I saw a report on "Rip-off" which is virtually identical to the outrageous behavior of Verizon Wireless that I have experienced here in Illinois. Having seen this report, I am now convinced that this is a systematic policy of Verizon Wireless to bully customers into paying fraudulent charges. This is interstate rackteering and Verizon needs to be taught a lesson.
In my case, it is a car phone, permanently installed, which never leaves the car. After several months of serice with Verizon, during which period my average usage was less than 20 calls per month, last December I received a bill with over 200 calls charged.
125 of those calls were made when I was out of the country, and the car was in my locked garage at home.
I attempted through repeated registered letters and phone calls to Verizon to explain that the calls could not possibly have been made by me. I received a complete stone-wall response from Verizon, who simply declared that they had investigated and the calls were valid. Pay up.
Now I have been contacted by a collection agency who called me at home on a Saturday and has sent threatening letters. The company's name is Allied Interstate, based in Minneapolis.
This behavior is outrageous and I believe it amounts to extortion. Although the amount claimed by Verizon is less than US$500, the thought that Verizon can simply intimidate and harrass customers with impunity has steeled my resolve to fight them. This has been going on for me for the last six months. I wonder how many other Verizon customers have just thrown in the towel and paid?
John
Chicago, Illinois
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