When LG first devolped the now infamous "Chocolate Phone" in September of I was thrilled to be one of the first people to have the phone. I signed a two year contract with Verizon in order to obtain the phone at a reasonable price.
As many of you know, the Chocolate is notorious for being a highly disfunctional and problematic phone. Within six months of having the phone, the touch screen stopped working. Verizon claimed my software was not current, and updated my software.
Visits to Verizon: 1
Two days later, my phone was still causing me problems. Verizon replaced the phone.
Visits to Verizon: 2
All was well until a few months ago when my phone stopped working. The entire screen turned white and flashed on and off, occasionally saying "Verizon Wireless" across the screen. I took it into the nearest Verizon kiosk in the Arcadia mall, where the salesmen working told me he could not provide proper tech support due to lack of equipment, but said I had a software problem and would need to visit a freestanding store to have it corrected.
Visits to Verizon: 3
One thirty minute drive later, the tech at the store tells me he cannot replace my phone because my water indicator has tripped. The LG Chocolate has 2 water indicators, one in the crease between the phone and the battery at the top, and one completely underneath the battery. The indicator below the battery was not tripped. It was only the indicator in the fold of the phone, but I still have to go through insurance.
Trips to Verizon: 4
I called LG. LG tells me that THEY think it is a software problem, and not a problem caused by water damage. They also tell me that the indicators on the phone are sensitive enough to be tripped by steam from a shower, but that would not affect the way the phone works.
Many searches on the internet later, I discover that I am not the only person with this problem.
Eventually, because I use my cell phone as my primary number, I am forced to replace my cell phone through insurance. I pay 50 dollars to replace a phone that no one can be confident I broke.
I write a letter to verizon, suggesting that since they cannot replace my phone, that they give me a 50 dollar credit on my cell bill. They never respond to my request. I felt that was a fair offer since I can understand they're heistance to give me a free phone, however, giving me credit on my bill ensures that I break even and they don't take a huge loss.
Water damage indictors are not the most accurate way to determine water damage, and on a side note, the phone I recieved through insurance does not even have indicators on it (I looked!).
When my contract ends in September, I will no longer be with Verizon Wireless. Unfortunatley cell phones lock you into these awful contracts and then can treat you however they want because if you terminate they still slap you with a 200 dollar early termination fee!
Verizon is overpriced, and underserviced. I would not recommend them to anyone.
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