I switched to Verizon years ago because they are supposed to be superior service and quality, and I was having so many problems with my previous provider. Now, I am stuck paying nearly $100 a month that I can't afford, when I really only use basic functions on my phone, and I can't afford to break the contract either. My phone was recently taken from me and broken when I was not present. I pay insurance every month, great, so was told that I had to file a claim within 2 weeks and pay $150 that was my only option. I didn't have an extra $150, so I had to borrow it. I've been to the Verizon store 4 times in the last week for various issues related to this problem in order to avoid having to talk to customer service directly and be put on hold, and while at the store the sales associates I would assume would be so much more knowledgeable in the area of phone troubleshooting still put me on the phone in their store and seem as baffled as I do. I received my replacement phone from the company Asurion that Verizon had me use when I filed the insurance claim. I took the new phone to the Verizon store and it supposedly worked and was checked. Then, I realized that I could not make or receive calls. The speaker was completely blown. I can hear ringing but can't do anything else so the phone did not function in the basic way a phone is supposed to function. I have personal, professional, and educational aspects that have been severely affected by this inconvenience. I am expecting several interview followups- calls which I can't answer, my current job requires communication over the phone that I can't complete and has adversely effected me financially, and I have important family members that I can only reach through calling and I need to be constantly available to. Because, you know, at the very least a phone should be able to make and receive calls right? I have been unable to contact my University for scheduling conflicts. Because I can't use my phone. If Verizon is such a trusted reputable company how can they demand loyal customers that do pay their insurance in the event of a disaster use Asurion when they apparently can't even ensure that the replacement you just spent $150 on will work? I should be sent another phone sometime tomorrow, but that will have been 5 days without service that I am paying for and should have had if not for this mistake on the part of this company. I think it's grossly unfair that I have to pay another $94 this month when I have not been able to utilize the basic functions of my phone received through Verizon. And who is to guarantee that my new replacement phone that I should receive tomorrow will work???
