Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
rrutl
Contributor - Level 2

    Although I advocate expression of issues and grievances in general, and I too came here to do that, there are more effective places to exercize that right. Change.org has an online petition against the upgrade fee. And (theoretically) the FCC regulates telecoms. BBB supposedly listens to complaints concerning business practices. OK so even the last two of these are potentially corrupt, my point is that Verizon isn't listening to your complaints and issues here. There are other consumer advocate entities and venues for activism in this regard. I wholeheartedly agree with expression and concern, and if people just need to release pressure then, get it off your chest. Real change and real pushback however, won't come through this particular venue. Therapy is it's own justification, speak out, just realize that nothing will be any different until we arrive at consensus among ourselves, and locate others in a position to help us consolidate our strength. Meanwhile rant on people, if that's what you need in  the moment, then when the emotion falls away, GET ACTIVE. Active in a meaningful way. Forsake this place in favor of places where real impact can occur. The admins and CLs here are primarily wanting to hear about technical and bookkeeping issues and chafe when we complain about feeling ripped off. Improvement and change starts at the grassroots level. There are other forums outside this place so use your imagination and use your internet while you still can. Look for advocacy groups and we can still use this venue to inform each other when we discover options to make things better for our own bottom line. Post here when you can share better ways to help each other  and when you find better places to become active. For now VZ  allows us to do that here, but it may go away. USE IT OR LOSE IT PEOPLE.   

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Re: Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
jacobweber2000
Contributor - Level 2

I agree. Customers need to be writting the FCC and complain about all the carriers, as this is a nationwide wireless industry problem with these huge fees being constantly forced on a very poor business model by all these carriers.

Re: Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
ifisher
Enthusiast - Level 1

My reply to the $30.00 fee was to inform Verizon that I would cancel my contract if I'm charged. Waiting to get a reply.It will probably just tell me goodbye.

Re: Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
rum_india
Enthusiast - Level 1

I have had a very unpleasant experience with Verizon, after being a loyal customer since 1998. In addition to the$30 upgrade fee for replacing a nine year old phone, I signed on for the home phone and internet (4g jetpack) and found two additional charges on my bill: $35 for data service activation, and another $35 for cellular service activation. I had so much trouble with the first jetpack, they grudgingly replaced it. You are actually only given a 14 day replacement window. I also learned that I wasn't really dealing with Verizon... it was a company called CellularSales.com. The Verizon Sign on the buliding with their logo was in 5ft high neon... the little sign inside, which I failed to see stated "authorized Verizon dealer". I had ( seroiusly !) called tech support 9 times before becoming confrontational about replacing the equipment or canceling my contract There is no accountability to customers in this company and it's "authorized representatives" They are strictly there to sell. I will not be renewing with Verizon at the end of my contract, and if I can't maintain reliable internet service using their equipment until then, I will break the contract and let them litigate if they choose to.

Message was edited by: Joanne Long

Re: Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
commonsense101
Specialist - Level 2

why dont you just change.org your carrier.. no one is making you choose to stay with a company

this is like saying Coke raised their price and i don't like pepsi and i refuse to drink water...

you have choices for a service..you sound like you would be better off going to a prepaid device anyway

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Re: Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
Not applicable

ifisher wrote:

My reply to the $30.00 fee was to inform Verizon that I would cancel my contract if I'm charged. Waiting to get a reply.It will probably just tell me goodbye.

So what are you going to do go to at&t or Sprint who charge a $36 upgrade fee?

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Re: Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
olderandwiserthanb4

First I need to vent .... We had a change in circumstances and a broken palm pixi so we only needed 3 lines instead of 2 and because the broken pixi was "the type of phone that requires a data package" ??? we continued to be charged the $29.95 monthly or put the phone on "suspended" and watch to make sure it didn't pop back on with the monthly charges and continue with the contract also suspended so either forced buy out, find someone to take over the phone (that is broken) or pay and pay. Over the past 11 years we have over estimated our minutes, text, etc needs rather than run them over and the forced data plans have given them $720.00 per year for 4 years and the pixi for a year broken while we attempted to resolve with Asurion. Never able to get another phone (even refurbished).

Recently I got in touch with a customer service rep and we worked the bill down to reasonable. Still lost us as customers.  We will be leaving Verizon as soon as we can with no regrets and unfortunatly Bad Press through word of mouth as we not only won't recommend them we will seriously try do talk anyone we know out of taking the risk of just throwing away their money..

The website seems to be set up to divert you to sales at every movement of your mouse as any area not sales oriented is covered by a drop down screen  or directed to or interupted with some sales oriented screen and simply reviewing your bill on line is time consuming and filled wih interuptions.

Now we are "forced" to get phones and packages beyond our wants or needs and no consideration for the costs to us.

Similar to paying for more gas than your vehicle can hold and you can't store it for later .... and because of the contract you MUST need to upgrade your vehicle, once you do there is NEW pricing and an even bigger amount of gas you can't use but in order to get the Upgrade you had to sign a contract and .. it begins again..

I am not sittin still for this one!

Change.org here I come!

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Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
jacobweber2000
Contributor - Level 2

Just because you put the line on "suspended" doesnt mean that that suspends your contract. You will still have to pay on that contract once the suspension ends, for whatever remaining months are left in your contract on that phone or pay the Early termination fees.

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Re: Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
olderandwiserthanb4

You are correct.. I had understood that and at first thought we could resolve the issue quickly so if all went well a couple months onger than the initial date for the end of the contract. A year and a haf later fighting with Asurion for even the equilelent (refurbished, not new, etc). Back and forth and the "suspension" would last for (first story 'until you take it off but the contract extends due to the monthly not being paid' story 2 It only lasts for a month then reinstates automatically' And so on ...They have a good sum of money fromus and as soon as the contract on our last phone is up  ... we are gone.

Verizon was great in the begining and had the largest range , etc.    Not the same now.

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Re: Take complaints to FCC BBB sign petitions at change.org
kim07822
Newbie

http://www.change.org/petitions/verizon-communications-stop-the-30-upgrade-fee

Agreed.  Go to above link and there are others too for stopping the fee.  Sign it and if enough of us sign maybe they will listen.  It worked to get Bank of America to drop their fee to use your debit card.

Get active and fight together.

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