Rant: Slammed Phone Service - Unbelievable!

[luvscats]

We've had Verizon phone service for years. Never had any problems. Saturday I make a long distance phone call and get a recording that I didn't really listen to. I figured service was messed up from Friday's storm.

Didn't try again to make another long distance call til today and I get a recording that says call 1-800-860-1020, Century Link. I'm thinking WTH?! So I call them and they tell me that my phone number is not under their service. I'm hot tempered so I tell them "well it dern well ain't supposed to be." So I call Verizon.

Verizon tells me that my long distance service was switched to another company on June 7 by a third party request. I'm freaking out now. They can't tell me WHO this third party is that made the request nor can they tell me who the new provider is, that I'll get the name of the new provider on my next bill. I politely say that if the info will be on my next Verizon bill, isn't that info somewhere in the all-knowledgeable Verizon computer system of theirs? Nope, they can't tell me. I'm steaming...foaming at the mouth! I never authorized such a change. Verizon says it is called slamming.

Verizon's own web site says they can't change our phone service without our permission, but they did! I don't get it!

Here's info from their site:

"Slamming - Slamming is an unauthorized change of your local, regional toll and/or long distance carrier. The service change is unauthorized because the service provider that ordered the change switched your local, regional toll, and/or long distance provider without proof of your authorization and verification.

Law prohibits telecommunications utilities (telephone companies) from slamming or switching you from one telephone service provider to another without your permission.

Verizon and all telecommunications companies must have authorization and verification from a customer before changing the customer's local, regional toll and/or long distance service provider.

Preventing slamming - A carrier freeze prevents the unauthorized change to your local, regional toll, or long distance carrier. The freeze ensures that another carrier cannot make a change to your selected local, regional toll, or long distance provider without your permission."


So today I put a freeze on my account, but I'm stunned that this could happen. So what happens now??? Do I get a bill from this pirate long distance company? I hope this bill has a customer service number cuz they're going to get an earful from me.

[musiclady]

Originally Posted by luvscats

We've had Verizon phone service for years. Never had any problems. Saturday I make a long distance phone call and get a recording that I didn't really listen to. I figured service was messed up from Friday's storm.

Didn't try again to make another long distance call til today and I get a recording that says call 1-800-860-1020, Century Link. I'm thinking WTH?! So I call them and they tell me that my phone number is not under their service. I'm hot tempered so I tell them "well it dern well ain't supposed to be." So I call Verizon.

Verizon tells me that my long distance service was switched to another company on June 7 by a third party request. I'm freaking out now. They can't tell me WHO this third party is that made the request nor can they tell me who the new provider is, that I'll get the name of the new provider on my next bill. I politely say that if the info will be on my next Verizon bill, isn't that info somewhere in the all-knowledgeable Verizon computer system of theirs? Nope, they can't tell me. I'm steaming...foaming at the mouth! I never authorized such a change. Verizon says it is called slamming.

Verizon's own web site says they can't change our phone service without our permission, but they did! I don't get it!

Here's info from their site:

"Slamming - Slamming is an unauthorized change of your local, regional toll and/or long distance carrier. The service change is unauthorized because the service provider that ordered the change switched your local, regional toll, and/or long distance provider without proof of your authorization and verification.

Law prohibits telecommunications utilities (telephone companies) from slamming or switching you from one telephone service provider to another without your permission.

Verizon and all telecommunications companies must have authorization and verification from a customer before changing the customer's local, regional toll and/or long distance service provider.

Preventing slamming - A carrier freeze prevents the unauthorized change to your local, regional toll, or long distance carrier. The freeze ensures that another carrier cannot make a change to your selected local, regional toll, or long distance provider without your permission."


So today I put a freeze on my account, but I'm stunned that this could happen. So what happens now??? Do I get a bill from this pirate long distance company? I hope this bill has a customer service number cuz they're going to get an earful from me.

Yes you'll get a bill. Typically, it will take over one month to receive. That way they can bill you for 2 months service. Then they will try to charge you to cancel. Verizon won't be able to switch you back until you cancel. AND you will have to drop the slamming freeze to switch back, then reapply the freeze once that's done. Beware, sometimes it takes several tries to get switched back correctly. Can you tell I've had this happen to me?

[luvscats]

This just makes me sooo angry. And it makes me feel vulnerable. Where else in my life can these jackazzes interfere in my life. It feels so invasive.

I wish I could sue them and have it really impact them where it hurts them - in their pocketbooks.

[ProfMoneyWise]

Thank you for your post. Good information.

Found a couple of links that may add to yours.

Slamming | FCC.gov

Tips for Telephone Slamming, from the National Fraud Information Center

The first link is from the FCC. The second provides some tips on how not to be caught in this unaware.

[somdfunguy]

Free Home Phone Service | Ooma

[dave1959]

Drop your land line... problem solved.

[luvscats]

Originally Posted by ProfMoneyWise

Thank you for your post. Good information.

Found a couple of links that may add to yours. url=http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/slamming]Slamming | FCC.gov[/url]

Tips for Telephone Slamming, from the National Fraud Information Center

The first link is from the FCC. The second provides some tips on how not to be caught in this unaware.

Thanks for the links. I've bookmarked them.

[luvscats]

Originally Posted by musiclady

Yes you'll get a bill. Typically, it will take over one month to receive. That way they can bill you for 2 months service. Then they will try to charge you to cancel. Verizon won't be able to switch you back until you cancel. AND you will have to drop the slamming freeze to switch back, then reapply the freeze once that's done. Beware, sometimes it takes several tries to get switched back correctly. Can you tell I've had this happen to me?

Well, Verizon switched me back and put the freeze on my service. Based on what you've told me here tho, I'm going to call Verizon again and confirm that my service has a freeze on it.

Thanks.

[luvscats]

Originally Posted by dave1959

Drop your land line... problem solved.

We live at the bottom of a hill and cell phone service is unreliable.

[ItalianScallion (Premo)]

I thought slamming was illegal but the first place I'd check is the company that you were switched over to. They're the most likely culprits. With all the telco security in place it's amazing how anyone can change anything on anothers account. They always ask for my name, address, zip code, tel number & last 5 of my SS.