Early Termination Fee and Moving
jlbeerman2
Enthusiast - Level 1

The Verizon customer service and Early Termination Fees are absolute crap.  I have been a happy and loyal Verizon customer for 5 years now.  About a week ago I was notified job was transferring to San Diego California and I and now moving out there in a week.  I called customer support to determine my options since I like the service provide and no Verizon FIOS service is offered in the area I will be living so I need to cancel.  I was informed that my ETF will be $160 no matter what.  I need to keep my job and am moving and the location is out of my control.  All of it is out of my control and unexpected, my hands are tied.  I did not know I would have to move or be subject to having to cancel my service.  Verizon refused to help me out with the ETF and refused to do anything to help out a loyal customer of 5 years.  Their customer service is terrible and the need to fix it.  Also the ETF fee seems a bit high when I have a little over a year left on 2 year agreement.  Verizon needs to adjust the ETF policy and be more accommodating to individuals who find themselves in situations they can not control.

6 Replies
Telcoguru
Master - Level 1

I do not think Verizon feels the same way as your since that was the agreement you made when you entered into a contract with them and you broke those terms of service by moving.

0 Likes
SinCara
Specialist - Level 2

If you read the tos this wouldn't have been a surprise to you.

0 Likes
kfrib
Enthusiast - Level 1

Verizon Fios is a huge disappointment - full of customer service reps who fill you with lies.  They will tell you anything to get you as a customer, then back out on their promises.  I opened an acct Jan 6, 2014, telling sales rep I am in a one year apartment lease right in the middle of Dallas, so I do not want a 2  year contract.  He PROMISED me that when I move, if Verizon does not provide service at the new location, they will waive the Early Termination Fee.  Dec. of 2014 I called to transfer my service to my new home which was 19 miles away and still in a MAJOR suburb of Dallas.  Shocker, Verizon does not service that area.  So the rep I was working with to transfer my services assured me not to worry, that on my final bill IF an early termination fee shows up, to just call back and it will be removed.  Of course, on my final bill an ETF of $130 was there, so instead of me getting a credit from my final bill that went past my move date, I was being asked to pay MORE money.  I called in to get it removed as promised and Verizon refused.  I shared my story and provided the exact date of my order.  The Verizon rep said she would have her manager review the call to confirm what I had been promised and would call me back in a week or two.  I never received a call back but I DID receive a bill...from a COLLECTION AGENCY.  So to top this all off, I have been lied to by three different sales and customer service reps and now my credit will be affected.  What a slap in the face for being a good customer and believing what I was promised.  Now I just called back because my ETF is also miscalculated.  My order was placed on Jan. 6, 2014, services were installed on Jan 7, 2014, according to my very first bill, my contract started on Jan 12, 2014.  My service was cancelled Dec. 15, 2014.  According to the terms, ETF is $230 and then $10 is deducted for every month of your service.  I had service for 11 months, so the ETF should have been $120 - nope Verizon has slimed their way even a step further by making my ETF charge $130. I am now on hold for 55 minutes waiting and listening to the very loud obnoxious hold music.  I have a very strong feeling the last rep I spoke with put me on hold and then left for lunch break.  Friendly advice to everyone STAY AWAY from VERIZON.  They are full of lies and empty promises.  If you google "Verizon Early Termination Fee" you will find countless similar stories to this. 

CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

I agree that you should be given correct info when you sign up.

But I did a Google on Comcast ETF moving and found complaints back to 2013 about a similar issue.

People sign up and move and are hit with ETF.

Didn't look in detail to see if they also were told that moving would not invoke an ETF.

BTW, that used to be not the issue for Verizon.

Not sure when they changed it, but they did.

mph101
Enthusiast - Level 1

These contracts are very restrictive and while legal are far from fair to the consumer.  What do you expect?  You need bundled service and you are at the mercy of what is offerred.  In these uncertain times its a gamble because anyone may have to relocate for work.  Try and have telcoms without a contract and you better be in the top 1%.  For a cell phone you can do it at a higher cost if you have a wifi hotspot.  The telcoms own the broadband and control the deals. 

Its getting ready to happen to me.  My current contract ends in Dec, but I have to move suddenly in a month.  I will suspend service and pay that fee as required.  See how things turn out with my transfer and then pay the early breaking of contract fee later.  You can suspend service for 1 - 9 months.  Deal with saving that money to pay the fee later if you don't restart service at a higher rate for whatever savings you will loose when you suspend your current services.

The FIOS build out is long over, it appears there is no interest in building more to any part of the Verizon land wired systems.  As proven by recent selling off of the infastructure and desire to sell the remaining.  The cash cow is in 4g LTE $$$$$ service.  It is the future I guess.  Don't be naive to think that they will let you out of a contract if FIOS isn't offerred at your new location because of a forced move for whatever reason unknown when you signed up.  Thats not how they make a profit for the stock holder.   Look at the maps where build outs have stopped even in Northern Virginia.

vansand1753
Enthusiast - Level 1

I was also told that there would be no early termination fee if I moved to a location where there is no FIOS/internet bundle.  I just called to transfer my service as I am moving in two weeks but discovered there is no service offered where I am moving.  Now I am told that I will be paying the ETF.  How do I fight this issue?

0 Likes