Veriozon Agency foreces Verizon to back down New York, New York

I have been a long-term customer of Verizon for more than ten years, using both its residential phone and Internet service, and have always paid off the charges on time.  However, in late August Verizon canceled our international service without our authorization, which resulted in charging us $478.80 (not including tax) on two international calls that we made on Aug. 22 that totaled 72 minutes, or about $5 per minute. Moreover, throughout the process, the Verizon employees offered “free”-upgrade that is not free, preformed phantom service when my wife asked to cancel the order. Finally, while this charge is still being disputed and the matter unresolved, Verizon  disconnected our local service on Nov. 2, 2009, even though we had paid the part of the charges that are accurate.

To fight back, I asked our state public service commission for help. At first they turned down our case, saying FCC should handle it. Then I mentioned that Verizon had cut our local phone service while the case was still going on. The commission then asked Verizon to turn on the service.

Still Verizon refused. In fact, Verizon did not back down until facing the evidence.  At last, the commission showed them the transaction record from our international carrier that Verizon did cancel our service, and ordered them to turn back our service and reduce the charge to a normal one.