Verizon Can Suck It - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/10/2010 05:22:46 PM · #1

Its been a long, frustrating few months for me. The wife and I seem to have to take care of everyone ranging from her kids who are grown and out on their own to friends and the help is of course all financial. Well she thinks we have to help even though the majority of the people we help blow their money on booze, casinos, shoes, make up and more booze. But when it's time to pay the electric bill they have no money. Time to pay rent? Sorry we need help.

A close, close friend of mine now has a broken neck from a car wrest Saturday night after getting hit by a drunk driver who decided that 3 am is a good time to drive without headlights.

I can't even run into a gas station for 2 minutes to get a drink without someone helping themselves to whatever is in my car.

And now the kick in the balls:

We were on Alltel, and here in Oklahoma City, Verizon took over Alltel. Well so we went to make the switch to Verizon's network and at the time I had a good amount of money on me for a phone. I wanted the Motorola Droid. The phone would be perfect for all of the contract work I do with IBM and Dell since they send me 1,000's of varying paperwork. So being the trusting fool I am, I let the guy working there talk me into the Samsung Rogue. Now mind you, it's not a smart phone, but according to this jerk the Rogue would have 1,000s of apps to make up for not being a smart phone and would fit my needs perfectly. Bull shit! I have had the phone for several months and there are no new apps other than a few games. The phone power cycles itself for no reason and will not even update it's own software!!!!!!!!! I missed out on a huge high paying contract project because the phone decided it would turn off in the middle of my call. The email function of the phone doesn't want to connect 50% of the time and when it does connect, I can't access my attachments that I need. I asked about the email before I got the phone and the Verizon guy swore it can access any attachment besides programs. Documents? Check Powerpoint? Check Pictures? Of course! What ever!!!! I can't get any of them.

So I called Verizon after I sent an email that was never responded too. I spent an hour explaining the whole situation. See, I called because a friend had a similar problem on AT&T, and after a few phone calls, they gave him a 16gb Iphone for free just because of the trouble. I never expected all of that from Verizon, but after being misled and lied to, the least I asked for was a phone I would want at a reasonable price. The Droid X is retail $559 and I just can't afford that. Hell I can't even afford generic $14 photo editing software for myself so I don't have to use the neighbors photoshop all the time.

I spent a total of half an hour on hold and kept hearing the Verizon loves the customer ads they play, and was told that either I needed to open a new line on our account to get the phone cheaper or to deal with what I have. Really? I don't need another line added to our account. We have 5 already. I was also suggested to look at ebay. I have never had luck buying a used phone from ebay. Cracked screens, broken buttons, and one wouldn't even turn on! So I looked at new phones and they sell higher than retail on Ebay. I mentioned all of this to customer support and told there is nothing he can do.

I get misled and lied to so I'm the one who has to pay for it? AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go suck it Verizon! I would switch to another carrier but that would cost a minimum of $1,250 if not more and then the cost for new phones there. I'm so screwed that my ass literally hurts!

Ok, got that out. Maybe I'll feel better later after I go see my friend Captain Morgan.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

08/10/2010 05:27:53 PM · #2

Sometimes, not always, a direct letter to the CEO works wonders. I got a prorated ETF from Sprint (before that became the norm) by sending the CEO a courteous request.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/10/2010 05:33:34 PM · #3

Well that all sux.... Wish I had a good answer but I don't.... been burn't with a number of them.... Maybe have Mr J. Walker meet you and the captain for a session :-)

cowboy221977

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

08/10/2010 05:37:58 PM · #4

I have had tons of probs with verizon...I loved it when it was alltel. When my contract is up I am going to AT&T

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

08/10/2010 05:45:23 PM · #5

Now I tried registering for their forums after seeing that an open post to the CEO helped out another person. I did all the stuff to sign up and now I can't get in. Says user name/password combo isn't correct. So I tried again but my user name is taken now, by me I guess. I go to recover password and everything works fine, enter new password and big surprise and I still can't get in.

I would switch to AT&T but didn't they do away with unlimited data plans? I use the data service quite a bit for my work and I can't get a company phone since I'm just a contractor.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

08/10/2010 05:47:10 PM · #6

//www.cellswapper.com/

08/10/2010 06:06:37 PM · #7

Cellswapper seems cool but I have 5 lines with crappy phones and I doubt anyone would want them. The wife may get all mad about it too having to get new numbers since she has had hers since 1997 I think? I'll just have to deal with it and hope to find something reasonable on craigslist or ebay.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/10/2010 06:13:21 PM · #8

Anyone know where I can find a refurbished Droid?

tanguera

Nikon D750

08/10/2010 06:18:33 PM · #9

I'm with Chromey on this one. On at least 3 separate occasions in the past, I've written directly to the CEO after numerous attempts through regular channels failed to produce any results. But a good ol' fashioned snail-mail letter. Emails are too easy to delete.

Ja-9

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/10/2010 06:19:22 PM · #10

Originally posted by monster-zero:

Anyone know where I can find a refurbished Droid?

how long have you had the first phone? my "past" experience has been that they give you 30 days to change your mind and try a different phone...and go to a different office...their store fronts are not all the same (some are corporate owned while others are not)

I'm no expert in this area but it almost sounds like you need more of a work horse phone...Blackberry???

just some thoughts

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/10/2010 06:23:12 PM · #11

In my experience, the very few times I have ever had to do it, an actual letter to the CEO gets results. They receive the letter, must do something with it. I doubt, actually, that the CEO ever sees it, but it gets passed from his office to someone who has to address it. And it starts out at levels of management that have the authority to make exceptions, etc., rather than trying to work your way up thru people who dare not violate the policies/procedures themselves. Used sparingly, it works well.

I have never had good results with forum posts, emails. Phone calls for special circumstances/requests are just annoying, typically, as you have to explain everything to someone who does not have the authority to help, then to someone else--you have to work upward thru layers of people who can only bounce it up once they are clear they don't have the authority, rinse, repeat.

The time you spend on the phone, forums will be longer than writing and mailing a letter. Within 3-5 days, you will have someone actively contacting you to try and resolve the issue.

I sound like I do this all the time--I don't. Maybe 4 times in the last 20 years. Once, I put a CC name/address of the CEO of the biggest competitor. I got action REALLY fast in that case. If you send a letter to the Verizon CEO, include a cc to the AT&T CEO (that the Verizon CEO can see), Verizon will be racing to fix it and AT&T might race to bribe you away from Verizon.

It is a way to have them falling over themselves to satisfy you, rather than you fighting and struggling hours on end trying to get a resolution.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

08/10/2010 06:46:24 PM · #12

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by monster-zero:
Anyone know where I can find a refurbished Droid?

how long have you had the first phone? my "past" experience has been that they give you 30 days to change your mind and try a different phone...and go to a different office...their store fronts are not all the same (some are corporate owned while others are not)

I'm no expert in this area but it almost sounds like you need more of a work horse phone...Blackberry???

just some thoughts

BB's are pretty crappy... I get to reboot my storm once ever two days or so - takes 5 minutes... Damn thing stops noticing screen input in the phone application sometimes..

Anyway, the Droid is a better choice, everyone I know who has one raves about the damn things.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

08/10/2010 06:47:54 PM · #13

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Once, I put a CC name/address of the CEO of the biggest competitor. I got action REALLY fast in that case.

.. You, sir, are an evil genius...

Message edited by author 2010-08-10 18:48:10.

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

08/10/2010 07:03:25 PM · #14

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Once, I put a CC name/address of the CEO of the biggest competitor. I got action REALLY fast in that case.

Wow! I like your style!

08/10/2010 07:51:44 PM · #15

I'll be honest and say I didn't read your entire post. But, if you have a problem with a company, just file a complaint through the better business bureau. They have made the process so easy. Twice so far I got nearly instant results!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

08/10/2010 07:54:34 PM · #16

Thanks for the help. I like the cc to the competitors ceo. I may try that tomorrow.

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

08/10/2010 10:00:10 PM · #17

Originally posted by PGerst:

Just so you know, the companys pay to be members of the BBB and you don't normally get a completely accurate report.

Someone mentioned...you should have 30 days to return the phone.

Maybe this might also help. Good luck!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

08/10/2010 10:05:28 PM · #18

Originally posted by bergiekat:

Originally posted by PGerst:
I'll be honest and say I didn't read your entire post. But, if you have a problem with a company, just file a complaint through the better business bureau. They have made the process so easy. Twice so far I got nearly instant results!

Just so you know, the companys pay to be members of the BBB and you don't normally get a completely accurate report.

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

08/10/2010 10:22:42 PM · #19

I used to work for a company that had lots of dealing with the BBB for various reasons, but much of the info reported was inaccurate to say the least. Here is just an example of what I was speaking of. ALSO, the BBB varies from place to place as well with regards to how good it is, so. I'm sure not everyone has these types of experiences, but I was just pointing out a little known tidbit.

Kent...I hope you get things resolved. I like the letter idea personally!! :P The last thing they want is the competition having that type of info, lol.

Originally posted by PGerst:

I'm not sure where that statement is coming from. I do know that they have on more than one occasion made it very easy to solve my complaint when all attempts to do it directly with the company had failed.

Originally posted by bergiekat:

Originally posted by PGerst:
I'll be honest and say I didn't read your entire post. But, if you have a problem with a company, just file a complaint through the better business bureau. They have made the process so easy. Twice so far I got nearly instant results!

Just so you know, the companys pay to be members of the BBB and you don't normally get a completely accurate report.

Message edited by author 2010-08-10 22:25:11.

JustCaree

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

08/10/2010 10:26:47 PM · #20

as a former employee of Version I can tell you that they have a set aside "pot" that managers can draw from to provide you with the phone that you want... you just have to push for it.... and push hard... if speaking to the manager doesnt work, ask to speak to the general manager. It will get you the attention you need quickly.

There are several levels of managers in the call center and who you were speaking to is a 14 dollar an hour peon paid to pretend to be a manager.... you need a real manager..... the GM... or corporate if the floor manager doesnt help you.

Dealt with it all the time, which is why I quit and went to work for Tmobile.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

08/10/2010 10:45:54 PM · #21

My friend and I ended up using our cell phones so little, we went with Tracfone. Now, we pay $17 a month for 2 lines. There are caveats, not for the frequent cell phone user. But, if you use it infrequently, its so much cheaper than the bigger companies.

JustCaree

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

08/10/2010 10:46:50 PM · #22

Originally posted by PGerst:

hehehe mines cheaper :P

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/10/2010 11:02:32 PM · #23

No fair! Working for the company doesn't count. :)

Originally posted by JustCaree:

Originally posted by PGerst:
My friend and I ended up using our cell phones so little, we went with Tracfone. Now, we pay $17 a month for 2 lines. There are caveats, not for the frequent cell phone user. But, if you use it infrequently, its so much cheaper than the bigger companies.

hehehe mines cheaper :P

faidoi

Pentax K10D

08/10/2010 11:06:54 PM · #24

Originally posted by monster-zero:

So being the trusting fool I am, I let the guy working there talk me into the Samsung Rogue.

Was it free with contract?