a class action lawsuit down the road.

Pay in pennies. Or stamps. Both are legal currency and can’t be refused as tender.

My rule: If you can’t beat ’em, make ’em wish they’d left you alone.

Your dad and I had a big problem with a huge corporation (Sears) when you kids were small and we were struggling financially. We wound up dealing ultimately with a guy that just didn’t seem to have a heart. Steve finally asked him how he could sleep at night. Apparently that got to him because he did an about-face and showed a more merciful side.

In this situation above, I think you have done all you can. Alternatives are legal action, and it’s not worth that, and negative publicity at our hands for Verizon, and the amount doesn’t justify that. If they in their turn threaten legal action, we may need to just pay and make sure that they know in no uncertain terms how we feel about them if they ever attempt to contact us again.

Actually, postage stamps aren’t legal tender in the US. Only US coins and currency are:
31 U.S.C. 5103: United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues. Foreign gold or silver coins are not legal tender for debts.

And the downside to paying in pennies/nickels/dimes is that the postage is a b***h on $40 worth of coins.

For more monetary entertainment, see: here. This includes the $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 notes as well as the fractional paper currency issued during the Civil War.

I suggest you check out the Fair Credit Protection Act at the FTC web site:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm

Can you stop a debt collector from contacting you?

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. Please note, however, that sending such a letter to a collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor.

I think David is right on. My experience with companies that insist on billing you for things you didn’t authorize is that you don’t have to take any legal action against them. The Fair Credit Act allows you to notify them that you dispute the charge and will not pay it and you are subsequently protected from collection action by them, except that they can sue you.

Of course, (in my opinion) they would never sue because (presumably) they’re wrong. They just have no interest in discovering that they’re wrong since it’s easier for them, at this point, to just keep pestering you rather than look into it. And, if they sue you, they would have to provide the recording or written authorization. So long as you refuse to be intimidated, the system is designed to protect you, I think.

Unfortunately, although the Fair Debt Collection Act is a useful tool in many circumstances, this isn’t one of them. The FDCA applies to consumer debt, not to obligations allegedly incurred by businesses. From the website listed above:
“What debts are covered?
Personal, family, and household debts are covered under the Act. This includes money owed for the purchase of an automobile, for medical care, or for charge accounts.”

JD’s situation is neither personal, familial, or a household debt. It’s a business debt.

Second, what usually happens (even in business situations) is that the alleged creditor will simply take your FDCA notice and send you a letter saying they’re going to turn you over to a collections agency if you don’t pay. This has a negative impact on your credit rating and most people prefer not to have that happen. Yes, the creditor cannot report false information to the credit bureau, but they believe the information is true and therefore claim that they’re not reporting false information. After all, they’re just reporting that they believe you owe this debt.

Once the credit reporting agency gets ahold of it, it simply stays on your credit report. Sure, you can challenge it, but what happens is that the credit agency (when they recieve a challenge), writes to the original creditor and says, “Why do you think they owe this?” The original creditor says, “Because they do and we have a note here that says that they do, otherwise we wouldn’t have reported it to you.” The credit agency writes back to you and says, “Gee golly, Creditor says you owe it, so we conclude it’s a founded obligation and we won’t remove it.”

Sometimes this results in negative things for the credit agency (such as the $5.3 million verdict against TransUnion in Portland a couple of years ago and, more recently, a Portland man’s $210k verdict against Equifax), but for the most part it’s easier for them to simply report what they’re told regardless of whether it accurate or legally justified.

I’m almost to the point with credit agencies that I’m ready to tell clients to simply file suit against an agency for reporting inaccurate information (a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act) and seek a declaratory judgment against the agency and the original “creditor” to have a court summarily determine the validity of the “debt”. This immediately puts the obligation on the creditor to prove the debt in court. If they can’t, then you have a judgment saying that you owe nothing. I haven’t had anyone want to put this to the test, however. A small claims action could be a pretty good way to test this on the cheap.

Now, this is a really useful blog posting. It also highlights why many businesses do such an annoying job of screening calls. We always require that callers tell us what client they are calling about so that we can “pull the file.” For sales calls we always request the proposal in writing, never do anything verbal over the phone. Sometimes we even resort to hanging up. Usually putting the salesperson on hold for four or five minutes solves the problem. We will have to be even more careful about Verizon, it seems. I will notify the receptionist/phone answerer.

I work for another big telco, and I would suggest one more call to Customer Service and if they refuse to adjust the bill, ask for a manager. Sometimes that manager can do things the reps can’t, or will be under pressure not to have the escalation go further and decide the $300 a year is not worth the hassle. If you can’t beat them, cost them $36 of their employees time each month.

Nick just pointed out this amazing article from Willamette Week: One Woman’s Qwest, which covers another case of a telcom screwing somebody.

I have some information that can help you below (I think). I’m going through the exact same thing with Verizon at the moment with my company account! They are billing me $737.73 because I closed my account with them (due to lack of service for a MONTH) and they claim that I had broken a service contract with them. What service? Where’s my signature? Where’s the phone recorded message saying I did? None to be had but their representative noted it so it must be so.

I don’t know where you are, but my company is in NY. If you go to www.oag.state.ny.us/telecommunications/phone_billing.html, it states that if you send copies of your letter of complaint to the following agencies, by NY law they must mark your account “in dispute” and they should withhold sending your information to a collection agency, etc. Useful places to CC: Informal Complaints Branch, Federal Communications Commission 2025 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20554; Consumer Services Division NYS Department of Public Services 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany NY 12223; Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection, NYS Office of the Attorney General 120 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10271.
If you are not in NY, check out your state’s attorney general office’s website and do a word search under telecommunications to see what you can do in your state.
Hope this helps. Good luck to you, I know I need it against these idiots!

I’LL TRY TO KEEP THIS ONE SHORT.I GOT MY WIRELESS
SERVICE IN FALL OF 2003.I GOT TWO PHONES.A MONTH LATER I GOT THE BILL.AND IT WAS OVER 200.00 DOLLARS.I DIDN’T EVEN PUT A ENOUGH MINUTES ON THE PHONE.TO DO THIS,THE PHONES SHOULD ONLY HAVE BEEN MAYBE A 100.00 DOLLARS.I CALL VERIZON,I GOT THE(TWO HOUR)RUN AROUND GAME.SAID I HAD PUT THIS AND ON MY SERVICE,PLUS THEY WERE JUST DOING A 45 DAY BILLING CYCLE.I JUST HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THE CHOOSEN FEW FOR THIS.SO I HAD TO PAY THE MONEY.BUT THAT ISN’T THE END OF IT.TWO MONTH’S LATER,I DROPED IT IN A PHONE MANHOLE.BROKE IT FOR GOOD,BUT I THOUGHT I WAS THE SMART ONE,HAVING INSURANCE ON MY PHONE WHEN IT WRECKED.BUT I CALLED IT IN,AND THEY TOLD I HAD TO GET A FUCKING POLICE REPORT.THE COP SAID IT IS NOT A CRIME TO SCREW UP YOUR OWN PHONE.AND HE SAID TO GET CIVIL WITH MY PHONE COMPANY.I GOT CIVIL ALRIGHT.I CALL THEM BACK AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS TOLD.AND THEY TOLD ME TO MAKE UP A STORY SO I COULD GET A NEW PHONE.I TRUN THEM INTO WASHINGTON STATE UTC,BUT THEY BELIVE IN THE COMPANY,AS BELIVE IN A FARIY DUSTER.I GUESS FRAUD IS HOW YOU GET AHEAD OF GAME,THESE DAY’S.SO I MOVED INTO A COUNTY WERE THEY DID NOT HAVE SERVICE,AND
THEY WERE UNHAPPY THAT THEY COULDN’T GET THE 300.00 DOLLARS OUT OF ME FOR ONE PHONE TO DO EARLY CANCLATION.I TOLD THEM I’LL GO THROUGH THEM AGAIN WHEN A SHRIMP’N’BOAT CAPTIN.NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE CHANCE WITH SUCH A OUTSTANDING COMPANY AS VERZION,THE A-HOLES THAT NEVER STOP WORKING FOR YOU.

Verizion has done it to me too. I had phone service for 2 weeks and found a better deal. I canceled verizion and received a bill for $354.00. I couldn’t beleive it. I called customer service, had all but $96.00 removed from the bill. I paid the $96.00 and 6 months later a collection company calls for the (You got it). I paid this again to keep it off my credit report. 6 months later Verizion sends me a check for $96.00. Today this is on my credit report as if I owe them and never paid. I disputed it. The dispute came back REMAINS on Record. This one little thing dropped my score 267 points. I have spent many hours on this and do not know what to do next.. ANY IDEAS?

I “think” I signed a advertising contract with the local yellow pages.

The balance due is > $11,000.

I have taken ill (Found out I have a terminal illness 2 yr ago) and I have no idea what year this ad might have taken place. I do remember there was a ad we had that had a mistake and we wENT into a “Dispute Mode” Wrong address etc.

I assume this is the account the creditors now seek funds for.

I am in Florida and I am worried the creditors are after my car and my RV.

I just got a letter today 7-22-05 they we going to take action (sue me).

I did not know I could be sued for a intangables and I am still not sure if I will be served.

I learned the hard way to NEVER IGNOR a debt. Not just the obvious reasons, your credit rating etc but for a experiance I had as a younger lad.

When I was in my 20’s I wanted to buy a new car. I found a new 1979 (note the year) Ford Thunderbird. The dealer told me I would need to place 1,000 down and I could take delivery the same day. In retrospect my eyes were bigger than my wallet.

I went to my local bank and took out a personal loan for $1,000 (note the amount)

I bought the car and for various reasons found I could no longer aford it.

I did not finish paying off the $1,000 I borrowed for the down payment either.

The car got repossesed and I assumed that was the end of it.

9 1/2 yes NINE and ONE HALF Years later I answered the door and greeted two sherrifs and one tow truck driver.

That year I started doing well in a business I started and had a different car parked in the front yard paid in full.

I got handed some papers and the tow truck picked up my car.

The papers said that I took out a loan for $1,000 9 1/2 years ago at 18% interest and in order to regain my car they towed away I must pay a county collector $3,600. [Loan plus 18% over 9.5 yrs plus]

Although it was not the same car I had no choice but to forfit the car or pay the amount in full in order to get my car back. The $3,600 was well below blue book on the car so I elected to pay the debt in full and retrieve my car.

In essence this collection company harassed me year after year. They kept calling and I never had the money. A couple years went by and I never herd from them again. I assumed they just gave up.
Nope, they were just waiting for me to obtain (title or register) something of value that they could go after.

They had obtained a “Writ of Execution” after obtaining a judgement against me. Judgements are good for ten years.

They waited until the last moment to grab my assets and therefore got top dollar in interest.

The moral of my story is obvious, always answer a court summons despite you may be very broke at the time the summons arrives. My thought was you cant get blood out of a turnip.

Now I know better. This turnip got eaten up when the blood was fresh and best.

Likewise I feel this is the strategy being used by the collection agency the yellow pages has tunred this debt over to.

I was awarded a rather nice sum when I got my social security (disability age 47) and I went out and bought a RV and a newer car. But that was three years ago.

This yellow page ad had to have been before 1998 or 1999.

It appears to me the collection agency is going after me all over again however this time for a business debt. A debt that as in dispute and never resolved.

Onviously that is besides the point, I assume once the collection agency has it there is not much I can do but go before the judge “THIS TIME” let the judge know my financial condition, my health that there was a dispute/claim and if in deed this is what I am being sued for to see if the judge will allow me to pay off the debt over time. When your on Social Security your not in a position to come up with those type of funds.

Maybe it is my imagination but I get a feeling when a debt is subtatial that they purposly allow the interest to pile up.

From my understading the debt is sold to the collection agency for a percent 5, 10 maybe 20 Then the collection agency OWNS the debt. The Yellow Pages marks it as a loss.

It is in the collection agencys best interest to lurk and wait until your near the end of the statute of limitations to act. In theory had I not aquired assets they could obtain a judgement and lurk 10 more years and move in for the kill.

The interest rate was likely high back in 1998. Imagine what they will hit me up for $11,000 @ 12 to 18% or more a year plus cost etc.

I am going to send a certified letter to the attorney representing the collection agency denying the debt and hopefully they will be able to produce a signed contract so I know what I signed and the terms.

I don’t know the statuates for a debt itself (how long they have to file a judgement) however as you can tell I am aware of how long a judgement can be enforced.

In my wildest dreams I never thought anyone (except IRS) could take away a fully paid off car that had nothing to do with the origonal financing but now I know better.

Oh Lord, I hope they can’t obtain a judgement and a writ without my knowledge, otherwise I will see a repeat with my RV and or car?

Learned the hard way and still learning…

I did the prior post about the Judgements and Writs.

When I ran across this (old 2004 post) I could not help but remind myself of the first poster that got hit with a $37 a month ad that he did not order. Form what this gent says that was common for Verison to AD SLAM!
====================================

Yellow Page Advertisers – Read This! As a former employee of Verizon Information Systems (VIS or Verizon Directories; former GTE), I have just about seen and heard everything. Customer satisfaction and integrity are the backbone of any company. VIS seriously lacks this with its customers as well as its own employees. They care about one thing only: MONEY. Many a time have I seen customer service choose not to give an adjustment to a business owner’s ad that was wrong. There have been times when I thought that the mistake was great enough to warrant a 100% adjustment, only to see customer service warrant a 50% adjustment – and it looked like a 1st grader drew up the ad. Naturally, the business owner refused to pay for the ad. And there were times that I had to get involved to make sure the right thing was done for the business owner. Isn’t this the job of customer service? And when someone refuses to pay for an ad & Verizon is the phone carrier, watch out! They can cut off the phone service. Billing for the ad usually goes on that business’ monthly phone bill. When this happens, the monies that are paid by the business owner go to the phone company side first. Any remaining monies then goes toward the unpaid balance of the yellow page advertising. Usually, the business owner is pissed about the ad & only pays for the phone bill and the advertising balance goes delinquent. The account (at VIS) is then flagged so that the business cannot advertise on that phone number until the balance is paid. Usually, it goes to collections and then reflects negatively on that business’ credit. There were times when all of this probably could have been avoided if customer service would have done their job – which is looking out for the customer instead of looking out for the company itself. If Verizon is not your local carrier then they cannot have your service shut off if you do not pay your bill. All they can do is send it to collections. The business name and number is still flagged in their (VIS) system so that future advertising cannot be done. One way some business owners would get around a delinquent account is to advertise on a cell phone & change the business name that is being advertised. Some business owners would have the billing sent to a bogus address and get out of paying altogether. Sometimes, business owners would get lucky & get a rep that didn’t care about policy & would place advertising under several different phone numbers & business names. In order to cancel an advertising contract, you must do so within 14 days of signing the contract. Verizon will not budge on this. We were instructed that under no circumstances were we to let someone cancel after 14 days and/or after the first close date of the directory. After doing this for years, I could tell when someone was lying and when someone had a legitimate reason to cancel. Verizon did not care what the reason was – if we let someone cancel past a deadline, we got ripped up one side and down another – from our own manger, from her manager (the GM) and sometimes from the regional vice president (RVP), which is who the GM reports to. And this is where the old 80’s style of management – FEAR – came into effect. The only time that we could cancel something after a deadline was if the business owner threatened to go to the RVP. Or further up the ladder. I have also heard reps flat out lie: guaranteeing a certain amount of calls each month from an ad, how much money will be made off of the ad, the numbers in a particular industry (auto repair, for example) and how many references are made each month from the yellow pages for that industry and being able to cancel an ad at any time (lying about deadlines). You used to be able to check the closing of a directory by looking on-line at verizon.superpages.com/prodserv/Dirsel.jsp. You can then look at each state, and then all of the directories for that state. If you are going to purchase yellow page advertising, here are some tips: 1) Try to advertise in an area where there is not half a dozen directories or so. This is easier said than done. The fewer the directories, the better chance you have on return on investment (ROI). 2) Utility directories (Verizon, SBC, PAC BELL, ALLTEL, etc.) cost more than independent publishers. Don’t be afraid to save some money and go with a reputable independent (TransWestern, Area Wide are two in the southwest). I highly suggest this if this is your first time to advertise in the yellow pages. 3) Here is a safe way to get an idea of what you can afford & what to expect from a DISPLAY ad: from top to bottom, figure out the average dollar amount that a customer would spend with you (your most popular service or item). Now, take that dollar amount & compare it to the monthly investment of your program: if the program is $100/mo, and the average customer worth is $50, you would need 2 SALES per month to break even (4 for a 200% ROI). If it takes you 2 CALLS to get a sale, you would need 8 CALLS per month for a 200% ROI. Don’t let the sales rep confuse you between sales & calls per month. The next thing to consider is the size of the ad & the size your competition is doing. Will this sized display ad get you close enough to the front to get you the required number of calls each month? Display ads are placed by size & seniority. Keep in mind that there is a SMALL percentage of the population that are frugal with their money: they think that a large, full color ad will have a higher cost for a good/service than the smaller ad at the back of the pack. Don’t base your advertising campaign on this, though. 4) Keep this in mind: there can only be two half-page ads on one page and there might be eight small ads on another page. My point is if you go with a small ad, chances are there will be many other small ads on that same page. To get more calls, you should have color in the ad to make it stand out from all of the other small ads. If you went with a three quarter page ad, well, no other display ads can probably fit on that page, and you can probably save some money by not having color in it. Color is an enhancement – use it when you need to. 5) In-column ads are placed alphabetically (these are the small boxed ads & vary in height). If your business name starts with an “A” or “B”, but your sales rep is pushing you towards a large display ad program that has a high monthly investment, consider doing an in-column ad with color – sometimes the in-column ads will start before the display ads. If your business name starts with an “S”, your ad will be in the back with the other businesses that start with the letter “S”. You might want to consider a display ad. 6) Overall, display advertising is the best way to go. But consider all of the facts before deciding on a display ad over in-column; also consider having color in it, what your competition is doing and what your ROI is. 7) Shop around for rates & call the advertisers from the directory that you are considering going in. But I might not call those that are in the same line of work – they might lie to you so that you won’t come in on their market! 8) NEVER, EVER LET ANYONE GAUARANTEE YOU WHERE A DISPLAY AD WILL FALL! THEY ARE PLACED BY SIZE AND SENIORITY; IT IS PURE SPECULATION WHRE YOUR AD WILL FALL VERSUS THOSE WHO RENEWED THEIR ADS FROM LAST YEAR AND ANY NEW ADS PLACED BEFORE YOU PLACED YOURS! TWO ADS OF THE SAME SIZE, WITH CONTRACTS SIGNED ON THE SAME DAY, WILL BOIL DOWN TO THE TIME STAMP ON THEM! EVEN IF YOU TAKE THE GAURANTEE AND PISS AND MOAN UP THE CORPORATE LADDER ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GET, NOTHING WILL BE DONE! 9) If it’s your first time to advertise, ask about discounts. With independents, you can usually get a buy one get one free, or at least a free ad that is half the size of the paid ad. With a utility directory, there are usually discounts for being a new advertiser, discounts for certain headings, discounts for having one or more colors in an ad, etc. The following year, if you renew, you can usually get some incentive (free ad or a discount) for upgrading the ad program. 10) If advertising with an independent, you will have to put down a deposit. Most utility directories don’t ask for a down payment. With a utility directory, most businesses get a line a credit; if your ad program is more than your line of credit, they WILL do a credit check! If the credit check shows something bad, you might have your credit limit lowered, you might have to put a portion down or you might have to prepay for the whole year! As for the employees, well, we were managed by fear. Rewards too, but plenty of fear. We worked on budgets (for example, to sell $100/month of new advertising each day) and there has been numerous, numerous times that reps have written fake contracts & have had fake ads drawn up so that they could make their budget for the two week pay period. New reps, veteran reps, reps with families, have done this. It was rampant. There is one small directory in southern part of the U.S. where over half of the yellow page ads were bad. This was usually done by purchasing a pre-paid cell phone & using the number on the contracts. Policies for the employees were not followed verbatim day by day. Writing fake contracts is grounds for immediate termination; some were fired right then and some were given the benefit of the doubt three or four times. Management does not police themselves. They do not hold themselves accountable for anything. Towards the end of last year, from what I understand, the company offered an employment buy-out of all employees. It ranged, I was told, from $15-$30,000, depending on the tenure/position and any benefits/retirement plans available. This started in the Northeast (former Bell Atlantic) when the union had some grievances; mediation sided with the employees. I was told that this was initially started with the telephone company side, and that when the judgment was made, Verizon decided that it should offer it company wide to keep things fair. I guess if one part was offered this and the other wasn’t, then it would be an HR nightmare. As far as I know, still to this day, the former Bell Atlantic is still union and former GTE is not union. Would a solid company have half union and half non-union?

– Friday, February 06, 2004 at 18:10:13 (EST)

Never get angry… just get even. I contact every govt agency including the SEC about how Verizon sucks. I blog regularly on the same theme. One NYC organization I belong to even has a Verizon VP assigned to them because everyone complained consistently and often.

Megacorps suck and the only way we mosquitoes can get to them is to bite them hard, often and where it hurts the most – their stock price.

Contact your local press… organize a press/blog/buzz campaign.

Verizon sucks

Verizon Wireless Services, is a division of Verizon who currently provides Cellular Services to millions of people throughout the United States. It has been known to be one of the WORST Cellular providers in the nation and really doesn’t care about its customers because they believes if they could make a buck providing horrible services the executives will get paid. Verizon also is known to make false, misleading representation on how good they are. Its time we fight back and do something about it now before it is too late and Verizon scam some other innocent person.

August 21, 2005 – Have you ever owed a bill to Verizon Wireless for services not received, not up to perfection or for something, an associate at Verizon said you would not be charged for? If you answered yes then please rest assured that you are not alone. Millions of people throughout the United States have complained that VERIZON WIRELESS has overcharged them, ripped them off and have made up charges for services they did not receive. One advocate by the name of Jon is fighting back via the internet and has just launched the newest website to hit the World Wide Web – VerizonWirelessEatspoop.com

After dealing with MANY Associates at Verizon Wireless, Elizabeth Sturgis from Verizon Wireless Executive offices he is encouraging everyone to fight back by doing the following:

(1) If you do NOT have any services through VERIZON do not join them, your better off going to another service provider like Cingular Wireless, TMOBILE or Sprint/Nextel

(2) If you are experiencing any billing issues With VERIZON WIRELESS IMMEDIATELY Contact the Federal Communications Commission via their website or via mail and complain about them.

(3) File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau

(4) Contact your Attorney generals office

— MOST IMPORTANTLY LOGON TO OUR WEBSITE AND FIGHT BACK NOW!!!!
http://www.VerizonWirelessEatspoop.com[

Check out Verrizon’s new scam on their web site. Here is what they’re promoting
“Unlimited IN Calling AND Night & Weekend Home Airtime Minutes”. The term “Unlimited IN Calling” is used here to mislead people to believe that they can receive calls for free when in fact it just only free when calls are placed between Verrizon’s customer.

Their Customer support representative are rude and not professional. Their phone only work in America and only on their network (another reason to get you stuck with their service). Once they got you as a customer they don’t care about the service. All the promotion are only available to new customer.

The image of corporate American are full of cheat, lie, and greed. This is typical behavior of corporate America. This trend is not going to stop any time soon so get use to it.

I found this post from Michel and would like to report it. Apparently, even within Verizon network it may not be free at all.
————————————————–
Verizon wireless is the WORST cell phone company ever! Our cell representative talked us into using the “in” plan and getting our family around the country to sign up w/ contracts. Then, over a year later (after lots of overage fees) we find out non of our family was “in” because they were not in our calling area!

My mother calls me at least everday, sometimes 3 times and it was using my minutes! My bill was $487 last month! So, we called Verizon and the rep told us “that was our own problem”. We tried to discuss our options, and he told us we were “out of contract, so cancel if we like.” So we canceled the next day.

Now Verizon is billing us early termination fees! Their customer service is soooo screwed up!

Our contract we signed was a one year and it ended June 11, 2005. Now they are trying to tell us because we added “in” calling in July 2004, that it automatically extends our contract w/out us knowing. Then, I changed from National calling to local (since I stopped traveling) in November 2004 and now they are trying to tell me that because I made a change to my plan, it re-extended my plan a year from that date! I asked them to show me the signed contract and they said that since I used the phone after switching the plan, that is considered a digital signature and that they sent me a package (which I never received) after the fact that told me a change in plan extends my contract! That is crap!

I changed my plan minutes/coverage every few months with my old providers and it never changed my contract? Since when can a company extend a contract w/out consent of the customer?

Also, why did the rep tell us we were out of contract and to cancel??? We will never figure out these large companies. And the worst part is you are helpless! They can put it on your credit and you can’t do anything about it!

Michel
Maitland, Florida
U.S.A.

Thanks for all!:) yeah i know verizon is getting worse. wait till they complete the merger between Verizon & MCI *URGH*

http://www.VerizonMCIsucks.com

Hey Michel & American can you please post this on my website…..??? I want to tell more of the world how bad Verizon is. Also do you mind me advertising what you both said on my site also.?
I did do a press release but anyways.

Thanks