We had a retail business in California for almost 40 years and each year the phone company would call to renew advertising. When Verizon invented IDEARC there was no longer any renewal by phone, it was now automatic and forever! We knew we were going out of business and had no intention of renewing advertising. My husband, who is 70 and was dealing with the closing of this business did not know who IDEARC was and as he knew he had not entered a contract with them he set the bills aside. He didn't realize what a dishonest combative bunch he was dealing with.
Even though we are closed and the phone that Verizon provided is no longer in service they insist we must prove we are out of business with a notarized letter with 9 requirements, 9! A letter from an attorney or a death certificate. Meanwhile they have reported us to a credit bureau but fortunately our credit is excellent. They have also had a law firm in Ohio threaten us with action.
I read that one of the complainants here also was contacted by McCarthy Burgess and Wolfe a law firm threatening they are "initiating action." Given the rude and pointless experience the other complainant had I can see calling them will only increase our sense of futility and being attacked.
The bills keep doubling and tripling and they have never provided the 'proof' they say they have that we agreed to this contract to be billed forever and ever and ever and not allowed to cancel. They assert we agreed to mysterious 'terms and conditions' and this includes apparently that we cannot ever cancel even if we are out of business?
I wrote to the BBB in Texas and they are apparently more sympathetic to all large corporations and unsympathetic to consumers, said they will file it under 'info'. I wrote to the Attorney General as well and they are similarly indifferent but we will continue to fight this.
Fortunately we no longer live in a city in which only Verizon can provide phone service. We will certainly never buy any Verizon product in the future.
It is a scam, a deceptive business practice, and their harassing and threatening and refusing to allow you to opt out should not be legal, unless the corporations really do control America today and there is no longer any such thing as consumer protection or consumer rights.
That just might be the case.
JTLP
glendale, California
U.S.A.
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