Verizon Wireless upgrade of service, required new phone and contract, old phone won't work Atlanta Georgia

I signed up with Cellular One in Nov 2002. Verizon bought them out.

I started getting letters from Verizon about upgrading their network late last year. Early this year I get a letter saying my phone will no longer work starting in June.

They offered a free new phone compatible with the new network. I go to get the phone, and it was only free if I signed a new 2 yr contract.

A comparable calling plan would cost $4 more per month. If I just outright bought the phone without signing a contract it would cost $175, just about the same as an early termination fee.

I called customer service and they said I didn't have to pay the early termination fee because I had signed up with Cellular One and since they were bought out, it made my contract null and void, and I was going on a month to month basis.

Based on that info, I signed up with another company (for $5 less per month), called Verizon to cancel and they told me I had been given bad information and would have to pay the termination fee.

I stayed on the phone with customer service trying to get it straightened out. They promised to have a supervisor call me back, and they never did.

I got the bill in the mail for termination fee. I payed because I didn't want to ruin my credit.

I will never use Verizon again. I will tell all my friends not to use Verizon.

I feel taken advantage of by these people. They are crooks, and the whole upgrade thing was a scam to sell more expensive calling plans and more expensive phones!

Katherine
Milledgeville, Georgia
U.S.A.