Gah, Verizon bent me over and...

[Gurck]

I switched from my old ISP to Verizon in late July. Had DSL through the old ISP (which in turn leases Verizon equipment) and so I expected the switch to be painfree - and it was. The Verizon rep I spoke with said they would handle cancelling my old service. August 2nd my credit card is billed $56 & change for service through the old ISP, in addition to Verizon billing me later that month ($30 & change) (the price discrepancy is why I switched). OK, I think, that's the transition. That's the last charge I'll get for my old service. Wrong, come Sept. 2nd I'm charged again, $56 & change. I call up my old ISP and am told I have to cancel my service through them in writing and with a handwritten signature via fax or snailmail. I call Verizon and am offered a free month ($30, gee thanks, I'm only out $85 then), and when I decline I'm told they can't help me since they have no record of their rep bullshitting me :| I'm seriously ready to fvcking bomb them. Do I have any legal recourse?

 

[MaxDSP]

File a complaint with the BBB and http://www.ripoffreport.com . SBC was charging my dad $30/month for a YEAR after I had the DSL service cancelled (long story). When I found out, it was something like $300 total that we were charged even though we hadn't used the service. I tried for a couple of weeks to get them to refund or credit the money, but I kep being thrown in circles. I then filed a complaint with the BBB and ripoffreport on the same day, and 2 days later, I got a call from one of their managers about the issue. I talked to him for a bit, and he said he was going to investigate the issue and get back to me. Few hours later, he said SBC will credit our account every month until the $300 in charges were balanced out.

I can't say what triggered SBC to respond all of a sudden, ripoffreport.com or the BBB filing, but it can't hurt you to file it with both places. Good luck

EDIT: Here's the thread I started on my problem

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: MaxDSP
File a complaint with the BBB and http://www.ripoffreport.com . SBC was charging my dad $30/month for a YEAR after I had the DSL service cancelled (long story). When I found out, it was something like $300 total that we were charged even though we hadn't used the service. I tried for a couple of weeks to get them to refund or credit the money, but I kep being thrown in circles. I then filed a complaint with the BBB and ripoffreport on the same day, and 2 days later, I got a call from one of their managers about the issue. I talked to him for a bit, and he said he was going to investigate the issue and get back to me. Few hours later, he said SBC will credit our account every month until the $300 in charges were balanced out.

I can't say what triggered SBC to respond all of a sudden, ripoffreport.com or the BBB filing, but it can't hurt you to file it with both places. Good luck

EDIT: Here's the thread I started on my problem

sounds like a great way to begin. good luck with getting your dues...

 

[Gurck]

Thanks, I'm doing this now. It's phenomenal what a runaround they're giving me, the webpage is a giant maze where finding an email address, fax #, or street address (needed to file a report) is impossible, and I've spoken to just about every department there - they keep giving me the runaround :| Might just go ahead with that bomb... :evil:

 

[Gravity]

Violence ain't the answer. Call and ask for higher mgmt.

 

[Passions]

You thought that Verizon would call up your old ISP and cancel for you???

<Nelson>HA HA!</Nelson>

Seriously, that's hilarious.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Passions
You thought that Verizon would call up your old ISP and cancel for you???

<Nelson>HA HA!</Nelson>

Seriously, that's hilarious.

Yeah, I know how it sounds, but my old ISP works closely with Verizon, even leases equipment from them. In fact, my DNS servers are the same now that I've switched. The Verizon rep even said not to bother; that it was all on the same network and a quick thing they'd do as part of the service. I had a small ISP for DSL in the first place because it was the only available high speed service when I got it ~6 years ago. Verizon didn't start offering in my area till 2-3 years ago, cable even more recently, and satellite isn't an option since the high ping times and gaming don't get along. You're right though, in implying that it probably should have raised a red flag for me, and I probably should have called up to confirm. Still though, it's nearly $115 I'm out and Verizon did lie to me, so hopefully I have a case... either way, lesson learned.