Trust me. I used to be a Verizon Customer a long time ago until I witness multiple bills that were incorrect. Every thing from extra services and incorrect minutes of use charges would appear on my bill. On many occasions (not always!), these additional charges were very subtle... Often under $5 - $6.00. Many customers probably just pay their bills... No questions asked; However, not me. I became so frustrated with always having to telephone Verizon to adjust my bill that as soon as my contract was up (seemed like an eternity!), I switched to Alltel. Now, guess what... Alltel became Verizon and when I renewed my contract I had no choice. With fingers crossed (hoping that their billing issued have improved over the years) I signed the contract.
My old contract had my Main line... As well as a secondary line (National Freedom 900 Plan - 79.99/mo after all of the extra charges and taxes). Upon renewing my contract, I had the original secondary line canceled. This time I signed for the Family Share Plan 2100 - 139.99/mo after all of the unmentioned charges. I added an additional line to this for 9.99/mo.
This new contract was started on 12/05/09. Now because Verizon Wireless' billing cycle begins on the 10th of each month, I should have been charged a Pro-rated rate for my old plan which (11/10/09 - 12/05/09), a pro-rated rate for the new plan (12/05/09 - 12/10/09) and a entire month in advance bill for the new plan (12/10/09-01-10-09). This was explained at the time of the sale and I understood as it made perfect sense.
My first bill arrived and check this out!
Line #1 (primary) - Family Share 2100 Plan 11/10 - 12/10 - $130.00
- Family Share 2100 Plan 12/10 - 01/10 - $130.00
Line #2 (secondary line) - 28.04 activation fee (which was originally explained as 25.00)
Line #3 (the secondary line of the original plan which was supposed to be deleted)
-66.84 National Freedom 900 Plan 12/11 - 01/10
There was also one credit of 9.99 showing for and ADD-A LINE charge.
My bill was totaling over 415.00!!
I called Verizon... After almost an hour debate, the rep finally agreed that something was wrong... And issued me a credit for $27.99!! Saying that the only discrepancy was that the Original Plan (Nat Freedom 900) wasn't pro-rated. She assured me that the two 130.00 charges were correct and went into this whole explanation as to how they add the credit in one area and it looks like the full charge is in another area, TOTALLY CONFUSING ME! Everything is listed on the bill... I was so tired at this point that I finally decided to agree and review my purchase receipts for the new plan.
The next day, after reviewing my receipt, I confirmed that my new plan was put into effect on 12/05. Again I called Verizon and spoke to another Sales Rep. Again, the sales rep ensured me that every thing was correct. He also initially went into he same confusing debate, claiming that charges went here but credits replaced them in other areas. Almost as if he was reading it from what the other rep had explained the night before. Yet nothing on my bill supported what he was telling me. (Charges on my bill exceeded $445.00, and Credits showed approximately $16.00). Here's the alarming part... He seemed very intelligent... So it wasn't that he was incompetent in any way.
I finally gave up and stated that I still had several days left to cancel my contract, and was going to do just that as soon as I hung up the telephone. I explained, ".. All rocket aside... I was being charged for two entire billing cycles for the new plan. How can I be charged for a billing cycle that included 11/10/09 - 12/10/09 for a plan that I didn't even have until 12/05/09??? Furthermore... Also be charged entirely for the old plan as well (for the same cycle 11/10/09 - 12/10), which would have actually ended on 12/5/09 when I signed for the new plan.
After another 45 minutes on the phone, the rep agreed and adjusted the bill to pro-rate the plans the correct way...$108.34!!! If I hadn't been persistent, and willing to waste 2 hrs on the phone, Verizon would have made a great commission from this sale!!!
The Rep apologized and defended Verizon by stating that the transition period during the Alltel - Verizon switch is what is confusing every thing... Yet you need to take a look at how many other complaints have been filed here against Verizon... Complaints dating way before Verizon took over Alltel.
I am not the type of person to accuse people of things that are untrue, and in no way am I saying that Verizon is intentionally ripping people off; but two separate conversations with two different representatives, both trying to use misleading tactics to get me to agree to the charges... I am simply asking you be the judge.
Remember... When dealing with verizon... Always review and save your bills.
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