I know this is a lengthy post, but I promise it’s worth reading.
Like many others posting on the Verizon "community forums", I am receiving several calls a day from a phone number that has the same area code and prefix as my own, but always with different XXXX. last numbers. What are the chances that you know someone from the same prefix? Pretty much zero. Recently robocallers have started to use my last name on the caller ID feature that I pay Verizon for. From my research online Verizon currently offers no "option" or "service or "solutions" to block incoming calls with a specific prefix. Having the ability to block calls would easily solve unwanted spam calls that many Verizon customers are experiencing. Instead of implementing that feature, Version community forum moderators state the only way to stop receiving robocalls is to change your number.
Recently Verizon announced that they would be releasing an app to combat robocalls/spam calls. Offering a free plan with limited features, Verizon decided they would also offer additional "premium" options for an additional monthly fee of $2.99. It should come as no surprise that the "free" plan is less than robust and lacks the options to resolve most issues people are having with spam calls. From further research I cannot find any significant information about this "new" service or “app” from VERIZON all information is from third parties. Since announcement they have only “teased” it’s release and initial offering date.
Customers already pay upwards of $70/month for access to mobile services through the Verizon network. I shouldn't have to pay for Verizon to fix an issue that is well within their power to do so.
I'm self-employed and have a VOIP phone in my home office through a phone service that costs me roughly $15 a month. About a year ago I suddenly started receiving non-stop calls every minute. I contacted my carrier support. Within one minute, I was in contact with a carrier customer service representative. After explain my issue, they knew exactly how to resolve it. They offered to change several service settings (which is pretty advanced and robust) for me. Since then I've received less than 10 robocalls.
As the largest carrier in the United States, there is no reason why Verizon should be charging for an additional service to resolve a widespread issue that is easily within their control to resolve, just as my VOIP carrier did within 5 minutes and for free, all for $15/month.
As a loyal Verizon customer ever since I got my first cellphone my junior year of high school in 2002, I’m starting to question why I should remain a customer of a company that is exploiting a common national issue for their own financial gain.
