Phone service nightmare

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I recently switched my local phone service to Verizon with unlimited long distance (within the U.S.). After work on Friday night was the first time I could use the service and I went online to check the specific international charge to the Philippines - .16 per minute. I called the operator since it was after normal business hours and asked her if I need to sign up for anything additional to get that rate and she said 'no'. Yesterday, after work I tried to make a call and it said my long distance service was temporarily disabled. I had to call billing this morning and they've told me that since I didn't sign up for their international plan ($4 a month) each call I made to the Philippines was $4.88 per minute!! I said, "What a minute. I was told that I was getting it at .16 per minute." Billing tells me that the operator has no knowledge of the plans or rates to which I said, "Then they're giving out false information!"

At this point they won't confirm or deny if they'll re-rate me at the .16 per minute until my first bill is printed. I'm guessing I have at least 4 hours of calls already which at least $1,000!!! vs. about $50!! I'm about to bust an artery, I'm so friggin pist!!!

Anybody know what kind of legal options I have if they refuse to rectify the bill? No way am I paying the higher rate for those calls!!!

[CarolineM 0]

something similar happened to my friend with cingular. THey wouldn't budge - she wrote a letter to the better business bureau and CC'd it to all the ppl she could think of at cingular.

the problem was rectified.

[incanada1234 0]

If everyone on this board wrote posts about their horrible telephone company customer service experiences, well, let's put it this way...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

something similar happened to my friend with cingular. THey wouldn't budge - she wrote a letter to the better business bureau and CC'd it to all the ppl she could think of at cingular.

the problem was rectified.

Thanks. I'll do that as well. My first bill won't arrive in the mail until Sept. 5th and I'm not waiting on pins and needles until then, hoping they'll adjust the rate. It's bloody criminal to charge nearly $5 a minute but then drop it to .16 per minute if I pay just $4 per month.

[rclouse 0]

something similar happened to my friend with cingular. THey wouldn't budge - she wrote a letter to the better business bureau and CC'd it to all the ppl she could think of at cingular.

the problem was rectified.

out o

Thanks. I'll do that as well. My first bill won't arrive in the mail until Sept. 5th and I'm not waiting on pins and needles until then, hoping they'll adjust the rate. It's bloody criminal to charge nearly $5 a minute but then drop it to .16 per minute if I pay just $4 per month.

I had a similar problem when I had to change my phone number and the international program didn't get turned on. I spent nearly a year fighting MCI before they finally recalculated it at the correct rate.

One thing you could do is pay the bill, then send a letter demanding a refund. If they don't refund within a month, take them to small claims court. Since it'll be a huge hassle for them to defend it (no lawyers, BTW, so a manager has to come), they'll settle out of court. Takes a while, but you get your money back. Make sure you properly estimate your expenses, I didn't and lost like $25.

[Nikita2Charles 32]

I won't pay the bill until it's rectify, once they get your money it's hard to get it back. Contact the better business bureau or better yet, contact your Local TV station sometimes they have those Show

Channel 7 on your side, different version of it, you are not the 1st one and may not be the last one, so by bring publicity and attention to it, they will rectify their procedure.

[chuckandkim 0]

if you don't pay, they cutoff your phone and sell your debt to Collection, who will have no problem with reporting you to Credit Buearal as Deliquence.

If you don't have anything in writing, call them up asking to speak with a manager, if not escalate to the VP. Yes, Verizon doesn't have International service, they buy that service from AT&T (old bell). Price is around and about $4-$5/min. YUP! NOT THAT I KNOW

just keep calling and work out a plan for them. tell them you will not pay for what you not asked for.... their billing system is pretty accurate. BUT human error is innevitable, whoever setup your account did not put in the discount code on your line to have the .16/min rate. Just ask them to check the log to see who set it up and what did they have setup for your account, originally! Explain you only signed up with Verizon because of the long distance discounted rate.... or else you will switch to Vonage, SunRocket or COMCAST (they hate comcast digital voice btw).

You can fight them! Call your local congressman if need it!

Good luck!

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I recently switched my local phone service to Verizon with unlimited long distance (within the U.S.).

Why did you think that a Unlimited long distance (within the U.S) would get you reduced calls to a international number???

Should you not have signed up for international service???

I am most confused....

Kezzie

[samir_shannon 0]

i went thru that with my phone with singular and my bill turned out to be over 2,000 when it should have been only 300. i just got tired of argueing with them and didnt pay it and went with a different phone company before it hit my credit. i will challenge my credit report later and have it removed.

[mawilson 2,133]

Always read the fine print.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Anybody know what kind of legal options I have if they refuse to rectify the bill? No way am I paying the higher rate for those calls!!!

They will rectify. You just will have to bother them and talk to a 'supervisor'. Keep on them.

[samir_shannon 0]

samir calls me on voip buster to my phone for free. but i cant call algeria on it for free. but it still helps. also i use a prepaid international calling account at mychitchat.com the rates are great and i have used them for over 2 years.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I use Skype to make all my international calls to both people with a computer and to those with just landlines.... cheepest otion I have found... and it has video calling so I get to see my mom and my kids on the computer...

Kezzie

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I recently switched my local phone service to Verizon with unlimited long distance (within the U.S.).

Why did you think that a Unlimited long distance (within the U.S) would get you reduced calls to a international number???

Should you not have signed up for international service???

I am most confused....

Kezzie

I used a third party - did a google search for available local phone service in my area (ConnectMyPhone.com) - they had a list of providers and they were the ones who set me up with phone and DSL. There was so much over the phone setting up that I didn't ask about international rates initially. It wasn't until I came home after work with the phone turned on that I went online to check their international rates and I saw .16 per minute. Their customer service was closed and it was the weekend, so I dialed the Verizon operator to ask her if that is the going rate or do I need to sign up for a package to get it. She assured me I didn't need any further package, that was part of my plan. Then today customer service tells me that the operators don't know the service plans. If she didn't know the plan, why the hell did she give me false information??? On top of that, Customer Service is telling me that using a third party doesn't guarantee quality of service. I asked then why do they allow a third party to sell their products and services???

[mychelle 1]

I recently switched my local phone service to Verizon with unlimited long distance (within the U.S.). After work on Friday night was the first time I could use the service and I went online to check the specific international charge to the Philippines - .16 per minute. I called the operator since it was after normal business hours and asked her if I need to sign up for anything additional to get that rate and she said 'no'. Yesterday, after work I tried to make a call and it said my long distance service was temporarily disabled. I had to call billing this morning and they've told me that since I didn't sign up for their international plan ($4 a month) each call I made to the Philippines was $4.88 per minute!! I said, "What a minute. I was told that I was getting it at .16 per minute." Billing tells me that the operator has no knowledge of the plans or rates to which I said, "Then they're giving out false information!"

At this point they won't confirm or deny if they'll re-rate me at the .16 per minute until my first bill is printed. I'm guessing I have at least 4 hours of calls already which at least $1,000!!! vs. about $50!! I'm about to bust an artery, I'm so friggin pist!!!

Anybody know what kind of legal options I have if they refuse to rectify the bill? No way am I paying the higher rate for those calls!!!

Verizon does have an international call package to the Philippines...but the only one i tried was for VerizonWireless cell phone. it was .18/min. to call a landline in the Philippines versus $1.48/min. if you did not sign up for the international call package.

i've been a Verizon customer for years (landline, cellphone and DSL) and i've always had great customer service with them. when my calling card went missing and was used to make long distance call...not originating from my home... i owed $2000+ for calls i didn't make. they just did a quick investigation (make sure if wasn't coming from me...) and they did a write-off. i hope it will go as smoothly with yours.