Verizon Communications ripoff Fraudulent Billing Violated Contract New York New York

I was a satisfied customer of Verizon wireless for two years until they charged me over $500 in bogus roaming charges which they then refused to remove from my account.

I was living in Duluth when I got my phone. I later met a man who lived in Northern MN and began travelling to see him in March, 2006. I frequently used my phone in the area where he lived and never had any roaming charges, which I shouldn't have had because the plan was advertised and the contract stated "no roaming charges in the continental US". I moved to the area in July 2006 and on my next bill was hit with $500+ in roaming charges.

I called to find out what was going on and was told that my phone was roaming. My phone had NEVER indicated it was roaming and I later checked it and found it was set to "Home Only" so that it would NOT roam. It was set that way when I purchased the phone and I never changed that setting.

After some argument, the customer service rep (Jeremy) got authorization to remove only half the charges. I felt and still feel that since the charges are bogus they should have been removed IN FULL.

The next week I talked to a customer service manager named Steve. He tried to rescind the previous offer and claimed 25% of the fees was the most they could refund. I argued with him and pointe dout that I had been offered better the previous week. He then claimed he would only refund half IF I changed to a more expensive plan. I refused.

According to the contract and their advertising material, I never should have been charged roaming as I never left the US with my phone. I refuse to pay the charges.

I cancelled my account and they proceeded to continue to charge me the monthly billing AFTER shutting off my phone. My phone was shut off in August, they billed me monthly adding monthly service charges until November. They refuse to remove those charges.

I called to try to reason with them again to no avail. The account has since bene turned over to collections and their collection agency is adding a nearly $300 "collection fee" on top of the whole thing.

I refuse to pay and am fully prepared to take this to court.

Michaela
Duluth, Minnesota
U.S.A.