Complaint

0
christy
Country: United States
I was shocked to see this website...I just got a bill from a debt collector that claims I owe Verizon 727.81 from a landline telephone I allegedly had back in 1995.  When I was in high school.  And lived with my parents.  At a different address than where this random phone line was connected.

What is going on?

Comments

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  • 0
    Jeff
    Verizon wireless number to remove 800-922-0204
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    Jeff
    Verizon Wireless phone number to remove a wrong collection is 800-922-0204
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    Fredericka
    Whomever you are that is the best number that you could have given anyone.  I have contacted Verizon five times with each one saying that they could not find my account.  Once I read your post and saw that number they were able to locate that account for me and I was able to get everything cleared up.  THanks again.
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    Brandon
    I had a two-year contract w/ verizon from 1998 to 2000.  I used the phone only for business purposes and never went over my allotted minutes.  After two years, I chose get a new phone and new service provider.  3 months after my contract expired I got a notice from Verizon saying I owed them roughly $60.  I immediately called them and we came to an agreement that the charge was in error - apparently  they did not know I did not want to extend my contract.  The employee apologized for the error and told me to disregard the notice.  Case closed, right? Fast forward 11 years....yes, 11 years.  I still live in the same home (which I own)where my bills from 11 years ago were sent.  My parents, who have since moved to South Caroline (I live in Ohio)just started getting notices and phone calls that I owe verizon $379.79! I live in the same house and have the same phone number I had 11 years ago! My wife and I both have credit scores above 800 and have never missed or even been late on any payments for anything in our lives!  I am absolutely furious right now, and have yet to decide what I am going to do about this.  I will never do business w/ Verizon again, and will discourage anyone else as well.
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    Scott
    | 1 reply
    I have used verizon for almost 4 years, on the end of my first 2- year contract with no issues, late payments, or ever had my phone shut off. Recently ive been expierincing terrible things with them, i went into a retail store in my hometown and was going to renew my 2 year contract again, and they "couldnt find my account". I talked to the manager and asked whats going on and he explained to me quietly that i hadnt paid my bill in almost 6 months. I dont understand, my bank account has been debited each month just like i had set up(i have the statements to prove it), after explaining to the store manager he gave me a 1-800 number to call. I went home and did just that, and they stated they had been trying to reach me and couldnt contact me by mail becuase my "address is unlisted". The lady then told me i owe over $650 + collection fees! My payment was a little over 105/month for my phone and netbook access. I explained to her that i have my checking statements stating that it was debited electronically every month, she then just hung up. WTF! are they even allowed to do that?!? i called back and had to start all over, now im left stranded with no cell phone service, and having to fax all 6 months bank statements, and wait for papers in the mail to fill out and have notorized, then wait up to 30 days for my service to be turned back on. I filed a formal complaint with the BBB for the collections agency and verizon.
    • 0
      Danielle replies to Scott
      I understand completely. I went into a store, been a Verizon customer since they opened I think lol. Went to upgrade and found out I owed over 700$  I brought up my account and it said 0. Well someone opened another account under me without my permission and the lady told me to go get the money from her. She said they dropped the ball but I was responsible for it. Wowwww. Now after a few years later after the talk with them I get a settlement owe and pay this amount and you'll be OK from Verizon. Wtf
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    Wendy
    | 1 reply
    I just received a call from a collection agency stating that i have an outstanding balance with Verizon from my old account. Funny thing is that we are with Verizon now, and when we call with our new address to set up new line, they told us that our balance was $0.00, we never received bills from them stating that we owed anything. Now AFNI is calling collecting $500.00. Say what? I just got off the phone with Verizon, spoke with Teresa King, she stated that our old account is cleared, with no balance due. This is just CRAZY!!!! I found this important information off this other website.

    Please read below:

    AFNI, Inc. (formerly known as Anderson Financial Network), has been in business over seven decades. Based in Bloomington, Illinois, the company is notorious for sending out notifications saying that consumers owe money to Verizon. Apparently, AFNI purchased a sizeable amount of “uncollectible” Verizon debts, many of which have passed the statute of limitations. That doesn’t seem to faze AFNI, though, since the company continues to send out past due notifications. They’re betting on the ignorance of consumers, many of whom don’t know that after a certain amount of time (which varies from state to state), it is illegal to try and collect old debts.
    Stop AFNI Harassment

    If you’re being subjected to AFNI harassment, or want to stop AFNI harassment calls, first take a deep breath. Then, when AFNI calls, ask for documentation of the debt in writing — even if you know the debt is yours to pay. If you request documentation, AFNI must not discuss the debt until you receive the documents and review them. In other words, AFNI harassment calls will stop. If they don’t, it’s important that you don’t respond to additional calls until AFNI verifies the debt. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act states that, within five days after you are first contacted, AFNI — or any debt collector — must send you a written notice detailing the amount of money you owe and the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed.

    When you receive the documentation from AFNI, look over the paperwork carefully and make sure you are obligated to pay the debt. It very well could be that the debt that is so old that the statute of limitations has run out. Even if you do owe the debt, send AFNI a letter within 30 days of receiving written notice stating that you do not owe the debt. It’s then up to AFNI to send you proof that you owe the money. Until AFNI does, they can’t continue to try to collect the debt. Don’t respond to any AFNI harassment calls. You’ll effectively stop AFNI calls in their tracks.
    AFNI Contact Information
    AFNI, Inc.
    P.O. Box 3427
    Bloomington, IL 61702-3427
    1-866-352-0479


    How to Stop the Harassment Now

    Complete the form to the right for a FREE evaluation, or call 1-888-384-3576. The legal team at Lemberg & Associates is committed to holding debt collectors accountable, and will fight for your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
    • 0
      Anne replies to Wendy
      My bill came just after 2 weeks showed over 1500.00...I just forgot my 2 phone damm charge with me he wont accept the damm return. I told them go ahead collect from me, I would not going to pay them a penny from my monies....They cant call you at work if you tell AFNI stop you can turn them into Attorney General and BBB complaint.....Document phone # and the name of person call you and time...List all document sent to BBB and Attorney General where you lived.
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    Horrible Verizon Credit Verification Dep
    | 1 reply
    Switched to Comcast back in 2009-2010.  Was with Verizon and paid via auto payment.  Recently comcast tried to pull a fast one on me by taking away my discounts to the tune of increasing my bill 40%.  YES 40%.  So I decided to switch my tel line and cable modem over to DSL.  WELL, verizon tell me I owe them 213.52 for past due.  I explained that I was on auto pay and closed out the account when switching to comcast, etc.  They tell me to call their collection agency ASNI.  Some foreign guy who hardly speaks english say they show no debt owed.  I call back verizon they say I do owe.  Eventually after 3 1/2 hours ASNI finds my debt.  I tell the it's disputed.  They offer to settle for 80%.  But won't get around to posting it clear for a few days.  They took my SS#, DOB, everything.  I should never have given it to them.  I call Verizon 1-866-515-4891 credit verification dept to move my order through for the switch over.  They said no, waiting for ASNI, I told them to call their collection company that they selected and get it cleared up.  I spoke with Sierra (rep), Brooke(Supv) and Brittney (MGR, employee id: z980483).  Each one was ruder and more ignorant then the next, especially Brittney.  I wanted to speak with her manager, who wasn't in and no one was available to cover for her.  Now I'm at about 5 hours in total trying to get my service with verizon and still getting nowhere.  This reminds me why I canceled their service in the first place.  One can unfortunately understand why our American companies set up call center in india and other 3rd world countries.  The employees here are so protected with affirmative action, sexual discrimination etc., that they can do whatever they please with no consequences.  Verizon has horrible service.  Is there a number to call to place an executive level complaint??
    • 0
      Yes they are. Her name is Brigette Davis and she is Excutive for Verizon.....Everyone should complaint Verizon thru BBB and also complaint them thru Attorney General where you lived...I cancel my service after 2 weeks sign the contract they turned from sweet talk to sour and bitter talk to me...They kept me at their store over 5 hours, by the time when they almost close they said I forgot 2 phone charge they wont accept the deal after 14 days ....They charge me over $1500.00 I did not going to paid....I am still waiting from Attorney General info sent me back what VZ replied about and after that I will take them to court....
  • 0
    Marlene
    I got a Verizon phone at Costco way back in Oct of 2009, supposedly returnable within 30 days.  I decided it was too much $$$ for the few calls I made so returned it after 3 weeks.  The rep there at the kiosk accused me of cheating them, told me I needed the original receipt, was just generally nasty.  Told me he absolutely couldn't help me with this.  I got a reprint of my receipt at the Costco desk (best customer service in the world, and they helped me talk with the idiot at the kiosk.  Three months later I got a bill from Verizon for $163, saying they had never received the cancellation.  Many phone calls, visits on site, nasty calls from Chase collections with this account, etc. later I paid $60 and told them to take a flying leap.  Now I have started getting calls from this obnoxious collections agency on a daily basis a year later!!!  They are demanding proof of payment which of course I haven't got anymore (won't make that mistake again), and Verizon can't find any record of my account without the phone number which I don't have any idea what it was.  The whole thing sucks.  I told the collections, Chase, to go ahead, put me on their bad list, I really don't care.  Now, how do I file harassment charges against Chase collections and Verizon?
  • 0
    Nancy Riggs
    I received a revised final bill on my business account for $23.76 dated 12/28/2010.  As soon as I got the bill, I paid it on 1/10/11 in full.  Then today 1/24/11 I receive a collection notice dated 1/18/11 from RMS in Atlanta GA for a collection for $23.76.   OK, a bill dated 12/28/10 gets paid 1/10/11 and THEN GOES to collection with a collection letter dated 1/18/11.  SO I HAVE TO SPEND MY VALUABLE TIME AT WORK CLEARING UP THIS COLLECTION for $23.76!!!!!  So I call Verizon this morning, I got transferred to 4 different departments, one department said that the same day they received my payment was the same day they had sent it to collections, so I ask why would they send to collections, so I get transferred to the collection department to make payment arrangements, she then transferred me to another department, spoke with a gal there and she handed me to her supervisor, the supervisor of the residential phone department!!!  So I am on hold again waiting for a supervisor from the Business department.  It has been a half hour so far, they just put me on hold hoping that I go away... So I call back, so I have to get a copy of my check that was cashed and deal with the collection agency.  Yeah Right!  Once you get a collection agency involved you can't get rid if them then they sell their paper and then someone else months later sends you a letter.  THIS IS SO WRONG,  I WILL NEVER USE VERIZON EVER AGAIN, THIS IS SO WRONG, AND THEY GET AWAY WITH THESE BAD BUSINESS PRACTICES!!!   I HAVE TO STILL DEAL WITH THE COLLECTION AGENCY.  I AM SO PISSED!
  • 0
    Alan
    I've got you all beat!  I'm getting automated collection calls for some Jeremy guy and I'm not a Verizon member!  Been with AT&T over 10 years.  I call the customer service (cough, cough) and they tell me they cannot do anything because my number is not a Verizon number!  Well no s**t, I didn't know that. We've called numerous times to no avail.  Their advice was for me to change my phone number..  Wow, really??  You f'ing computer cannot tell that the number it's calling is an AT&T number and "I" need to change my phone number to resolve it...  I'm on the national do not call list to boot.  I guess my only option is to sue.  CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!!
  • 0
    Scott
    I have the same problem. Verizon doesn't know how to stop it. Bunch of [***].
  • 0
    Rusty
    That number is only for Verizon Wireless.

    They redirected me to 800-483-3000

    This is getting out of hand.  I received a random collection attempt for $9 for a phone line disconnected in December 2010.  I paid every bill on time, including a stupid request for $2.81.  

    They can't explain where the $9 came from, and want me to pay with no bill or explanation.
  • 0
    mad at verzion
    I have never in my life have had a verzion account. i keep getting bills saying i owe 112.84?? All i did was call in talked to some about the different prices on services... A tech never came out to hook up the phone. Verzion can not tell me anything but i owe this bill. how i dont understand if the phione never got hooked up??? Crazy i have called and called and noone can help me but O have to pay what is going on here
  • 0
    Joselyn Fisher
    I have a complaint about Verizon/FIOS.  I had it fow two months then called and cancelled.  Told them I would like my old telphone service.  They cancelled everything including my phone.  This was over the Christmas and New Year holiday.  I called customer service, wrote a letter to Valerie DeCastro, Manager???? I received no reply at all.  The customer service department, mostly outsourced did not know what I was talking about.  January 9, 2011 finally my phone was fixed.  However, I then received a large bill as if I was still using FIOS.  I called customer service every month starting February 2011.  The CS department pushed some buttons and told me everything was fixed.  They would be sending me just for the telephone service - no more than $30.00.  Needless to say, I have now learned that CS just keep you hanging on the phone for an hour, push buttons, saying they will credit me this and that - nothing same old, same old.  Now it has gone to a collection agency.  FIOS and  Verizon NEVER told me what the problem was.  I was the one calling, asking for a telephone bill.  I never found out what the problem was until a CS rep called Lloyd, in frustration told me that they did not bill me for 11 days days, by the time they found this out, I had stopped the service.  Oh, and bytheway, if you do get FIOS you, the customer once the account is cancelled have to pack all the equipment up and send it to FIOS by UPS.  And if you have no telephone srvice, that is find, they expect you to pay for it anyway.  I have been with  Verizon since 1994 and this is the way they treat a customer.
  • 0
    sara
    thank you very much these ppl have the worst customer service
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    David J
    REALLY! first months after I dont have verizon anymore they hit me with a 480.00 bill and now its nearly freaking impossible to get in touch with anyone to pay it, thats why i cancelled the service in the first place, it a horrible phone company. Before they switched to verizon, when it was alltel i had not one single problem for a whole year and a half but from the second month all the way until a year later every month there is something different.
  • 0
    RMO
    ALL POSTED COMMENTS are exactly what I have been going through for a month with Verizon.  I have been a very good long time customer of Verizon.  We went to run our credit which we do every year and see a collection from Verizon on my report for $95 from 2002.  This is April of 2011.  I have spent a total of 3 hours on the phone and have emailed as well.  They all say the same thing, they are sorry but it can't be removed.  I have since disputed this filing with the credit bureau and decided to cancel all services we have with Verizon as soon as our contract is up.  You are all correct that Verizon doesn't really care about the damage that is done to our credit and they will probably not feel the loss of our monthly payments but atleast this website is out there to inform others before they choose Verizon.
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