Hoober

Diamond Member
Feb 9, 2001
4,382
34
91
Originally posted by: DAWeinG
Ok WTF?! Let me start out with some background info. A friend of mine had a desktop and has been using dial up through netzero. There weren't ever any extra charges or stuff. It was just a toll free local call. She gets a laptop, uses dial up through netzero, and now her phone bill sky rockets $100+ ?! She called Verizon and they told her that she acquired the new charges because she was using a laptop to dial up. Ok is there something I don't get here? How could they track this? And also how would they be able to know the difference? Has anyone even HEARD of this ridiculous charge?

I'm not sure how they would know it was a laptop unless she had it named something of the sort.
 

DAWeinG

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2001
2,839
1
0
Originally posted by: Hoober
Originally posted by: DAWeinG
Ok WTF?! Let me start out with some background info. A friend of mine had a desktop and has been using dial up through netzero. There weren't ever any extra charges or stuff. It was just a toll free local call. She gets a laptop, uses dial up through netzero, and now her phone bill sky rockets $100+ ?! She called Verizon and they told her that she acquired the new charges because she was using a laptop to dial up. Ok is there something I don't get here? How could they track this? And also how would they be able to know the difference? Has anyone even HEARD of this ridiculous charge?

I'm not sure how they would know it was a laptop unless she had it named something of the sort.

Yeah seriously that's the kicker. >>W<<>>T<<>>F<<?!
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
did she accidently put in a long distance number for the dial-in properties, because I don't see how what you are describing is even possible
 

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0
I have a verizon cell phone, I can dial up using the cell phone as a modem for free (well, it uses regular minutes, but no extra charges). dial #777 and use qnc as the login and password for the dialup connection.
 

tk149

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2002
7,253
1
0
Sounds like either the customer service person is an idiot or your GF misheard/misunderstood. Are you sure she didn't switch to another dial-up phone number when she switched to the laptop?

Or maybe she used the laptop on a trip, and had the calls billed to her home phone?
 

slikmunks

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,490
0
0
PWNED!!!!!!!

seriously tho, what did verizon say when you called them? unless they called a non-local number, i don't see why you should get charged for it....
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
Sounds to me like the classic case of "Trying to fsck over clueless people".

Works on many, as they'll just bend over and take the charges. Have your friend demand to talk to a customer (dis)service manager. Have them (no some monkey working the phones) explain what is happening and why she's being charged what she is.
 

SSP

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
17,727
0
0
Originally posted by: tweakmm
did she accidently put in a long distance number for the dial-in properties, because I don't see how what you are describing is even possible

Wouldn't that be billed to the phone bill instead of the ISP bill? Unless Verizon has everything on one bill (don't have Verizon, so I wouldnt know).
 

SlowSS

Golden Member
Nov 28, 2002
1,573
1
0
Sounds like BS. You do have unlimited dial-up account, right?

They can't know whether you are using laptop or not. Not only that
what does it make any difference? When I had dial up, I was using
desktop or laptop and didn't make any difference. I don't see them
having to do anything different for a laptop connection.

Only way for them to charge you additional charge is if you go over
the limits of your contract (unless you have unlimited) or dialing
a long distance number.
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
Originally posted by: SSP
Originally posted by: tweakmm
did she accidently put in a long distance number for the dial-in properties, because I don't see how what you are describing is even possible

Wouldn't that be billed to the phone bill instead of the ISP bill? Unless Verizon has everything on one bill (don't have Verizon, so I wouldnt know).
from what I gather, the ISP is netzero and the phone company is Veriozon

 

DAWeinG

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2001
2,839
1
0
Hmm yeah now come to think of it... Maybe she DID accidentally put in a long distance phone number but then again... She called verizon and they said something about using a laptop... Now I'm totally confused because it would be weird to have verizon charge ANYTHING extra whether it be a laptop or a desktop for using dial up. I sure hope it's not the long distance phone number, otherwise there's no way to fight the bill huh?
 

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0
Originally posted by: DAWeinG
Hmm yeah now come to think of it... Maybe she DID accidentally put in a long distance phone number but then again... She called verizon and they said something about using a laptop... Now I'm totally confused because it would be weird to have verizon charge ANYTHING extra whether it be a laptop or a desktop for using dial up. I sure hope it's not the long distance phone number, otherwise there's no way to fight the bill huh?

Maybe she mentioned she had a laptop, and they said "You were using your laptop to connect to a long distance number".
 

Pepsei

Lifer
Dec 14, 2001
12,895
1
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Ok, this happend before when I was on vacation and I didn't know which number was "local" .

Sometimes even if you don't have to dial an area code, it could still be long distance.

IF you get a nice rep, that person MAY take it off of your bill.... so YMMV (I used the excuse, oh i didn't know that was a LD number because I didn't have to dial a different area code)
be prepare to pay the large bill again the next month too.. as she probably used it for 2 months already before the bill hit.
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
are you sure netzero didn't place those charges? usually 1800 numbers being used as dialup aren't free
 

Pepsei

Lifer
Dec 14, 2001
12,895
1
0
Originally posted by: dabuddha
are you sure netzero didn't place those charges? usually 1800 numbers being used as dialup aren't free

Netzero is free. and even paid service uses local numbers if available. extra charages are from the phone compay...