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Verizon review: verizon claims they can't disconnect my phone 23

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8:42 am EDT
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After using verizon wireless for the past 10 years, I recently switched to a prepaid phone (Tracfone). I rarely use my phone and didn't want the monthly bills anymore. After having my number ported to Tracfone, I called Verizon Wireless to have my service disconnected. After 30 minutes of trying to get my service terminated he came to the conclusion that he couldn't disconnect my service at that time and I would be required to pay for service until the end of the month. He initially stated that my contract states I approved of this, but I'm not under a contract, it ended years ago. He had me on hold (off and on) for a half hour and stated that everyone he talked to couldn't terminate service today. This is completely unacceptable. I would think if I don't want their services anymore I should be able to cancel at anytime. If I was under contract I would understand, but I'm not. I bet if I didn't pay my bills on time they would be able to cancel my service in a heartbeat. Ugh.

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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

23 comments
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madmia
Rapid City, US
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Jun 19, 2009 11:45 am EDT

Geeze! Typed all this then lost it! Anyway, your service should automatically terminate upon port out. Same number can't be active with two companies! Call Verizon cs, explain your situation, if not resolved request a manager, if rep tries to dissuade you INSIST then get your point across. Verizon does bill in advance, so this month is already paid. They would owe you a prorated refund less any usage charges, such as megabite usage, 411 calls, etc.

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jhertz9148
Elkins Park, US
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Jul 07, 2009 10:45 am EDT

not sure who you talked to in the service center but i used to work for the company just ask to speak to a supervisor and they should be able to cancel you at anytime!

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SuperVepr
Redneckville, US
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Jul 07, 2009 10:49 am EDT

Verizon is in league with Lucifer. I wept the day my beloved Alltel sold out.

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mike
No town, US
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Jul 29, 2009 11:45 pm EDT

The Verizon Wireless Customer Agreement states: "Otherwise, all terminations by you during a monthly billing cycle become effective on the last day of that billing cycle. You'll remain responsible for all fees and charges incurred until then and won't be entitled to any partial–month credits or refunds. You may be able to take, or "port, " your current wireless phone number to another service provider. If you request your new service provider to port a number from us, and we receive your request from that new service provider, we'll treat it as notice from you to terminate our service for that number upon successful completion of porting. After the porting is completed, you won't be able to use our service for that number. You'll remain responsible for any Early Termination Fee, and for all fees and charges through the end of that billing cycle, just like any other termination. If you're porting a phone number to us from another company, we may not be able to provide you some services, such as 911 location services, immediately." The Customer Agreement applies whether you are in contract or not. So quit your complaining loser.

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redbeard
West Chester, US
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Oct 10, 2009 2:09 pm EDT

Mike left out an important part of the customer agreement, the portion prior to the word "otherwise"...

AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE WILL APPLY IF YOU CHOOSE TO END YOUR SERVICE BEFORE BECOMING A MONTH–TO–MONTH CUSTOMER, OR IF WE TERMINATE IT EARLY FOR GOOD CAUSE. … If you terminate your service as of the end of your minimum term, you won't be responsible for any remaining part of your monthly billing cycle. Otherwise, all terminations by you during a monthly billing cycle become effective on the last day of that billing cycle. You'll remain responsible for all fees and charges incurred until then and won't be entitled to any partial–month credits or refunds.

This portion of the customer agreement seems clear. Someone terminating services after the end of their minimum term will not be responsible for any remaining part of their monthly billing cycle.

The agreement goes on to say:

You may be able to take, or "port, " your current wireless phone number to another service provider. If you request your new service provider to port a number from us, and we receive your request from that new service provider, we'll treat it as notice from you to terminate our service for that number upon successful completion of porting. After the porting is completed, you won't be able to use our service for that number. You'll remain responsible for any Early Termination Fee that may apply, and for all fees and charges through the end of that billing cycle, just like any other termination.

This portion of the customer agreement is at least confusing. It seems contradictory with the earlier section. Or is it? Does the phrase “just like any other termination” mean that one will be “responsible for any Early Termination Fee that may apply, and for all fees and charges through the end of that billing cycle” only if they have been previously determined to be responsible based on the earlier section? Or is the phrase “just like any other termination” in contradiction with the previous section where it was determined that someone terminating services after the end of their minimum term will not be responsible for any remaining part of their monthly billing cycle?

Regardless, Verizon does a disservice not just to their customers but also to themselves when the act like this. They have no trouble pro-rating the first billing cycle. They have no trouble pro-rating when someone changes their type of service during the middle of a billing cycle. And they can certainly pro-rate at the termination of service. They simply choose not to do so. In this way they alienate customers like boarderx who in the future might need more phone service and might have have otherwise switched back to Verizon and who is now perhaps unlikely to do so.

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lavendar888
US
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Dec 13, 2009 1:04 am EST

That just happened to me today. I switched to AT&T, not locked into the Verizon contract. They said I would have to cancel the requested port from AT&T and then, request AT&T enter a port request closer to the end of my billing cycle. Common sense told me, when it is over, it is over-no more payments. Verizon said the number is "suspended" not disconnected. They try to insult your intelligence. That is offensive to me. Acting like I am stupid and don't see through the game. I was a 11 year long customer with them. They do this for $ 30 bucks. Silly to me! Will think twice in the future about switching back to them. However, it seems you have to be careful with all cell companies and the fine details of everything you are signing up for!

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user2
US
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Dec 31, 2009 10:06 pm EST

The same is happening to me now. My cell phone # has been switched to AT&T a week ago, and I don't have any contract with Verizon. Verizon says that even though I've disconnected their service, I still have to pay this month's whole bill because the billing cycle cannot be terminated before the end of the cycle.

This is ridiculous. Verizon is desperate in the competition. They will lose big if they do business like this.

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madmia
Rapid City, US
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Jan 03, 2010 9:18 pm EST

You know, Verizon does bill in advance, so yes, your number is in effect cancelled but you've already paid the month you port out in, hence the overlap. Do your port out at the end of your billing cycle. The bill cycle date will be 5 days BEFORE your payment is due, for instance my due date is the 9th of every month, so bill date is the 4th. Nothing insulting about it. Read and understand your agreement before you sign.

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madmia
Rapid City, US
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Jan 06, 2010 11:37 pm EST

Wow! Had it backwards. My due date is the 4th, bill cycle date is the ninth. The bill cycle date will be 5 days AFTER your payment is due. Sorry!

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DoneWithVerizonForever
US
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Jan 14, 2010 5:11 pm EST

Can't wait for Verizon to go out of business due to their scams. Had Verizon home phone, and request was made thru new company for home cell phone to port out number. Verizon waited TWO WEEKS to port the number, thus putting me 3 days into another billing cycle (on top of keeping my service for two weeks beyond my cancellation request). For this 3 additional days, they billed me $25 (when my entire monthly bill was less than $45, and I should have had a credit, not another charge). I have refused to pay the $25, and they now have me in collection process, which I have protested. Collection company says Verizon "verified" the charge is correct. What a scam! If they charge 100, 000 customers an extra $25, that's an extra 2.5 million dollars they are scamming, which most people will just pay to avoid collection. JUST BECAUSE VERIZON SENDS A BILL, DOES NOT MEAN I OWE IT!

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aprettyfishy
Flint, US
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Jan 29, 2010 12:20 pm EST

Verizon blows. Same thing here.. I ported to Sprint in the middle of my billing cycle (no contract) & now they're trying to tell me my number is only "suspended" and therefore the bill is owed. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE! I used to work for a major telephone company that would port in & out all the time... and the billing started & ended with the service provided!

They are scam artists! Just because they can afford a bunch of lawyers to create a bunch of confusing nonsense on their "customer agreements" that we lose interest in reading, they take advantage of their customers by nickle & diming them. As anyone knows, a few bucks here & there over A LOT of people really adds up! Why are they allowed to charge for service not used and why is no one looking into this!?

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Sandy Gorham
Roswell, US
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Feb 11, 2010 11:22 pm EST

1st - Did you know that Verizon applys minutes to your bill if you check your voice mail. I personally think that is wrong. 2nd - Their Palm phones are horrible. Within a 3 month period, I've return 3 phones due to not powering on. It took over 6 months before I was credited for one of the phones. Still waiting for credit. Was told by a supervisor that I was charged for all 3 phones until they received them back into their warehouse. Ask me how many times I have called their customer service department and got different responses..."We dont show that you were ever billed for the other 2 phones." 3rd - Has anyone had difficulty with the Family and Friends program?

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Alteran
Orangevale, US
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Feb 28, 2010 12:40 am EST

Its in the customer agreement not contract that charges for service go till end of month ev en with a port you must finish out the month you already started

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PWR_BTM
Nebraska City, US
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Apr 12, 2010 3:29 pm EDT

Same thing happened to me today. Except I owe them for next month's bill. Seems to me that I will figure out my own pro-rate & pay what they are owed. If they won't tell me, I will calculate it myself.

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PWR_BTM
Nebraska City, US
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Apr 12, 2010 3:39 pm EDT

However, I just called back to ask what the prorated charge would be & the woman I spoke with this time stated that I would be receiving an account credit for the portion of the month following the number port that I didn't use. I tend not to believe her based on the other stories I have heard but she insisted this was true. I suppose I will find out next week...

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MartMart
mart, US
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Jul 13, 2010 12:39 am EDT

To summarize all the posts here.

"I didn't get my way Verizon smells wah wah wah"

Crying gets you nowhere.

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mcccmar
Nyack, US
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Jul 25, 2010 4:52 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

i am really disgusted with verison right now - I am getting off the wall bills for my service - although admittedly I DO have two teenaged daughters who I watch- but even so - a 400 a month phone bill is prohibitive to me - Im NOT doing this again at the end of my contract Im going to a prepaid phone or some other cheap option - all these kids need to have is a phone that rings so they can answer when I call - or that they can call me in an emergency - AHHHHHHHHHH ---- life with cell phones and teenagers
lol- well no- its not really funny

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cellphoneuser2010
Euclid, US
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Aug 22, 2010 1:28 am EDT

Shut up about verizon already. What company doesn't nickel and dime us to death? the united states is nothing but greed. corporations doing whatever they want to bend us over without any vaseline. BAM! You got Verizon'd. Just like anywhere else. Verizon is no different. You will not find a cell phone company that actually has the customers best interests in mind. Keep this in mind. This is how our country operates. Get used to it.

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MartMart
mart, US
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Aug 22, 2010 1:39 am EDT

kids don't need cell phones, there was a time before cell phones existed and we all managed fine, yet suddenly we have cell phones people can't fathom being without them. Want a cheap way out of a bill mccmar, DON'T GIVE YOUR KIDS CELL PHONES!

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Pissed in South Carolina
Kershaw, US
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Sep 05, 2010 9:30 am EDT

I have complained MONTHLY since Alltel left us and Verizon took over. We always have dropped calls at home, on the road, most anywhere and at anytime. I have complained to no end. They will not let you speak to management... there is never one there when you ask or so they say.My stupid self signed a 2 year contract with an idiot company, I should have known better with the damn "Can you hear me now commercials".I am always asking "are you there" or "can you hear me" or I have to call back because of another dropped call.One of their technicians said we have problems because Verizon REFUSES to work off of Sprint towers. We live in the country and thats how it worked in our area. Sprint itself won't work out here and I am not sure how the towers work but this is what I was told. Still after all the complaining and asking to speak to management that is never there they still want to charge me the full disconnect fee. My husbands contract expires on Sept. 21 2010 and they say his is still going to be 120.00. They are F*&^%$# CRAZY. I don't want to ruin my credit but they are just about to force me to.

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Mkoy
Detroit, US
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Mar 08, 2011 10:50 am EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I currently am trying to receive the credit for the pro-rated part of the monthly I paid but didn't use. I terminated on 02/12/2011, but called on 02/11/2011 to see what charges would be incurred. I was told an $80.00 termination fee would apply. When I stated that I pay a month in advance and that I would have 15 days of unused services. The Verizon representative stated I would receive a credit for that pro-rated share. My bill came and there is no credit reflected. I called Verizon and was given the run around - first, I was told that when I called on 02/11/2011, that I told the representative to terminate my contract on 02/26/2011, end of billing cycle. NOT TRUE, why would I agree to pay for a services that I no longer was using. Then, I was told that when I ported my numbers, I told them to terminate on 02/26/2011...again NOT TRUE! I told him, that's impossible, as I didn't speak with anyone from Verizon when I switched services on 02/12/2011. Then the representative lied again, and said my account states to keep service on until 02/26/2011, but he doesn't know who called in that request. LIE! I'm currently waiting for a manager to call me back. If I don't hear back from a manager within 24 hours, I will start the documentation process of taking them to court.
I have paid overages in the past from Verizon. I had to call once a month for 5 months, starting June 2010 for $1.99 fraudulently charges on multiple lines I had that had blocks on them when the charges were incurred.

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randy in texas
Houston, US
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Jul 18, 2011 3:02 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

verizon wireless is ridiculous, and people need to boycott there practices, Get this, i got a phone from them, and kept getting dropped calls, no receptions, so switched phones, talked to 10 tech people there, lost customers, because crappy service, so i told them, i had to leave them because the service was faulty and just does not work, In this country we do not pay for things that do not work, and should not have to, but what they did was charge me 300 dollar disconnect fee for a service that was faulty, I would not pay it, would you randy

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Jackie Hunt
US
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Feb 08, 2017 9:40 am EST

I also was caught by the Verizon "you owe 'til the end of the billing cycle" wording. No contract. The Verizon billing cycle started on the 26th & I ported my number to AT&T on 29th. For 28 days Verizon is providing no service to me but they say I have to pay for them providing for service. I still don't regret the change over. With AT&T the cost is about 33% lower; I am getting expanded services & the connectivity is much, much better than with Verizon.

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