Verizon Bill
October 2001
by Michael Walls

This note is for people using Verizon Wireless for cellular service.

I just happened to peruse my cellular bill for the first time in a long while and noticed a couple of "additional" services that I was paying for that I did not order. "Mobile web" for $7/month and "Digital Numeric paging" for $3/month. Turns out I've been paying for these services for the past 3 months, on two cellular bills. That's $60 that Verizon has sucked out of me, unknowingly.

I did not order these services. They were given to me "on a trial basis" when I renewed my contracts, then were activated, without my consent, after two months. (All in the fine print).

I know what your saying, "Idiot -- should have checked your bill!" But my two cellular bills run between $35-$55/month. I never check it unless it seems out of wack. (Who's got time to check every word on a six-page bill?)

I called to inquire about it, then canceled the services, then requested a credit for the previous months. No go. No refunds for suckers. Sorry.

I don't really care much about the money lost as much as I'm really annoyed at the whole underhanded process by Verizon. Since there was nothing I could do to rectify the problem, I at least thought I should share the experience and information with others, in the event someone else may not be aware of this.

So, if you're a Verizon customer. Check your bill.

If you're not a Verizon customer, and have thought of becoming one, you may want to think twice.

(Michael Walls is a volunteer staff writer for 2 Walls Webzine)