Backup Battery Unit

I am receiving messages concerning my Backup Battery Unit needs to be replaced. I do not have FiOS voice services, so I do not see why I should spend money replacing the battery. I have to do the reset procedures when the alarm goes off, which is a nuisance, however the one I have does not leak, so I don't see what difference it makes.

I believe that the batteries should be part of the equipment and Verizon should provide the replacement at no charge. I already have to pay rental for Set Top Boxes in order to use the service, which doesn't make since. I have to pay for service then I have to pay more for equipment to be able to use the service? I am not going to buy a new battery and if Verizon wants to penalize me for that, I will happily switch my service to Time Warner Cable.

Accepted answers

DKatz1

@PJL: No I don't think they can penalize for not getting a new battery, but receiving messages about it really seems like they are hounding me to do it. That's what led to the rant I wrote following that remark. Thanks for your support.
I'm not sure how Verizon would "penalize" you for not replacing the battery. It's your choice.

All comments

PJL

@DKatz wrote:
I am receiving messages concerning my Backup Battery Unit needs to be replaced. I do not have FiOS voice services, so I do not see why I should spend money replacing the battery. I have to do the reset procedures when the alarm goes off, which is a nuisance, however the one I have does not leak, so I don't see what difference it makes.

I believe that the batteries should be part of the equipment and Verizon should provide the replacement at no charge. I already have to pay rental for Set Top Boxes in order to use the service, which doesn't make since. I have to pay for service then I have to pay more for equipment to be able to use the service? I am not going to buy a new battery and if Verizon wants to penalize me for that, I will happily switch my service to Time Warner Cable.

I'm not sure how Verizon would "penalize" you for not replacing the battery. It's your choice.

Hubrisnxs

if you don't mind constantly resetting the alarm silence button, then you don't have to get a new battery.

If that is too much of a nuisance for you - then go ahead and spend the 20 dollars. (I found them cheapest at batterymart.com and also amazon.com)

www.verizon.com/battery

DKatz1

@PJL: No I don't think they can penalize for not getting a new battery, but receiving messages about it really seems like they are hounding me to do it. That's what led to the rant I wrote following that remark. Thanks for your support.
I'm not sure how Verizon would "penalize" you for not replacing the battery. It's your choice.

PJL

@DKatz wrote:
@PJL: No I don't think they can penalize for not getting a new battery, but receiving messages about it really seems like they are hounding me to do it. That's what led to the rant I wrote following that remark. Thanks for your support.
I'm not sure how Verizon would "penalize" you for not replacing the battery. It's your choice.

Just what type of messages are you receiving?

Jimmca

What are the actual dimensions of the battery back-up unit?

Ashtonis

I agree that this is super annoying. Everyday I have to press the reset button when it starts beeping. I never asked for this stupid battery backup and I don't want to pay 1 or 100 dollars for a new battery. It's the priciple. I called to talk to a rep about it and he was pretty rude so I eventually hung up on him after his smart **bleep** answers. Wish I could just rip it out of the wall.

tns2

Some have removed the battery and disabled the alarm. Of course you then have no phone service in a power failure. Not sure of the procedure to do so and it may vary between different models.

nvaslav48

I agree that this is Verizon responsibility to replace the battery. I did buy battery from Verizon(stupid me) for $43 plus $8 shipping.

However, I really cannot find the way to open battery compartment. I think it is probably screw some where on the side, but I cannot see it. I did call Verizon so called support and lady answered that all customers know as how to open the battery compartment. They "support lady" suggested to connect me to the main office. The lady on the in the main office said that she needs to reboot computer and promised to call me back. She never did.

After reading this forum I understood that I really do not need a battery and I am going to return the battery back.

Thanks for information.

tns2

They have started not even supplying the battery unless you pay a fee on initial installs.

They need to post instructions on how to permanently silence the alarm.

Danjng

So how does that work? If my battery is dead, my Internet is completely out. How do we avoid the use of the battery altogether?

tns2

Turn off and unplug, then carefully remove battery. On all but the oldest units you should be able to run without it, possibly shutting off the alarm once.

Even with the battery in place the Internet is not kept up on a power failure after about the first 5 minutes.

Danjng

Hmm. I guess mine is old? If I pull the battery out the lights are all off even if my unit is plugged in. The *only* way I can get my Internet back up is if I charge the battery elsewhere and pop it back in.

Any ideas? Are Verizon service representatives checking these forums? If so, can someone come replace it? Especially seeing as it should work without battery?

Thanks for the response and sorry for the thread revive...

jmram

Verizon's battery is losing strength; its beeping is exceedingly annoying. They won't replace it ("its no longer under warranty"). Want $43 plus shipping. I"d have to remove old and replave new battery. I have slight handicap; knee problem; can't bend without knee support. Don't know how to open battery box. I"m kinda all thumbs when it comes to "fixing things". So.. how to open box to remove battery and replace with a new one (when I get it). Can batter be purchased from some supplier other than Verizon???.

All help appreciciated. Thank you.

tns2

Lots of better sources for batteries, from Amazon to locals like batteries plus. Don't remember spec off hand but its not hard to find.

The BBU vary. All but the oldest run without batteries. Some have gotten Verizon to replace the ones that will not run without batteries. Opening them also varies but is not that hard. The two I have (different models) open simply by finger pressure on the side opposite the hinge.

RDJim

When this happened to me I called Verizon and told them it's their equipment, their battery. They sent me a new one. That was a while ago and this replacement has lasted much longer than the original. Not sure if they just wrote if off as a warranty item or just wanted to be nice. Now that others are having the same complaint it could be they're taking a hard line on replacements now. But if the entire unit were to fail and you called for service on this Verizon owned item, could be the service tech would replace the entire thing, battery and all.