Been a VZW subscriber for 8 years with expensive voice/txt/data plans for a number of years. Autopaid, Never late. Travel internationally for work all over the world giving them an average of $300 per month (ARPU). Added a 3rd line 3 months back to the account.. Loaned one of the lines to mom-in-law with cancer who was going back to India for a short month so that when time to get back to resume treatment she has a way to call after landing back in LAX confirming her arrival back in the US for pickup as there was no easy communication and she wouldn't be able to use pay phones.. The day she is leaving back for the US from Delhi, she turns on the phone to check if its charged and works and in the 10 mins she turned it on, the phone has background roaming data of around 7 MB usage. Charged at $20+ per MB which itself is a like price gouging but thats for another story.. She notices some text msg before turning it off but doesn't even know the phone's detailed functions or how to txt or read txt messages.
She lands in the US and after a few days remembers about txts and gives me the phone to check.. I see the $50 and $150 roaming charge notification on it and call VZW on Dec 30th about 22 days after the actual 10min/7MB usage. The CSR checks and finds no usage.. I ask her to double check as i can see the txt message and i even tried the "Reply" instruction on that txt message to add data roaming plan. She double checks and no usage.. I say so there is definitely no roaming data usage and I can take that to the bank i.e be assured and CSR says - positive.. I ask if this conversation is recorded for the future and "yes it is".
Well the bill comes out 5-6 days later and there you go.. $150 in data roaming charges.. What about sticking to your confirmations and double confirmations - Verizon? Anyway, i can back again and talk to the nice CSR.. She listens to the whole story i listed above and says no issue.. These charges are unknowing and also these days people use GBs of data, 7MB of data should be easily removed.. She will get waiver for all these charges and she just has to forward for approval.. She will keep a track and call me on my primary line again when the invadvertent charges are removed.. Well 2-3 days go by, no call or no status.. After all that nice assurance absolute silence..
Time for Autopay day, and full statement charges are charged to my CC.. i call again.. Again, nice, polite guy to talk to, but don't have record about the last call.. have some record of the call before that but no charges were seen.. so they can credit me $20 of that charge.. Really? I am on hold and apologize every 30 sec for 20 mins for keeping me on hold and then trying to negotiate with me about "valid" charges.. I know they are valid. But i also told you the whole story and I bet your roaming partner isn't charging you a fraction of $20/MB for some consideration and customer appreciation in the matter.. Price gougers is what you are!!! You will have to pay sooner or later for this Verizon.. "After some more consideration we can give you $40".. sure thats really appreciated!!! See you later..
