Since starting my 5 line Family Share Plan with Verizon Wireless over a year and a half ago... I have noticed large inconsistencies on my Share minutes used. Trying to explain that I hand counted my chargeable minutes used to Verizon Wireless only got me the reply of "I've looked over your bill and everything in it is correct, our computers correctly calculate the minutes used and your figures must be incorrect" (or something to this effect).
Here are the Symptoms...
1. The Primary Account is always correct. When I count the different types of calls and minutes used my figures are the same.
2. Every other line is either over charged or under charged minutes. Sometimes 7 or 11, 20, 4. This will vary in different numbers of minutes from phone line to phone line.
3. So far it looks like when Verizon overcharges on one line the others will also be over charged, or when one is under charged the rest will be also. (except for the primary line of course, which is always correct).
Now this is aside from the month of May in which Verizon Wireless' Computers (which they say don't make errors) made a giant mistake in charging IN Calls as non- IN minutes. My bill was over charged about $200 dollars, in which Verizon shut off my phones because I refused to pay for this outrageous error. They did not admit there fault or turn my phones back on until I paid a $400+ bill, then instead of giving me back my money ($200) they would only forward it to my next bill as credit. This happened to every one I know with the Family Plan and has not been corrected nation wide and credited back to people yet to my knowledge. The only reason I was credited back so fast was that I found the error on my own, others are still waiting.
This made me very curious once again. To keep myself from getting way overcharged in the past I simply upped my plan minutes because I was sick of arguing with them. I won't let this happen any more!
I am a Computer Programmer, and I wrote a program (to save time counting by hand) that would calculate the online PDF format bill.
(including all PEAK, VOICE MAIL, DATA, and 411 CONNECT, which are all chargeable minutes).
To my amazement, I saw once again that every line was off in minutes (except for the primary line). I then decided to count the bills by hand to make sure that I didn't make any errors while creating my program. I got exactly the same figures as my program, so I know that it is working correctly. This gives me the proof to my accusation that I needed.
If you can get a hold of me, I will gladly send you a copy of this program for free, it requires Microsoft Word (from the Microsoft Office Suite). Any fellow computer programmers will understand why I used this method, for quickness, ease, and accuracy, using the built in Visual Basic features.
I've called CNN, NBC, and FOX, my local News Stations, the Michigan Bar Association and more. I either get no reply, or am told that Verizon Wireless is too big of a company and it's not worth fighting. Excuse me, but I thought we lived in a Free Democratic Nation, and not a Corporate controlled Communist Monarchy (yes, maybe a little exaggerated... But you get the point...)
We've got to fight back some how! Good luck to all!
Jamin S.
Muskegon, Michigan
U.S.A.