After many years of happy service with Alltell, my parents were forced into Verizon. Soon after the change, they started receiving strange phone calls from Jamaica.
When they got their cell phone bill they had many pages of calls listed to and from Jamaica and their bill totaled over $400 for that month. My parents (who are older and on a fixed income) freaked out! They immediately called Verizon and reported this. They had to get a new cell number and phone - which in itself is a hassle since they had the previous number for many years. My Dad sent in his usual payment of abour $45 a month, assuming that Verizon (worry free guarantee?!?) would credit their account for the fraudulent calls.
No such luck. At that point they started receiving continuous collection calls from Verizon at all times of the day. My Dad explained what had happened and even wrote a letter and sent it in with his bill two months in a row. I suggested that he go to the store in Winston Salem to see if they could help him. They told him they would credit for the fraudulent calls, however, he would have to pay all taxes and late fees. He refused!
If that wasn't enough, they cut his phone off and have charged him to turn it back on. I can't believe this! They are still receiving late notices and phone calls. My Dad goes through each monthly bill with a fine tooth comb to make sure he is paying Verizon every penny he really owes them. My Dad has never made a late payment in his life. He's the most honest person I have ever known and he is so worried about his credit report being tarnished. I am furious with the way my parents have been treated in this process!!!
I have been a satisfied Verizon customer with multiple accounts for over 10 years. However, if this is how they do business (especially with the elderly on a fixed income), I'll change in a heartbeat and take everyone I know with me.
Unfortunately for Verizon, I'm not the kind of person to keep quiet. Until this is resolved and Verizon erases every single charge that has anything to do with this fraud, I'll post on every message board and contact every consumer agency and radio/TV show I know to get the point across. They obviously think they can force my parents to pay this. This is no way for any respectable company to do business!!!
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