Best avenue to file complaints about bill and have them resolved

Question

I have been a customer since before 2005 and went with Ntelos in November, I called the night I was at Ntelos to ask Verizon what my contract buy outs were and I was given the prices. The representative tried to offer me whatever promotions she could offer (there wasn't many) and I declined service (there she should have took the initiative to ask about disconnecting). Since my bf opted to keep his number his phone disconnected automatically. I was told my Verizon phone would cycle off within 24 - 48 hours by the Ntelos rep. That was not the case so I called verizon to ensure my phone would disconnect and they told it would at the end of the billing cycle (december 20) which makes sense. I understand I would be responsible for the November - December. Anyways, December 20th rolls around and mind you I've called already to ensure it will take place and it doesn't. I phone in and come to find out the person who took my orders didn't complete the disconnection and now I have to wait until January 20th for it to cycle off and I can finally pay my bill! Well get this in my November - December bill they've charged me $51 for Monthly access (I have a work discount) and $49.99 for insurance and smartphone access for 12/21 - 1/20 and won't refund my $51 as they say that I called out on the phone. I turned the phone on and had voicemails that I think I checked around the time period that they are mentioning (1 day) and that data was used (1 day) I had no outbound calls after December 11th my birthday. Because there are no comments in my account (that I specifically asked them to make) my phone should have been disconnected when I had called in the first of December... really!?! The phone should have been turned off regardless and it was one day out of 30 seriously? I mean the phone has been turned off this whole time and literally only checked to make sure Verizon did their job. I CAN'T HELP IT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO YOUR JOB, I PUT THE EFFORT IN MULTIPLE TIMES TO LET YOU KNOW MY PHONE NEEDED TO BE DISCONNECTED YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT RECORD OF IT!!! What really heats me up is that I was told a supervisor would give me a call back after they got out of a meeting and I have not rec'd a call back yet. VERIZON Reps/Supervisors your customers are the reason why you have get a paycheck, I suggest you start treating them a little better. You can't seriously tell me giving me back my $51 for service I DID NOT USE (except according to you for one day you can't even give me details about?) is really going to hurt your pockets. I've been jerked around by your reps for the last 2 months as one told me my contracts were up in January and I shouldn't' be charged for disconnection fees at all, she credited me those termination fees but they later got rejected (after she said her supervisor approved while I was on hold) and NO ONE HAD THE COURTESY TO NOTIFY ME!
I've worked in customer service before and I'll be first to tell you that your reps are not trained very well and you have horrible ethic! You should not charge your customers for an error that was your fault; especially since it was your reps that I asked specifically to note my account and didn't (this isn't my first rodeo with you all, it should be standard procedure to give your reps time to comment before throwing them into another phone call). I'm not doing this for my health here, that $51 could buy diapers and baby food for my daughter and you are crazy if you think I'm going to let it slip through my fingers to line your pockets. I will keep escalating it until you do something about it and I don't care that you already gave me an inconvenience credit I deserve that and my $51 so don't try to justify it that way! This has been way more than an inconvenience, so don't worry I'll inconvenience you as well!
>> Edited to comply with the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service <<
Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

Answer 1

With my new provider I am only using the chat function to settle anything with them so I can save the conversations I've had with them (not that I've had any issues thus far). It should be standard procedure for them to comment your account while they are on the phone with you before hanging up. I should have been annoying and asked them to read back their comments (hindsight ugh!).  I'm sorry that you are having to deal with this as well, just know you are not the only one receiving horrible customer service. I'll share with you what I wrote on their Facebook page. They really should take some accountability for their actions and have better follow up on resolving issues (or train their representatives better). I can't stand having to talk to another person time and time again explaining the same thing i just explained to 3 people before them.
Almost immediately, I received some attention after posting this:
Dear Verizon,
I am appalled, especially after reading your credo, that you are refusing to credit back money that is owed to me because your representatives didn't take the necessary time that they should have to comment (after I specifically asked) in my account after I diligently called in multiple times to ensure that my disconnection took place when it was scheduled to and was told that it would (an ongoing issue since the beginning of December). Come to find out that the representatives I spoke with prior to December 20th didn't do their jobs correctly by not entering the disconnection orders in. "Verizon Credo- a set of principles that describes our culture of integrity, respect, performance excellence and accountability. The Credo is a blueprint that directs us to live up to the highest standards possible when serving our customers, shareowners, communities and each other." Let me school you on something here because it appears that you just put that mission statement up on your website 'cause it sounds good, you certainly do not follow through! Accountability: Noun - the quality or state of being accountable; especially an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions (i.e. public officials lacking accountability). It doesn't matter that you cannot find any proof in my statements it doesn't change the fact that it happened and I am not a liar. I seriously wouldn't exhaust this must effort had I been lying. I'll take this a step further and reference your statement "we focus outward on the customer, not inward. We make it easy for customers to do business with us, by listening, anticipating and responding to their needs." First of all, when I made my initial call to you all asking what my contract buyout prices were and your rep tried to offer me promotions (or lack there of) to keep me as a customer and I declined she should have "anticipated" my need for disconnection. I shouldn't have had to jump through so many hoops to get my service disconnected from you all and pay my final bill. It's not my fault that your representatives weren't trained well enough to correctly put through disconnection orders. Based on my interactions with your customer service I could see where people would disconnect their services regularly!!!!! You are not making it easy for me to severe ties with you and conduct BUSINESS and you are not responding to my NEEDS. I think you forget that I could be a potential customer in the future. If it's one thing I learned from my Communications Degree is that negative feedback will reach more consumers vs. positive feedback of a company and how they handle their business. I have 1,000 plus facebook friends and twitter followers so I'm pretty sure my negative experience could reach quite a few people! You say you have integrity? How is it moral uprightness to charge me for a whole month of service (regardless if the phone was turned on once) for a billing period that shouldn't have existed if your customer service reps did their job correctly? I suggest that you all take a good look at the way you are treating your current customers because we are the reason you get a paycheck! You should make your customers a priority especially if they've been with you for 10 + years regardless if they are disconnecting service or not! How about following through, taking ACCOUNTABILITY and having that supervisor representative call me back from my phone conversation last night like I am a priority (how every customer should be treated) and helping me get the money that I am owed, regardless if the phone had been turned on for a short period (your rep couldn't even tell me what numbers I supposedly called - exactly the phone has been off since December 20th if not before unless turned on to confirm disconnection)! Oh but let me guess did you all forget to put that in my account comments as well? Probably like there is no mention of the formal complaint I filed against some of your representatives that there was supposedly no ticket number for. I thought I was going to regret leaving Verizon for another provider but it turns out that I only wish I would have left sooner and actually gone to a authorized dealer/ Verizon Store to process my disconnection because your customer service line is a joke!