Wireless Zone Complete Rip off, Do not buy the Insurance either! Thibodaux, Louisiana

Wireless Zone Complaint

Right before Christmas, I visited a Wireless Zone in Southland Mall, Houma, La, not understanding that they were not an actual Verizon store, idk maybe it had something to do with the official Verizon logos splashed all over the kiosk, Verizon shirts, etc. I was just getting off of a two year contract with Verizon that ended Christmas Day. Because it was two days before Christmas and my 2yr existing had not ended, they were unable to extend my contract, therefore giving me new numbers and a new account. I stood at this kiosk for 3 hours while the simplest of tasks were bludgeoned through and this is what happened, as I found out after 3 more visits and 3 more phone calls with Adrian, the manager.

Lesson 1: If the salesperson SEEMS incompetent, he probably is. Don't give him your business. If simple tasks cannot be completed, RUN. YOU will be paying for his mistakes.

Instead of extending my contracts, I was given new service- I paid in full for all of this for the convenience of having phones on Christmas day. I paid $100 for one smart phone, got another one free, and kept an existing phone. I paid $150 for 2 yr insurance plan. After Christmas, when I called to transfer my original Verizon numbers, I was informed that I would be paying early termination fees on all the new numbers if I wanted my old numbers. I gave up the old numbers and started fresh.

Lesson 2: They are relying on YOUR general incompetence (i.e. Christmas rush, waiting to file claims, etc.) to make their money. Dont buy big items the day before Christmas. Research complaints before you buy.

Six months later, smart phone is left on top of truck and subsequently run over. Insurance claim filed, but ONLY after countless tries to find out exactly with insurance company you are dealing with! Simple searches on websites came up with the same message- number not found. Turns out, WZ has a lot of insurance companies that handle their claims, and even WZ employees are not sure which companies to turn you to in the event of a claim. It took several attempts with the employees themselves to get the correct one! Claim filed, paid $75 deductible. Turns out that $150 for insurance up front was for.durh I still dont know, but apparently I did not read the fine print, as they told me over and over.

Got the new phone finally, 3 mths later it stops charging. Guess what, Im out of my 90 day warranty (most things I buy have a 1 yr manufacturers warranty?) and they want ANOTHER $150 deductable on a 2nd claim- as I signed in the contract that I was given at the end of the 3 hrs in Christmas mall traffic- remember that day? 3 hours in the mall waiting for them to SIGN ME UP, turns out Id signed anything to get the hell out of there. Im happy I didnt sign my house or car over, or hell, one of my kids!

Oh they did offer me another option of some sort of $275 hold on my account for some reason. So were totaling already at $100+ phone purchase at signup, $150 insurance, $75 deductible on first claim and they want $150 deductible on a second claim or $275 hold for something else?? First of all, who has multiple deductibles? And at this point, I have paid the full price for the phone or close to it, and the phone I would have been sent would be verified as working by whom? What if something had happened to that phone? Had I bought the phone outright, I cant imagine I wouldnt have a one year warranty on itas does every other electronic device on the planet.

Lesson 3: Stay away from kiosks! They are paying for easy access to you, i.e. your walking path, which means they are charging YOU more as well.

Bottom Line: Wireless Zone and their insurers are one shady operation, and have made me aware that all mall kiosks are the devil.