I need to cancel service for my deceased father. Why the run-around?

[ebedgert]

I need to cancel my father's Verizon service, he died in April, everyone I talk to at Verizon seems clueless, including the people at the store they told me to take his death certificate to.  PLEASE HELP (or tell me where to find a real answer).

[Ann154]

To cancel service or remove a line permanently: Call Customer Service at (800) 392-0717, (Mon – Fri, 7 AM - 9 PM, Sat – Sun, 8 AM – 9 PM local time).

From: https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/suspend-service-faqs/

[ebedgert]

No, that won't work.  They only want to hear from the account holder when you call that number.  The account holder, my father, is deceased.  I don't have his PIN.

A real answer, please??

[Ann154]

Unfortunately, because they no longer allow a customer to cancel at a store, the FAQs don't reflect any options on how to submit the death certificate or to prove you are the executor of estate.

Maybe if or when a VZW rep chimes in will they realize their mistake about forcing everyone to call customer service in order to cancel the line of service in the event of a death. 

[vzw_customer_support]

We appreciate all your efforts, and we want to extend our deepest condolences. Disconnecting the account will need to be done at a store location. If there is no equipment on the account, we will be able to disconnect the account for you without documentation. If there is equipment on the account with a current Device Payment Plan attatched to it, you can return the equipment to a store. The only time we will need documentation, is if the equipment has been lost or stolen, and cannot be returned. I hope this information is helpful.

BreannaH_VZW

[glitchedpixel]

From what I've gathered from the posts, you don't seem to be an authorized user on the account. Without being an account manager or any proof you have power of attorney, a rep over the phone is unable to assist you due to security policy. This explains being sent to a store to show a death certificate.

[ebedgert]

Do I have to call ahead to make sure the store staff know how to do this?  Because the store I went to, they seemed pretty clueless and had never done it before.

I'm going to be named administrator of my father's estate, just waiting on the letters, do I have to wait until I have letter from the court to show someone?  Or will the death certificate be sufficient by itself?

The phone device was paid off a long time ago

[vzw_customer_support]

ebedgert-

I'm saddened to hear that your father passed away. Please respond to my Private Message to further assist.

CarmenT_VZW