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Report: #1029000

Complaint Review: Verizon - Nationwide

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Mississauga Ontario
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
  • Why?
  • Verizon www.verizon.com Nationwide U.S.A.

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I just opened my MasterCard bill and almost fell off my chair. I thought it was some kind of a mistake but after contacting Verizon at the number shown on my bill, I realized that I have been TOTALLY ripped off by them.
Quick story:
While staying away from home on business in Cornwall, Ontario, I've decided one weekend to take a sightseeing trip down to Vermont. On the way there, I stopped in Plattsburgh to do some shopping. I wanted to buy a couple of things for my wife and tried to reach her on my cell phone. For some strange reason the service was not available (ie. I had the signal but I could not make cell phone calls back to Canada). I found a phone booth and tried making a collect call, however a recorded voice informed me that service was not available either. Last thing that remained was a phone call charged to my Mastercard. Totally oblivious to the fact that I was about to get ripped off, I dialed the number, passed my credit card info to the operator and on we went. I made a total of three phone calls in this fashion, because I had to run between the phone booth and the store to see if they have what she is looking for. NOT ONCE was I informed by the operator that per minute charge to Canada is such and such. I never even gave it another thought, figuring it would cost me maybe 50 cents/minute at the most.
A fourth phone call was made from a location east of Burlington, Vermont.
Fast forward to two days ago:
I open my MC bill and amost got the fits! I was charged a total of over $120 for the four phone calls. Each call lasted maybe 4-6 minutes.
According to the MC bill, the three phone calls in Plattsburgh, NY were made through NCIC, while the phone call in Vermont was made via Verizon.
Thinking it was a mistake, I called Verizon at the number I found on the bill. The call was answered by a totally spaced out customer service agent, who seemed to be answering my questions by looking up the answers on their lookup scripts. It even took her a while to answer a simple "how are you?".
But anyway, after giving her the information, she tells me that Verizon charges $2.70 a minute to Canada. On top of it, there is a $9.99 charge because I had to go through an operator and, AND(!!!) an additional service charge of $1.75 per minute. That's $4.45 cents a minute!!!! Are you F*** kidding me??!? In the world of 5 or 10 cent per minute long distance phone calls, these idiots at Verizon have the balls to charge me up to 10,000% more????? How is it that the government down there allows them to do such a thing?? I was merely calling a country next door, not planet Melmac!
Just a reminder, none of the four operators I spoke with, told me of the impending charges nor have I seen any mention of the words like RIPOFF and RAPE on the payphones themselves. THAT in itself should be grounds to dismiss the charges. Instead, the spaced out customer service agent tells me that she understands my dilemma.
I was so pissed off that I've decided against calling NCIC. What's the point? I would get the same song and dance from these morons as well.
Funny how my cellphone didn't work and having to make phone calls charged to my credit card was the only way to go! That's how they get you!
Unfortunately, I will have to pay my bill but at least I'll know better next time I decide to go south of the border.

Alex
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 11/08/2008 10:16 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/verizon/nationwide/verizon-verizons-rape-at-the-phone-booth-burlington-vermont-1029000. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#4 Consumer Suggestion

you had a responsibility

AUTHOR: Cat - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, November 10, 2008

You had a responsibility to ask what the charges are since you could not get through on your normal phone. True, the charges are extreme, but years ago before there were so many cell towers I often had to make calls when out in very rural areas. It would go to roaming and they would charge extreme charges just because they could. I never understood how one mile could change the fees, but I asked before I called so I knew not to call in those spots.

And please, THINK before you use the word "rape" as this hardly qualifies as that. I am a rape victim as well as long term sexual abuse. Your use of the word is offensive. Please use it wisely. Thanks. My grandmother taught me this little phrase, "Think before you speak". It is a good phrase to put into your life.

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#3 Consumer Suggestion

Using Pay Phones

AUTHOR: Mark - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, November 10, 2008

Unfortunately with the rise of cell phone usage, pay phones are not used as often and so the rates are high to keep them in business.

In the not so distant past, it was conventional wisdom to use a calling card or credit card to save on the pay phone fees. That's no longer the case - if the pay phone accepts coins, that's usually the cheapest way to use the phone and you'll know exactly what you're spending.

If you don't have the cash, a pre-paid calling card is the next option although you can expect to pay up to 15 minutes worth of your pre-paid time to the pay phone even if you only talk one minute.

The last option of using a credit card is the ultimate in premium expense as you found out and using an operator on top of it made for the absurd bill.

While I believe your case if more of a buyer beware than a rip-off, I do believe laws should be enacted to force phone companies to identify the price up front before the call is placed. That law alone would likely force them to charge more reasonable rates, but pay phones rates are only going to increase as more people have cell phones.

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#2 Consumer Comment

How dare you!

AUTHOR: Stacey - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, November 09, 2008

Use the word rape
I have worked with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes and for you to use that word over a phone bill?? Insulting to say the least
Next time choose your words wisely and learn how to use paragraphs

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#1 Consumer Comment

There was no rape.

AUTHOR: Wilson - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, November 09, 2008

1. You used a public telephone. Most public telephone are no owned and operated by the telephone companies such as AT&T or Verizon, but third-party companies who own the actual telephones, rent the phone booth space, and lease the phone lines from AT&T or Verizon. These third-party companies usually charge 50 cents for a three minute local call and they can charge whatever they want for long distance, international, operator assisted, and credit card phone calls.

2. You made telephone calls which were a combination of international, operator assisted and credit card billed using a public telephone.

Solution:
Go buy prepaid calling cards for international calling if you frequently travel to the United States.

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