Verizon - Unfair Contract stuff

When I first got my Verizon Wireless cell phone service, I lived in central Phoenix. Everything was great. I had great reception, I was happy with my plan, etc. Then I moved to the Foothills this past Aug. The day I took the apartment I tried to call the office to report an issue, but I had no service. I just figured something was wrong with my service THAT DAY. Not so.

As the weeks went on, I tried a few different things: like using my phone at different times, or in different rooms. I'm on the 3rd floor so I figured the reception should be great. I noticed that I had to get about a mile east of where I lived before my antenna strength lines would come up to where I could make or receive a call.

I called Verizon customer service about this issue and was told they would look into it and give me a call back. I gave them my home number since if I was home they wouldn't be able to reach me on my cell. I never recieved a call. I called back about a month later (Dec. 12th, 2001) and was told I had some notes about an issue but nothing had been done. I next decided to call the closest Verizon store to me, which is on Ray and I10. The sales person knew exactly what I was talking about. There is even a sales person at the store who lives in my complex and can't get reception either. I was told how Verizon cannot put a tower in my area since it will be voted down. I then asked what I should do and was told to change service providers. He stated that AT&T was the only company he knew of that had good reception in my area, but to try it out first. He then said I should call customer service about my contract.

When I called Verizon Wireless customer service, I got a service rep. that lives in north Scottsdale and has the same problem I do. I figured he would be sympathetic to my situation so I explained things to him. We decided to change my plan to the lowest minutes since I couldn't use my phone. I would keep it just-in-case while I looked for a new provider, then cancel it after. He stated that I couldn't just cancel Verizon, and that I was under contract until May of 2003. I then tried to help him understand that when I signed up for the contract, I was in and area where I could use their service. He said it didn't matter.

So now I'm stuck with a cellular service I cannot use in the area I live in, where I need it most. I have to get a new phone and service provider if I want to have useful cellular service. Something just doesn't seem right about this.