"We welcome your complaints and concerns. Please use the www.fcc.gov/complaints Website as this is the most expedient way to file a complaint. After doing so, we will assign an FCC Agent to your complaint. It is the goal of the FCC Agent to work with Verizon to establish some kind of resolution."
And so went my conversation with the FCC today regarding these "irregular", "illegal", "useless", "annoying" and other such-defined complaints that we have all been told "aren't worth filing". 
The FCC said that all complaints are considered "real" and that all are assigned to FCC Agents. The FCC Agent then contacts Verizon to try to find a solution - then brings the customer into the loop to see that either (A) the problem is solved, or (B) the customer decides to escalate because they do not feel that the problem is solved.
"Escalate" was a fresh option so I asked my Rep to explain. I was told that if you are not satisfied with what the Verizon Rep tells you during their call, that you can contact the FCC and ask for a Mediation Specialist to step in. This request must be made in writing, must include your complaint number, and must be sent via mail or fax. A request for mediation is an aggressive step, therefore the FCC can no longer receive electronic correspondence regarding the complaint. This sounded extremely "official" - making the request in writing, etc. - but a legitimate option nonetheless as complaints in the past have gone nowhere with Verizon.
My FCC Rep was eager to know what my concerns with Verizon were and confirmed that they were legitimate complaints. She also said that since the Verizon Customer Contract could come into play during mediation, that they always suggest that the consumer's State Attorney's Office receives communication about the complaint as well. I was told that the State Attorney's Office would take a serious look at the complaint - especially after seeing that I took the time to go through the FCC complaint process and that I am asking for mediation.
I planned on going to the State Attorney's Office with a pile of paperwork after this round of complaints, but the whole idea about FCC mediation may accomplish the goal of getting someone to pay attention at Verizon. It may accomplish something simple like a documented public update schedule for Windows Phones from Verizon (as has been discussed out here in the past), or it may be something big like a resolution that involves Microsoft working more closely with Verizon to participate in pre-release testing programs.
Do you have your 8.1 Cyan Update yet? Do you have a better plan to promote you getting your update (or future updates) faster? If you answered "no" to both, then please join me by filing your complaint. Feel free to ask for mediation when Verizon calls to ask how things are going and by all means, be sure to let your State Attorney's Office know as well. No one is looking to sue anyone. No one is looking for fees or fines. There is nothing illegal happening here that we are the whistleblowers on. Just looking for a change that benefits the paying customer when it comes to updating our Windows Phone devices. Please join me.
FCC Consumer Line: 1-888-225-5322
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Complaints
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
FAX: 1- 866-418-0232
FCC Complaints: File Complaint | FCC.gov
State Attorney's Offices throughout the US: NAAG | Current Attorneys General
I also assumed we would be getting the update soon as well. I'm new to Windows phones and not familiar with everything yet. I know that when I tried to add my Google account, so I could get my contacts and email, Google is blocking access because of some security issue that's been fixed with the cyan update. I'm posting screen shots. The first is from the email Google sent warning about "Google Account: sign-in attempt blocked". The second is after I clicked the "learn more" link. I apologize in advance if they're too big.
You would think Verizon would want their customers to be using a more secure device and get our update released.
One other thing is that when I was trying to decide whether to stick with Android or switch to WP one of the things that swayed me was when I tried out the simulator. The simulator was showing the 8.1 features with Cortana and that was pretty misleading after coming to the forums and seeing the issues with the update. I just tried looking at the simulator again, but it's not working now. Curious if anyone else did that. I still like the phone, but I'd like it better if it had what I was expecting it have, lol
rcschnoor wrote:
Microsoft demanding the same thing by threatening to withhold access to sell their 100,000 units on Verizon each year simply doesn't hold the same clout to it.You may not like it, but those with the market share DO wield greater power.
And I wish MS would tell VZW you're releasing anything we provide for the Lumia's post-hast if you still want support for your Windows Servers, SQL and desktops 
One can dream.
