Allied Interstate - Verizon Wireless abusive collection agency with some nerve Plymouth Massachusetts

I was stationed at an Army base in Hanau, Germany, back in 1997; where I first signed up for Verizon Wireless services. Before signing "the contract," I read all the papers, pamphlets, and BONUS military personnel accessories that were SUPPOSE to have come with my international call package. I will explain why I did this in a moment (other than just plain common sense).

As one might assume, when a soldier is in a foreign country as far away as Germany is, it is always good to purchase either pre-paid phone cards (which I did do as well) as well as choose a telephone service that you SHOULD save the most money on for calling your loved ones back home in the United States. And thus I did.

My bonus for being a soldier and signing up for this "contract" was 3 months of free international calls. All I had to do was pay my regular flat phone bill rate during those 3 months, which was $39.95 Deuch Marks. Also, when making a deal with the salesman, I was guaranteed a rate of $.03 a minute to my home state (where my parents lived) after the 3 months of free services were up. This was an unusual contract that I had made (which b.t.w. contract means an agreement NEGOTIATED by two or more persons-which in Laymen's terms, you can bargain with the contractor to get the best contract that suits the consumer's needs for services/goods desired) and I told the salesman that I wanted him to put it into writing on my contract, in which the young man did. I also told him that I did not like the fact that Verizon wished to make any changes they wanted to w/o notifying me, since I would be the one footing the bill. The salesman then had his store manager come over to me and cross out the part that stated Verizon Wireless could change my contract at anytime w/o my notice and also the part where Verizon could cancel my contract early, which if they chose that option I would loose any security deposit as well as other fees for this cancellation. He then signed it, and I told him I wanted to take it to JAG (military attorneys soldiers can hire at no cost to them) and get it notarized before I signed it, after which I would return with the contract signed and I would pick up my phone; which is how I got my first contract with this company.

Everything went fine...until I got my first bill. I new I was going to have a one time connection fee of $25, as well as my monthly fee of $39.95 (all this money is in Deuch Marks). But, when I got the bill, I was billed for $9.95 for Voicemail, which I had NEVER ordered, $125.00 for what Verizon called "estimate of FUTURE long distant international phone calls" which didn't make sense to be billed for phone calls I hadn't yet made!, and a $13.95 charge for me to be able to call Verizon Wireless customer service in case I had a question/complaint I wanted Verizon to listen to. The only thing on that BOGUS bill was the $25 one time connection fee and the monthly fee of $39.95! There was nothing whatsoever about a $13.95 customer service fee (believe me cause I read ALL of that contract before I signed it) or having to pay estimated bills Verizon predicted that I would make (like they were licensed psychics or had ESP) in the future!

When I contacted Verizon about these obvious fraudulent billings, Matt (a service rep at the time) told me that Verizon could change my contract at their discretion w/o telling me. I then asked him about the $13.95 and the $125.00 charges, which he broke down for me. He stated that the $13.95 was charged so that I would be able to get my Verizon services met in a timely fashion, and in order for that to happen they needed me to pay for their time to listen to me about my comments or complaints (this reminded me of the movies where the mafia charged ma' and pop convenient stores for 'their protection' so they wouldn't be robbed). The other outrageous bill, he explained, was the average long distance bill a soldier in Germany was billed every month, and although I was still in my 'BONUS' part of my contract, it was never to early to send Verizon money for my FUTURE bills! (Which I might add was estimated...and not an accurate estimate of what I was using, but what OTHER SOLDIERS used per month!) I then explained my unique contract that I was smart enough to get notarized, about such unauthorized billing, which he stated I wasn't allowed to do. I then told him I did do it and it was LEGALLY signed by a salesman working on the behalf of Verizon Wireless, and that I would not be paying for either the customer service charge, which wasn't mentioned in the contract, nor for an estimated FUTURE bill.

Two weeks later, after I paid for my $25 connection fee and the $39.95 monthly fee, I was contacted by a woman named Katharine who wanted to know when I was going to pay the rest of my (bogus) bill. I informed her that I already paid my legitimate bill and I would not be paying for a futuristic estimated bill. She then stated with the swearing name calling and threats, just like the first person in this particular complaint describes. The next month I paid the bill like the month before, but now another $125 and $13.95 was added to the "outstanding balance". I then notified them that I was going to charge them with fraud, extortion, harassment, knowingly false billing, and using international postal systems to deliver fraudulent billing, all of which would add up to over 30 years in prison and at least $30,000-$70,000 in fines and court fees, let alone their lawyer fees. They thought I was bluffing.

Like I said earlier, soldiers are granted attorneys though JAG CORPS. Not only that I happen to be a Military Police Officer and questioned over 97 out of 253 Military Police, Military Clerks (who worked with the MP's), and other soldiers who were attached to my unit about their Verizon Wireless bills. Its amazing what a police officer can uncover, and lucky for me, each time I called Verizon I was on lunch and thus still had my wire turned on (Military Police often wear wires like civilian police to monitor how we talk to potential suspect or victims when we interview them) so I had everything TAPED and DOCUMENTED! Needless to say I took them to court (finally) in early 1998 about this bill, and on our way in to the Judge Advocate, Verizon Attorney settled the case due to overwhelming documented and taped evidence. I can't go into great detail what the settlement was, but I want to offer consumers some advice. Always READ BEFORE YOU SIGN!!! Make sure you are getting the services and goods YOU want, not what services and good the contractor wants to STICK YOU with. Make changes to the contract that fits your needs before you sign, and have the sales rep or store manager delete anything in the contract you do not want to be BOUND TO! Document day, time, name, on hold time, and all communication you discussed during your calls. They sell great recording devices at most electronic stores that you can use to record your conversations (which is even better) that way if you need to go to court about the verbal abuse, threats, mistreatment, or totally bogus promises like "the check is in the mail," "it will be credited to your account on the next billing cycle," or "we will correct your account and credit report within -- days." This will be priceless evidence in court. Also, I have learned from my attorney at JAG when I was going after Verizon, that if a debtee offers the debtor a dollar or more in order to make payments so he/she can pay off his/her dept in full and then the payment is REFUSED to be credited to said account, the debtee is NO LONGER OBLIGATED to pay such account as it is seen by the court that the debtor does not with the account to be settled.

Hope my story helps out in some way. And at my closing, I would like to add I have had NO further dealings with any Verizon sells!

I have not been a verizon customer for over four years now. Back then I had a lot of the same complaints being overcharged, I was charged for an early termination fee when it wasn't early termination. I was even charged for dropped calls. When I signed up my relationship began with airtouch cellular, i was promised gift certificates as an incentive which I never received. After my whole deal with that And trying to cancel my service I received a letter that verizon had a lawsuit against them for charging people for early disconnection where clearly there was no such thing. I called verizon immediately this was my opportunity to get this settled once and for all. The person that I spoke with was sensitive of my situation and said that everything was now taken care of with verizon I now have a zero balance. I had not received a bill since. Now over five years later I received something from allied interstate saying that I owe $169.79. I am furious they gave me 1 800 number to call where people are as dumb as dirt, they are offensive and sound like they are reading from a script. I have asked to speak to a supervisor but they always tell me that there is never one available if I want someone to contact me it may take 72 hours. Well now it's been almost 4 weeks I have called and called and still get the same response. I have had it. From this point who do I contact to get this taken care of once and for all?

I was sending in my complain to attorney's general about the problems I'd been having with verizon when my brother told me to look at this site. I could not believe it. Everyone's story sounded just like mine.
Verizon sent me a bill saying I went over my minutes by exactly $50. I thought that was odd that it came out to $50 and not something like $57.40 or something with change. I wrote letters and made phone called requesting a detailed billing for that month. That was back in May 2004. Everymonth when I got my bill I wrote a letter and made a phone call. The end of August 2004 I told the supervisor that I will not pay it. Then after that I recieved the detailed billing. Of course 4 months later. How am I to "remember" if I really made those calls or not?

For one- your rebuttal of the treatment she received by a collections agent, from which you say you are an employee of, certainly demonstrates the rude and unprofessional manner she describes. She admits from the very beginning that she couldn't pay her bill on time, the trouble started when she tried to contact Verizon, on their suggestion, in order to make payment arrangements. After her bill was sent to your collection agency, she again attempted to arrange a payment schedule, on their suggestion. Not only was she denied an arrangement, but she also became responsible (according to them) for an amount that she was not given a proper explanation of.

I reviewed my Verizon contract and nowhere does it state that "doubling the bill" when referred to a collections agency is an acceptable practice. Furthermore, I don't believe it is appropriate for you to suggest that people are intelligent just because they "took their licks and moved on." She has a legitimate reason why she should dispute what is being imposed on her. To claim that her doing so is a "stall tactic" is simply outrageous. Her grievance is not with what she owes Verizon, it is the additional amount, an amount that was tacked on from another wireless company all together which she had not even done business with in the past.

It is alarming to me that a person who is making their views representative of the collection agency in question could have such a negative outlook on the consumer, could be so improperly judgmental, could make such utterly misinformed accusations, and could have such poor spelling and grammar skills.

The best thing anyone can do for himself or herself, which has been bitten by Verizon Wireless vipers. Is to file a complaint with your State Attorney General.

The more complaints that are filed with the Attorney Generals the quicker something will be done.

Also, insist that the Attorney Generals force the FCC to reopen their 1998 Verizon Vapor Ware Audit of more that $153 billion dollars of unauditable commercial property! See: (www.newnetwork.com, www.forbes.com

FCC allows Verizon and other cellular phone companies to raise their rates base on the property cost.

Good Luck

Three response 1 to the writer 1 to the first rebutal and of course one for the second rebuttalThe Writer....

Your exagerating the call to make yourself look like a victim, dont bother arguing with me, any one with common sense knows my statement to be true. Here it is in a nutshelll you agreed to a contract you broke it, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY BALANCE IN FULL Verizon nor allied has to call you that is a courteous THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO EXTEND... If you had paid the bill on time you wouldnt have to ask for payment arrangemnts. And your dispute is a stall tactic but one you unfortunately have the right to do so, just know by disputing something YOU KNOW YOU OWE... the collector is less likely to negotiate with you Your loss.

Rebuttal 1

You are one of the most intelligent people i have ever read the comment from on this site. I mean that with all sincerity... You signed for a bum deal you took your licks you moved on. I have a great deal of respect for that. Thank you for proving that their are people in the world with common sense.

rebuttal 2

doubling the bill happens all the time and is in all verizon contracts if you dont pay and the finally outsource a third party agency, their are a ridiculous amount of fees added. End of story This complainee Signed a bum contract andf when she didnt like what happened wants to call fraud.

You almost had me believing in your knowledge of the subject by saying Verizon is contract to the customer... accept... The contract that verizon and most other companies sign... say they can close an account or iend the contract at their discretion IF you sing it, then shame on you.

This customer has no complaint other than she tasted the bitter sting of collections as opposed to customer service, and it hurt her feelings.

The whole purpose of an agreement with cell co.'s is for you, the customer, to remain loyal undetr a specified amount of time. Billing issues are very loose in agreements. They state "changes can be made w/o your knowing" true, but that does not mean they are w/in legal right to charge $5-700 w/ no valid reason. There are always ways out of an agreement. I am not a lawyer, but i know that to be a valid contract it has to be bi-lateral, meaning both parties have specific responsibilities. Verizon, Cingular, whoever are all under contract to YOU as the consumer. Do not look at it as opposite, despite of what marketing says today about being "bound" by contracts. That is not true. Cell Co.'s are just as much under a contract as you are to them.
If your lawyer cannot do anything, here, no offense but he is a bad lawyer. If you do not do your part in the conract ie) paying your bill, there is a breach in contract. If Cell Co. does not do their part of a contract ie) supply you cell service, correct billing, that is a breach on contract on their part.

Under no contract can ANYONE charge rediculous rates w/ no logical explanation. Thats not the purpose of a contract and it plain illegal. Also customer care reps usually are college students / entry level position holders. The high majority have no knowledge of agreements and contracts, just what they learned in training about cell service.

I also was charged from Verizon Wireless for calls I did not make(744.00). I even hired a lawyer to go after Allied Interstate here in California. Unfortunatly the contracts cell companies have you sign are so tight you will not win in court, I know first hand.I suggest using a cell service such as TRACPHONE where there is no contract.I intend to take them to small court as a last resort.