Setup Int'l calling/roaming before trip...no coverage once we got there

Question

Before we left for our trip to Australia I talked to customer service to get our plan/numbers lined up for calls.  We did everything we were told to do however once we got to Australia (we're still here) we have no coverage.  Can't really call customer service and have tried emailing through the site.
Has anyone else had problems using their phone internationally when you thought you had everything setup beforehand?  Am I doing something wrong or did VZW drop the ball?

Answer 1

Same issue - Verizon, get your act together here!  It's not like you aren't making enough money on these obscene overseas per minute rates. 
Before my last trip to China I went in to the store to have my DROID PRO setup for International Dialing.  They looked at the phone, said I had a global SIM card and that I didn't need to do anything else - I would show up in China and the phone would work.  Well I showed up to China, the phone got a signal, I went to place a call and it said that this feature was not activated.  So no phone in China.
I am now in Argentina.  Before I left for Argentina, I called Verizon and told them that I need to activate the International Dialing feature because last time I was in China the phone didn't work.  The guy on the phone was very nice, told me everything was taken care of but that I had to go into a store and get a global SIM card.  I explained to him that I already had a global SIM card, but he told me that my account told him otherwise.  So as I was rushing to the airport I swing by the Verizon store, gentleman welcomes me with a big smile, I explain what I need and he takes a look at the phone and tells me I already have a global SIM card.
Now I'm in Argentina, I turn on my phone and I don't even get a signal.
This is ridiculous - everyone at Verizon is friendly on the phone and they smile in the store, but for some reason nobody knows up from down when it comes to getting International services set-up.
What is the solution here?  How do I get in touch with someone who actually knows what they are doing.  Needless to say, being without communication in a foreign country is extremely inconvenient and it is even more frustrating to waste your time before a trip getting the service set-up just to find out it doesn't work.
VERIZON - pull your head out here and make it easier for people to use your International Service - you are loosing money every day and ******* your customers off.  For this simple reason I am ready to switch to another provider - please someone contact me and correct this issue while I'm still overseas.