Who cares? Not Verizon! (TOLEDO, OH -- DETROIT, MI AREA)
Written: Apr 29 '01 (Updated Apr 29 '01)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Local Coverage: |
 |
|
| Plan Flexibility: |
 |
|
| Customer Service: |
|
|
|
Pros: None that I can think of. Well...maybe the few cheaper rate plans
Cons: Since merger and influx of customers, customer service is really lacking
The Bottom Line: Customer service is something that has really been lacking in this company since the merger. They have enough customers that losing one (even after 13+ years) just doesn't matter anymore
|
|
|
| cbraunre's Full Review: General Reviews of Verizon Customer Service |
We have been with Verizon long before the merger. Our first cell phone was a bag phone in the late 1980s. Back then, our plan option was about 30 minutes/month (and that was considered a lot!). How times have changed. When we had a problem with our service back then, we got fast, personal attention that got results. Now, we wait in line at the customer service center for at least 20 minutes (it's almost like being at the doctor's office) and we usually end up with nothing more than "I'm sorry. There's nothing we can do."
My biggest problem with Verizon started about a year ago. We re-signed a new 2 year contract to take advantage of an offer for free regional roaming. Unfortunately, the house that we have lived in for just as long as we've had our cell phones with this carrier (back then they were called Cellular One, then Airtouch took over all of Cell One's customers, then Verizon) is right on the MI/OH border. This wasn't a problem when Verizon provided only analog service because the service provider who owns the cellular towers in the next state also uses only analog. However, we went in last year and the sales rep got us to fall in love with the new advantages of digital phones (wireless web, caller ID, increased privacy, etc.). So...we re-signed for another 2 years. Then came the dropped calls...lots of them. When I went in a few weeks later, I found out the real story. And then I learned all of this (not before I re-signed my contract -- but, of course, after). Try asking our original sales rep why she didn't tell us of these potential problems? Naah, she no longer works there! So, anyway, here's what I learned: Because any dual or tri-mode cell phone (phones that receive "analog & digital," or "analog, digital, and PCS") automatically tries to receive the strongest signal, we would constantly drop our digital signal to pick up the stronger analog signal from the next state. BIG PROBLEM!!!
Have any of you seen that Verizon commercial that shows the two guys walking down the street and everyone around them talking on their cell phones is slamming into invisible walls (resembling what it's like to drop a phone call)? Well, that's us! And no matter how often we used to go in to our store's customer service dept. or who we got as our customer service rep, we always got the same answer "I'm sorry. Dropped calls are just something you're going to have to deal with because of where you live. But, as long as you re-call the person you were talking to within 60 seconds, we'll give you a 1 minute credit for the inconvenience." Oh, great. That sure makes up for it!
I usually bring up the fact that we re-signed for two years under the assumption that we'd be getting digital service and fewer dropped calls. When I ask if we can have our contract nullified or have anything else done to make up for the inconvenience, we get nothing.
Three cellular phone lines, 13+ years. None of it matters any more. If they don't get your money, there are thousands of other customers in the city who will give it to them.
Pretty sad!
My Suggestion:
If you live in a big city and spend all your time there, Verizon may work for you. However, if you travel, you could find yourself in the same position that the three of us have to live in every day. I don't think I can take much more of this. I plan on switching to Sprint or Nextel (two service providers who do provide crystal clear and reliable service in our area) very soon. However, I have heard complaints about Sprint in some areas, too. Nextel, while more expensive, is the only provider that I have never heard a complaint about.
ANYONE HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR ME???? PLEASE POST A REPLY! WHAT CAN I DO TO GET OUT OF THIS MESS???
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 75/month
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
cbraunre
|
|
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.