I just filed a complaint with the FCC over this.
On 10/8/14 I transferred my phone to my own account. Verizon did a credit check and everything went through fine. On 10/18/14 i went into a Verizon store to add a line. The Recovery Department said there was an $81.94 charge owed by an old account. They wouldn't tell me anything about it, what it was for or even give me an account number. They said I could not add the line unless I paid it. The guy was rude when I asked for a manager huffed and said the manager will say the same thing. I paid it so I could add the line which was embarrassing in front of my girlfriend, thinking I could get the charge reversed later.
I tried 4 times calling the recovery department 800-852-1922 and they would not help me. Three of the times I called between 10/13 & 10/17 I had demanded to speak to a supervisor and they said no supervisor was around but they would have one call me back. I never got a call back. These people were also very rude and asked why I paid the money if I din't owe it?
I did find out that the $81.94 was a restocking charge from 2010. In 2010 someone fraudulently opened an account in my name with Verizon. When I found out I reported it immediately and returned the phone unopened they had mailed me and Verizon had reversed all charges and fees. I thought this was all straightened out 4 years ago.
These people in the Recovery Department are pretty much extortionists. Demanding money and refusing to say what is is for. They even refused to send me a receipt. They must be getting paid on commission cause the don't even want to discuss returning the money. Most customer service reps at Verizon are very polite and friendly. But everyone I spoke to in the recovery dept was very rude and unhelpfull.
Like I said I just filed this complaint with the FCC. We will see if that gets anywhere
