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Thank you for contacting Verizon Wireless.

Your Chat Session ID is RT192********.

My name is Christina, how may I assist you?

Christina: good evening

daniel: Daniel mobile #678-***-**** Why was I charged $35 for a data activation fee for a "FREE" verizon 7" tablet? # 470-***-**** and 470-***-****?

Christina: One moment and I will get that information for you

daniel: I specifically asked the sales person if there was any type of activation fee or any other charges and I was told "NO". I don't understand.

daniel: Total of $70 to be clear

Christina: Yes that is correct it does take 2-3 billing cycles to be adjusted off the bill

daniel: So I will get a credit back for $70

daniel: 2-3 billing cycles. Am I supposed to "trust" this will happen? This will put me outside of my complaint time period to dispute a charge won't it?

Christina: Yes the charges for the activation fees will be reversed

daniel: Wow. If Verizon did 500,000 units that would amount to over $17 million in unfair charges.

daniel: Christina, in anyones book, the fact that I was charged after being told there were not any fees is a fraudulent practice and extremely deceiptful by Verizon. Please record my displeasure with Verizon and whomever monitors these customer service chats. I realize that you did not do this to me, but if I did not pay that $70 I would suffer late fees, correct?

Christina: This is not an unfair charge we will be crediting the amounts back to your account but the store uses a different system and it takes about 2-3 billing cycles to come off the account

daniel: Christina, I did not get these tablets thru a store. This was thru a telephone sales call to my home.

daniel: If I did not pay that $70 I would suffer late fees, correct?

Christina: Yes typically if the bill is not paid you would receive late fees however those charges will be credited back

daniel: You are using my money -$70- for 2 -3 months. That is deceiptful. Your billing system is accurate to the minute, why do they need to make these activation fees and then credit them back 203 months later?

daniel: If they can charge them in month 1 then they should be able to credit them in the same month. Very deceiptful. Shame on the the Verizon decison makers who do this to loyal customers.

daniel: Can you pay the $70 for me? I am on a tight budget and cannot afford the extra $70 to be paid back in 2-3 months.

Christina: Did you purchase these devices in store?

daniel: No Christina. I was sold them over the phone by a Verizon representative

Christina: Im sorry, the rules still apply with the telesales department would you like that number to confirm that these charges will be credited back to your account

daniel: I was very meticoulous in my questioning of the sales representative about any additional charges. Free means Free. I can afford the $10 per line per month which I willingly agreed to pay.

daniel: It would be so much easier for everyone involved to have the $35 credit the same month as the activation fee especially for you unfortunate chat folks that get harangued by us unhappy customers about these deceiptful practices.

Christina: I agree trust me Im not against you.

daniel: Or even if the very nicely detailed bill had note about an upcoming credit for the activation fee, wouldn't you agree?

Christina: Thats not a bad idea I will bring that up

daniel: well please let the "powers that be" know that the "good will" that should be associated with the "FREE" tablets was 100% eroded by the deceiptful practice they chose to employ with these fradulent charges.

Christina: I am unable to manually credit the account for activation fees, you do fall under the promotion that they will be waived it will just take a couple of billing cycles to take effect

daniel: Please provide the phone # so I can make sure those folks know of my displeasure too. Also let your decision makers know that I will be filing a formal complaint with the FTC and my state utilities commission regarding this.

Christina: Would you like to speak with a supervisor about this issue?

daniel: Only if they can do anything about the credit for $70 or provide a different answer.

daniel: Can the supervisor explain to me why I can be charged immediately for everything but "credits" take 2-3 months? That is really a poor answer by customer service.....not your fault as you don't set the rules or write the scripts for chat agents....

Christina: Im not saying your wrong, but it does take that long for the credits to through the system when it is promotion driven

Christina: I would feel the same way

daniel: I understand it "takes that long"....what I am saying as a consumer is that it shouldn't. There is no legitimate reason with your technology and billing capabilities. That is nothing more than a conscious decision to make a revenue stream off of these "activation fees" from customers that have been lied to by Verizon representatives. Shameful practice!!

Christina: I dont want you to feel as though you've been lied too. There is a process it must go through before the credit shows up on the bill.

daniel: Well.... I will give you credit for staying with the script. :) And that process takes 2-3 months vs the instant process of billing for revenue?? Make zero sense to me...this "was loyal" customer that has been lied to by a Verizon representative about no activation fees invloved with this "free" promotion. Isn't one of the Ten Commandments "Thou shalt not Lie." ?

Christina: I understand your frustration, I can give you the number to the telesales department which is 800-696-****.

daniel: Verizon should not lie to their customers as once they leave it is so much more expensive to get them back. Shameful business practice. Just shameful..... so very sad for a compant atht probably brags on their integrity

daniel: Thank you Christina. I hope you have a pleasant evening. I will have a nice chat with the fraudulent folks in the telesales dept. You don't mind if I post our chat in a Verizon customer service Blog do you?

Verizon's Code of Conduct

Verizon is proud of its leadership and reputation as a world-class company that is committed to the highest ethical standards. Our Verizon roots have a long history of commitment to integrity and respect. The corporation's commitment to those standards and values is defined in Verizon's Code of Conduct.

We are pleased to share our Code of Conduct (2.21 MB .pdf) to let our customers and business partners know that integrity and respect serve as the overarching principles for how Verizon conducts its business. Our goal is to be the most respected brand in communications by making and keeping promises to our customers, our communities, our shareholders, and our employees. The Verizon Commitment and Values, along with our Credo, which appear on the inside cover of our Code of Conduct, highlights these commitments.

If you want to submit an inquiry or concern to Verizon's Office of Ethics and Business Conduct, please call the VZ Ethics and EEO GuideLine at 800-856-**** (U.S.), (+) 800-*-624-**** (International), or visit www.verizonguideline.com.

Monetary Loss: $70.

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Boy, had the same issue and the same run around. Since I found Samsung phones for a great price on Amazon I needed a service provider and was use to Verizon with my company phone.

I went to their store to activate my two new phones and was told "to bad I didn't buy them from them as they had a FREE tablet offer last week! " Oh well, my lost. But not so fast. If I would activate the phones with them for just $10.00 a month more they would throw in a free tablet with 4G and wifi ss a add on to my contract.

Now they had to put an activation fee but it would be credited back later. 6 months later and no credit. And last night the tablet died.

I wonder how long they will keep charging me when I tell them to stop. Any bets?

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